Introduction: Joshua, and Israel, were preparing for physical combat. They were a nation, about to launch an attack on the other nations of the land of Canaan. They had to prepare materially, but they also had to prepare spiritually.

We must remember that the United States is not Israel. The United States is not God's chosen nation. We are not yet a theocratic Kingdom, though someday we will be when the Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ.

But, the Church is now the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, and there are applications here that we are meant to profit from in our spiritual battle against Satan and his dark forces. We are in a battle against powers and principalities (Ephesians 6:11-12). Our weapons are not swords, spears, pistols, machine guns or bombs; but rather prayer, faith, patience and the preaching of the Word of God.

There was a threefold spiritual preparation for Joshua and Israel:

I. The Preparation of Humility.
A. Humility doesn't come naturally. We don't like to be humble.
B. Joshua and Israel were humbled as they realized that the nations were trembling,
not because of their power, but because of God's power. They were in awe of
God, not of the Israelites. (Joshua 2:10-11; 5:1).
C. Satan is our adversary, and he does not tremble at OUR power.
1. He despised Job, and would have killed him, if God had allowed.
2. He wanted to "sift" Peter, but Jesus prevented it.
3. Paul the Apostle called him a "roaring lion."
D. But Satan and his demons fear and obey Jesus.

II. The Preparation of Obedience.
A. Obedience is not a popular virtue. Our culture exalts personal freedom.
Children who willingly obey their parents are mocked. Adults who are
determined to live by the 10 commandments are ridiculed.
B. The Israelites had been disobedient to the Lord, and broken His covenants
with them for 40 years. Both the Abrahamic and National covenants. The
Abrahamic Covenant demanded the sign of circumcision, and the National
Covenant demanded the observance of Passover. So, all the men of
Israel were circumcised, and the Passover was observed, before launching
the war.
C. To be a Christian means to be a follower of Jesus. It means to study His
teachings, and live by them. To be a "disobedient Christian" is to be a
walking contradiction. How are we doing at being obedient followers of
our Lord?

III. The Preparation of Reverence and Worship.
A. Joshua met the Lord, just as Moses met Him in the burning bush, and
as Paul met Him on the road to Damascus. In each case they worshipped.
B. Do we know what it means to worship, to fall on our faces in reverent awe
before a holy Creator?

Conclusion: Every soldier must be prepared for the war. Joshua and Israel prepared through humility, obedience and reverence. The church in America, in our time, must prepare itself in the same way, to engage in spiritual battle against the dark forces of evil. How are we doing? Are we prepared for battle? Are we strong, and ready to fight? Or are we shirking our duty, avoiding the enemy, and letting the battle go on without our help? May the Lord help each of us to be a responsible Christian soldier!