One Shout Away

You Are Closer Than You Think – One Shout Away

Main Text: Joshua 6:1-25 (AMP)

GOD IS NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO WHAT HE HAS NOT EQUIPPED YOU FOR

GOD IS NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM

GOD WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT HE HAS EMPOWERED YOU TO DO

GOD WILL NOT ASK YOU TO DO WHAT HE DOESN'T ALREADY KNOW THE END OF IT

Last Sunday we came from the book of Acts when they were one praise away from their breakthrough. This week we are going to be dealing with Joshua and children of Israel being one shout away.

Review God's Promises:

Joshua 1:1-9 (AMP) - God's Commission to Joshua Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant (attendant), saying, "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise [to take his place], cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. I have given you every place on which the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness [of Arabia in the south] and this Lebanon [in the north], even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates [in the east], all the land of the Hittites (Canaan), and as far as the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward the west shall be your territory. No man will [be able to] stand before you [to oppose you] as long as you live. Just as I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The first city that must be taken in the Conquest was Jericho, believed to be the world's most ancient city. It was a fortress city and guarded entrance into Canaan from the east. Located in the Jordan Valley, it is 670 feet below sea level, and was one the first cities in Israel to be excavated. The record of Jericho's destruction by Israel is found in Joshua 6.

The Captain of the Lord's Army

Joshua 5:13-15 (AMP) Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the Lord." Then Joshua fell with his face toward the earth and bowed down, and said to him, "What does my lord have to say to his servant?" The captain of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy (set apart to the Lord)." And Joshua did so.

The Conquest of Jericho

Joshua 6:1 (AMP) Now Jericho [a fortified city with high walls] was tightly closed because [of the people's fear] of the sons of Israel; no one went out or came in.

Jericho's walls consisted of Three walls:

a. A retaining wall. This is to keep the dirt in. It was 12 – 15 feet high b. A wall on top of the retaining wall. It was 20 – 26 feet. c. A top wall. There was about an acre between the two walls. People would often place homes there and live in these walls. It was not prime property because it would be vulnerable to the first attract of the enemy.

• Fortified, High Walls, Tightly close, mighty warriors
• Based on this description you would think this is the last thing you would want to take on

God's Promise and Instructions

Joshua 6:2-5 (AMP) The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty warriors. Now you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do this [once each day] for six days. Also, seven priests shall carry seven trumpets [made] of rams' horns ahead of the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. When they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall cry out with a great shout (battle cry); and the wall of the city will fall down in its place, and the people shall go up, each man [going] straight ahead [climbing over the rubble]."

1. I could imagine Joshua, thinking God could you give me something easier
2. Again if you can do it your own strength you don't need God
3. Neighbor don't focus on your challenge
4. Tell your challenge about your God
5. Phil. 4:13, Romans 8:31, Is. 54:17
6. Dimension of the city of Jericho-10 acres

The Significance of Seven:

• The importance of the number seven as indicative of completeness is strongly indicated here.
• Seven priests were to carry seven trumpets for seven days.
• The word for to swear, ע ַשבְּ ִנ literally to be sevened, means to have one's vow consecrated and confirmed by seven sacrifices or seven witnesses
• The number seven, the sign of the relation, union, communion between God and the world, as represented by the number three and four respectively

Faith and Obedience:

1. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord
2. God's instructions often times will not make sense
3. Faith is total obedience without total understanding
4. The walking around the building was our part of the formula, mans effort
5. We must handle the natural, God will handle the supernatural

Joshua Gives Instructions

Joshua 6:6-7 (AMP) So Joshua the son of Nun called for the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets made of rams' horns ahead of the ark of the Lord." He said to the people, "Go forward! March around the city, and let the armed men go ahead of the ark of the Lord."

1. The armed men that precede it are its executioners.
2. The priests who blow the trumpets are its heralds.
3. It was this law that had brought Israel over Jordan; this law that was henceforth to be established in Canaan; this law that was about to take vengeance on the transgressors.
4. "These things hast thou done, and I kept silence." For several generations the long-suffering of God had waited, while "the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full."
5. The shout that burst from the lips of Israel was a signal that He would wait no longer.

Marching Around Jericho

Joshua 6:8-14 (AMP) And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets made of rams' horns went on before the Lord and blew the trumpets; then the ark of the covenant of the Lord went behind them. The armed men went in front of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued to blow the trumpets. But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout [the battle cry] nor let your voice be heard nor let a word come out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout!" So Joshua had the ark of the Lord taken around the city [on the first day], circling it once; then they came back into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Then Joshua got up early in the morning [on the second day], and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets made of rams' horns ahead of the ark of the Lord went on continually, blowing the trumpets; and the armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued to blow the trumpets. On the second day they marched around the city once, and returned to the camp; they did this for six days.

The Seventh Day

Joshua 6:15-16 (AMP) Then on the seventh day they got up early at daybreak and marched around the city in the same way seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.

1. There is a time to act and a time to wait patiently.
2. If we seek His guidance by prayer, God will tell us when to do either.
3. And when it is our duty not to do anything ourselves, but to wait for the deliverance which He never fails to send in His own good time, let us be careful to restrain ourselves, lest by our rash intermeddling with His designs, we bring disgrace and disaster upon ourselves and His cause.

Instructions About Rahab and the Devoted Things

Joshua 6:17-19 (AMP) The city and everything that is in it shall be under the ban [that is, designated to be destroyed as a form of tribute] to the Lord; only Rahab the prostitute and all [the people] who are with her in her house shall [be allowed to] live, because she hid and protected the messengers (scouts) whom we sent. But as for you, keep yourselves [away] from the things under the ban [which are to be destroyed], so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban [for personal gain], and put the camp of Israel under the ban (doomed to destruction), and bring disaster upon it. All the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy (consecrated) to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord."

1. Even at Jericho the silver and the gold, the brass and the iron, were placed in the treasury of the Lord (Joshua 5:19, 24).
2. First city, first fruit

The Walls Fall Down

Joshua 6:20-21 (AMP) So the people shouted [the battle cry], and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout and the wall [of Jericho] fell down, so that the sons of Israel went up into the city, every man straight ahead [climbing over the rubble], and they overthrew the city. Then they utterly destroyed everything that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

Rahab and Her Family Saved

Joshua 6:22-25 (AMP) But Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring the woman and all that she has out of there, as you have sworn to her." So the young men, the spies, went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and everything that she had; they also brought out all her relatives and allowed them to stay outside the camp of Israel [at Gilgal during the time required for ceremonial cleansing]. Then they completely burned the city and everything that was in it. They put only the silver and the gold, and the articles of bronze and of iron, into the treasury of the house (tabernacle) of the Lord. So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her father's household and everything that she had; and she has lived among Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers (scouts) whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

WISDOM KEYS

WISDOM KEY #1 - OBEDIENCE BRING VICTORY

1 JOHN 2:3 (AMP) And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings).

WISDOM KEY #2 – THE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAN'S WAYS AND GOD'S WAYS

ISAIAH 55:8-9 (AMP) "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

WISDOM KEY #3 – FAITH WILL BRING US THE VICTORY

HEBREWS 11:1 (AMP) Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Hebrews 11:30 (AMP) By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days [by Joshua and the sons of Israel].

Discussion Questions

1. Joshua faced the impossible walls of Jericho—three walls totaling over 40 feet high. What "Jericho walls" are you currently facing that seem impossible to overcome?
2. God told Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand" before the walls fell. How does speaking victory before you see it change your faith and approach to challenges?
3. The message states, "If you can do it in your own strength you don't need God." Why do you think God often leads us to challenges that are beyond our human ability?
4. God's battle plan for Jericho made no logical sense—marching silently around walls for six days. When has God given you instructions that didn't make sense, and how did you respond?
5. The teaching says, "Faith is total obedience without total understanding." What current situation requires you to obey God even though you don't fully understand His plan?
6. Israel had to march around Jericho for six days before shouting on the seventh day. How does this challenge our desire for instant results and quick breakthroughs?
7. The number seven represents completeness and God's perfect timing. How can remembering this help you persevere when breakthrough seems delayed?
8. Joshua commanded the people not to speak until the day he told them to shout. Why is it sometimes important to be silent and wait for God's timing before declaring victory?
9. Rahab was spared because she had hidden the Israelite spies. How does her story demonstrate that God honors those who align themselves with His purposes, regardless of their past?
10. The passage emphasizes "We must handle the natural, God will handle the supernatural." What is the "natural" part you need to handle through obedience while trusting God for the supernatural breakthrough?

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