

Conquering Sin
“The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.” Joshua 10:8 NASBS
In the historical account of Israel’s conquest into Canaan, God demonstrated His power in them by enabling them to conquer three cities as they entered the Promised Land. The mighty walls of Jericho fell, AI was decisively defeated, and now the inhabitants of the royal city of Gibeon had been given over to Israel to be their servants. This demonstrated God’s love for His people and in His grace He showed mercy towards Joshua who had previously fallen into pride. In His sovereignty, God would purify and sanctify the nation, fulfilling the purpose He had ordained for His chosen people long before the world was established.
The conquering of these cities instilled profound fear in the hearts of all the kings residing in Canaan. Consequently, five kings and all their soldiers conspired together to wage war against Gibeon. Their objective was to diminish the strength of Israel and instill fear within them. However, the Lord addressed Joshua, assuring him of victory, stating, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.” The Lord’s mighty hand was upon Joshua and his entire army.
During this remarkable battle, the Lord demonstrated His unparalleled authority over all of creation by commanding the sun to stand still over Gibeon and halting the moon in the valley of Aijalon. Consequently, “the sun stood still, and the moon stopped until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.” “The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.” This extraordinary event emphasizes God’s power and His commitment to support His people in their time of need.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, the very same God Who granted victory to His covenant people in the past is the God we serve today. Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, has fulfilled every promise outlined in the covenant made with Abraham, which stated “through your descendants, all nations of the earth will be blessed.” This promise anticipated the arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thousands of years later, Jesus, God incarnate, came into the world and triumphed over sin and death by sacrificing His life, only to rise again on the third day, never to face death again.
As Christians, through the miraculous miracle of regeneration, God has bestowed upon us the power and authority to overcome sin, which seeks to dominate our flesh. This transformation occurred when God instilled within us a faith that relies on the finished work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. He delivered us from the bondage of darkness and granted us a new heart that produces fruit leading to righteousness, while embracing repentance. This renewed heart yearns for holiness, harbors a deep hatred toward sin, and passionately desires to bring glory to God.
For this reason, valiant warriors, like Joshua of old, rise up and do not allow sin to influence your body to rebel against the One who saved you. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus has placed sin beneath your feet, empowering you to trample upon it, for it cannot stand against you. So when faced with the seductive lies of sin and its alluring temptations, acknowledge your weakness and let it drive you to your knees in holy prayer. Instead of succumbing to these temptations, engage in battle and do not permit it to gain a foothold in your life.
This is an ongoing struggle that every Christian must face during their time on Earth, but remember, sin no longer has dominion over you, for where there is no law, there can be no violation of that law. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law, which demands perfection, enabling Him to liberate those who come to Him in faith and repentance from its judgment. This is why Jesus Christ is the only pathway into the kingdom of heaven, for no one born of the seed of man can ever attain such perfection. Today, if you have not come to faith in Jesus Christ, I pray that God would open up your heart to see a bleeding savior, Jesus Christ, bearing the sins of the world.