12 Steps To Killing Worldly Attitudes

Joshua 6

Jericho is often spoken of as a type of the world. When we look at Jericho as Christians we think of it in terms of a world system that stands in direct opposition to the character and work of God. In the process of gaining victory over the world, the battle with Jericho gives us some ideas about how God works through our lives. \r
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I can't tell you whether God intentionally worked this way for us to have a pattern of how he defeats the world in our lives, but it does give us some good ideas. I saw 12 steps here - no similarity to famous 12 step programs for overcoming addiction, but it is a memorable number.\r
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1. Blunt the attack of the world into a defensive position by God's work (verse 1)\r
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The inhabitants of Jericho were all locked up inside. Why? They feared what God was doing. So does the world. It may appear that a system without God is winning in the courts and in the schools and in the media. But they are buttressing their defenses out of that same fear. Have you ever noticed that you can talk about anything, anything at all and no one with say you have no right. You can bring up all kinds of weird religious ideas, you can propose outlandish theories and even talk of things that are out and out sin and very few will complain. But speak of Jesus Christ and you get howls of protest.\r
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The message of the gospel is exclusive. There is sin and God will judge it unless it is cleansed by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. \r
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It's not that the world has anything to offer, really. It's that they want so much to avoid having to deal with those issues. Just realizing that creates a whole new attitude in the believer as we begin to root out the world from our system.\r
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2. Claim the promise of God for victory is in place (John 16:33 "I have overcome the world", Romans 8:37 "more than conquerorsâ?¦") Verse 2\r
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Jesus has "overcome" the world. It comes from the Greek word "nike" which means "victory." The word "overcome" means to subdue. We are not to just tolerate the world in our lives, we are to subdue it.\r
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3. Make your stand against the world by marching around it - surveying its circumference and seeing how small and finite it really is. (verse 3)\r
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Isaiah 14:15 But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. 16 Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, 17 the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?" NIV\r
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In fact, the worldly influence in our lives, though it takes many forms, is really simple: "All to my glory." \r
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4. Be patient as God does battle against the world for you (verse 14). \r
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2 Corinthians 3:17-18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. \r
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5. Declare the truth of God actively in your life (Matthew 5:14 "city on a hill") verse 4 - rams horns)\r
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6. Declare our allegiance with God (Matthew 10:32 "acknowledge the Son of Godâ?¦") verse 5 the great shout\r
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7. Wait for God to knock the walls down (2 Corinthians 10:5) verse 5\r
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2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds . 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ\r
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8. We must then go in and finish the job of killing off the attitudes and actions of the world (Romans 12:2) verse 20\r
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Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. \r
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Renew: not recent but different. \r
Transform: metamorpho\r
Conform: Means to fashion or shape one thing into another. It is not used of inward transformation, but a surface changing. We can on the surface appear just like the world but it will only bring death. Instead God says for us to be transformed from the inside out to be something different. But we participate in that process.\r
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Philippians 2:12 says "work out your own salvation in fear and trembling." It doesn't mean to earn salvation, but it means to "put your back into it" to use a modern phrase. Exert yourself, get involved, become part of the work God is doing in you.\r
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9. Devote all worldly attitudes for destruction, and that which cannot be burned, devote to using to serve God (like work, family, your life, your goals and hopes, etc) verse 24\r
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Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed , do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. \r
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1 Corinthians 10:31-32 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God . \r
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10. At the same time redeem what you can through the gospel (like Rahab, verse 25)\r
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11. Vow not to resurrect the world in your life or it will kill your effectiveness (James 4:4) verse 26)\r
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James 4:4-6 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? \r
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12. Then God's fame will spread and others will come to know Him (verse 27)\r
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Matthew 5:15-16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. \r
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In essence this is a process of identifying the worldly attitudes in our lives, then focusing on our relationship with God. As we love and worship Him then he begins to break down the walls so we can actively join with Him to "put to death the deeds of the flesh." Remember too that the battle against Jericho took 7 days. We need to be patient as God does the preparatory work. So be patient. Also be aware that just because you win the battle over the world doesn't mean there are no more battles. There are still plenty of enemies out there to trip you up - not the least of which is your own flesh that still loves the world.\r