STEPS TO PREVAILING WITH GOD:
RE-ESTABLISH YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Joshua 5:2-7
God required the circumcision of all the men.
Circumcision spoke of two things:
A. Restoration of the covenant relationship between God and His people.
The act of circumcision and the spilling of blood was part of the covenant relationship between God and His people.
This covenant connection had been lost during the wandering and the wilderness experience
B. Circumcision was an identifying mark and differentiated God’s people from the rest of humanity.
In the process they were marked people, belonging to God.
You and I need to be clearly visible in the fact that we belong to God.
People should have no doubt that we are God’s and we are serving His purposes.
As time passes and we go through our wilderness season we can begin to look like everyone else. Our relationship with God cools and our first love can fade. We can begin to look and act like the world.
We need to re-establish our covenant relationship with God!
PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD ALL OVER AGAIN
Joshua 5:8 After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed.
The act of circumcision had a resultant consequence.
The men who were ready to fight and possess the land were robbed of their strength and forced to rest.
This was a very vulnerable time for the nation of Israel.
The enemy was not far away and all the men were incapacitated.
They were sitting ducks and a target unable to defend themselves.
The only thing they could do was to trust God.
They would have to trust that God would undertake until such a time as they were healed and their strength had returned.
This act of complete dependence and trust in God is something that God is looking for in us.
I like to call it ‘DESPERATE DEPENDENCE!’
Each of us must get to that place where we come to the end of our strength and because we have no other alternative, WE TRUST GOD!
GET RID OF THE BAGGAGE
Joshua 5:9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.’ So that place has been called Gilgal to this day. (NLB)
Joshua 5:9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ (NIV)
Having been through slavery the nation of Israel carried some baggage.
There was a shame, an embarrassment, a sense of disapproval, a feeling of discredit and disgrace.
God removed this. Now the people had to let it go.
In the course of life, things happen. These things leave us feeling much the same as this nation felt.
But God wants to remove the reproach and it is for us to get rid of the baggage.
We cannot carry the weight of the baggage and expect to prevail.
Perhaps there is a sense of shame in some area of your life? Today is the day to let it go and move on.
You will not prevail while holding onto it.
Yesterday is gone.
We must live in the victory of today and expect to prevail as we go forward.
REMIND YOURSELF OF GOD’S GOODNESS IN THE PAST
Joshua 5:10 ‘While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover.’
Now it was time to remember God’s faithfulness of the past.
The Passover was a time when, as a result of the blood on the lintels and doorposts, God passed over their homes and spared them the death that all of Egypt had faced.
The Passover was a time of celebrating how God had delivered them.
One of the great tools we have in our hands as we face our present day battles, is the ability to look back and remember God’s goodness and faithfulness in the past and expecting it again in the future.
As you remember God’s faithfulness to you in the past it will give you the strength and courage you need to face the next battle.
I am reminded of the scripture that says: Joshua 1:5 ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.’
Be strengthened today as you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness!
SUBMIT YOURSELF TO GOD’S CONTROL
Joshua 5:13-15 As Joshua approached the city of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man facing him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you friend or foe?’ ‘Neither one,’ he replied. ‘I am commander of the Lord’s army.’ At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. ‘I am at your command,’ Joshua said. ‘What do you want your servant to do?’ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for this is holy ground.’ And Joshua did as he was told.
The key to prevailing is to submit yourself to God.
Settle it once and for all and know that God is in control.
Submit to God!
We can only prevail if God is allowed to be God in our lives.
We need to get to the same place, where from a place of humility we can honestly say: ‘I AM AT YOUR COMMAND!’
Conclusion:
Are you ready to prevail?
1 Samuel 2:9 It is not by strength that one prevails!
Proverbs 21:30 There is no [human] wisdom or understanding or counsel
against the Lord.
Then take these 5 steps:
1. RE-ESTABLISH YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!
2. PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD ALL OVER AGAIN!
3. GET RID OF THE BAGGAGE!
4. REMIND YOURSELF OF GOD’S GOODNESS IN THE PAST!
5. SUBMIT YOURSELF TO GOD’S CONTROL!
OTHER SCRIPTURES ON PREVAILING!
2 Chronicles 14:11 Asa cried to the Lord his God, O Lord, there is none besides You to help, and it makes no difference to You whether the one You help is mighty or powerless. Help us, O Lord our God! For we rely on You, and we go against this multitude in Your name. O Lord, You are our God; let no man prevail against You!
Jeremiah 1:19 And they shall fight against you, but they shall not
prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.
Exodus 17:11-13 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua mowed down and disabled Amalek and his people with the sword.
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