DEFEATS THAT THREATEN DESTINY (Part 3)

DEFEATS THAT THREATEN DESTINY   (Part 3)

Pride is the second reason for defeats that threaten your destiny.  Achan is not the only one at fault in this story.  When Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai to view the country, the men returned and told Joshua:

Joshua 7:3 "Let not all the people go up; but let about  two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few."

Ai was a small town in comparison to the city of Jericho which Israel had just conquered.  Pridefully, these men thought, "Ai should be no problem.  We have faced bigger challenges and been victorious.  This is nothing to worry about."  Israel was self-confident instead of being confident in God.  There is no mention of "if it is the Lord's will", an attitude we are advised to have according to James 4:13-17.
 

How many have fallen victim to pride?  

-Lucifer, desiring to be God.  

-Adam and Eve, desiring to be as gods.  

-Those who depend on self-confidence instead of God-confidence.  

In our own battles of life we often believe we can handle the lesser problems ourselves. But there is no encounter with the enemy so small that we do not need all of the resources God has provided to face it.   When you begin to move in self-confidence and proudly think "there is nothing to worry about,” then you are getting into dangerous territory.  There is no spiritual battle for which you do not need all available resources provided by God.

The third thing is Perception, which is how you view things.  The men sent to view Ai looked at things with their natural senses.  They did not have the spiritual perception to look beyond surface appearances and recognize the power of the enemy.

People act based upon their perceptions.  Following natural perception instead of spiritual insight led to inaccurate reporting in the camp of Israel.  Those men that claimed that the warriors of Ai were just a few in Joshua 7:3, found out in reality there were 12,000 of them according to Joshua 8:25.

When you involve self-reliant men in God's work they will make decisions based on their own perceptions. This leads to carnal counsel which, when acted upon, always results in defeat.  Surround yourself with those who are God-confident and who view things with a spiritual mind.

You cannot make decisions based upon your perception alone. You need the guidance and discernment provided by the Holy Spirit.  Take time to pray before you act, and you will avoid many of the perils of defeat.