Demolishing Strongholds: Jericho Series

? Many of us are facing strongholds in our lives, they seem like immovable walls …

Opening illustration: An incredible story of one of the most heroic rescues of modern times, an incident that has become a virtual legend without equal in the archives of anti-terrorist operations. There can be few readers who are not already familiar with the spectacular rescue by Israeli forces at Entebbe Airport, Uganda during July 1976.

This captivating book by William Stevenson records in minute detail the hour by hour events throughout the period of this critical event, beginning with the actual in-flight hijacking of Air France Flight 139 en route from Athens to Paris, carrying over 262 passengers and crew.

A hijacking endorsed and supported by the then President of the Republic of Uganda, Idi Amin. Possibly the first time that any modern nation and its leader actually became the protector and spokesman for terrorists and political blackmailers. The writer taking time to document the `behind the scenes' sponsorship and relationship between the hijackers, Uganda, Libya and Palestinian terrorist groups towards this methodically planned and carefully executed act of air piracy by Palestinian terrorists.

From the outset, the book shows in alarming clarity the political climate of the time in that no country other than Israel was prepared to do little other than negotiate with the terrorists. What is meant by this is that no other country was prepared to take on the responsibility of a rescue mission of any description. (One is left to ponder how much the heroic actions of the Israeli armed forces during this incident have had on the change in worldwide perception of dealing with hijackings and terrorist attacks of this nature which had previously served to bully and hold to ransom democracies across the globe.)

With the sudden early release of some 47 passengers, coinciding with the separation of the Israeli/Jewish hostages from the others, the obvious agenda of the terrorist mission became only too apparent. Israel and Israelis were the target.

Nations, leaders and people around the world were in shock & awe. What would happen next – no one really knew. But the Jewish state had no support or help from any nation or people group in the world. The critical events throughout this incident, including the terrorists' demands, ultimatums and deadlines towards the bartering of the innocent passengers for convicted terrorists being held in custody. The state of Israel had a big mountain/humungous wall to cross. How to bring freedom to the Jewish hostages? Would a secret mission to free the hostages be possible? It was just a dream and miracle if ever successful. It may appear outdated but it's relevancy to our day is unquestionable.

Introduction: More than 5,000 years ago, God promised the Israelites a homeland – it was already occupied by the Palestinians and the Canaanites. And to get there in one piece would be a dream and a miracle if they were successful. They didn’t have any support or help from any king or nation. Their only help and support were the living God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob – Yahweh. Today we will see how the walls crumbled that stood as a hurdle in the way of the Israelites to accomplish and endorse God’s promise.

Our bodies are supposed to be the temple of God but are occupied by other strongholds that need to be demolished before the Holy Spirit can occupy it.

How will our strongholds be demolished?

1. Israel had a PROBLEM (v. 1) … so do we

? Israel had been marching in circles in the desert for 40 years

? this was the first city they had seen, and it was immensely fortified

? it was surrounded by an inner and an outer wall

? the inner wall was 12 ft thick, and the outer wall was 6-foot-thick - the walls were between 20 and 30 feet high

? there was a 15-foot-wide walkway that ran along the top of the walls, and some apartments had been built there

? Israel had a problem - how to break down those walls

? we too have strongholds and are never able to overcome them because we think they are bigger

? most of us struggle with sins that keep on popping up and tempt us to give up

? Israel faced its problems in the form of the walls of Jericho

? we face our strongholds in the shape of things that steal our joy, that stop us from living life the way God intended for us

? so how can we tackle these things, so that our walls fall down? Recognize our problem(s).

Illustration: In a seminary missions’ class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work. J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l: 19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us. Have a right connection with God to break that problem.