Series: Joshua
Text: Joshua 6:1-20
Title: “Lessons In Faith”
I. An Obstacle To Faith (1)
• The walls around Jericho
o Jericho was a military fortress.
o Outer wall – 6 ft. thick and 30 ft. high.
o Inner wall – 12 ft. thick and 30 ft. high.
o The two walls were 15 ft. apart and connected by houses that were built across the top.
• Here you have the children of Israel looking at this massive structure with little more than bronze swords to take it down.
• The truth is that we all face obstacles in our way to carrying out God’s will; obstacles that at first glance seem like we will never be able to over come.
o Consider these:
o Abraham was too old.
o Moses could not speak very well.
o David was just a shepherd boy.
o Peter, John, and Andrew were uneducated fisherman.
o Paul suffered from a thorn in his flesh.
o And yet they all overcame these to do great things for God.
• We as a church have already faced some obstacles and we will face many, many more.
o The choice is do we press on and trust God or do we give up and go home?
II. The Promise Of Faith (2)
• Notice Joshua doesn’t seek the advice of his commanders or go ask the people what they think he should do, he goes and talks with God.
Matthew 6:33 -- 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
o Seek God first in all things, not as a last resort or when all else fails.
• God tells Joshua, “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.”
o Were the walls still standing there and the people still inside? Of course they were.
o That is the essence of faith, only God can speak of a future event (something He is going to do) in the past tense (like it has already happened).
o That is our faith! Trusting God so much that we live like it has already taken place.
o None of us have ever been to Heaven, but God tells us to live like it is our home.
Luke 7:9 -- 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
Hebrews 11:7 -- 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
• We must also remember whose battle it was and who was in charge.
o The battle had already been won, victory already had been claimed.
III. The Call To Faith (3-7)
• Our faith will always be accompanied by God asking us to do something.
o When was the last time God said by faith I want you to sit in your house and do nothing but worry about the problem?
o By faith Abel offered, by faith Enoch was taken up, by faith Noah built, by faith Abraham left his home and went out, by faith Sarah conceived, by faith Isaac blessed, by faith Moses choose, by faith Rahab sent out the spies.
• Here God asks the Israelites to march around the city, not saying a word, but only the priests blowing 7 rams’ horns for 6 days. Then on the 7th day do it 7 times and then shout.
o Not exactly the best laid military plans, but it was what God told them to do.
• Remember what they were called to do, not to overtake the city (that was done already), they were called to trust God.
Hebrews 11:6 -- 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
IV. The Reward Of Faith (17)
• Rahab receives the reward for her faith.
Hebrews 11:31 -- 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
• Those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will never be disappointed.
Romans 9:33 (NASB95)
33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
V. The Action Of Faith (20)
• Obedience is the only acceptable action to our call to faith.
o It wasn’t the marching, or the trumpets or even the shouting that brought down those walls it was the faith of God’s people moved to obedience to the will and word of God.
• So how is your faith walk? Are there obstacles you have not been able to overcome? Are you looking at the promises of God as if they have already happened? Have you been called to put your faith into action but have still not moved?
• God will reward our faith, but we must respond in obedience.
