Break Through- 2013! Joshua 6:1NIV
Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out. (Joshua 6:1TM)
Over and over again, God speaks into Joshua life- “Only be strong and very courageous!”
As children we used to sing songs about O.T. Bible stories, one I really remember went like this, “Joshua and in the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho, Joshua and in the battle of Jericho, and the walls came a tumbling down.” Oftentimes, familiarity with something causes us to take it for granted, or to hold it in low esteem. (However, this was an act of God!)
Jericho was a fortified (secure) city. There were two walls that surrounded the entire city, and each wall was posted with guards to keep watch: The outer wall was six feet thick, and the inner was said to be twelve feet thick. As far as mere man was concerned, the walls were impregnable! Also Jericho sat on a very steep hill, about the only way an enemy could come against that type of structure was to starve the people out, which would took months, but God had another plan.
Hebrews 11:30NLT says “It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. Note: Not by force, firepower, or fighting...but by FAITH.
A minister once tried to demonstrate the difference between faith, and fact. He said, It is indeed a fact that you are sitting in church chairs. It is a fact that I am standing behind this pulpit. “But it is only by faith that I believe that you are listening to me.”
Spurgeon: “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a great faith will bring heaven to your soul”
When Moses’ predecessor first took over as Israel’s leader in Joshua 1:3-5NKJ God told Joshua: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Remember what Paul wrote in Hebrews 13:5AMP Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
This is the land God promised in His covenant with Abraham. Therefore, again, God offers Joshua divine power for his task.
*Seven Promises from God toward mankind*
He has promised to supply every need. Phillipians 4:19. Now notice, God has obligated Himself only to the extent of our needs. That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation thru Jesus Christ.
God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (II Corinthians 12:9)
God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. (I Corinthians 10:13)
God has promised us victory over death. He first resurrected Jesus by way of assuring our resurrection.
5. God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28).
6. God has promised that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved. (Acts 2:38).
7. God has promised His people eternal life (John 10:27,28). In closing, let me appeal to you that His promises are conditional upon your belief.
God told Joshua for 6 days walk around the city 1 time a day, without saying a word, and upon the seventh day, walk around the city 6 times without a word, and the seventh time around blow the shofar and praise Him!
*God gave me these words for you*
1. God’s plan for you is to prosper through His word of promise. (2 Cor 1:19-21)
God desires you to inquire everything that’s already be given to you.
God desires you to follow His patterns and ways.
* This is our 99th anniversary, we are the oldest continual running Church of God in the state of Ga. Our children on Wednesday nights are crowded, we need a Family Life Center. We are believing to accomplish this by our 100th anniversary, so today we’re going to march, and pray around our facilities asking God for His favor and blessings.
Benediction.
