Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Last time a might victory over Jericho
• They thought they could have an easy victory over Ai
• They were defeated
• God charged Israel with sin because of one man - Achan
• Individual personal sin has corporate consequences
• Deliberate, unconfessed sin
• God was angry because of the sin of one man, but because it was dealt with He turned away His anger
• Going up against Ai
• A different strategy to Jericho
• God employed a natural way, a human tactic, an ambush
• Victory in a place where there was once defeat
• Have you been called to return to a place where there has been spiritual defeat?
• Sometimes things must be left
• Sometimes God calls His people to face it again in His strength
• It is not easy to go back to the place of conflict, hurt or loss
• Looking at Spiritual warfare:
• What we must do at such times (v1)
• What God must do (v2)

What we must do at such times

Take Courage (v1)

• "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed..."
• After failure we feel discouraged
• Joshua was a frail human being who needed encouragement
• We need encouragement
• The Apostle Paul needed encouragement
• The Apostle Timothy needed encouragement

Take Action (v1)

• "...take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai"
• Pray and act
• Do something about it in the strength of God
• There are somethings that we need to go back to at times
• Examples
• We must learn from our defeats - they must be a springboard to future victory
• Christians must always be moving forward
• Continue to fight the good fight of faith

Take God Promises to Heart (v2)

• "See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land."
• The Lord never revokes His promises
• He will never leave us, nor forsake us

Do what God says (v2)

• "Lay an ambush for the city behind it."
• The people were an abomination and where to be done away with (lay an ambush)
• They had to follow God's instructions
• The numbers might be confusing but they are following God's command
• The people were learning they could not go forward in their own strength
• Our warfare is to live a godly and holy life
• Do not forsake meeting together
• Obey God's word
• Do not be lone rangers but part of a body

What God must do

• "I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land." (v1)
• Jesus Christ is upon the throne of this world
• v18-19 a reminder of God's power (and reminiscent of the rod of Moses)
• v20 - God gave a great victory
• Think of examples of people who put great trust and perseverance in God:
• William Wilberforce
• God's usual way is through perseverance - not many battles were like Jericho
• Little by little, God is building His Kingdom
• What about us in 2017?
• Do we want to see the church growing?

Closing Remarks