Focus
To realize we can overcome life’s greatest challenges by submitting to God’s plan and obey His instructions.

Central Truth
Victorious Christian living results from obedience to God’s Word.

Key Verse
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Introduction
Despite how it may seem at times, we can only be truly victorious in life by following God’s rules.
When we obey God’s Word we can overcome life’s greatest challenges.

1. AN UNUSUAL BATTLE PLAN

a. Victory promised

Joshua 6:1-2 “Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. (2) Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men’.”

b. Jericho was a social, economic and military centre of Palestine.

i. It was a key city and well-secured

ii. Its overthrow would be devastating to the enemy and a great encouragement to Israel.

iii. From Joshua 6:1 it is evident that the people of Jericho were aware of what was happening with the Israelites. So it is not surprising that the city was shut up in expectation of a battle

iv. According to verse 2 the battle was already won. The Lord assured Joshua that the city, along with its king and armed forces, had been given into his hand.

c. Divine Strategy

Joshua 6:3-7 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. (4) Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. (5) When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in." (6) So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it." (7) And he ordered the army, "Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the LORD."

i. Normally, an army would take a city by climbing the walls with ladders or ramps, tunneling under the wall, making a hole in the wall with a battering ram, and some other ways.

ii. The God-given plan for the defeat of Jericho used none of these tactics (Joshua 6:3–7). God does not have to rely on the methods of humans to get His work done.

iii. God’s plan was for the Israelites to mark round the city in silence, except for the blowing of the priest’s trumpets, once every day for six days.

iv. On the seventh day they marched round the city seven times with the priest’s trumpet blowing. On completion of the seventh time round the Israelite’s gave a loud shout

v. At that moment the walls fell down except for one section and the army of Jericho was defeated

2. WHY DID THIS BRING SUCCESS AND WHY A SECTION OF THE WALL LEFT STANDING?

a. The Israelites at this time were obedient people

i. Neither Joshua nor the people questioned God’s instructions

ii. God’s plans often have a dual purpose

1. His plans discourage the enemy

2. His plans also test the faith and obedience of His followers

b. Rahab, a woman of Jericho, was also an obedient woman

i. When spies were sent into Jericho, they were at Rahab’s house when the soldier’s of Jericho came to search it. She hid the Israelite spies on the roof under straw. When it was safe she lowered them down the outside of the wall in a basket

ii. Because of her obedience the spies told her to gather her family in her house on the wall. When the walls fell, the section of the wall her house was built on remained standing. The Israelite soldiers did not kill Rahab or her family

3. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM RAHAB AND THE ISRAELITES?

a. Obedience requires patience

i. Some prayers do not get a “yes” from God, not because He has aid “no” but because we lose patience and stop praying

ii. Some situations do not get resolved because we lose patience and become disobedient

b. Obedience requires persistency

i. Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

c. Obedience and faith are connected

i. You may think you have all the faith in the world but if obedience is not evident, faith is ineffective

ii. Faith must be more than a confession, it must be acted upon

iii. Watch your thought life, watch your actions, watch your tongue

iv. A failure bring these under the control of the Holy Spirit will delay the victory


Discipleship in Action

From the account of the conquest and destruction of Jericho by Joshua and the Israelites, we are reminded that the Word of the Lord is true.

We must obey His commands.

Failure to do so can result in serious consequences to us and those we love.

Take inventory of your heart and life to make sure you are following Christ obediently.

Let His Word be your guide to make sure you are obeying Him even in the small details of life.

Being successful in God’s sight requires obedience to His commands.