Sermon Tone Analysis

*MAKE YOUR WALLS FALL DOWN*

*TEXT: Joshua 6:5*

*Introduction:* Israel has finally crossed the Jordan.

They have prepared themselves spiritually and they have, thus far, followed God's orders to the letter.

Now, they are ready to begin the conquest of the Promised Land.

They are ready to claim for themselves the land that flowed with milk and honey.

However, like most things in life that are worth having, it wouldn't come cheap!

For Israel, Jericho would be a benchmark.

It was at Jericho that they would flex their muscles and experience military victory and conquest.

Now, just for a moment, try to put yourself into the shoes of the average Israelite soldier.

For most of these men, Jericho was the first city they had ever seen that was surrounded by huge walls.

It must have looked like and absolute impossibility to many.

However, they listened to the instructions they were given by the Lord and they saw those massive walls fall down flat.

The book of Joshua is very relevant to today's Christians.

We are living in days of battle and spiritual struggle.

We need to know how to fight.

We need to know that our God is able to give the victory.

We need to know how to follow Him to that victory.

Joshua teaches us those valuable lessons!

Just as Israel faced the formidable walls of Jericho, you and I face walls and obstacles in our lives as well.

We need to know how to over come them as we march towards the victory.

This passage holds that answer for us today.

Let's watch Israel conquer Jericho and as we do, let's let the Lord teach us How To Make Our Walls Fall Don Flat.

!

I.          *ISRAEL** HAD A PROBLEM* v.1

!! A.        Jericho is known as the oldest city in the world, in Joshua's day, it was surrounded by a system of two massive stone walls.

!!! 1.      *The outer wall was 6 ft.

thick and about 20 ft.

high.

The inner wall was about 12 ft.

thick and was 30 ft. high.

Between the walls was a guarded walkway about 15 ft.

wide.*

!!! 2.      Israel's problem was that they had a city to conquer, but there were some extremely huge walls in the way.

!! B.        As we go through life, we have obstacles that we face as well.

!!! 1.      Perhaps it is a lost loved one we would like to see the Lord touch and save

!!! 2.      A ministry from the Lord that we feel inadequate about

!!! 3.      Family trouble that tears at our hearts and leaves us wondering what to do

!!! 4.      Financial trouble that stresses us to the limits of our patience and faith

!!! 5.      A besetting sin that constantly crops us in our life, or any of other a million things!)

!! C.        We must learn not to look upon our obstacles as dead-ends, but as opportunities for the Lord to work in our lives!

!!! 1.

The great Apostle Paul had such an obstacle - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – Thorn in the Flesh

!!! 2.      He said he took pleasure in his infirmities because he made him strong

!!!! a)      This attitude is foreign to us this morning.

Yet, we must come to realize that the power of God is best revealed in and through us when we are unable to handle life.

!!!! b)      God is more clearly visible when we are totally out of the picture!

In a sense, that is what He did with Israel here.

As we will see, He completely removed them from the equation!

The victory at Jericho was all God!

!

II.

*ISRAEL** HAD A PROMISE* v.2

!! A.        As Joshua and all the men of war stood looking at those walls around that great city, God had a word of comfort for their hearts!

Here

!!! 1.      God promises Israel the victory before they ever attack Jericho!

!!! 2.      He lets them know about the conclusion before they ever enter into their battle!

!! B.        As we face our obstacles, whatever they may be we can do so with confidence, because we have the Lord's promises as banners to march under:

!!! 1.      *We Have His Promise That Our Weapons Are Powerful Through God* –

*/2 Corinthians 10:4/*/ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;/

!!! 2.      *We Have His Promise That Our Battles Have All Been Arranged By The Lord* –

!!! */Romans 8:28/*/ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

/

!!! 3.      *We Have His Promise That Our Ability Is Limited Only By Our Faith*

!!! */Philipppians/**/ 4:13/*/ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

/

!!! */Ephesians 3:20  Now/*/ unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, /   

!!! 4.      *We Have His Promise Of Power In The Day Of Battle*

*/Ephesians 6:10/*/ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.//

/

!!! *5.

We Have His Promise Of Ongoing Victory

!!! */1 Corinthians 15:57/*/ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

/    

!!! *6.

We Have His Promise That We Will Never Fight Alone

!!! */Hebrews 13:5/*/ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

/

!!! */Matthew 28:20/*/ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Amen.

/

!!! 7.      *We Have His Promise That When The Battles Are Ended, We will Celebrate The Victory In His Presence*

!!! */John 14:1-3 /*/Let// not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

/

!!! 8.      As we face the walled cities in our lives, we need to learn to believe the Lord, to take Him at His Word and trust Him for our victories!

!!! */Romans 4:21/*/ And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

/

!! C.        Jesus did not save you for you to be defeated!

!!! 1.

He saved you for the victory and He will be there all the way to help you secure it for His glory!

Will there be trials?

Yes but, there will also be victory

!!! */Luke 22:31-32/*/ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

/

!

III.    *ISRAEL** HAD A PARTNER* * v.3*-5

!! A.        Israel's partner was none other than God Himself!

!!! 1.

He was in absolute control of the battle, He was leading them, and He was the guarantee of their victory!

!!! 2.      The visit of the Captain of the Lord's Host - Josh.

5:13-15.

Remember that He came to tell Joshua that He did not come to take sides, He came to take over!)

!! B.        As we face our walled cities and the obstacles of our lives, it is a blessing to know that we do not have to face them alone, Matt.

28:20; Heb.

13:5, or in our own strength, John 16:13; Phil.

4:13!

!! C.        No obstacle is insurmountable as long as we face it in the Lord!

!! D.        A moment ago, we spoke of the power of God's promises.

For a moment, let's talk about the weapons we have been given to fight the battles.

!!! 1.      *The Word of God - *We have been blessed by the Lord in that He has given us a perfect, inspired, infallible, inerrant record of His Word.

!!!! a)      The Word of God is called the "*logos*".

This word speaks of the entirety of the revealed word of God.

It speaks of your Bible.

!!!! b)      When Paul was listing the armor that is to be worn by the saints as they battle the enemy, he mentions the one offensive weapon we have and that is the Word of God, Eph.

6:17.

You see, the Bible is like a vast armory.

In this armory there are weapons of every description.