Facing Your Jericho
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1 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.
2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.
3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.
4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.
5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
6 So Joshua called together the priests and said, “Take up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram’s horn.”
7 Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the Lord.”
8 After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant followed behind them.
9 Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns.
10 “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!”
11 So the Ark of the Lord was carried around the town once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the Lord.
13 The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time the priests were blowing their horns.
14 On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.
15 On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times.
16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town!
17 Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.
18 “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel.
19 Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.”
20 When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.
21 They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys.
22 Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, “Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute’s house and bring her out, along with all her family.”
23 The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.
24 Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord’s house.
25 So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day.
26 At that time Joshua invoked this curse: “May the curse of the Lord fall on anyone who tries to rebuild the town of Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay its foundation. At the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates.”
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land.
INTRODUCTION:
A- Everyone wants victory.
1- Everyone has a plan-
a- Politicians
b- Armchair coaches in the bleachers
a. Football team in playoffs - the Lions - “Calhoun said he don’t want that ball!”
c- When it comes to facing our Jericho, we must take the ball and run with it.
a. Before we do, we must come to terms with some basic truths:
I- IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AWAY WITH SIN. (Joshua 6:1-2)
I- IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AWAY WITH SIN. (Joshua 6:1-2)
1 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.
2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.
A- We try to escape sin’s consequences: (Joshua 6:1)
A- We try to escape sin’s consequences: (Joshua 6:1)
1 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.
1- Build up a wall to keep God and others out.
Joyce Florentine
Howard Hughes
2- Attempt to redefine right and wrong.
Use situation ethics
3- Lay the blame on someone else.
Adam & Eve
B- Judgment for sin is certain. (Joshua 6:2)
B- Judgment for sin is certain. (Joshua 6:2)
1- Sin ultimately bears its fruit.
a. Jericho was part of a pagan culture that was unashamedly in rebellion against God. (Leviticus 18:1-30)
Sexual immorality of all kinds
incest
beastiality
idolatry
Child sacrifice to Molech
b. It was for these sins that God ejected them from the land through Israel. (Leviticus 18:27-28)
27 “All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled.
28 So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.
2. It is impossible to hide sin.
(Numbers 32:23)
23 But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
(1 Corinthians 4:5)
5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
3. Judgment for sin is inevitable.
(Hebrews 9:27)
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
(2 Corinthians 5:10)
10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
II- GOD GIVES US BOTH THE PROMISE OF AND THE PLAN FOR VICTORY. (Joshua 6:2-5)
II- GOD GIVES US BOTH THE PROMISE OF AND THE PLAN FOR VICTORY. (Joshua 6:2-5)
2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.
3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.
4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.
5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
A. The promise of victory is given. (Joshua 6:2)
A. The promise of victory is given. (Joshua 6:2)
2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.
1- God promised Joshua and the Israelites the victory over Jericho and its warriors.
2- God promises victory to those who trust in Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:57-58)
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
(1 John 5:4)
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
(Romans 8:39)
39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
a. That victory will be fulfilled!
(Revelation 19:11-16)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
(Revelation 21:1-4)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
B. The plan for victory is given. (Joshua 6:3-5)
B. The plan for victory is given. (Joshua 6:3-5)
3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.
4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.
5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
1- God has a plan for victory.
a. His plan for victory at Jericho made no worldly sense.
b. God’s plan for our victory many times makes no worldly sense.
(1 Corinthians 1:25)
25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
(Isaiah 55:8-9)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
God’s plan for eternal life came through the death and resurrection of the savior. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.
2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
God’s plan for the church’s victory. (Matthew 28:19-20)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
III- YOU MUST ACCEPT GOD’S GRACE PERSONALLY. (Joshua 6:17, 23)
III- YOU MUST ACCEPT GOD’S GRACE PERSONALLY. (Joshua 6:17, 23)
17 Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.
23 The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.
A. Grace that erases all past failures.
A. Grace that erases all past failures.
1- God erased Rahab’s past.
a. She was a gentile.
b. She was a prostitute.
2- God erases our past by his grace!
a. Jesus forgave Peter of denying him. (John 18:25-27)
25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
26 But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”
27 Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
B- Grace puts the believer into a new position.
B- Grace puts the believer into a new position.
1- Rahab and her family were afforded a new start with God’s people. (Joshua 6:23).
23 The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.
2- When we receive God’s grace, God restores us to a right relationship with himself. (John 1:12-13)
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
a. Jesus restored Peter. (John 21:15-19)
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
b. We receive his grace through confession. (1 John 1:9)
9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
IV- REBELLION RESULTS IN SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. (Joshua 6:26-27)
IV- REBELLION RESULTS IN SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. (Joshua 6:26-27)
26 At that time Joshua invoked this curse: “May the curse of the Lord fall on anyone who tries to rebuild the town of Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay its foundation. At the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates.”
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land.
A. When we choose to rebel against God, Judgment will come.
A. When we choose to rebel against God, Judgment will come.
1- For the believer, it will be in this life.
a. Heartache. (1 Kings 16:34)
34 It was during his reign that Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest son, Abiram. And when he completed it and set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son, Segub. This all happened according to the message from the Lord concerning Jericho spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
b. In successive generations.
(Exodus 20:5)
5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
(Numbers 14:18)
18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’
(Deuteronomy 5:9)
9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
CONCLUSION:
