2 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
At the Red Sea God performed a miracle to deliver his people from the hands of the Egyptians. After 40 years the Israelites were finally at the end of their journey. They were finally ready to enter the land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham, the Promised Land the land of Canaan, the land of milk and honey and here is this major city of Jericho standing in their way.
Hebrews 11:30 (ESV) 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
To hear the audio click on the YouTube image at the end of the manuscript
This will be our second sermon in our Way of Faith series. This series of messages will demonstrate the truth of Paul’s declaration that “we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Paul was talking about the fact that when a believer dies their spirit is immediately with the Lord and because of that we don't see death as the end but just a transition. Even though we don't see it yet we believe it.
The series of messages will encourage our obedience and faithfulness to God’s revealed will even when we can’t see what the end result is going to be.
In our sermon last week Moses and the Israelites were caught between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea and because Moses believed God, and told the people that God would deliver them they crossed the Red Sea by faith.
The writer of Hebrews described the crossing of the Red Sea like this:
Hebrews 11:29 ESV By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
In that sermon we looked at some truths about faith.
I.God is the source of faith.
Faith comes from God, and God gives faith to us.
Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Hebrews 12:2 ESV looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
II. The secret of faith is to not fear.
Exodus 14:13 ESV And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
When we are surrounded with difficulties and don’t know what to do, we shouldn't panic. We can't control some things that happen to us but we can control aour responses to things.
III. Faith’s success is found in going forward when the Lord says move and going in confidence because the Lord’s fighting for you.
The battle is not yours it’s the Lord’s
2 Chronicles 20:15 ESV And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.
IV. Faith results is praise.
After the Israelites crossed over on dry land and the Egyptians had been destroyed when the Red Sea went back to being a Sea and not a pathway to safety. They praised God for their deliverance.
Exodus 15:1 ESV Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord , saying, "I will sing to the Lord , for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
Exodus 15:21 ESV And Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the Lord , for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."
Today as we continue talking about the way of faith we are going to talk about the walls of Jericho. After 40 years the Israelites were finally at the end of their journey. They were finally ready to enter the land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham, the Promised Land the land of Canaan, the land of milk and honey and here is this major city of Jericho standing in their way.
Joshua 6:1–27; Hebrews 11:30
Most of us know the story of the destruction of Jericho. God told Joshua to have the army and seven priests march around Jericho one time for six days, then on the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times and when the priests blew one long blast the people were to shout, I mean really shout, and God said that the walls of the city would fall flat and they could go in and destroy the enemy. They did what God told them to do and they captured Jericho All of that is in Joshua chapter 6.
Joshua 6:1-27 ESV Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him." So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord ." 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 ." And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout." So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord . And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord , while the trumpets blew continually. And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 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. 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. But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord ; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord ." So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword. 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." So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord . But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates." So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.
Hebrews 11:30 ESV By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Which brings us to our text for today:
Text:
Joshua 6:16, 20 ESV 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. So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
Hebrews 11:30 ESV By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Introduction
A little about this city, Jericho. The name Jericho means “fragrant.” It was also called “the city of palm trees”
Deuteronomy 34:1-3 ESV Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.
It’s is located five miles west of the Jordan and seven miles north of the Dead Sea and is situated about eight hundred feet below sea level. Jericho stood opposite Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo is where God told Moses to go so he could see the Promised Land because he couldn’t go in.
Deuteronomy 32:49 ESV "Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession.
It was ruled by a king. It was surrounded by walls and had a gate that was closed at night.
Joshua 2:1-2 ESV And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."
Joshua 2:15 ESV Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.
Joshua 2:5 ESV And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."
Jericho is probably the oldest continually-inhabited city in the world. In the winter it became a resort town for people fleeing the colder weather of the Palestinian hill country. The presence of many springs makes Jericho a green oasis in the middle of the dry Jordan area.
The first detailed account of Jericho in the Bible is in Joshua 6, which is the story of its capture by Joshua and God’s people.
Joshua 6:20 ESV So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
Those of us who believe in God’s power to foreknow and His power to act and direct, have no trouble believing in the miracle of the destruction of Jericho’s walls.
Miracles show us God’s power. God is as much with us in our battles today as he was with Joshua and his people when they marched around Jericho.
The battle is not ours it’s the Lords”.
2 Chronicles 20:15 ESV And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.
I. Just as they crossed the Red Sea by faith the walls of Jericho fell by faith.
As our text says
Hebrews 11:30 ESV By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Faith in God is essential to salvation, to those who do God’s work, and to the Christian life. We must believe that God is, that God is powerful, and that God acts. If He says it He will do it. All we have to do is believe it and go for it.
Hebrews 11:6 ESV And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
As Jesus said to the blind men that he restored sight to
Matthew 9:28-29 ESV When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."
There is a hymn that was written by a man John Yates that ends;
“Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh, glorious victory that overcomes the world.”
Faith is the Victory
Lyrics by John Yates
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
Like we said last week God is the source. Faith is something given to us by God and Jesus, the. Son of God, is the Author and Finisher of our faith. And our faith allow us to walk in ultimate victory.
1 John 5:1-5 ESV Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
II. Faith is activated when God’s people follow His plan.
The plan for conquering Jericho was simple. The people were to march around Jericho once for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around Jericho seven times, blow a long trumpet blast, shout with a great shout, and the walls would fall.
God’s leader was Joshua. What kind of man was Joshua?
First of all he was called by God
Joshua 1:5-6 ESV No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
He was faithful, and positive,
Numbers 14:36-38 ESV And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord . Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.
And he was filled with God’s word
Joshua 1:7-8 ESV Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Israel followed God’s plan and God’s leader. We always have victory when we follow God’s plan for our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
III. When you act in faith you do God’s will without question.
Once we are sure that God has given us specific directions we should follow them without question. This doesn’t mean that we can’t talk to God about our feelings about what’s going on but once we are sure it’s Him we should move forward. We talked about that last week.
Faith’s success is found in going forward when the Lord says move and going in confidence because the Lord’s fighting for you.
Exodus 14:13-16 ESV And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.
Six days God’s people were to walk around Jericho without speaking a word! On the seventh day, they were to walk around Jericho seven times without a word. No reason had been given for this silence. The entire plan for conquering Jericho had been explained to Joshua. He knew what God was doing.
Joshua 6:10 ESV But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."
The hardest thing for Israel to do was to be silent. The grim silence of the people must have been impressive.
How long could we do the Lord’s work in silence without questioning? Think about it.
#1 the walls of Jericho fell by faith #2 The walls of Jericho fell when God’s people followed his plan and his leader, #3 The walls of Jericho fell when God’s will was done without questioning, and #4
IV. When we act in faith God will get the glory.
When we have faith to follow the Lord and his plan and leaders, victory will come, and the glory will go to God. In this story about the capture of Jericho the only survivors of the city were a prostitute named Rahab and her family.
Joshua 6:25 ESV But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Hebrews says that she was saved because of her faith.
Hebrews 11:31 ESV By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Here's how God got the glory through Rahab's faith.
Rahab was the mother of Boaz, the great-grandmother of King David, and an ancestor of Jesus
Ruth 4:18-20, 22 ESV Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
Matthew 1:5 ESV and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
Jesse was David’s father and the Messiah, Jesus was a descendant of David.
2 Samuel 7:12-16 ESV When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"
Isaiah 11:1 ESV There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 ESV "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord , when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.'
Fulfillment:
Matthew 1:1 ESV The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Luke 1:32-33 ESV He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Acts 15:15-18 ESV And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.'
Hebrews 1:5 ESV For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
All this because of Rahab’s faith.
Hebrews 11:31 ESV By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Conclusion
If all this can come from the faith of a prostitute just imagine what can happen if you put your faith in our miracle-working Lord.Rahab’s faith led her to break with past sins and she was saved. God will receive glory when he saves you and when you serve him.