Notes: Glory Days
Joshua 6
SPEAKER: Max Lucado
WORSHIP TEAM:
Harvest Worship Band
Sunday, October 4, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.
Some times it feels that we all need to just spend a moment with
Christ.
Max became a believer in college, just before he could of easily
gone into a life of alcoholism and womanizing. Best decision he ever made.
Jericho was a walled city filled with bad people. The walls seemed
impenetrable. Joshua didn't take the walls down, God did.
Our Jericho could be anger, fear, grief, pain or any other thing
that keeps us from our glory filled lives.
Joshua led 2 million people into the promise land during the 7 Glory
Years of Israel.
Do you feel like you could use some glory days? Do you feel like you
have spent more time in the wilderness than with God?
Only 11% of Christians feel like they are advancing in their faith.
The book of Joshua is in the Bible so people can see how God can
move us from a barren life into a Promised Land life.
To enter into the promise land, your Jericho must come down. That is
anything that is blocking your faith from advancing.
Joshua 6:2-5 NKJV
[2] And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho
into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. [3] You shall march
around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once.
This you shall do six days. [4] And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of
rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city
seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. [5] It shall come to
pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the
sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then
the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight
before him."
Saved people fight from victory not for victory.
The Christian Faith is all about receiving your inheritance from the
Lord. You didn't earn it, your received it.
You are not just a heir but a co-heir of Heaven with Jesus.
Promised land people get these things, Promised Land people know
there are bad things coming but those bad things will not win.
Do not trap yourself with "Wilderness" thinking.
Promised Land people don't think or talk like Wilderness Land
people.
We move forward in faith not fear. From victory not defeat.
Joshua believed in his inheritance.
Joshua 6:6-10 NKJV
[6] Then 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." [7] And he said to
the people, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed
advance before the ark of the LORD." [8] So it was, when Joshua had spoken
to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns
before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of
the LORD followed them. [9] The armed men went before the priests who blew the
trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued
blowing the trumpets. [10] Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying,
"You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word
proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall
shout."
There was no war cry, the people were told to be quiet.
Jericho was engaging in Spiritual Warfare.
There is a devil, he is on a short leash and his days are numbered.
He spits lies at all times to deceive us all.
As Christians we are not afraid of the devil. We see that he is
there, but we focus on God.
Jericho is a stronghold or attitude that keeps us from marching into
the promise land.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV
[3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the
flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for
pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ,
In our case, a stronghold is not a physical wall, but a thought or
opinion that keeps us from God. It's a lie.
"Nothing good has ever happened to me" is a stronghold
it's a lie.
You have to acknowledge that there is a stronghold, just like Joshua
acknowledged there was Jericho.
Then he put the Arc of the Covenant in the middle of it, for us that
is God. You put God into the center of your stronghold.
Then he blasted the ram’s horn. It's a symbol of how God provides.
They were living out their inheritance. You get your Rams horn out of Bible
scriptures.
A great Rams horn...
Romans 8:1 NKJV
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in
Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit.
Rather then give into a stronghold pick up a Rams horn.
Next time you sense a stronghold grab a Rams horn:
Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! [5] Let
your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. [6] Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God; [7] and the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We are in spiritual warfare, and we must battle it accordingly.
Satan will not stay where scripture is used to battle him.
Psalm 25:5 NKJV
[5] Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my
salvation; On You I wait all the day.
The Bible is the sword of the Spirit.
Memorize some scripture and pull it out like a sword when you need
to battle the devil.
We don't know how long we have to march around our Jericho.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in
the Lord.
Keep God in the middle of your strongholds.