? Many of us are facing strongholds in our lives, they seem like immovable walls …
Opening illustration: An incredible story of one of the most heroic rescues of modern times, an incident that has become a virtual legend without equal in the archives of anti-terrorist operations. There can be few readers who are not already familiar with the spectacular rescue by Israeli forces at Entebbe Airport, Uganda during July 1976.
This captivating book by William Stevenson records in minute detail the hour by hour events throughout the period of this critical event, beginning with the actual in-flight hijacking of Air France Flight 139 en route from Athens to Paris, carrying over 262 passengers and crew.
A hijacking endorsed and supported by the then President of the Republic of Uganda, Idi Amin. Possibly the first time that any modern nation and its leader actually became the protector and spokesman for terrorists and political blackmailers. The writer taking time to document the `behind the scenes' sponsorship and relationship between the hijackers, Uganda, Libya and Palestinian terrorist groups towards this methodically planned and carefully executed act of air piracy by Palestinian terrorists.
From the outset, the book shows in alarming clarity the political climate of the time in that no country other than Israel was prepared to do little other than negotiate with the terrorists. What is meant by this is that no other country was prepared to take on the responsibility of a rescue mission of any description. (One is left to ponder how much the heroic actions of the Israeli armed forces during this incident have had on the change in worldwide perception of dealing with hijackings and terrorist attacks of this nature which had previously served to bully and hold to ransom democracies across the globe.)
With the sudden early release of some 47 passengers, coinciding with the separation of the Israeli/Jewish hostages from the others, the obvious agenda of the terrorist mission became only too apparent. Israel and Israelis were the target.
Nations, leaders and people around the world were in shock & awe. What would happen next – no one really knew. But the Jewish state had no support or help from any nation or people group in the world. The critical events throughout this incident, including the terrorists' demands, ultimatums and deadlines towards the bartering of the innocent passengers for convicted terrorists being held in custody. The state of Israel had a big mountain/humungous wall to cross. How to bring freedom to the Jewish hostages? Would a secret mission to free the hostages be possible? It was just a dream and miracle if ever successful. It may appear outdated but it's relevancy to our day is unquestionable.
Introduction: More than 5,000 years ago, God promised the Israelites a homeland – it was already occupied by the Palestinians and the Canaanites. And to get there in one piece would be a dream and a miracle if they were successful. They didn’t have any support or help from any king or nation. Their only help and support were the living God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob – Yahweh. Today we will see how the walls crumbled that stood as a hurdle in the way of the Israelites to accomplish and endorse God’s promise.
Our bodies are supposed to be the temple of God but are occupied by other strongholds that need to be demolished before the Holy Spirit can occupy it.
How will our strongholds be demolished?
1. Israel had a PROBLEM (v. 1) … so do we
? Israel had been marching in circles in the desert for 40 years
? this was the first city they had seen, and it was immensely fortified
? it was surrounded by an inner and an outer wall
? the inner wall was 12 ft thick, and the outer wall was 6-foot-thick - the walls were between 20 and 30 feet high
? there was a 15-foot-wide walkway that ran along the top of the walls, and some apartments had been built there
? Israel had a problem - how to break down those walls
? we too have strongholds and are never able to overcome them because we think they are bigger
? most of us struggle with sins that keep on popping up and tempt us to give up
? Israel faced its problems in the form of the walls of Jericho
? we face our strongholds in the shape of things that steal our joy, that stop us from living life the way God intended for us
? so how can we tackle these things, so that our walls fall down? Recognize our problem(s).
Illustration: In a seminary missions’ class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work. J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l: 19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us. Have a right connection with God to break that problem.
2. Israel had a PROMISE (v. 2) … so do we
? God tells the Israelites that he has already won the battle for them
? God gave them victory even before they engaged in battle – believing God for the things that He has not yet done but has promised
? Romans 4:17b - "God who calls those things which be not as though they were"
God gives us many promises: (claiming these promises is significant)
a) our weapons are adequate to pull down strongholds - 2 Cor. 10:3-5
b) God has already determined the outcome of our battles – Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 4:17
c) our ability to win is limited only by our faith - Phil 4:13, Eph. 3:20
d) we are promised power to win our battle – Eph. 6:10,13
e) we are promised victory - 1 Cor. 15:57
f) we are promised we will never fight alone - Heb 13:5, Matt. 28:20
g) when the war is finished and the battles won, we will celebrate the victory with Jesus – Joh 14:1-3
? as we face the walled cities (strongholds) in our lives, we can trust God to come through on these promises – Rom. 4:21, 2 Cor. 1:20
? we have been saved for the purpose of winning, not to go down in defeat!
? there will be trials in our life, but there will also be victory … lets trust God for it
3. Israel had a PARTNER who told how to fight the battle: (Joshua 5:13-15, 6:2-5)
? as we fight our battles, the same ONE who pulled down the walls of Jericho, is fighting on our side – Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
? Israel had a partner so do you. God gives us weapons that are:
(a) The Word of God - God has given us the Word (the logos) which is an armory of weapons for our use
? for example, Jesus quoted scripture at the enemy "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (rhema)
? this is a specific verse for a specific situation - the exactly right weapon for a particular battle we are facing
? each time the enemy threw a temptation at him, Jesus picked exactly the right sword for the purpose, we can do the same
? this requires that we know the appropriate verses, that is why the spiritual growth plans include verses we can use for our major issues
(b) Prayer
Far too often we ignore the great power that has been given to us in prayer! Prayer is far more than me just taking my grocery list to the Lord and reading it off. Prayer is my entering into a conversation with the God of the universe. I speak to Him and He speaks to me. I am able to tell Him about what is on my heart and He is able to tell me what is on His heart. Prayer has the ability to get things done! You see, we have been given some pretty awesome promises in the arena of prayer. Casual prayers are not going to get us anywhere.
? God promised to hear our prayers – Isa. 65:24
? God promised to answer our prayers - John 14:13-14, 1 John 5:14-15; Jeremiah 33:3
? God promised to help us pray according to his will – Rom. 8:26-27
Illustration: On December 22, 1899, the evangelist D. L. Moody lay dying. His first job had been as a shoe clerk in Boston, gathering eighteen ragged boys off the street to organize a Sunday school class. In two years, the class had grown to fifteen hundred. In his lifetime Moody was to take two continents in his hands and shake them for God. As he died, he left this epitaph written on the flyleaf of his Bible, “If God be your partner, make your plans big.”
4. Israel WON the battle (vs. 6-21) … so can you
Israel marched around the city in obedience to the Lord and they prevailed! (Ill. The absurdity of the command! Can you imagine how the people in Jericho must have reacted? They saw the armies of Israel approaching their city and they probably thought that they were about to be invaded by the enemy. Then, just as Israel came near the city, they turned and began to march around the walls. I can see those inside Jericho as they ran to see where the Israelites would mount their attack. However, instead of attacking, the soldiers, and the priests merely marched around the city one time. All that was heard was the sound of the ram's horn trumpets and the pounding of the soldier's feet upon the ground. This was repeated for 6 days. By this time, the people in Jericho were no doubt mocking and jeering the Israelites. Then on the seventh day, they compassed 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! It wasn't the shout of an attacking army, it wasn't a shout of fear, but it was a shout raised in praise to their God Who had promised them the victory. When the people shouted, the walls fell down flat and Israel ran into the city and utterly destroyed it. There was a great victory!)
• there are reasons why Israel experienced victory at Jericho … so can you
a) they had a Word from God - (v.2-6) 2 Tim. 2:15; John 16:13
b) they believed God - (v.8-20) Mark 11:22; Matt. 21:21-22
c) they acted in faith - (Heb 11:30) I John 5:14-15
d) they did it God's way - Isa. 55:8-9
e) God gave them the victory - (v.20-21)
• whatever situation you are in, you can win the battle - 1 John 5:4
Ending illustration: Let’s get back to our Entebbe narrative … Just hours before the deadline for the execution of the hostages expired, Israeli commandos traveled silently over 2,500 miles from Israel to Entebbe, landed in darkness at the airport, fought with Ugandan troops and the terrorists and rescued some 103 hostages taking them back to the safety of the Jewish state.
On this scale, as an operation of pure heroism this surely must stand alone. As a military task it was considerable, almost miraculous. To travel such a distance across International boundaries to carry out such an action is surely without precedent. One can only stand back in admiration for those rescuers.
Sadly, the Israeli operational leader Colonel Yehonatan Netanyahu, was killed during the rescue. Known among his friends, family and compatriots as `Yoni', the heroism of this leader of the young Jewish state is legendary. Words alone are difficult to find & perhaps inadequate to pay tribute to `Yoni' and his men. (Most readers will be aware that Yoni's brother, Benjamin Netanyahu, later became Israeli Prime Minister.)
In a time when security and safety during air travel is again at the forefront of everyone's minds following the September 11th atrocities, this is a stirring reminder of how the heroism of ordinary people will not, and indeed cannot, submit to the demands of those who would hold the innocent to ransom amid threats of violence. They prevailed because they had acknowledged Yahweh as Lord & God and depended on Him alone. What about you? You can also prevail and demolish your strongholds when the Lord is your God.
Application:
? What kind of stronghold 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?
? Do the walls look too high for you to make a dent? - God says he has given us weapons for the pulling down of strongholds - 2 Cor. 10:4
? Let me remind you that if your walls haven't already fallen down flat, they can! They can fall right now! You need to take a lesson from Israel and start handling your Jericho's God's way.
? Will you come before Him this morning with whatever your stronghold is?
? Will you bring it to Jesus right now! He excels in doing the undoable!
? He can pass the impossible, think the unthinkable, do the undoable! He is still a miracle working God! Greater than any stronghold, able to move any mountain, stronger than any barrier you might face today.
? Bring it to Him and watch Him work it out!
