A Northern Destruction - Joshua 11:1-15

Well, I'm here to say that I'm really glad to be with my church family again. As you know, we had a little storm blow through here and it pushed us more to a remote service last week, but I think as Maya and Renee were text messaging back and forth, they were talking about how much they really looked forward to being in the presence of their church family.

You know, this is a wonderful blessing that we have in this church is the community bound together in Christ where there's a desire in the heart of each individual to come together and be a part of this family united in Christ.

Now, as many of you know, we've been in the book of Joshua here for the past few weeks and we're going to continue in that book this morning.

If you brought your Bibles with you today, let's go ahead and turn to the book of Joshua. We're going to start in a very new chapter this morning.

We're going to be in Joshua chapter 11, verses 1 through 15, and the title of this message is

A Northern Destruction. Now, if you recall in our previous study at the end of Joshua chapter 10, we found ourselves at a period of conquest and destruction, and while we see a similar outcome in the passage we're going to be dealing with this morning, we'll find that the geography will be reserved to the northern part of Canaan, and as always, there will be some new lessons for us to learn as well.

Specifically, what we saw in the destruction of the southern part of Canaan was where Joshua, he executed these military engagements here with a deadly efficiency, and in these things here

Joshua showed that he had a keen understanding of what God's expectations were in his life as well as the role that he would play in God's sovereign plan.

This was no ordinary conquest, mind you, where the

Lord literally fought for Israel with an unmistakable sign of divine intervention raining down massive hailstones from the heavens to the fleeing armies, and what began as a simple defense of Gibeon exploded into a lightning campaign of southern conquest where city after city fell in rapid destruction, and so as we wrapped up Joshua chapter 10, we are left with this clear statement that where all these kings and their land would fall to Joshua in one single and breathtaking campaign, and how did this happen?

It was because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. We are told this in the final verse in Joshua chapter 10.

Now if you recall, none of the cities in the southern part of Canaan, none of them surrendered. They all resisted, yet they were all destroyed with a deadly efficiency.

No one was spared. Every Canaanite from the highest king to the lowliest peasant was killed in short order.

Richard Sibes, he was an influential English Puritan who lived from 1577 to his death in 1635.

He was oftentimes regarded as representative of mainline Puritanism in England, and of course during his time of ministry, he would really be best known for his work that's entitled

A Bruised Reed. And contained within this work, he spoke authoritatively of Christ's public triumph where he said this.

He said, it is not only said that judgment shall be victorious, but that Christ will bring it forth openly to victory, grace will become glory, and come forth into the sight of all.

The Apostle Paul, he also pointed out this principle in his letter to the

Philippians where we see in Philippians chapter 2 verses 10 and 11, where the

Apostle Paul said that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is

Lord to the glory of God the Father. My brothers and sisters in everyday life,

God's justice, it governs the history and personal events of each person, and this of course is what we call divine providence.

He ordains all things for his glory, including the trials that sanctify us as Christians as well as the judgment that's visited on those who are not in Christ.

Perhaps we see this in Romans chapter 9 verses 22 and 23, and this of course is what we saw at the end of Joshua chapter 10, and as such it is important for us as Christians to recognize that justice is a foundational attribute in God's character.

It is really rooted in his absolute holiness and righteousness, and it is inseparable from his sovereignty and his mercy, yet for the

Christian, our sin condition is satisfied through Christ's substitutionary atonement.

And this is what we really need to keep in mind now as we're starting to move into Joshua chapter 11, where we begin to examine this next chapter.

We now read in Joshua chapter 11 verses 1 through 15, so let's take a look at our passage now that's before us.

And it came to pass when Jabin king of Hazor heard these things that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shemron, and the king of Ascath, and to the kings who were also from the north in the mountains in the plain south of Chemeroth in the lowlands, and of course the heights of Dor on the west, and of course the

Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Pezzorite, the

Jebusite in the mountains, and the Hivite below Hermon in the land of Mitzpah. So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many as people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots.

And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.

But the Lord said to Joshua, do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time

I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.

So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them.

And the Lord delivered them in the hand of Israel, who defeated them and chased them to greater

Sidon, to the brook of Mesropoth and the valley of Mitzpah eastward.

They attacked them until they left none of them remaining. So Joshua did to them as the

Lord had told them. He hamstrung their horses and he burned their chariots with fire.

Joshua turned back at the time and took Hazor and struck its king with the sword. For Hazor was formerly the head of all those kingdoms, and they struck all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them.

There was none left breathing, and then they burned Hazor with fire. So all the cities of all the kings and all their kings,

Joshua took and struck with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them as Moses, the servant of the

Lord, had commanded. But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them except Hazor only, which

Joshua burned. And all the spoil of those cities and the livestock, the children of Israel took as booty for themselves, but they struck every man with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they left none breathing.

And the Lord commanded Moses, as the Lord commanded Moses, his servant, so Moses commanded

Joshua. And so Joshua did. He led nothing undone of all that the

Lord had commanded Moses. You know, as we look at Joshua chapter 11 here more closely, we find that it marks the climax of this northern campaign and this conquest of Canaan here.

And after the southern destruction that we saw last week of Canaan, we see this massive coalition of kings unite against Israel.

We find that this alliance here really represents an overwhelming human opposition.

I mean, this group of people here had, they had chariots, they had vast armies. We were told that their number was as many as the sand on the seashore.

And yet in this passage here, we're going to find that there is a futility that comes with resisting

God's purposes. And we will address this in the following five points of our message this morning.

The first point that we're going to talk about is an overwhelming threat. This is going to be readily seen in Joshua chapter 11 verses 1 through 5.

This will bring us to the next point where we'll find a divine promise. This will be seen in Joshua chapter 11 verse 6.

Furthermore, we'll find in our third point a decisive victory. This will be found in Joshua chapter 11 verses 7 through 9, bringing us to the fourth point where we see a complete conquest.

This will be seen in Joshua chapter 11 verses 10 through 14. And then in our fifth and our final point this morning, we're going to talk about a perfect obedience, which will be found in the very last verse of our passage this morning, which is in Joshua chapter 11 verse 15.

Now this brings us to the very first point of our message this morning in this northern destruction where the

Israelites are faced with an overwhelming threat. You know, as we come to these opening verses here in Joshua chapter 11, we find a continuing season of conquest where the challenges are greater, the danger is more pronounced, and the nation of Israel would have to rely on God ever more so in total dependence on Him.

And as Joshua and the nation of Israel would assess these conditions, we find two interesting observations emerging from these opening verses here.

One such observation that's readily seen is this human alliance against God's people. In Joshua chapter 11 verses 1 through 5, we find an emerging and an overwhelming threat on the horizon here.

And what we see is really this human alliance against God's people. This alliance was comprised of a coalition of northern kings of Canaan who would begin to assemble their armies against the nation of Israel.

It should be noted that this threat was much stronger than what Joshua had confronted in the southern region of Canaan.

For this coalition was led by Jabin and his fellow kings who were equipped with horses and chariots.

These were the symbols of world dominance when it came to military and modern warfare.

The challenge was indeed greater. It was greater than any previous challenge faced by Joshua and the nation of Israel up to this point in time.

And likewise, of course, we would find that this would give God ample opportunity to demonstrate

His power and His glory and His majesty. Are we not told by the psalmist?

In Psalm 20 verse 7, the psalmist says, Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the

Lord our God. You know, we also find some interesting parallels in this account to what is seen in the modern times where sinners themselves will oftentimes unite in opposition to the things of God.

And for those who are not current on such conditions, I would encourage them to just tune in to the evening news for examples of this.

And even in the times in which we live, we are told not to fear the person that can destroy the body, but rather to fear the person that can destroy the soul.

So our perspective here should be centered really on this eternal reality of our walk with Christ.

And as we consider this overwhelming threat here faced by Joshua and the nation of Israel as well as our own human condition, one thing that is readily seen is that there is a futility of human opposition.

Throughout the pages of biblical history, we find time and time again, the futility of human opposition to God.

This is a truth that is clearly illustrated by God's eternal decrees. And yet since the beginning of time, mankind seems hell -bent on running headlong in opposition into the face of an omnipotent

God. And to be honest, I often find myself confused when

I witness such things. In his exposition on Psalm 2,

John Gill, he laid out a very scathing assessment on the folly of human opposition to God where he made this statement.

He said, yet what is all the fury? What end can it serve? What fruit can it bear?

It is altogether in vain, to no purpose, and utterly insignificant. For He, which is

God, that sits in the heavens, the eternal Jehovah, secure upon His throne, exalted above all the tumults of earth, shall laugh.

The Lord shall have them in derision. The laughter is no light merriment, but the profound contempt of infinite wisdom towards the feeble strivings of creatures of dust.

Their mad counsels, their combined strength, their most cunning devices are to Him as the buzzing of a gnat against the sun.

He regards them with scorn, assured that His unassailable security and certainty of their inevitable disappointment and ruin.

So just as we see here this foolhardy opposition to God's people by these northern kings, so too do we find some important lessons for our lives as well.

You know, as Christians, when we look at the futility of one's opposition to God, I believe it is important for us to take a step back and to kind of really consider the incomprehensible nature of God Himself.

Dearly beloved from the beginning before the first dawn broke or before the first stars would even sparkle their light, the triune

God who is the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, He existed in perfect, self -sufficient glory.

Let me assure you that God needed nothing, He wanted nothing, and since the beginning of time

He has determined everything according to the counsel of His will. This is a difficult thing for sinful man to accept, but it is true nonetheless.

You know, the Apostle Paul spoke to this issue quite clearly in his letter to the Ephesian Church, where we find in Ephesians 1, verses 11 and 12, where Paul said in Him also we have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to what?

To the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Let us not forget that the eternal power and the vastness of our sovereign Creator, who in His sovereignty and His sovereign eternity merely spoke and the universe sprang into being.

Make no mistake, this act on God's part was not an accident or necessity, but rather it was by the free decree of His power.

So every angel and every galaxy and every blade of grass exists because God made it so and all these things, of course, were created for His pleasure and His glory.

And yet we find man formed from the dust and crowned with the image of God actually thinking that they are qualified to oppose

God. You know, this is what total depravity looks like.

This is what it means to be dead in one's trespasses and sin, and this is what it means to be enslaved to oneself, to be hostile to the things of God and to be guided by one's own sinful nature.

My brothers and sisters, from the dawn of creation to the very day that we are now in, mankind continues to believe that opposition to God somehow places them on the right side of history.

However, for those of us who are in Christ, we should let this truth humble us and steer us away from such arrogance.

We should remind ourselves that an opposition to God is not merely unwise, but rather it is a fool's errand and it is impossible to succeed.

And why is that? It is because the counsel of the Lord stands forever and His kingdom will endure without end.

So as Christians here, we have an obligation here to view this same history that is before us through the lens of Scripture, which really writes this repetitive story of the futility that comes with opposing

God. Therefore, let us be mindful of this and let us walk circumspectly in all of our ways, glorifying

God in all that we do. And even in the case of Joshua here, where the threat was overwhelming and the danger was more pronounced, there is still an important ally that was unknown to the northern kings.

And that ally was a divine promise. Now, you know, as the story of human opposition begins here, we find ourselves now moving further into Joshua 11, specifically in verse 6, where we find

God's response here to this long and tragic and utterly futile parade of pride on the part of these northern kings.

And then this response, it comes in the form of a divine promise to Joshua, where we are told, but the

Lord said to Joshua, do not be afraid because of them for tomorrow about this time,

I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.

And with that said, you know, one of the things that we readily see here in this divine promise is we see

God's commandment and God's comfort here. In Joshua 11, verse 6, the

Lord speaks directly to Joshua here and with this commanding yet assuring promise, telling him that he would prevail in battle the next day.

And of course, he was to follow specific instructions here, which was to hamstring the horses and of course to burn the chariots.

You know, God was making it clear to Joshua and the nation of Israel that they were to reject any trust in captured military technology, rather drawing their comfort and their assurance from the

Lord alone. And this, of course, continues to be the message for us today.

Whereas Christians, we read in Hebrews chapter 6, verses 17 and 18, where it says, thus

God God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise, the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope that is set before us.

My brothers and sisters, God's promises in Scripture are unbreakable.

Whether it be the trials, the persecutions, the doubt, or the sin, we need to be able to cling to God's Word and the promises that are contained therein.

Let us reject these worldly chariots here of self -help and cultural approval or spiritual compromise, but rather let us, of course, rely on the predestined plan for our own sanctification and ultimate victory.

Another observation that's also found in this divine promise is God's assurance of victory here.

Again, in Joshua chapter 11, verse 6, we see how God's assurance was always predetermined since the beginning of time, and we see that this is the case here as well.

From a Reformed theological perspective, victory is predetermined by God's sovereign will.

It's not human strategy here, and it echoes of the doctrines of unconditional election and irresistible grace, where God will choose and He will promise and He will ensure the success of His people.

For in the end, Joshua's role was one of responsive obedience and not causative. It was predicated on an obedient relationship that he had with his

God and, of course, with his people and, of course, his place in biblical history. However, when we look at the sin history of these northern kings of Canaan, we see a much different story.

We find that it tells the same story of what was seen in the southern region of Canaan, which we visited last week.

The outcome was the same. It would be an outcome of God's justice, God's judgment, total annihilation and destruction.

So when you consider all these things here, it should really come as no surprise that God's justice and Joshua's conquest would have similar outcomes here.

Thus the question that we should ask ourselves is this, is if this is so repetitive, why do we continue to talk over and over again about the same type of similar conquests?

You know, I believe repetition, it reinforces learning and it oftentimes will kind of help address the convenient forgetfulness that we as human beings often have.

We find this to be so prevalent in society today. You know, we live in a society where mankind will recoil at God's judgment while at the same time being dismissive of what put the offender there to begin with.

We learn this at the end of Joshua chapter 10, which is chronicled in God's southern destruction of Canaan.

And likewise, we find this very same message here as we move into the northern part of Canaan and the destruction that they would see.

So the judgment of the pagan people here can also have a life application for us as Christians.

And you know, as Christians, we should never allow God's mercy and blessings, of course, to become a source of pride or haughtiness or entitlement.

Let us not think that the blessings that we receive are somehow the reward of something that we deserve, but rather these things are predicated on God's divine promise that transcends time and places and people.

We should also be careful what we ask for and, of course, be careful what we complain about, because the sovereign

God that holds your destiny, your direction, and your purpose, He holds these things in His hands.

Now, with all that said, we come to another point in our message this morning where we see a decisive victory.

You know, one of the recurring themes that we see here in the book of Joshua is that there's resounding victories on the field of battle.

And we find this also to be the case in Joshua 11, verses 7 through 9.

But one thing is clear, and that is the victories here are the result of what? Of obedience and action and, of course,

God's orchestrated effort here. And so as we consider yet another decisive military campaign,

I believe it would be important to, again, consider some observations that are before us where we see

Joshua's fateful response. In Joshua 11, verse 7, we find

Joshua's fateful response to be carried out. He carried it out without question, without hesitation, and with an immediate obedience.

There was no debate here. And under God's direction, what would he do? He would launch a surprise attack at the waters of Harom, which really led to a complete and total defeat of these northern

Canaanite kings. Simply put, Israel obeys by destroying the enemy's strength as commanded by God.

So Joshua's fateful response here, it highlights how God's sovereign initiative and the obedience of His appointed servant go hand in hand in accomplishing

His redemptive purposes here. Joshua acted decisively in faith.

He launched a surprise attack exactly as the Lord had directed him earlier in this chapter.

And once again, we see how the victory here, it belongs to the Lord, not to the efforts of military strength and strategy alone.

Let us always remember that spiritually successful endeavors in our lives, and, of course, anything that we do and the steps that we take and the journey that we find ourselves enjoined in, let us understand that all these things, they flow from God's sovereign decree and covenant faithfulness.

So while Joshua's role here will demonstrate God ordains both the ends and the means here, we find one way that He brings us about is through the promises that He makes to His people and, of course, the obedience of human action.

We need to remember this in our own lives and put this into practice. So in the end,

God sovereignly grants victory here. His servant Joshua obeys in faith, and his purposes are accomplished without fail.

This, my dear brothers and sisters, is an important lesson for us to take at heart. Now this brings us to another important aspect here of this decisive victory where we see

Joshua now acting on God's assurance. In Joshua 11, verses 8 and 9,

Joshua acts boldly because God has already decreed the outcome here. You need to understand that by this time in Joshua's life, he had already seen this harmony of God's eternal decrees and faithful perseverance.

Joshua could act boldly not because of his own military confidence, but rather because of the experience that he had in his walk with God and his assuring promises.

And for us, the same truth continues to this very day, where our works, of course, can never lead to righteousness and where the

Christian life is always going to be marked by a grace -enabled obedience here. You know, who would have guessed that a resounding victory so long ago would have a message for us as modern -day

Christians, and yet this is indeed the case. You know, as Christians, we find ourselves engaged in spiritual warfare, which demands an active faith, a consistent prayer life, and of course, a commitment to holy living.

And just as God's assurance of victory here fueled Joshua's bold obedience seen in this passage of Scripture, so do we as Christians have the same wherewithal as we are guided by the

Holy Spirit in the steps that we take and in the life that we lead. My brothers and sisters, true faith produces works that are spiritually meaningful and internal in value here, and it is because such works, all the glory goes to God who works in us.

Another point that we find in this passage of Scripture is that there was a complete conquest here.

In Joshua chapter 11, verses 10 through 14, we find a complete conquest where judgment and fulfillment literally come to the forefront of these verses here.

And while these verses sound similar to what is found in the southern destruction of Canaan, we do have some important distinctions that we should take note of here.

One important observation we find is the fall of Hazor. Now, Hazor was a very large city.

He was kind of the king that headed up this entire northern coalition. And in Joshua chapter 11, verses 10 and 11, we find this detailed account of the fall of Hazor where Joshua captures

Hazor, the coalition head, and he strikes down all of the coalition kings. Every human being was devoted to destruction, and Joshua for his part would spare no one per God's command.

You know, anytime we see judgment this severe, we find that it really reflects on God's holiness and the wages of sin, and it prefigures into a final judgment for those who are not in Christ.

Additionally, it also, it really conveys this typological pointer where the promised land is secured for God's people.

And likewise, we as modern -day Christians, we bear witness to a type of heavenly inheritance as well.

We see this in Hebrews chapter 11, verse 16. So the destruction of these northern kings, it was swift, it was decisive, and it was complete.

But there's another interesting observation here as well where we see this generational command.

You know, one of the interesting distinctions that we find in this northern destruction here is this echo from a past generation represented by Moses, which is read and found in Joshua chapter 11, verse 12.

It says, it says, so all the cities of those kings and all their kings, Joshua took and struck with the edge of the sword.

He utterly destroyed them. Now look here, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded.

You know, one of the things that's readily seen here is that God's command from a past generation, it does not have an expiration date.

And as such, the expectation that was given to Moses so long ago would remain in place until its ultimate fulfillment here in Joshua chapter 11, verse 12.

Joshua understood this. The nation of Israel, they understood this.

Let us remember that many of God's commands that may be deemed old or outdated or irrelevant, they remain a part of God's timeless expectation.

So obedience here is not optional just because the culture says that it is. You know, we also live in a time when disrespecting a previous generation of godly men and women has become quite common and actually applauded in modern day society.

And while this is not a popular theology in our modern times, the respect of a previous godly generation, it flows from the authority of God.

It flows from the goodness of His created order and it flows from the transforming work of the gospel.

Show me a society that does not respect this and I will show you a depraved and a chaotic society.

And again, if you don't believe me, just tune in to the evening news. Now, in those times when we are presented with a godly command that may be passed on from a preceding generation, let us understand that God will sometimes call on a current generation to fulfill an expectation that was left unresolved.

This issue is not about fairness, but rather about an obedience to God that does not have an expiration date.

So, in this conquest, we find that God not only gave the victory here, but He also fulfilled a generational command that was expected of the nation of Israel.

Now, when we consider such things here for our own life practice, how often do we look at the world around us in which we live and we tell ourselves that I cannot believe what is going on in the world today?

I can tell you that I have said that a time or two. How many times have we said, hey,

I cannot believe what this person did. What are they thinking? I've said that a time or two being in law enforcement.

Or maybe, oh my, just when I think that I've seen everything here in this world, this happens.

I've said that a time or two as well. My brothers and sisters, these are questions and observations that are symptomatic of a world that is lost and it's deeply broken.

These are things that are symptomatic of a world that is marked by unbelief and rebellion and, of course, spiritual blindness.

And in the end, these are the things that are symptomatic of a world that is descending into chaos.

For in this generation, we see that generations of sin and unbelief will do really deleterious things to a society.

We see this in the case of these northern kings, and it continues to be the case in the times in which we live.

And despite these societal conditions, God's justice demands that we proclaim the gospel urgently.

Of course, that we also ward of judgment while also offering God's grace. Additionally, we also need to understand that moral law as fulfilled in Christ is still normative for Christian living today.

This here moral law of God is not subservient to the litmus test of popular culture.

Let us never try to impose this expectation of cultural relevance on the plans and purposes of God, and let us not be dismissive of God's commands given to a previous generation, especially when we have a moral obligation that's grounded in God's moral law.

This, of course, should be practiced in our family life and our church life as well, and it should be shaped by wisdom and humility and an awareness of how such things are fulfilled in Christ.

Now, we've covered a lot of territory here, but this now brings us to one short but final point, if I may, and that's this point of a perfect obedience.

In Joshua 11, verse 15, we find a repetition here of this generational command that was passed on by Moses, where we see a perfect obedience and a faithfulness to God's Word.

You know, when we consider this final verse here, highlighting perfect obedience, we also need to think about why we see this repetition here.

I mean, there's no doubt that this repetition was intentional, and as such, we're compelled to take a couple final observations to note.

One observation that readily comes in mind is that this repetition here in this final verse in our passage is that it was intentional.

You know, we need to remember that God's Word is inspired, it is inerrant, and it is the sufficient

Word of God. And as such, in Scripture, we find that it is not a flaw. Repetition is not merely a redundancy here.

Repetition is not the consequence of human error, but rather it is a deliberate part of God's divine revelation.

It reflects God's divine design to communicate truth effectively to a fallen and a frail and a broken humanity.

Oftentimes in humanity, we find that the heart and mind is susceptible to forgetfulness and distraction, and so biblical repetition is, of course, a means to bring an important point home to our heart.

Another important observation that's also found in this last verse is where this repetition conveys an important emphasis here.

You know, throughout Scripture, when you find a particular point that is repeated within the same passage, we find that it conveys significance.

It is employed as a means of spiritual amplification, and it is often meant to reinforce a moment of history where emphasis is needed, and the principle being highlighted here is something that we need to remember.

Repetition underscores the essential doctrines of the commands of God, and it's what God deems critical for His people to internalize within their heart.

So that really brings us to the point of what's being emphasized here. And again,

I think this brings us to this principle of how a perfect obedience is also a timeless expectation.

You know, Joshua's unwavering obedience, it demonstrates for us a perfect and a faithful obedience to God, which was a timeless expectation.

This is not just an Old Testament expectation, but it is rooted in God's moral law, and it remains imperative for us as Christians today.

Perfect obedience, it models the perseverance of the saints who are preserved by God's grace.

It points us to Christ, the perfect Joshua, who perfectly fulfilled the law in its entirety.

As sola scriptura, it calls on those of us who are in Christ to obey God's Word comprehensively without any additions or subtractions here.

So perfect obedience to God matters. It matters for our church life. It matters for our respective families, and it matters for the greater society as well.

And with all this said, I would like to leave you with one final application, if I may.

And that is, as Christians, there have been many lessons that have been found in this northern destruction of Canaan, where we see a rebellion that highlights the total depravity of a fallen humanity, of course, which will always naturally seem to array itself against God's elect.

My brothers and sisters, this is not an occasion to despair because God's sovereignty will turn every enemy plan to His glory.

We see this in Proverbs 21, verse 1, as well as in Romans 8, verse 28.

And in our respective journey here in the life in which we live, where the cultural, the ideological, or the personal oppositions may be daunting at times,

I want to assure you that they are no match for God's decree. As believers, we should never fear human might, but recognize it as part of God's providential stage to demonstrate

His power. And just as Joshua would face insurmountable odds, he would nonetheless respond in perfect obedience, trusting in God's unchanging

Word and obeying Him fully. This is the spiritual challenge that all of us here embrace today.

Where we rest in His sovereign grace, where we act in perfect obedience, all the while facing our own spiritual battles.

Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, Lord, I want to once again thank

You for bringing us together under one roof as one family. Dear Lord, thank

You so much for the power that's found in Your Word. Lord, for Your God -ordained victory, for the kingdom that You have for us.

Lord, I just ask that You empower us to resist sin, to walk circumspectly, to live a holy life, and of course, direct all the glory to You.

Thank You, Lord, for all that You've done, for how You've taken such good care for each family represented in this congregation.

Lord, I just ask that You be with us in the days ahead. And that we will take the gospel with us, taking advantage of those opportunities that come our way to point others to Christ.