Joshua 5:13 - Ch 6:5 The Triumph of Faith
Jericho was a very formidable city, a great city
Great in Antiquity, oldest cities. Great in Iniquity Great in Hostility an impregnable fortress
There’s a Jericho standing between us and :-
God's Person, God's Plan, God's Purpose, God's Power, and God's Praise.
A Jericho of Frailty, A Jericho of Failure, A Jericho of Fruitlessness, A Jericho of Fear.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days
Victory is not achieved by fighting. Victory is received by faith.
Faith links our nothingness to God’s Almightiness.
I. The Captain of Our Faith -
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
The Timing of the Appearance - when Joshua was by Jericho (contemplating his difficulties)
The Testing of the Appearance - that he lifted up his eyes -
Man missing Airplane - "I was the only one who was listening."
Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
The Terror of the Appearance - with his sword drawn in his hand:
The Triumph of the Appearance - 14 but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.
Joshua says, “Are you for us, or for them?” And, the answer is, “No.” “Are you for us? No
Are you for them?” “No.” “but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come”
“I haven’t come to take sides. I’ve come to take over.”
Joshua's Response - And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
Jericho is no longer Joshua's problem - it is now God's problem.
Joshua had been problem-conscious; and now, he is God conscious.
“Can’t be done. Can’t be done. Can’t be done.” - a steam locomotive,
a cynic said, “It will never move; they’ll never get it going.” “They’ll never get it stopped.”
Before you can be a conqueror, you must first be conquered.
II. The Compliance of Our Faith - is obedience.
Ch 6:3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
A. Why Did God Tell Joshua to Do This?
1. To Prove Their Obedience - 1 Cors 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”
The compliance of faith is full, prompt, glad, unreserved, and unquestioned obedience.
2.To Perfect Their Obeisance - John 2:5 His mother saith Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it
God is keeping your problem before you until you say, “I can’t solve it”? but God can.
We ought to say ‘God, I can’t. You never said I could. God, You can. You always said you would
III. The Continuance of Our Faith 6:13 - 15 - Waiting time is not wasted time.
Ps 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Ps 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Pr 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Isaiah 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him”
Some been around their Jerichos six times, and are about to quit;
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Heb 10:36 Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry
IV. The Confession of Our Faith
6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
This was the shout of victory before the victory came.
Joshua didn’t say, “The Lord will give you the city.” He said, “God has given you the city.”
Joshua 6:2 “And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho”
Faith is boldly saying what God has already said Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Rom 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
HELEN - John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
V. The Conquest of Our Faith
6:20 when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
2 Cors 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ”
Joshua went from this battle to another battle, and from that battle to another battle.
And, the victorious life is not freedom from battles; it’s freedom in battle.
From victory unto victory, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
