Let us shout: “Hallelujah!”

Hebrews 11

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Joshua 6

1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

20 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. 

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Christianity = hope for a better future. The best is yet to come because we are made to live eternally. By faith we see God who is in control of everything – working for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose.

Last Sunday, Moses’ faith.
Today, Joshua’s faith (Moses successor).

The people of Israel came out of Egypt for the Promised Land, and Moses led them in the wilderness for 40 years up to the entrance of the Promised Land. At that moment, Moses was succeeded by Joshua. And at last, the people entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. But the Promised Land was not a furnished apartment, nor an empty land. Even though they received it, they had to fight to take and occupy it.

How about in our story? We are saved: salvation guarantees eternal, exciting, heavenly life, but salvation does not mean “easy life” nor a jobless life. Rather, we are entrusted with a task, a great mission to fight for and fulfill in this world.

In this world, the first enemy they fought against was Jericho city – a fortified stronghold. At that time, most of the Israelites had never even seen a fortified city. So, to take that fortified city, it seemed impossible. It was impossible to conquer. But Joshua 6:1 says, “Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.”

At this moment, God said to Joshua, “I have given this city into your hands” – and he gave clear, explicit instructions to follow. Just, they had to MARCH. Today is the first day of March.

They had to circle the walls of the city once per day for 6 days, and on the 7th day, to circle it 7 times.

The order:

• Line 1: Soldiers
• Line 2: 7 priests with trumpets
• Line 3: Priests carrying the ark of the Covenant
• Line 4: Representatives of each tribe
• Last line: Rear guard of soldiers
• Middle: Ark of the Covenant
• The 7 priests blew trumpets occasionally.

Very important: They had to keep silent. They had to remain absolutely silent during the march and circling. But on the 7th day, they had to march 7 circles – 6 of which were to be silent. During the final, 7th circle, all priests blared the trumpets and Joshua commanded the people to SHOUT!! “God has given this city into our hands!” They all shouted together.

At that moment, the walls of Jericho collapsed completely and the people charged straight in and took that city.

This is today’s story.

Also still, God is alive and working for the good of those that love him.

From this story, what messages can we get to get REAL victory for his glory and kingdom? Let me share 3 lessons in our daily lives for victory like this story.

1. SILENCE

During their circling, they had to keep absolute silence. They took 13 circles in all (you can calculate it). Once a day for 6 days and after that on the 7th day, 7 circles. 6 + 7 = 13 circles. Then, during 12 circles, they had to keep perfect silence.

Imagine this situation. To keep silent in this situation was VERY difficult. During their circling, there was no change. No reaction, no stone falling, no cracks in the wall. Nothing happened in their visual situation. Imagine, why were they not allowed to speak to each other. If they spoke during the march, probably they would speak only negative words. “Nothing is happening. What are we doing? I don’t know, Joshua said to… This is absurd, ridiculous. Maybe we need a new leader…”

Negative words have a VERY strong power to make other people negative. Negative words are very contagious – like corona virus today.

This time not to speak to people was the time to meditate on the promise of God and the word of God. It was the time to speak to God deeply, earnestly, silently. It was the time to think MORE of what God can do with his power than what I can do with my power.

The secret to a victorious Christian life?
To face God more than facing man.

2. Consider the influence of ONE person’s faith

Do you have faith? Yes, we have faith. The taking of Jericho is the result of an act of faith – of Joshua and also the people.

Heb 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.”

Joshua’s dynamic sureness enabled him to lead the people to victory. One person’s faith can make all the difference for God’s people.

Joshua’s faith communicated and elevated the whole nation’s faith. Likewise today, if you live by faith, you can energize others. You can mobilize others by faith in Christ. Because God is in control of everything. God used Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua.

• God promised “I am with you” to Moses
• to Joshua, “Like I was with Moses, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
• and Jesus today says, “Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

We can mobilize and energize through our faith for the whole church to be energized in their faith.

3. SHOUT!

“Hallelujah~!”

Yes, in this story, they were silent when they needed to be silent, but they shouted when they had to shout. This was the shouting of faith – the outward expression of people’s inward assurance and confidence in God. Conquering faith declares itself. Do you have faith?

But understand that the faith that does not shout when it must shout is not faith. Romans 10:10 “If you confess [shout] with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, you will be saved.”

“If you acknowledge me before men, I will also acknowledge you before my Father in heaven. If you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father in heaven.”

• True faith obeys even when it seems strange or unusual.
• True faith focuses on Jesus.
• True faith sees the unseen. It sees that “he is with me – and working all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.”
• True faith allows us to achieve victory in the Lord.

Even today, God will make impossible looking Jerichos fall down by faith.

What are your Jerichos today? If we live by faith, God will make all Jerichos fall down.

Last sentence: I want to encourage all of us strongly:

“Let us take much silent time faithfully before God, and let us shout boldly before this world.”

If God is for us, who can be against us?

God bless us for his glory, for our good.

God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

Let’s pray.