The Walls have Fallen
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
Series - Small step man, giant leap.
JOURNEY | Who has decided to enter promises of God (Show of Hands).
Just walked in | Great timing | Been through Journey | Great timing
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you walk in Victory?
Title: The Walls Have Fallen
*pray*
Let’s walk through famous story and I think God has few things he wants us to see today.
Back toChapter 5 - Joshua meets Jesus - asks him question;
And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
What’s the point? God doesn’t take sides - We take His side. This important
Because Lord is about to ask him to do something pretty silly.
Question: Is your heart “What does my Lord say to His Servant”
You don’t need to know the plan when you trust the person
3 things
instructions | fall of Jericho | Consequences
Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.
Why? intimidated - Do you know what? The enemy is intimdated because of what Jesus has done.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
Given - Hebrew Perfect Tense.
Then Lord says to Joshua - March around city for 6 days - once per day - 7 times on 7th day blowing trumpets - then everyone shout - walls will come down.
SILLY PLAN.
But look what Joshua said;
And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”
he had heart of obedience before the plan.
Do you have heart of obedience before the plan?
In a society that doesn’t like God’s Plan - What about you? Because you know what comes after God’s plan…victory…every single time - Sometimes not as quick as we want.
Video Game walkthrough - Shows you how to defeat level | but eventually, you gotta get back in the game and finish level - Instructions right here (Bible)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Seek first way the Kingdom of God Operates | Word of God tells us how | Living under Different Authority with Different Rules and Different Promises
Yes, Now what’s the Question.
This was Joshua’s standpoint - Guess what?
Took him 40 years, a river jordan and a circumsion to get there - don’t be condemned if you aren’t there- but have the deisre to be there.
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
You don’t need to know the plan when you trust the person
Instructions done - The Fall
So the walking begins; 1 time…2 times…Joshua told them to be quiet - don’t talk.
And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.
We worship during the war
Paul in Jail - Singing worship > doors flung open.
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
Yes it’s hard - We going to Worship
**Show Video**
So they shout! Trumpets blown, walls come down FLAT!
And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
We worship in the war
The Consequences.
2 things;
City was devoted to Lord…Why?
It was the First of the Land.
God is first and gets First.
Point - Giving God your FIRST is a declaration to your obedience to God and your belief in His Promise.
First fruits - Different to Tithe.
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
OT principle, use to bring first fruit of the crops.
but it is what ever God gives you.
First Fruit = bikkurim = Promise to Come.
You are robbing God of honour He deserves | Saying, well that promise is not coming? Not talking about Ferrari’s - this is about Obedience to God | To say, everything I have is from you | without first fruits | Everytihng I have is from Me.
First fruit illustration
Giving God your FIRST and your BEST is a declartion of Trust toward our Lord
God is First and gets First.
Next thing to notice;
This passage in Joshua;
But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.”
**Rahab Recap**
A-B-A-B section - Wrath | Mercy | wrath | Mercy.
Doesn’t this bother you? Destroyed an entire city.
Brutal | However - He exercises Mercy when anyone calls on His Name.
Jericho Knew and Ignored.
We serve Just and Holy God who going to take out evil in this world -
Jericho knew but did not believe.
but for one prostitute He showed Mercy because He is infinite Mercy.
This is God going after the one | Jesus
O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
Going to wipe away ever tear | Horrible thing | Suffering | This is picture of evil in world - being destroyed - however;
There is Mercy - For all those that Turn
These people said no thank you | When you say no thank you to God, there are consequences.
God is infinite in Mercy
Let’s go back to one group of people;
I want to go back to one group of People;
The Warriors - Just marching - not being able to talk.
Come home - 1st day - We scoutin.
2nd day - We scoutin.
They had no idea how long this was going to last. Leader has become Lunatic.
I can do anything if I know how long it’s going to last.
6 is Man’s number | 7 is God’s Number | It’s completion.
I want to talk to someone today that’s discouraged.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
He is going to bring the Good work in you to completion so Keep Stepping - Don’t care if you are on Day 1, day 2, keep stepping.
Jesus defeated Death, Hell and the grave - The walls of Jericho did not stand, and the gates of Hell WILL NOT PREVAIL!!!
Let’s bring this full circle.
Joshua - In front of Jesus “ Are you for us or against us” - Jesus: NO.
Same question for you today.
God is asking; Are you on my side - If so;
Obedience is what is required - Outcome is what is surrendered.
What do we need to know?
Seek first the Kingdom;
And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Where you stand for kingdom is Holy - Here is Holy - There I am doing a Good work - Seek first the Kingdom - Seek first the King in how to operate here, it is HOLY.
It doesn’t matter how silly it looks.
when you trust person, doesn’t matter the plan.
God is First and God Gets First!!
First fruits is His
There is Mercy for all those that Turn
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Last thing; Keep Stepping
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
