The Way to Victory

For Saturday Oct. 11, 2014

(#914, Imperial, 1962)
Read Joshua 3.

Israel has been delivered from bondage in Egypt.  They had earlier faced the time of decision at Kadesh-Barnea where they followed men instead of God.  Now God is again bringing them to Canaan.
Likewise God wants to bring the Christian into a new and wonderful experience, a way you have not passed before.  Deliverance from bondage is not enough.  The believer must pass over Jordan to face conflict, but also to experience victory.  What is the way of victory?

A listening people (vs3,5,8,9).
Much emphasis in Scripture is put on hearing.  Not enough time is spent simply listening to God.

A sanctified people (v5).
They needed to be separated unto God, sanctified.  God cannot do wonders until we are separated.  All that was alien to God had to be removed that they might submit to God.

The presence of God (vs3,5,8,11,13,14,15,17).
Everything in this chapter centers around the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence.  The Ark must always be kept in sight, as God must always be kept in view in our lives.  There can be no victory without Him.

Faith and obedience (vs10-13,17).
The river of impossibility often comes between the Wilderness life or defeat and a life of victory.  Wouldn't it be better to wait until the flood season was over?  Then they might be able to wade through.  No!  The people watched the Ark and the Priests that bore it.  Step by step they approached to within a yard, but the river remained unchanged.  Finally, the feet of the Priests touched the edge of the river and the water began to roll back.  An impossibility was overcome through faith and obedience.

Christ is the secret of victory.  It is not a matter of getting the victory but a matter of looking to Christ.  It is not a new experience that is needed but Christ.
The life of victory is the life which wants only the Lord Jesus!