Bringing Down the Walls
Joshua 3:5. 6:2, 6:20
Introduction: A man spent 28 years of his life in prison.
It was not a prison of bars & locks & wardens, but a self-imposed
prison of fear. He was a Japanese soldier on the island of Guam
during WW2. And when the American forces landed, he fled into the jungle &
found a cave in which he hid for 28 years because he was afraid of being
captured by the Americans.
He learned that the war was over by reading one of the thousands of pamphlets
dropped into the jungle. But he was afraid. So for 28 years he lived in the
cave, coming out only at night to look for roaches & rats & frogs &
mangoes on which he survived.
Finally some natives found him & convinced him that it would be all right
for him to come out of his jungle prison.
We think, "What a waste! Imagine, spending 28 years living as a a prisoner of fear." Yet,
there are a lot of people who are prisoners of fear.
We all have some type of fear in our lives for some it is
our health, for others it may be financial for someone else it may the fear of
the unknown. We all have some type of fear in our lives. How do you overcome
fear? Maybe that question would be better ask, are you able to overcome fear?
Fear does many things to us, it will hold us back, it will cause us to make bad
decisions, it will cause us to do or say things we
ordinarily would not do. For example...
This guy is waiting
for a flight that is delayed. So he’s wandering around the airport and notices
this ATM like machine. It’s a flight insurance machine. For a small price, it
offers insurance against a canceled flight as well as a sizeable policy if the plane were to wreck and he were to die. He thinks about it.
It seems like a good idea. Just in case, he thinks, it would be good to leave a
nice insurance policy behind for the family. He buys the policy. The flight is
still delayed, so he goes to get some Chinese food at one of the airport
restaurants. It comes with a fortune cookie. He opens it, and it says,
"Recent investment will pay high dividends."
It is important for you and I to get advice about handling
fear and the things associated with it. It is more important that we get the
right advice; the wrong advice can be just as destructive as no advice at all.
The best advice comes from God’s word, one illustration of fear in Gods word is
the walls of Jericho.
If I were a betting man I would bet each one of you have some walls of fear in
your life today. For a little while this morning I would like to preach on the
subject of “Bringing down the walls”.
To bring down walls we must face…
I. Opposition
It didn’t take the children of Israel to long to realize they
faced serious opposition. Do you think they were scared? I do. As a matter of
fact most people today would do as the fathers of the children of Israel
did; they would turn back and face God’s judgment. How do you view the
opposition that comes from walls within your life? I want to give you three
things to consider when the walls of your life give you intimidating
opposition. First you need to realize this opposition is…
A.
To Gods Authority
By themselves Israel was not threat to Jericho. Israel was outmanned, out supplied
and out defended. Jericho
had the odds in their favor. Yet Jericho
was on the defense, not the offense. Why? God had struck fear into the hearts
of Jericho, if
you read the entire account you will know God had promised them this land, He
had already gained the victory. Jericho
was an opposing force, but they were opposing God.
The next time you are facing a wall
of opposition do a quick spiritual check up then leave the battle to God. Let
the enemy battle God’s authority not your ability or inability. What should you
check for? Well begin with these things.
1.
Make sure you know God’s will and word
2.
Make sure there is no unconfessed
sin
3.
Make sure you are willing to obey
B.
To His Children’s Faithfulness
This generation of Israelites was a
younger generation, not the people who were led out of Egypt, these were their children.
Because of their parents disobedience this group got a life lesson in
faithfulness. The walls of Jericho
were an attempt to break the faithfulness of Gods people.
Do you remember the last time your
faithfulness in God was really put to a test?
1.
How did you react?
2.
What was the result?
3.
Where did it get you?
C.
To obtaining God’s Blessing
There was a blessing to be obtained by following Gods
direction. He had promised them the land which had been granted since the days
of Abraham.
When you and I consider the blessings God has promised us
and His children through salvation we should be doing some shouting ourselves.
We should be shouting down the walls put before us by the world, the ungodly
and the devil himself. If you need a quick reminder of
the Lords blessings look over the beatitudes. If you need a reminder of where
to find them, they begin in Matthew chapter 5 and end around chapter 7.
Contained within them is the pathway to shouting ground.
After facing opposition we must become.
II. Obedience
In Joshua chapter 5 we see God preparing the children of Israel for their future in Canaan.
Joshua is reminded of their father’s disobedience and unbelief and God exalted
Joshua in the eyes of Israel
(ch4) for leading this people across the Jordan and into the Promised Land.
The Lord’s blessings are limitless for you and I as well, If
we are obedient. Disobedience has always been an issue with God’s people,
whether it is Jew or Gentile. Our sin nature is the cause of this, but it isn’t
an excuse in the eyes of God, at least not for the Christian. The Christian
chooses disobedience or obedience, disobedience results in chastisement, while
obedience provides us with three specific results. Obedience takes us…
A.
To a Promised Possession
Just as Israel was promised a land to
possess the Christian is promised many things to possess.
1.
Eternal live
2.
A Heavenly home
3.
A glorified body
Obedience not only takes us to a promised possession it
takes us…
B.
To a Promised Peace
When Israel
first arrived at Jericho they surrounded it and
actually controlled it from the outside, God’s fear had been placed in the
hearts of Jericho and Gods peace had been placed
in the hearts of Israel.
Living an obedient life provides promises for you and I
as well.
1.
Peace from the world
2.
Peace of being in Gods will
3.
Peace of spiritual contentment
C.
To a Promised Prosperity
Canaan
was the land of milk and honey, there was prosperity there for Gods people.
After crossing the Jordan
and occupying the plain of Jericho now called Gilgal the Israelites had no more
manna, they had nothing to eat. God led them to the fruit of the plain, crops,
He told them to eat from their land, from their prosperity, and Israel had food
they had not seen in many years. There is a promised prosperity for the
Christian as well, it isn’t necessarily a financial prosperity but it is
prosperity none the less.
1.
Prosperity of living a victorious life in Christ
2.
Prosperity of serving the one and only God
3.
Prosperity of knowing your needs will be met
After facing opposition and becoming obedient we can enjoy…
III. Opportunity
The intimidating walls of Jericho
presented Israel
with the opportunity to show God this generation was not like the one before
it. Their fathers had been privileged to the miracles of Moses and still they
could not live by trusting God and having faith in Him. There was opportunity
to claim God as their own, live for Him and Love Him.
You and I have a similar opportunity today. It must begin
through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We must know we are born again. Once
we know this there are some opportunities we can enjoy and make part of our
lives.
A.
To Live a new life
Old things are passed away and all
things are become new.
B.
To Live a full life
C.
To Live an eternal life
Conclusion: What
walls exist in your life? How many Jericho’s
are there to be defeated? This message wasn’t intended to be a motivational
sermon something to make you feel better about the situations you are in. God
promises you and I victory over the obstacles in our
lives. This victory will require you and I taking our
part in Gods plan, just like Israel
had to take their part. There is work to be done concerning our problems and
overcoming them. Are you ready this morning to do your part.
First of all are you ready to turn yourself over to God fully and completely,
settle your salvation once and for all if that is needed. Next are you ready to
be totally obedient to His will for your life? Then are you ready to totally
commit yourself to Him? I hope you do walk away encouraged and motivated buy
most of all I want you to walk out of here this morning certain of your salvation,
willing to serve God and at peace with the security He has given you. Close as
God leads…