JERICHO Lessons On Faith
Summary of Joshua 6 (vv. 1-5) God s promise of victory & instructions for Joshua (vv. 6-14) The people follow the strange instructions. (vv. 15-21) On the seventh day, the walls fall. (vv. 22-25) Rahab and her family are saved. Jericho's wealth is dedicated to God. (vv. 26-27) Joshua places a curse on any who might try to rebuild the fallen Canaanite stronghold.
1. FAITH BELIEVES IN THE PROMISES OF GOD Joshua 6:2 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Nehemiah 1:5 (NIV) Then I said: "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands
All of God s promises are fact.
Are you feeling pessimistic today?
The prospects (future) are just as bright as the promises of God. Adoniram Judson
Feeling anxious about your future?
The key that unlocks the treasure chest of God s peace is faith in the promises of God. - John Piper
Are you getting impatient with God?
Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
God makes a promise; Faith believes it; Hope anticipates it; and Patience quietly awaits it. - D.L. Moody
2. FAITH IS OBEDIENCE EVEN WHEN GOD S COMMANDS SEEM FOOLISH.
Joshua 6:3-5 (NIV) March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.
Our Jericho victories are won only when our faithful obedience to God is complete. 1 John 5:4 (NLT) For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
The example of Jesus Hebrews 5:8-9 (AMP) Although He was a Son, He learned active, special obedience through what He suffered and, His completed experience making Him perfectly equipped, He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him
Are your concerns for future outcomes affecting your present obedience to God?
"Duties are ours; events are God's. Samuel Rutherford
There is a vast difference between God s wisdom and the way of man. Romans 11:33 (NIV) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
How are you responding to your challenges today?
I ASKED GOD I asked for strength. God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom. God gave me problems to solve. I asked for prosperity. God gave me brawn and brain to work. I asked for courage. God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for patience. God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait. I asked for love. God gave me troubled people to help. I asked for favors. God gave me opportunities. I received nothing I wanted. I received everything I needed.
In adversity we usually want God to do a removing job when He wants to do an improving job.
Is it really necessary to understand everything before we decide to obey God?
I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse. Philip Yancey
Are you led by results or are you led by obedience to God?
Anyone can believe when God is already moving. But real faith is when you step out when it seems that God is not moving. Reinhard Bonnke
Are you concerned about how your obedience to God will affect your future?
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Corrie Ten Boom
3. FAITH EXPECTS THE SUPERNATURAL Joshua 6:20 (NIV) When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.
The power of God is beyond our comprehension. Daniel 4:35 (NIV) All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"
The Christianity of the Bible is a religion that is uncompromisingly supernatural. If we take away the supernatural, we take away Christianity.
Why is our walk with God sometimes a crawl with God?
Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire, we are useless. - Charles Spurgeon
Do we have more machinery than power?
4. FAITH IS NOT WHAT WE SAY BUT WHAT WE DO Hebrews 11:30 (NIV) By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
James 2:26 (NIV) As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Dr. Alfred Adler "Trust only in movement, life happens at the level of action.
Is your Christianity active enough to positively impact the lives of others around you?
Having faith is like throwing a pebble into a pond. You can't throw it in without creating little ripples. If there are no ripples that's evidence that there was no pebble in the first place.
Is your faith so heavenlyminded that it does no earthly good?
2017 church theme: Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God. - William Carey.
God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. What a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves. A. W. Tozer
7 Easy Risks You Can Take Today if Too Scared to Risk More
Start something you don t know how to finish.
Do what you ve been thinking of doing but haven t done yet.
Be generous when you don t feel like it.
Set a goal you think is impossible to reach.
Be vulnerable.
Give someone else an opportunity you were going to take for yourself.
Take quitting off the table.
The question is not `Am I capable enough to do it? The question is Is this what God wants me to do?