IOI CHRISTIAN MEAN. TITLE: ENEMY CAN BE DEFEATED

IOI CHRISTIAN MEAN
. . .CONTINUE FROM YESTERDAY

TOPIC: THE ENEMY CAN BE DEFEATED
TEXT: JOSHUA 9:22-27

A. 22 The Enemy Must Be Confronted - When Joshua found out what these people had done, he went straight to them and rebuked them and confronted them about their sins.

There is a lesson in that for the church this morning. We do not have to roll over and play dead while the devil molds us to his will! We need to be like the Lord Jesus, Who when He was tempted turned to the Word of God and confronted Satan with the truth of the Book and caused the devil to have to flee from His presence! Friends, Satan cannot stand in the presence of the truth! If you will confront him with the Word of God, he will leave you alone!)

B. 27 The Enemy Must Be Controlled - There is no question that Joshua and Israel made a mistake when they dealt with the Gibeonites. However, mistakes to not have to spell permanent ruin. Joshua realized the seriousness of what they had done and he immediately took the necessary steps to control the situation. They can't kill them, because they have given them their word, v. 19. but they can control them!

In your life and mine, there will be times when we will step out of the Lord's will and commit sin. That is just a fact! However, the mistakes we make in following the devil do not have to be permanent, neither do they have to destroy us completely! Thank God, the Lord has promised us complete forgiveness and restoration if we will return to Him in repentance, 1 John 1:9. We must face the fact that our sins carry consequences that must play out completely, Gal. 6:9, yet we can get right with the Lord and we can serve Him faithfully.)

We need to learn from our sins and our failures so that we do not fall into those same traps again! Either we will control our sins, or they will control us! Which it is depends on you and what you want from life. There is forgiveness where there is repentance!)

C. 27 The Enemy Must Be Commissioned - Notice what Israel did with the Gibeonites. They took them and they put them to work carrying water and chopping wood for the Tabernacle of the Lord. Joshua took his mistake and used it for the glory of the Lord! The Bible even indicates that these people eventually got right with God and were absorbed into the nation of Israel - 2 Sam 21:2-6. Joshua took his error and used it for God!

Will you and I fail the Lord as we go through life? Probably, and often! However, our sins and mistakes do not have to knock us out of the Lord's work! When we fail we need to allow the Lord to use that time of sin, chastisement, correct, repentance and restoration in our lives for His glory. What the devil meant for your defeat can be turned into the source of your greatest victories, if you will allow the Lord to have His way in your mistakes. You can't undo the things you have done, but you can bring them to Jesus and He can use them to help you grow in Him. What first looked like a curse to the people of God eventually turned into a blessing as these people were brought to the Lord and lived their lives serving God!)

Please do not misunderstand me, I am not trying to glamorize sin in any fashion. I am trying to tell you that your failures do not have to defeat you forever! God's grace is bigger than your mistakes! Let Him prove it this morning!)

Conc: Joshua and Israel thought they were making a treaty with people from a far away land. However, they found themselves shackled to a Gibeonite! Has this ever happened to you? Maybe you are in the middle of it right now. You listened to your flesh, or the devil and now you are in a mess. Why not bring that thing to the Lord and let Him turn you failure into something He can use for His glory? Maybe you are not even saved. The devil has you! Maybe you would like to come and give your life to Jesus right now and watch Him save your soul and transform you for His glory. If you need Him this morning you come as He calls!

PRAYER
Every of your past mistake that is meant to destroy your future is turn to miracle in Jesus name, all your enemy will turn to your servant and start serving you in Jesus name,