The Plan For Victory (6 Of 9) Series

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INTRODUCTION

God’s plan and will for us is to reach our cities with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture tells us that by faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days. It did not happen by fame, fortune, friends, or fate—it happened by faith. God’s plan was to build the faith of His people one day at a time so they could see the walls of Jericho tumble down. That is what God does in our lives. He builds our faith one step at a time so we can live in continuous victory over this world and know the power of God in our heart and lives.

In the previous chapters, we have seen Joshua, the Jews, the Jordan, and Jesus. We are now going to see Jericho. God has called us to conquer our Jerichos; He has called us to take our cities for God. We can see the walls of sin come down if we will simply follow the three strategic stages found in Joshua 6.

WE NEED AN OBSERVATION OF THE CITY

1. A city of antiquity.

1“Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in.”

Jericho was a city of antiquity, one of the oldest cities in the ancient world; but not only was it a city of antiquity, it was also a city of iniquity.

2. A city of iniquity. The people of Jericho were vile, wicked, sinful, and idolatrous. They had turned their hearts and lives from the principles of Jehovah God.

3. A city of enormity. Not only was Jericho a city of antiquity and iniquity, but it was also a city of enormity—a massive, mighty, and powerful city. God has called us to reach our cities. It will not be done through finances but through faith alone—faith in Almighty God.

Our cities, like Jericho, are filled with crime, corruption, and carnality. They are filled with sin, idolatry, and vile and wicked imaginations. Satan and his demonic spirits are walking our streets. He is out to steal, kill, and destroy.

If we are going to reach our cities with the gospel and tell the men, women, boys, and girls about Jesus, we are going to need faith to pull down the strongholds of the enemy and spread the Good News to everyone that Jesus Christ is still the Savior of the world.

It is not someone else’s responsibility. The responsibility is ours to observe our cities. When was the last time you took a long, hard look at your city and asked, “God, what can I do to reach my city?”

In 1987 little Jessica McClure fell into a well. Scenes of her were broadcast continually on television and published in newspapers. Some time after her rescue, little Jessica visited the president of the United States. No one rose up and said we were spending too much to save this little girl. Everyone was convinced that some way somehow we had to save this child. Some things are more tragic than a child’s falling into a well. Many people are falling into hell. May God help us not only to observe our cities but also to get a burden for the lost. When was the last time we asked God to awaken us to the urgency and emergency of reaching dying men on their way to hell?

Joshua 6:1 tells us that the doors were closed. The enemy had literally shut every door. Why is it so hard for us to penetrate our schools and cities for God? The enemy is doing everything he can to lock the doors so no one will hear the good news of the gospel. However, if we have faith, it does not matter what the devil does. Faith can accomplish mighty exploits in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not only do we need to observe our cities but also the second strategy for reaching our cities is the need for the orientation of Christ.

WE NEED AN ORIENTATION OF CHRIST

We need to know God’s plan. After observation, we need orientation. After pinpointing the problem, we need to perceive God’s plan.

1. There was divine intervention.

2“The Lord said unto Joshua…”

Every time you read this chapter, there is one phrase that is continually repeated: “The Lord said unto Joshua…” We saw it in chapters 1, 3, and 5: “The Lord said unto Joshua…” May we come back to the place where we hear the voice of God in our hearts, to the place of divine intervention where we are able to listen and do what God is calling us to do.