SCRIPTURE READING: Joshua 6:1-7
Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout;then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”
7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”
INTRODUCTION:
There are many fortifications that exist in the world that have been designed to protect those who are inside from their enemies, here are three of them.
1.The famous ROCK OF GIBRALTAR
This is located on the southern edge of Spain and the northern coast of Africa.
The British took advantage of the geography by building one of the most famous fortified positions for its time.
The eastern face of the Rock of Gibraltar is a sheer cliff face, while the western slope is comparatively less steep but still a formidable position for an invader.
Hundred tunnels were carved into the rock and used for communication, for storage maneuvers and cannons.
Various batteries and walls were also constructed.
The biggest triumph came during the Great Siege, when the garrison held on for three and a half years and suffered only 333 deaths as a result of military action.
The saying, "solid as the Rock of Gibraltar" is used to describe a place of safety and strong.
2. MASADA
Masada is located atop an isolated rock cliff at the western end of the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea.
On the east side, the rock falls in a sheer drop of about 450 meters to the Dead Sea and on the western edge it stands about 100 meters above the surrounding terrain.
The natural approaches to the cliff top are very difficult.
The main stronghold is accessible only by three narrow paths leading to the gates and is also quite small.
This makes it easier to defend and hard to conquer.
According to Flavius, Herod the Great built the fortress of Masada between 37 and 31 BC.
During that time, Herod had been made King of Judea by his Roman overlords and "furnished this fortress as a refuge for himself."
It included a strong wall around the plateau, storehouses, large cisterns ingeniously filled with rainwater, barracks and places for armory.
Some 75 years after Herod's death, when the Jews revolted against the Romans, a group of Jewish rebels overcame the Roman garrison of Masada.
They were joined by zealots and their families who had fled from Jerusalem and held out for three years harassing the Romans.
But it was only after the Romans established camps at the base of Masada, laid siege to it, built a wall and constructed a rampart of thousands of tons of stones.
Then, they moved a battering ram up the ramp that finally breached the wall of the fortress.
The Jewish defenders (allegedly) chose to kill each other rather than surrender or attempt to breakout.
I saw the movie and I can still remember how they did it.
3. FORT DRUM
This is also called "El Fraile Island) also know as the "concrete battleship" that is a heavily fortified island situated at the mouth of Manila Bay, south of Corregidor Island in the Philippines.
The reinforced concrete fortress is shaped like a battleship built by the United States in 1909 as one of the harbor defenses at the South Chanel entrance during the American colonial period.
However, it was captured an occupied by the Japanese during the World War II.
The facility was still functional while Manila was being recaptured in 1945, so it had to be neutralized before troops could land.
Naval and air bombardment was insufficient to completely destroy Fort Drum, so after the guns were suppressed, US engineers gained access to the top deck, pumped a mixture of diesel and gasoline into the fortress, and ignited the mixture with a timed charge, killing the Japanese garrison.
These are only three of the most fortified walls, there are many more all over the world.
Palaces, caves, cliffs and strong fortifications designed to protect men from their enemies.
Now, the walls of Jericho that Israel had to conquer loomed large over the Israelite camp below.
It was designed to protect Jericho from the invading Jews.
These walls were so formidable and structured on a three tiered plan.
The walls started from the bottom with an earthen rampart, or embankment, which ran from ground level, upwards on an incline to a stone retaining wall which stood 12 to 15 feet in height.
On top of the stone wall, stood another impregnable wall made of mud-bricks, 6 feet thick, and 20-26 feet high.
Together, these two walls combined to form a strong fortification of 32-41 feet high.
To put this into perspective, envision a huge 4 story tall building.
Such was the height of the walls of Jericho.
On the other side of the double wall, the embankment continued to climb upwards.
At the summit of the embankment, another imposing mud-brick wall stood.
At their base, the walls of Jericho stood 46 feet above the ground level outside the retaining wall.
To the Israelite below, just looking at this massive wall seemed overwhelming and impenetrable.
Joshua 6:1 "Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in."
The word "secure" means the people inside felt that they were well protected and well defended by this huge wall.
When they looked at that walls of Jericho, they received such great comfort and security from the invading armies.
They thought that nothing could break this.
However, there are problems with the walls.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE WALLS. The secured walls of Jericho.
These walls can give false sense of security.
Those who are inside thought that they are well protected from their enemies who are inside the walls.
And so, when the walls are standing in front of them that are massive, firm and reassuring, they receive mental comfort and tranquility.
But it is just a state of mind.
You might think that everything is fine, but it really isn't.
The truth is, those walls cannot really give you true security.
Nothing is invincible.
These are merely made of mortals and bricks.
All walls and fortifications of men can be easily destroyed and demolished over time.
NO walls regardless of how strong these are made of can protect us completely.
Only God can protect us.
Only God is our source of peace of mind.
Only God is the source of care and freedom.
He can break those walls because He is our only wall of security.
He can demolish any obstacle that rises against us.
Zechariah 2:5 (NIV) " And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.'
God places hedges around the righteous for protection and blessing.
The hedges are like a spiritual fence, well protected and well defended walls, partitions or line of defense.
The Bible also refers to God's protection and blessing of the righteous as a shield, a rock, a fortress and even the hand of God that can be our source of covering.
Psalm 5:11-12 New International Version (NIV)
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your (hand) of protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
The safest place therefore for any child of God is to be in His hands, hiding in His fortress and living within the hedge of His grace.
By His blood, he brought down the wall of partition that separated God and man.
With His flesh, he abolished our enmity with God and gave us peace.
We are safe in the hands of the Almighty God.
God has given us such great wonderful promises.
THE PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE. The promise of the Lord's deliverance
Joshua 6:2 "2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
The Lord has promised Joshua to deliver Jericho into their hands.
And God is giving the same promise to us as well.
As we go through life, we have many walls or obstacles that we face each day.
People have been erecting walls of division or separation against each other.
You want to penetrate these walls but you have great difficulty in doing so.
People can live in one home but there are walls that separate them.
Perhaps the wall that you face is a conflict between you and your brother.
Perhaps, the wall that you face is a conflict between you and your spouse.
Perhaps, the wall that you face is a lost loved one that you want to see the Lord touch and save.
You have difficulty penetrating his heart and mind for the gospel.
A wall can be a lost community over which you are burdened.
A wall can be a ministry from the Lord that you are eager to do but feel you are inadequate to fulfill.
A wall can be a family trouble that bring tears in our eyes and leaves us wondering what to do.
A wall can also be a financial trouble that put a heavy stress to our patience and faith.
A wall can be a besetting sin that constantly crops us in our lives that we cannot move forward in life.
A wall can be any of those above and million things more.
I hope you see the picture.
What is important is that you need to believe that God can break and destroy those walls.
We need to believe His promises that our weapons are powerful through God.
We need to believe that our battles have all been arranged by the Lord.
We need to believe that our ability to overcome comes only through faith.
We need to believe that we have the power in the day of battle.
We need to believe that we have the victory in Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, as we face the walled cities in our lives, we need to learn to believe in the Lord.
We must take Him at His word and trust Him for our victories.
There is a promise of deliverance awaiting for us all.
Psalm 34:17New International Version (NIV)
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:4New International Version (NIV)
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Walls are actually not obstacles in life but opportunities that challenges our faith to do great things.
Walls are not dead ends but favorable circumstances that happen for our good so that we will be liberated from all fears.
Let us therefore break those walls that we have built around us and let us allow God to build a wall of defense around us.
How do we do that?
THE POWER OF OBEDIENCE. God commanded them to march around the city.
Joshua 6:3 "3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
The Lord told Israel to march around the city in order to prevail over their enemies.
When they obeyed God, the walls collapsed and they gained their victory.
It was the power of obedience that sets them free.
Think about this: For 400 years God planned the liberation of Israel from Egypt.
To convince Pharaoh to let them go, God sent the various plagues to Egypt.
He opened the Red Sea and He fed Israel with manna and the quail.
He took care of all their needs as he brought them to the edge of the Promised Land.
But it was all because of Moses' obedience that these things have been fulfilled.
Now, it was the time for Joshua to obey God.
They have to march around the city for six days and the walls will collapse.
All the armed men with their swords and spears at hand must march for six days.
Even though they might look stupid to the people of Jericho, but it was God's command, they have to obey.
Imagine, going around in circles for six days as if looking for a way in but they could not find any.
But God was teaching them the value of obedience.
They might look foolish to the people inside those walls but to God, they are wise to obey.
And that is what obedience is all about.
Every time we trust God's wisdom and do whatever he says to do, even when we don't understand it, we deepen our relationship with God.
Obedience to God is done not out of duty.
Obedience is done not out of obligation.
Not out of fear or compulsion.
We must obey God because we truly love Him and we trust Him completely because He knows what is best for us.
When we obey and follow Christ, we do so out of gratitude for all that he has done for us.
And the closer we follow Jesus, the deeper our relationship with him becomes.
Brothers and sisters, there is power in obedience.
The walls that we built will collapse when we obey God wholeheartedly.
What if Joshua did not follow God's command to march around the city of Jericho six times?
Then, they would not be able to enter and conquer the Promised Land altogether.
The greatest tragedy in our lives would be if we stand at the edge of our destiny but are afraid to enter into all that God has planned for you.
Our obedience in moving forward, to take risks and step out in faith will release God's power in our lives.
John 15:9-11 (NIV) 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
What are the things that put fear in your life?
Whatever it is, does not stand a chance when you do whatever God tells you to do.
There is no reason to be afraid.
There is no reason to be reluctant.
The Lord is on our side.
He will break down those walls of division so that he could put His fortress around us.
THE POWER OF PRAYER.
Joshua 6:4 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
Here we see the priests getting involved with the destruction of the walls of Jericho.
But they are not to take part in armed battle.
They are in the forefront of spiritual battle.
How? By simply marching around the city seven times and blowing the trumpets or ram's horns in front of the ark.
As they march, they simply ask God to help them break those walls.
This, my brothers and sisters is what the power of prayer is all about.
Others call this event as the "Jericho walk," the "Jericho march" or simply the "prayer walk."
This is what praying on location is all about, a type of intercessory payer that involves walking while praying to a particular place.
The idea is to use the five senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch - to increase the intercessor's understanding of prayer needs.
The purpose is to pray for or against something and ask God to intercede, to protect or transform.
For instance, Jericho marches have been prayed throughout the United States against abortion or against gang activity in a declining neighborhood.
Other Jericho Marches have occurred to ask God's protection over our leaders or cities or for revival to come.
Still others have taken place around church buildings, asking for protection, blessing, or against worldly influences that attract our teens or for any specific purpose.
This prayer walk is actually a test of faith and obedience so that we could trust God to move in our midst.
We have done this many times when we were in Bacolod City with the participation of the various churches of the City.
Early morning for several Saturdays, we would wake up early dividing ourselves into groups - one is assigned at the city hall, the other at the business establishments, others at the major streets of the City.
We would be carrying banners, start walking and praying for the City and converge in the plaza for a special praise and worship.
It was such a great spiritual experience for the churches united together to pray for revival and spiritual awakening among the City.
The result, well, when we came back last July, we saw the fruit of our labor.
There is now a lot of economic progress in the City, a lot of spiritual development going on and many Christian churches have been established all over the City.
There is unity, peace and spiritual harmony.
The walls of division and disagreement have been destroyed because of the prayers of the saints.
We are commanded to "pray without ceasing." (1 Thess. 5:17).
Since walking s something we do daily, surely, when we obey the command to "pray without ceasing," we keep on praying while walking.
Regardless of the time, the lace or your position, we must be faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 (NIV) 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Brothers and sisters, prayer has great power to break down the walls of division in this City.
When we pray consistently, regularly and fervently, walls will come tumbling down.
THE POWER OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP. On the seventh day, seven priests in front of the ark. The Jubilee and the sabbatical year.
Joshua 6:4 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
Joshua 6: 5 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
The text told us that for six days, the army should march around the city.
This is a symbol of their obedience to God.
Then, on the seventh day, the seven priests should carry the trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark with the army marching around the city seven times.
When they had finished that seventh lap, the priests gave a long blast on the trumpets and the people of Israel shouted with a great shout.
The people in Jericho were no doubt mocking and jeering the Israelites.
What do these guys doing?
But they did not know the power of the praise and worship.
There is power in praise and worship.
Probably you have arrived late at church missing the praise and worship, thinking, "Good, I can go home right away after the service because I have a lot of things to do! I don't need the praise and worship."
What you really don't know is that there is great power in the praise and Worship.
Praise elevates us into God's presence and power.
Praise means to "commend, to applaud, or magnify."
When we praise God, we lift Him up and we glorify Him.
When we praise God, His presence comes near us and all His power and glory can be released.
When we praise, we humbly acknowledge out utter dependence upon Him.
It is an expression of centering our full and undivided attention upon the Lord so that we will be transported into the realm of the supernatural and into the power of God.
The Lord was teaching Israel the value of praise and worship as a powerful tool against the enemy that is why He commanded them to march, shout and blow the trumpets.
There is power in praise and worship to break down the walls of hostilities.
Praise keeps our eyes fixed on the Lord and off our circumstances during the most difficult times of our lives.
Instead of complaining, grumbling and objecting that can give our enemies the chance to defeat us, we must PRAISE God so that we can tap into God's delivering power to victory.
And so, my brothers and sisters, we need to praise God more often.
We need to enjoy and to immerse ourselves in worship.
Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
THE WALLS WILL COLLAPSE. Then the walls of Jericho will collapse.
Joshua 6: 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout;then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
According to the first Archaeological discoveries on the excavation of the site of Jericho in 1909, the German team found piles of mud bricks at the base of the mound where the city was built on.
Later, in 1950's, British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon understood that these piles of mud bricks were from the city wall which had collapsed when the city was destroyed.
The story in the Bible goes on to say that when the walls collapsed, Israel stormed the city and set it on fire.
Archaeologists found evidence for a massive destruction by fire just as what the Bible states.
Kenyon wrote in her excavation report: "The destruction was complete. Walls and floors were blackened or reddened by fire, and every room was filled with fallen bricks, timbers and household utensils; in most rooms the fallen debris was heavily burnt."
That walled City of Jericho that once was massive and impenetrable has been destroyed and never to rise again.
Brothers and sisters, what kind of walled city are you facing right now?
Does it appear to be unconquerable?
Do the walls look too high and do they appear too thick?
Does it seem that victory is absolutely impossible in your case?
Let me remind you that if your walls haven't fallen down flat, they can!
They can fall right now.
The walls will collapse because of the power of OBEDIENCE.
The walls will collapse because of the power of PRAYER.
The walls will collapse because of the power of PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
You need to take a lesson from Israel and start handling that Jericho you are facing God's way.
Will you come before Him this morning with whatever your need is?
You can bring these to Jesus right now.
He excels in doing the undoable!
He can do the impossible.
He is a miracle working God.
Greater than any obstacle, stronger than any mountain, mightier than any barrier you might face today.
Bring it today and watch Him work it out.
Let the walls of Jericho collapse before our very eyes in the name of Jesus!
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