Arising from
the Default Posture of Defeat - Part I
by Dr. John Tetsola
A last day tactic of the enemy is to wear out the saints and to overwhelm us into a state of retreat and depression. Retreat is far too often the default position many believers resort to, and it is the posture we sometimes assume when facing any semblance of defeat. But as we approach the end of the year, it is important for us not to retreat, but to arise from every place and posture of defeat in order to sanctify ourselves for tomorrow.
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men…wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
Joshua 7:5-7 KJVRight after Israel’s previous victory at Jericho, Israel was now on the run from their enemies. With 36 of the men of Israel killed in Ai, Israel’s heart melted like water. Setbacks often send believers into a state of disillusionment and depression. It was from this place that Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face saying, ‘Alas, O Lord God, did You bring us over the Jordan to be prey for our enemies?’ The term “alas” signified a “we’ve had it” type of attitude. Joshua went on to say, ‘Would to God we’d been content to stay on the other side of Jordan.’ While Joshua and the elders placed themselves before the Ark of God in the face of setback, too often believers assume a posture of defeat without even seeking the mind of God. They automatically choose a posture of defeat and depression and refuse to budge. Don’t settle by default on the ‘other side of the Jordan.’ Instead, learn to arise from the default posture of defeat and crossover.
SANCTIFY YOURSELF FOR TOMORROW
The Lord said to Joshua, Get up! Why do you lie thus upon your face? Israel has sinned…They have taken some of the things devoted [for destruction]…and put them among their own baggage. Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord…There are accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].
Joshua 7:10-11, 13 AMPAchan caused the breach in Israel’s corporate anointing. He hid the accursed things in his baggage and God was upset with all of Israel (Jos. 7:1). And not being able to zero in on the cause of Israel’s setback, Joshua sort of got frustrated with God. Isn’t that what we sometimes do? Rather than searching for breaches in our own lives, we often question God’s integrity. But Israel’s crisis was not the result of God’s unfaithfulness. Prophetically speaking, the accursed thing could represent the excess baggage of the heart that’s carried from one season into the next, and God is saying “You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction]” (Jos. 7:13). You may have experienced some unexpected setbacks in 2010, but sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because God will bind up the hurt of His people and heal the wounds inflicted by the failures of yesterday (Isa. 30:26). There’s a new dimension of relationship on the horizon, so set yourself apart for God’s holy purpose and arise. The enemy you run from today will be defeated as you sanctify yourself for tomorrow.