REMOVING The WALL—Joshua 6:1-16+:20
Removing Barriers
Attention:
Barriers To Progress:
A young boy is taking his first trip on an airplane without Mom & Dad. He is going to spend the summer with Grandma & Grandpa.
His ears kept popping because of the pressure change.
He doesn’t know what’s going on so he politely asks the stewardess for help...She gives him a stick of gum.
Afterwards the stewardess notices that the boy is fidgeting with ears. She asks how he’s doing—‘Fine ma’am thank you.’
At the end of the flight the boy ‘loudly’ thanks the stewardess for giving him the gum. His ears are still not what they ought to be.
The boy’s Grandmother greets him with a big bear hug in the airport lobby.
She asks how his trip was.
He ‘loudly’ tells her about his trip while fidgeting with his ears.
Describes how gum helped his ears & tells her about how nice the stewardess was.
‘Now I have another problem though Gran-momma’
‘What’s that son?’
I can’t seem to get the gum out of my ears!
If the boy had only asked for the reason for the gum, the barrier to his comfort & well-being would have been removed. Thus...
We suffer when our way/path is hindered/unclear/uncertain.
We do well when our path is unhindered/clear/certain.
God enabled the children of Israel to conquer the walled city of Jericho.
God removes the barriers to ministry/serving Him.
God seeks to ensure the success of ministry.
How can barriers to ministry/serving God be removed?
1—Ministry barriers are removed when...
GOD’s POWER DOMINATES(The ENEMY & The FAMILY)(:1-2)
Explanation:(:1)Focus/Distractions Contained/Domination by confidence
:1—“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, & none came in.”
The “children of Israel” had miraculously crossed(crossed the Jordan River at flood stage on dry land--3:11-17; 4:7) from Jericho’s neighboring territory into & onto that of Jericho itself!
Jericho was a walled city prepared for its own defense. Its gates were tightly shut.
“Securely or tightly shut” technically translates a doubling & an intensification of the Hebrew verb meaning “to shut”(rgo)—the first use is in the active form & the second in the participial form. Thus literally reads, “did shut up, & was shut up.”
Jericho was “shut” due to the presence of the sons of Israel(YHWH’s people) in their territory(see 2:8-9, 10-11; 5:1). As God’s people are aliens, strangers & sojourners in the world’s territory(Jn. 17:13-16).
Jn. 17:13-16—“But now I[Jesus] come to You[the Father], & these things I speak in the world, that they[Jesus’ disciples] may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; & the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Due to Jericho’s fear of Israel(God’s people) or rather Israel’s God, & by the choice of the king &/or people of Jericho, outside communication of goods or people was entirely cut off. Absolutely nothing went either into or out of the city at this time.
The overall focus of God’s people taking the (promised)land can now begin in earnest.
“Jericho”—wxyry Yer-eey-kho' OR-- wxry Yer-ay-kho' OR variation(1Ki 16:34)--hxyry Yer-ee-kho’—Jericho = "its moon”—Noun Proper Locative—1) A city 5 miles(8 km) west of the Jordan & 7 miles(11.5 km) north of the Dead Sea & the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan. Strong—perhaps from xry[the moon]--Its month; or else from xwr[blow/breathe/smell/anticipate]--fragrant; Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine.
*“Securely/Straitly/Tightly”—rgo saw-gar’[doubled!]—Qal Participle Active—1) To shut, close—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To shut, 1a2) To close, close up, 1a3) Closed up, closely joined, shut up; 1b) (Niphal)--1b1) To be shut up, 1b2) To be shut or closed; 1c) (Piel)--To shut up, deliver up; 1d) (Pual)--To be shut up; 1e) (Hiphil)--1e1) To deliver up, 1e2) To shut up, imprison. Strong—a primitive root; To shut up; figuratively--To surrender.—+—*“Shut Up/Shut”—rgo saw-gar’[doubled from above]—Pual(passive) Participle—
“Because of”(See :4, 9, 13—“Before”)—Mynp paw-neeym' plural(but always as sing.) of an unused noun hnp paw-neh'—Noun Masc.—1) Face—1a) Face, faces, 1b) Presence, person, 1c) Face(of seraphim or cherubim), 1d) Face(of animals), 1e) Face, surface(of ground), 1f) as adverb of locative/temporal—1f1) Before & behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before, 1g) with prep—1g1) In front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of. Strong—The face(as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications(literally & figuratively); also(with prepositional prefix) as a preposition--Before, etc..
“Sons/Children”—Nb ben—Noun Masc.—1) Son, grandson, child, member of a group—1a) Son, male child, 1b) Grandson, 1c) Children(plural - male & female), 1d) Youth, young men(pl.), 1e) Young(of animals), 1f) Sons(as characterization, i.e. sons of injustice [for un- righteous men or sons of God[for angels]), 1g) People(of a nation) (pl.), 1h) Of lifeless things, i.e. Sparks, stars, arrows (fig.), 1i) A member of a guild, order, class. Strong—A son(as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal & figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., [like ba[father], xa[brother], etc.]).
“Israel”—larsy Yisra’el—Noun Proper Masc.—Israel = “God prevails” OR “He will rule as God”—1) The second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel; 2) The name of the descendants & the nation of the descendants of Jacob—2a) The name of the nation until the death of Solomon & the split, 2b) The name used & given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah, 2c) The name of the nation after the return from exile. Strong—‘He will rule as God’; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically)of his posterity.?From—hrs saw-raw'—a primitive root; To prevail or have power(as a prince).—&—la ’el—Strength; as adjective--Mighty; especially--The Almighty(but used also of any deity).
“None/No one”2X—Nya ah’-yin—Substantive--Noun Negative or Adverb(w/preposition)—1) Nothing, not, nought Noun--1a) Nothing, nought negative, 1b) Not, 1c) To have not(of possession). Adverb--1d) Without(w/prep), 1e) For lack of. Strong—as if from a primitive root meaning--to be nothing or not exist; A non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.
“Went out”—auy yaw-tsaw’—Qal Participle Active—1) To go out, come out, exit, go forth—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To go or come out or forth, depart, 1a2) To go forth(to a place), 1a3) To go forward, proceed to(to or toward something), 1a4) To come or go forth(with purpose or for result), 1a5) To come out of. Strong—a primitive root; To go(causatively--Bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally & figuratively, direct & proximally.
“Came in”—awb bow’—Qal Participle Active—1) To go in, enter, come, go, come in; 1a) (Qal)--1a1) To enter, come in, 1a2) To come—1a2a) To come with, 1a2b) To come upon, fall or light upon, attack(enemy), 1a2c) To come to pass, 1a3) To attain to, 1a4) To be enumerated, 1a5) To go; 1b) (Hiphil)--1b1) To lead in, 1b2) To carry in, 1b3) To bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon, 1b4) To bring to pass; 1c) (Hophal)--1c1) To be brought, brought in, 1c2) To be introduced, be put. Strong—a primitive root; To go or come(in a wide variety of applications).
:2—“And the LORD said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, & the mighty men of valor.”
The LORD spoke to Joshua at this time when it was apparent that Jericho feared Israel.
YHWH told Joshua to see with his own eyes that God had “given” him the city. God would not just “give” the city to Israel, but also its “king” & it’s warriors—even those who were most valiant!
It is by God’s power alone that the city would fall, but at the same time, Joshua & all Israel would be required to trust & give of their abilities to & at God’s instruction.
?But how can we know God’s promises?--thru personal...
a.--Relationship/Communion/Communication with God; b.--Awareness of His revelation(word/mind); c.--Lifestyle that is determined by the relationship.
“LORD”(See :7, 17)—hwhy Yeh-ho-vaw’—Noun Proper Deity—Jehovah = “the existing One”—1) The proper name of the one true God—1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of ynda Ad-o-noy’. Strong—from hyh[To exist, be, become, come to pass]; (the) Self-existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.
“Said”(See :10)—rma aw-mar’—Qal Imperfect—1) To say, speak, utter—1a) (Qal)-To say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend. Strong—a primitive root; To say(used with great latitude).
“See”—har raw-aw’—Qal Imperative—1) To see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To see, 1a2) To see, perceive, 1a3) To see, have vision, 1a4) To look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out, 1a5) To see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish, 1a6) To look at, gaze at. Strong—a primitive root; To see, literally or figuratively(in numerous applications, direct & implied, transitive, intransitive & causative).
“Given”(See :16)—Ntn naw-than’—Qal Perfect—1) To give, put, set—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend, 1a2) To put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate, 1a3) To make, constitute. Strong—a primitive root; To give, used with greatest latitude of application(put, make, etc.).
“Hand”—dy yawd—Noun Fem.—1) Hand—1a) Hand(of man), 1b) Strength, power(fig.), 1c) Side(of land), part, portion (metaphorically) (figuratively), 1d) (various special, technical senses)—1d1) Sign, monument, 1d2) Part, fractional part, share, 1d3) Time, repetition, 1d4) Axle-trees, axle, 1d5) Stays, support(for laver), 1d6) Tenons(in tabernacle), 1d7) A phallus, a hand(meaning unsure), 1d8) Wrists. Strong—a primitive word; A hand(the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from Pk kaf, the closed one); used(as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally & figuratively, both proximate & remote.
“King”—Klm meh’-lek—Noun Masc.—1) King. Strong— A king.?From—Klm maw-lak’—a primitive root; To reign; inceptively--To ascend the throne; causatively--To induct into royalty; hence by implication--To take counsel.
“Mighty Men/Warriors”—rwbg ghib-bowr' OR--(shortened)--rbg ghib-bore’—Adj.—1) Strong, mighty. Noun Masc.—2) Strong man, brave man, mighty man. Strong—intensive from the same as rbg gheh’-ber[properly--A valiant man or warrior; generally--A person simply] & rbg gaw-bar’[a primitive root; To be strong; by implication--To prevail, act insolently]; Powerful; by implication--Warrior, tyrant.
“Valor/Valiant”—lyx khah’-yil—Noun Masc.—1) Strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army—1a) Strength, 1b) Ability, efficiency, 1c) Wealth, 1d) Force, army. Strong—probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; An army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength.?From—lwx khoowl; OR--lyx kheeyl—a primitive root; properly--To twist or whirl(in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. specifically--To dance, to writhe in pain(especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively--To wait, to pervert.
Argumentation:
Isa. 64:6—“But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.”
Js. 1:14—“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires & enticed.”
Rev. 6:12-17—“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, & behold, there was a great earthquake; & the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, & the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, & every mountain & island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave & every free man, hid themselves in the caves & in the rocks of the mountains, & said to the mountains & rocks, “Fall on us & hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne & from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, & who is able to stand?””
Jn. 3:17-21—“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, & men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light & does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.””
Js. 4:1-10—[The following may be a little disconcerting because they are written to the church!]—“Where do wars & fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust & do not have. You murder & covet & cannot obtain. You fight & war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask & do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers & adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil & he will flee from you. Draw near to God & He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; & purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament & mourn & weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning & your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, & He will lift you up.”
Lk. 10:38-42—“Now it happened as they went that He[Jesus] entered a certain village; & a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet & heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, & she approached Him & said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered & said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried & troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, & Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
*Allowing God’s Power to Dominate is as simple as listening to God -&- allowing Him to determine your next decision.
Rom. 8:14—“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Rom. 8:31-39—“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, & furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
*Now IF you do NOT believe these things NOR allow your very life to originate & flow from these truths in Christ Jesus, then you will never have the confidence God intends for you!
Heb. 12:1-3—“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, & the sin which so easily ensnares us, & let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author & finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, & has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary & discouraged in your souls.”
Lk. 22:40—“When He came to the place[Gethsemane], He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.””
2Sam. 22:26-33—“With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down. For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength & power, And He makes my way perfect.”
*Do not suppose that “He makes my way perfect” means that God approves everything you decide to do!...It is the other way around...Rather it is our calling & privilege to approve & submit to God’s desire in our heart-of-hearts & in our actions! God “makes my way perfect” by His perfecting my way!
Illustration:
Paper Wasp nest/If you knock the nest with a stick or hit it with your hand the wasps will get you!/BUT—It is EASY to overcome...IF you use a freezing-poison with a 10 foot focused spray stream/Then you are able to work around the area which was formerly dominated by the wasps/GOD’s POWER DOMINATES
OR--
Yellow Jacket nest/Cover entrance with jar/GOD’s POWER DOMINATES
1gal. Milk container/Leaking at bottom/Draws attention from task at hand—Pouring milk from the container in a glass, or on your cereal, or into a recipe/You can continue to sop up the milk from whatever the milk carton sits...OR(by wisdom)--In order to avoid the mess getting messier, simply transfer the milk to a container without a hole in it!/GOD’s POWER DOMINATES
OR--
Leaky vessel that demands our attention/GOD’s POWER DOMINATES
Application:
?Does GOD’s POWER DOMINATE YOU & thus The ENEMY
?Are you seeing Ministry Barriers removed?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Grandson to Gramma—“I can’t seem to get the gum out of my ears!”
Action:
Our path(serving God) is clear when...
OR--
Ministry barriers are removed when...
1. GOD’s POWER DOMINATES(The ENEMY & The FAMILY)(:1-2)
Pt# 1-only! Presented 07/01/2018am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Pts# 1-3 Presented 03/26/00pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Rd.
Whigham, GA 31797
