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Joshua 8
1And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
2And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
3So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
4And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
5And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
6(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
7Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
8And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
9Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
10And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
12And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
20And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
22And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
23And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
25And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
28And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.
29And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
30Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
31As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
33And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
34And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
The POFW Daily Bible Reading 
Once again safe in the midst of war. Victory in the Christan life is not the absence of conflict but the presence and orotection of God in the midst of conflict.
you always barely beat me bro…have great day!
iBlog Breakfast
1And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed
“Fear Not”
The word used here for fear is as follows: H3372
ירא
yârê’
yaw-ray’
A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: – affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
This is the exact same word used to instruct us to FEAR the LORD.
***Let the Fear of the Lord Master You, Not the Fear of the Enemy***
1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
***John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.***
Fearing God and Loving God are intimately linked together, just as the fear of man and hating God are.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Good: let the fear of the Lord master you,not the fear of the enemy… I had to write this in my notes….brother. It’s good
when you do what god tells you to do you reap the rewards of the blessings but if sin is there you reap death. we wont everything right now but somtimes Gods anwser is wait a while
The battle will always be difficult, will always be hard, and will always have casualties; but with God the Victory is secured & sweet. Obedience guarantees the Victory, but it does not guarantee that it will be easy. One thing I have learned, although the battle still hard, God always makes sure there is Joy in the morning. Blessed be His Name for ever and ever.
ALL OUT BATTLE
1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
It has been stated by University of TEXAS football coach Mack Brown “Don’t let one loss, beat you twice.” Joshua through a repented heart and a repented Israel took all the people of war, instead of only 3000. Notice the difference in the battle when Joshua Prayed before the battle instead of after the battle.
It would have been easy for Joshua to succumb to the sprit of fear in facing the same foe for the second time. However when we battle Gods way “ALL OUT” in strict obedience, we WIN every time.
Notice also, the spirit behind Achan was that of PRIDE and selfishness. Solomon said in Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Defeat and frustration come when Pastors or Ministers at any level become selfish and full of pride, looking outt for themselves and their own agenda not that of the Church as a body. This is called “division” and is one of the things the Lord says he HATES.
We must continually check our will and motives with the will of the LORD and those we are following in Ministry, if it becomes more about our future or “ministry” then we must repent immediately, pride has already taken over and you are now part of the problem and not the solution.
BE Church
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iWork
iListen
34And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
Many times ministers worry about the lenght of their sermons, because they know that people care too much about the turkey in the over, or the roast on the stove to allow the man of God to be able to speak into their lives as the Lord is telling them. As the church, we need to be willing to listen to the instruction that is comming across the pulpit, and then be willing to follow the instructions we had been given.
iListen
iFollow
28And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.
Desolation – 1. Devastation; ruin: 2.A state of complete emptiness or destruction.
Ai is no more. Through each place in our lives that we receive victory there should be a state of complete emptiness; destruction. To have a place to go back to only states that you never really won. Allowing sin to stay hidden or on a back burner somewhere says that you will go back. But this time you may not win. Have victory through Jesus and live with blessings you cant contain!
Smoke Signals
We have the victory in the Word of the Lord! Our obedience to God’s word will leave a smoke signal for everyone to see that the enemy has been destroyed.
Steps into Taking this City
Joshua 8:1. And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed:….. I have given into thy hand the king of A’-i, and his people, and his city, and his land. Drug 1:21 Behold the LORD THY GOD hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God fear not neither be discouraged.
1. Obedience. 2. Remember HIS WORD 3. Being One Body (Unity) 4. Prayer, fasting and spreading the Gospel(Outreach) 5. There must always be an Altar.
If we OBEY the instructions of God,when fighting our battles,
we will always come out victorious!!
God never said the battle would be easy, but the reward is awesome…
18. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
26. For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
I wonder what would have happened if Joshua had stretched out his sword and immediately drew it back? No, I think he remembered another battle that was won by not letting weariness overcome obedience…
Exodus 17: 11. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
It’s important to keep following God’s instructions until the enemy is utterly destroyed. Sometimes we may grow weary, but we can’t stop until we have won.
Galations 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
iREAP
Joshua 8
“JESUS IS OUR VICTORY”
(just thought of thisone:)
1John 5.4
For everyone born of God overcomes the world.This is the VICTORY that has overcome the world,even our faith.
Joshua 8.7
You are to rise up from ambush and take the city.The Lord your God will give it into your hand.
The Lord your God might?
The Lord your God if?
No,no,no….
It’s time to “rise up”and take it……
Many times we get weary,(I say this for myself) but I have learned that we must be “aggressive warriors” and don’t give up.
“God will give it into your hand”…..
26-for Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his gaveling until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai.
He didn’t take breaks, he did not stop until he saw God’s will come to pass.
35– there was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel,including the women and children and the aliens who lived among them.
{a loyal man,trustworthy,respectful,obedient….}
26For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
We remember how Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses in a battle, and as long as his hands were lifted up, Israel prevailed.
When God instructed Joshua to lift up the sword and the men in ambush took the city of AI, he did not lower the sword until the battle was won. Many times we begin to see victory in a situation and we stop what we are doing to obtain that victory, before complete deliverance has come, and the enemy has truly been defeated.
We can’t get weary, we must continue the fight, our city, our neighborhoods, and our family are worth ever effort that we put into the battle.
iBlog Lunch
Joshua 8 1And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
***The Battle Plan was quite different than the orders of “Take a couple dudes with you and fight while we sit here and chill.”
We must be in tune with the Spirit of God and we MUST also be in tune with the Man of God.(That’s our Pastor).
***TESTIMONY***
About 3 or 4 or 5 (I knoweth not what year) years ago I got hit by a deer while driving home from Western Day. A fat deer ran into the side of my black Honda while I was going 60 mph.
I deceided I wanted a new car. I was sitting at the desk of the sales man with a pen in my hand fixing to sign the paper when my phone rang…”Hello?” “Oh hi pastor…oh I’m fixing to buy a car…you wouldn’t do it??? But I’m fixing to sign it right now…Ok pastor, I trust you”.
***I DID NOT BUY IT. If I would have bought it I would have lost it, because a few months later the economy hit rock bottom and I was working very few hours…then a hail storm hit…
LISTEN TO THE INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD!
2And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
In Jericho, God was the one who conquered, he destroyed the city and it’s inhabitance, but then the spoils were his. In Ai, he allowed Isreal to win the battle, with his blessings, then he allowed them to keep the spoils.
If you are living in Victory and not in blessing, it’s probably because God is fighting your battles for you and you’re not fighting for yourself. Theres nothing wrong with that except as addage goes, “to the victor goes the spoils” if you didn’t fight for it, don’t expect to reap from it.
There will be times you need to step aside and let God take care of things, 2 Chronicles 20:17You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord
but there are times we need to fight the battle
1 timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
The power of prayer and obedience. Even though in our minds we see defeat, no way; God makes the way and gives us victory. Joshua listened and followed the instructions to victory!
This chapter tells me to have no fear, and stay encouraged. Joshua and his men could have easily been discourage from their first encounter with Ai. But they stayed the course and believed in God. They supported Joshua the man of God to lead them to victory!!
(NIV) 6 They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So when we flee from them, 7 you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The LORD your God will give it into your hand. 8 When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded. See to it; you have my orders.
The best way to defeat the enemy is by tricking them, like Pastor says you confuse the advisary when you give praise and your in the middle of a warfare the deveil thinks he has you bound but in the end we always “take the city”! (:
V4 ” but be ye all ready:”
We ( i ) must be ready at all times. In prayer, fasting,in His Word.
“be instant in season, out of season”
2Tim.4:2
We must stay full of the Holy Ghost at all times. You never know you might need to pray the prayer of faith for someone today.or a strom may rise. You will have GOD’s power to say peace be still. Maybe it’s a season in your life, like the Israelites you’re in a war like right now. You don’t have time to get ready
We have to be ready at all times.
Be GOD sufficient and not self sufficient.
It’s GOD who gives us HIS Power.
HE gives all things.
iPray
1And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
Joshua may not have known how it was going to happen exactly, but he listened,trusted, and obeyed.
Three ingredients for victory !!!!
15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
The Lord has already given us what we need for battle. The Helmet of Salvation- to protect the head from the blows of the enemy. To protect the mind.The helmet is Salvation that keeps our minds safe. The Breast Plate of Righteousness- to protect the heart and to know right from wrong, because we know in our hearts what is right. Loins girt about with Truth- The middle part of the body is a pivotal part, where as long as you know the truth. That can make the pivotal decision in a situation. The feet shod with the Gosple of Peace- let where ever you go in life be peacable. Let the Godly peace follow you in your Life. The Shield of Faith- I do believe that everyone is given a measure of faith, but its what we do with that measure. Our shield can get much bigger! Whatever the enemy tries to throw at you, you use your faith in God to see you through. Never let it down, keep it at the ready. The SWORD of The SPIRIT- the BIBLE. This is why we must hide the word in our hearts. WE must eat it. The only way to sharpen a sword is to put it on a grinding wheel, in todays terms READ IT to SHARPEN IT!
Many belive The force of many fighting man numbered 30 rather than 30000. This reason is that the Heb.word elep which means thousand also can be translated oficer or chief.only a small fprce would have been required to take an Ai empty of defenders and set the city on fire.
v35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
It is a good thing to hear the words from God (the Bible) repeated. They remind us of His commandments and His blessings. It is a way to become more acquainted with Him.
Ps 62v11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this ; that power belongeth unto God.
Joshua had the army of God fake out the enemy! The enemy thought hey had Gods people on the retreat but really God was setting them up! God gave them the victory!
God does not expect us to have a partial victory over the adversary, but he has given us power through the Holy Ghost to get complete and total victory over our problems.
This victory reminds me of what the Lord said about his people being captured by the Babyonians, becuase Israel may have foolishly been defeated without God’s will. The Ai and the Babylonians have this in common they thought Israel where whimps, easily crumbled Jer 50:11“Because you rejoice and are glad,you who pillage my inheritance NIv
God flips the script, the victors will soon become the defeated for their haughtiness. God was using Ai to discipline Isreal then and now. He used people. It was all about his will and never was it about us, or our might or will. He has this same calling for us today, Jesus gave us the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions LK10:11, and 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Its not us at work, we have to step aside and let God be God.
In this chapter i get that God has a set plan of attack for our fights and as long as we obey the instructions He gives us the victory is ours.
8And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
God is so good all He had to do then and now is speak the words and it is done. i thank God that i am serving a God that is so powerfull
This chapter illustrates valor. The Lord promised Joshua victory, which all can see did happen. The Lord has also promised us victory through his Name. Therefore we have nothing to fear if we are in alignment with the Lord’s Word and the man of God, just as the children of Israel were. May the good Lord bless you all in Jesus name, Amen
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19And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, AND TOOK IT
“The Kingdom of Heaven Suffereth Violence”
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
violence G971
βιάζω
biazō
bee-ad’-zo
From G970; to force, that is, (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into), or (passively) to be seized: – press, suffer violence.
violent G973
βιαστής
biastēs
bee-as-tace’
From G971; a forcer, that is, (figuratively) energetic: – violent.
force G726
ἁρπάζω
harpazō
har-pad’-zo
From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): – catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
***GOD GAVE THE WORD “I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:”
***THE PROMISE WAS ALREADY THEIRS
***ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS TAKE BY FORCE WHAT WAS ALREADY THEIRS…THEY DIDNT “TAKE IT” FROM GOD, THEY TOOK IT FROM THE ENEMY.
WE NEED TO TAKE BACK EVERYTHING THE ENEMY HAS STOLEN FROM US
*HEALTH
*MONEY
*PEACE
*FREEDOM
MOST IMPORTANTLY WE NEED TO SET THIS CITY ON FIRE….”IT FEELS LIKE FIRE….FIRE OF THE HOLY GHOST”
Joshua chapters 7 & 8 diffently go together.
In Joshua 7, the children of Israel could not conqueor their enemy because sin was in the camp. Joshua told Achan to make a confession to God, and God told Joshua what to do to get rid of the sin. Burn It!
Joshua 8 is a result of the confession of the sin, getting rid of it, and burning it. They had victory and overcame their enemies.
The same thing is true in our lives today. If we have sinned, we will not have victory or have the power to conqueor our enemy. What we must do is confess our sins, (if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9), and let the fire of the Holy Ghost consume it out of us, and then we will have the power to overcome our enemy and be victorious.
In all things God has his way and as long as we do what and how he tells us we will be ok. Even when it looks like the enemy will win as long as we follow the Lords way he will take care and provide.
Deuteronomy 11:29 (KJV)
29 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.
Joshua 8:30-31 (KJV)
30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
On mount Gerrizim blessings were uttered, on mount ebal curses. Moses had commanded that once they got to this place Joshua would build an altar, write the words of the law, and read the whole law to all the people.
According to Dake’s notes these mountains were close enough to one another that you could stand in the valley and hear what was being said from either peak.
We must be careful which voice we will listen to. Though they had made it over Jordan, defeated Jericho, and defeated Ai, they still had a choice. Would they choose a blessing or the curse?
As Bro. Shatwell says we need to tesify!!!!!!!!!!!
So I am,,,, I believe that God is goin to give unto us land (new church) as He did unto Joshua.
This time they obey exactly as God commanded, they obtained the Victory.
Joshua had learned from his leader Mosses to love God,obey his commandments even if he had to imitat Mosses went he lifted the rod, Joshua lifted his hand with a sword, because his personality was different, he was a warrior!, but after the victory he read the word of God! Imitators of good! In Jesus Name!
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land. God declared unto the man of God and his people followed their leader and its was given to them just as promised unto the Israelite’s. Being faithful unto God they were blessed to see the hand of God work its power in their favor. Just as in the story the devil might think he may have us bond and running away with fear, if we have faith and trust in the lord he will step in at the right time to give us the strength needed to counter attack and confuse our adversary.
God will give us the victory in our jobs and school if we just obey his word. We need to fear him and not the enemy because “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”
8. And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
“We are bold, we are strong, we are ready to march on, Through Christ we will take this city!”
The Lord commands us in Mathew 28:19 go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name…
We need to lead this city to the cross and introduce them to Holy Ghost FIRE!
God knows how to lead anyone to true victory. One of the reasons why we’re always fighting the same battle is because we try to fight the battle on our on. If we would allow God to step in and fight the battle for us, it would be done and over. We must allow our father to go before us, so that we are always in a following position, following after God that is. Let’s stay in the will of God so that the enemy will never have a victory over us.
Point your spear and take the city.
Ambush:
Not all things that are going to ambush you are things from the enemy. Sometimes things from GOD ambush us.
Smoke
20And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
This makes me wonder about the smoke that was in this fight. You know that naturally when things burn there is smoke that goes into the sky or “the heavens.” I am wondering if in this case the reason they called it “the heavens” is because it was similar to a sacrifice that was being burned unto GOD himself. GOD was the author of this battle and the one who orchestrated thier victory. He knew what it was going to be like. When Joshua folllowed GOD’s commands he was able to sacrifice himself by putting his thoughts and feelings aside for GOS’s. GOD requires blood when things are not HIS way. The men of Ai were killed. After thier violent death the children of Isreal gave a peace offering. –After the tremondous violent blood shed they sacriced (shed more blood) to aid in peace.
–PEACE is not CHEEP!
Romans 8: 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Our God is victorious!
Acha took from the spoil of Jericho and died for his rebellion. Had he only been obedient, he would have been able to freely take from the spoil of the very next conquest, Ai. There is life and blessing in obedience to God!
This scripture revealed to me that when God tells you something even when you don’t comprehend it, when the time is right not only will he do as he’s said but show how great his works can be.
Sometimes it takes time to understand.
Everyone has there battles, but it’s your choice if you want Gods help or not…the battle won’t be easy and with His help ALL things are possible.
MSG. 2-3 Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. I am not going to always understand why things happen. I just have to have the faith to know that My Savior can do all things.
4And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
5And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
6(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
In these verses I relate them with our church and Outreach…like it says in the verse 6 For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. We people of the church should go out and reach all the lost souls to bring them in to the House of God bring them in from the city and we should be the first to approach them before the enemy gets a hold of them and destroys them.