From Faith - To Victory
Joshua 6:15-20
Febuary 08, 2003
Greater First Baptist Church of Cantonment
Pensacola, Florida
Maurice K. Mickles
Text: Joshua 6:15-20
15- And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16- And it came to pass at the seventh time when the priest blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.
17- And the city shall be accursed even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house , because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18- And ye, in any wise keep yurselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19- But all the silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.
20- So the people shouted when the priest blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpetm abd the people shouted with a great shout , that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Body:
Sharp, intelligent, well-thought-out strategy is an absolute essential in warfare. No significant victory can be won without a well-planned military strategy. Strategy in military conflict is extremely important that most nations have established military academies to train their officers how to lay strategic plans and carry out orders during military campaigns.
The strategy to conquer the city of Jericho was unique. It was unique in two ways : the strategy was laid out by God himself, and the strategy was an extremely foolish plan.
Bill Cosby, in talking about this unique strategy says this: Okay, Joshua, let me be sure that I’ve got this straight. You say that for six days we’ll walk around the city of Jericho carrying the Ark of the Covenant, sayingabsolutely nothing with seven of our priest blowing the ram-horn trumpets? Then on the seventh day we walk around seven times silently? Then all at once, when the trumpets start blowing we all start shouting, and those double wall are going to fall down/ Come on, Joshua, that doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense!
The military strategy the Lord hadlaid out in all actuality did not make any sense at all. But that didn’t stop Joshua from believing God.He believed that God would perform a miracle and give him the victory if he did one simple thing: obey God. Victory over Jericho was to demonstrtate one great truth for all of history; FAITH IN GOD IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCEE IN ALL THE WORLD. A person conquers and is victorious over all the enemies of this life only if he believes and trusts in God. Victory is achieved through faith. The wall of Jericho came tumbling down because the people of God believed God and trusted His Word.
The enemies of this world are constantly out to overthrow us, to defeat and destroy us, enemies like;
-the carnal and fleshly
-the lustful and immoral
-the worldly and sinful
-the evil and wicked
-the greedy and covetous
-the selfish and eqotistical
-the dishonest and deceitful
-the lawless and violent
-the abusive and hostile
-the oppressive and vengeful
The list of enemies that stand opposed to believers and to the peace-loving people are to great to becounted. The world is in constant warefare- between nations, between neighbors, and even betwixt family members. There are enemies in our world- spiritual forces, principalities, and powers in high places in the spiritual world- that oppose mankind, that are trying to defeat and destroy us. But there is a hope1 And that hope comes by faith in God. God will give the power to conquer all the enemies of this life if we believe and trust Him. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Faith is the victory that conquers all the enemies that assults us.
On the seventh day, all the soldiers rose at daybreak, as they had done the previous six days. The army repeated its march around the city, but this time the order was sent to keep on marching. They were to circle the city seven complete times. Note that everyone patiently obeyed the strategy. Then it happened: the seventh time around, the priest sounded the trumpets and Joshua gave the command to the warriors: Shout!For the Lord hath given you the city! Victory is now!
Now preacher, here we are in 2004, a new year, a new millenium, how can I, the 21st century believer, be victorious in my life? There is a simple answer: Faith in God. By having a faith that holds on to the end. For six days, the peopleof God followed this crazy strategy: they go up early in the morning and marched around the city in utter silence with only the sound of the trumpets cascading in the wind. They marched day after day, and then on the seventh day they circled it seven times. Think of the patience, think of the perserverance, the composure, the long-suffering needed by these soldiers under such orders; a patience that trusted in their leader, a patience that endures to the end without grumbling and murmuring and complaining. So it is to be with us, today, before the Lord and His commands: we are to believe the Lord and keep His commandments, enduring to the end. We must never give up our faith. Victory will be ours if we will persevere, endure, and obey God to the very end. No matter howgreat the struggle, no matter how long the attack, how large or strong the enemy- if we persevere, endure to the end, God will give us the ultimate victory.
Faith inGod is the vicftory that overcomesthe world. Throughout life enemy after enemy confronts the believer, enemies that attempt to defeat and destroy us. Right now, someboy is facing:
-greed and uncontrolled passions
-overeating and gluttony
-anger and malice
-arguments and division
-seperation and divorce
-abuse and assualt
-lawlessness and violence
-drugs and drunkenness
-doubt and unbelief
-resentment and bitterness
-grief and death
-financal loss and bankruptcy
-discouragement and depression
-disease and injury
-hate and hostility
-envy and consuming lust
The enemies that confronts us are innumerable and can defeat and destroy us. But there is a hope! The wonderful hope of God’s glorious promise: there is victory through his Son, Jesus Christ! That is the victory that overcometh the world! Faith in Christ, believing and trusting in Christ, clinging to Christ and following after Christ, doing exactly what Christ tells us to do- this is the lofe that will bring victory. Victory is achieved through the power ofChrist, and only through His power. Victory is ours by faith in the power of God.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.
I GOT THE VICTORY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!(take it home)
