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WALLS ARE COMING DOWN

WALLS ARE COMING DOWN

Let’s look at a Biblical story that vividly demonstrates the power of God.

Joshua 6:1-20 (NKJV) – Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valour. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.’ 6 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.’ 7 And he said to the people, ‘Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the LORD.’ 8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, ‘You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.’ 11 So he had the ark of the LORD circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp.14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days. 15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: ‘Shout, for the LORD has given you the city! 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall FELL DOWN FLAT. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

I believe God has given us this story to teach us some important truths. I pray that we would grasp what the Lord wants to teach us.

Allow me to share three points based on this passage:

 
1. SEE WHAT GOD IS SEEING FOR YOUR FUTURE
A.  The context: Jericho was the first battle in possessing the Promised Land. This was the land of milk and honey that God had promised to Abraham over 500 years before. Now, Jericho was in lockdown. The inhabitants were scared of God’s people, because they had heard about God’s magnificent miracles – how He delivered them out of Egypt; brought them through the Red Sea; and how He brought them across the Jordan River, etc. The Canaanites were afraid of God’s people.
B.  God’s strategy seemed strange and even ridiculous to the natural mind. But it was a test of Israel’s faith and their willingness to obey God.
C.  Joshua 6:2 (NKJV) – And the LORD said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand.’
Notice two things: ‘See!’ and ‘I have given’.

D. ‘See!’
– In order to possess our promised land we need to see what God is seeing for our lives. We need to see with the eyes of faith. We need to have a picture in our hearts of what God is busy doing.
– Hebrews 11:30 (NKJV) – ‘By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.’
– Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

– I put it this way: Faith is seeing the picture in your heart, before you see it in reality.
E. ‘I have given Jericho into your hand.’
– Take note it is past tense. Before Joshua even lifted a finger, it was accomplished in God! Jericho was already delivered into his hands – the enemy was already defeated. That must have given Joshua great confidence.
F. Do you realise that when God spoke to Joshua, He was actually giving him a promise? God loves to speak to us and give us promises for our future
– Dr Myles Munroe used to say: When God gives you a promise, your future is created.
– So, when your current situation doesn’t look like what God has promised, just keep believing God and He will change your situation. Because God keeps His promises.
G. So let us ‘see’ beyond the walls and into the promise.
 
2. THE GOD WHO DESTROYED JERICHO’S WALLS STILL WRECKS WALLS TODAY
A. Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) – ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.’
– He will do it again! He will do it for His people, He will do it for His church, and He will do it for you personally.
B. Jericho was a symbol of great power and strength. People saw it as an invincible city! It was extremely well fortified. The walls were up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. The guards on the walls could see for miles. It seemed impossible for the Israelites to take the city. But with God impossible situations become possible; they don’t intimidate God.
C. Some misguided people have suggested that the footsteps of the Israelites, combined with the soundwaves of the trumpets and shouting caused the wall to collapse. But that is an outright lie. It was the supernatural intervention of the Almighty God! It was a sheer miracle
D. Many theologians believe that the walls descended into the ground like an elevator, and then the Israelites walked right over the top of the walls.    Excavations seem to support this claim. It’s as though the walls were swallowed up by the earth.
E. Theologian Adam Clarke said: Both Jewish and Christian commentators have supposed that the ground under the foundation of the walls opened up, and the wall sunk into the chasm, so that there remained nothing but plain ground for the Israelites to walk over.
F. As a result God’s people could enter without any difficulty. Quite incredible! And that is what God can do for you. The key is that we should remain in faith and be obedient.
G. What are some walls that we might face? It could be financial hardship, fear of man, a wayward child, injustice at work, lack of breakthrough in our careers, etc.
H. However, if we steadfastly believe what God has spoken, we will see the walls coming down and miracles happening!

3. DON’T STOP ON ROUND SIX, PRESS THROUGH TO THE PROMISE
A. Don’t stop short of your breakthrough. You could be closer than you think.
B. It is easy to begin marching around our Jerichos, but it takes determination to keep on marching right until the end.
C. It is interesting to note that there were six days of marching without anything happening. Then, on the seventh day, there were six rounds of marching with still nothing happening. Sometimes ‘our 6 days’ can seem awfully long. Are you prepared to continue obeying God even when you cannot see anything happening?
D. That’s why we need to walk by faith, not by sight. You walk with a picture in your heart, until it becomes reality. If your progress is not obvious right now, it doesn’t mean that your faith is not working.
E. Also, realise that during the process of marching God is preparing you for the promise. You are not marching in vain. There is a reason! God is preparing you for the promise. Then you will be ready to receive the promise and not mess it up. Because if you’ve been faithful during six rounds, then you will be faithful once the walls collapse.
F. Many of us have promises from God that still need to be fulfilled. They are promises about our personal Promised Land. God is saying to you today: Push through to your Promised Land! Don’t give up.
G. Don’t stop on round six. Your breakthrough is around the corner. You could be on round six now and not even know it. So, stay in faith and stay obedient.
– Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV) – ‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.’
– Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV) – ‘So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.’
When the people finally shouted, the massive walls collapsed, and Israel was victorious!

Be encouraged to keep marching faithfully and when the right moment comes the walls will surely collapse by the hand of God!

By Pastor John Roebert (May 2021)
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