“By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down”

Text: Joshua 6:1-5; Heb. 11:30

Scripture Reading: Is. 55:8-9

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

IntroJoshua 6: The Fall of Jericho: Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River and encountered a

fortified city. Jericho stood opposite Mt. Nebo on the Western side of the Jordan. It was ruled by a king (Josh. 2:2), and its walls surrounded the city. The site has been excavated several times with the most

complete work done by the Garstang expedition in 1930-1936, followed by Kenyon in 1952-1958.

Evidence of fire and great stores of remains of charred grains were found. Remains of two walls, fourteen feet apart with beams running across them, which dwellings were constructed atop these, were also found.

Archaeological findings report that the ruins appear as if a mighty blast had been set off in the midst of the city that forced the walls outward!

One of the oldest cities; Lowest city: 853’ Below Sea Level

Intro

Joshua 6:1-51. Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one

went out and no one came in.2. The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand,

with its king and the valiant warriors.3. "You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the

city once. You shall do so for six days.4. "Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns

before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

5. "It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead."

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

There are 4 outstanding lessons from the Fall of Jericho!

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

By human wisdom, this wasn’t strategic! Where were the siege engines of war?!

Is. 55:8-98. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.9. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And

My thoughts than your thoughts.

Jer. 10:2323. I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to

direct his steps.

God’s ways: require faith! Ex. 12:22: Blood on the doorposts would cause death to pass by! II Kings 5:10-14: Dipping 7 times in the Jordan would heal

Naaman of leprosy!

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

The coming of Christ: Lk. 2:7: Laid in a manger. The circumstances of His birth were opposite what might have

been suggested by human wisdom. (Mt. 2:2, 11; I Tim. 6:15)

Is. 55:8-98. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.9. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And

My thoughts than your thoughts.

The Plan of Salvation: I Cor. 1:18, 21, 22-24, 27: The wisdom of God is not understood

by man, and is sometimes considered “foolishness” by the wise. What man would have come up with baptism as the saving act of

obedience? (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Gal. 3:27)

Some still struggle to accept it!

Some think it too simple…like blood on doorposts, Jericho, Naaman…

These originated in the mind of God! (I Cor. 1:21)

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

Meaning of GraceJoshua 6:2The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king

and theValiant warriors.

The city was a gift from God! Yet, God told them how to take it – it required obedience to have

the grace!

Acts 22:1616. 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling

on His name.'

Our daily bread is a gift from God – Mt. 6:33 (6:24-32)

II Thess. 3:10: We must work to procure food (Gen. 3:17-19). Part of the gift of God for daily bread is our jobs, our means to work and provide!

Our salvation is by grace (gift of God) – Rom. 6:23 Eph. 2:5: By grace we are saved!

Salvation is a gift, though there are certain conditions to be met in order to receive the gift of grace! (Jericho, Heaven)

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

Meaning of FaithHeb. 11:3030. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

After they were “encircled for seven days” the walls came tumbling down!

After they were obedient to God, the gift of God was obtained!

Rom. 5:11. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord

Jesus Christ,

We are also saved “by faith”: Rom. 5:1: Faith justifies us before God

Faith saves when it moves one to obey God’s commands! (Doorposts, Jericho, Baptism)

The walls of Jericho fell by faith after obedience!

We are saved by faith – but when? Before or after obedience?

(Js. 2:20; Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) After obedience!

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

God’s Way Will work

By faith they did what was commanded and though against human wisdom, the walls came tumbling

down!(Heb. 11:30)

Joshua 6:55. "It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound

of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead."

God’s way will work! When God gives a command, and attaches a

promise to it, He will fulfill the promise –we may not see the connection between the command and the promise!

Let us learn from the things “written in former days” that God’s way will work! (ESV: Rom. 15:4)

We should not stumble just because we fail to see the connection between God’s instructions and His promises (As many do in relation to baptism).

Conclusion

I Cor. 1:21, 2721. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its

wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

27. but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the

wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

God’s ways may seem as “foolishness” to us at times

(I Cor. 1:21, 27), but we need the faith to know His way will work!

"By Faith The Walls Of Jericho Fell Down"

Conclusion

Imagine the outcomes if God’s way wasn’t obeyed in:

The blood on the doorposts (Ex. 12:22) Jericho (Josh. 6) Naaman (I Kings 5)

Imagine your outcome if you have not obeyed God

concerning salvation! (II Thess. 1:8)

Let us learn the lessons of Jerichoand be obedient to God in God’s

way!

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)

Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)

Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.

10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)

For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),

Pray (Acts 8:22)