First, break down the wall of Jericho
Joshua 6:1~7 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.” (1~2)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #351 Onward, Christian soldiers (#389 in previous version)
Jericho is the final key to enter into Canaan, and it is also a city the Israelites needed to conquer in order to conquer Canaan. Also, Jericho was a stronghold of Canaan that the Canaanites had built in order to protect themselves. How can we break down this strong Jericho?
1. If it is the plan of God
When we do some kind of work, we try to work hard or think about how we should do it. Children of God must see whether what we are trying to do is the plan of God. If breaking down Jericho is God’s plan, then you must break it down and it will be broken down. Breaking down and entering into Jericho is God’s plan. He promised from the start to give us Canaan. If so, Jericho must crumble down. If it is God’s plan, all you need to do is challenge.
2. When you enjoy the Gospel, God’s works will begin
Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites who departed from Egypt with the covenant, and no one went out and no one came in (Joshua 1:1). God has given Jericho to the hands of the Israelites who had the covenant (Joshua 6:2). From the moment we enjoy the Gospel and gain spiritual strength, the forces of darkness fear us. Wherever children of God with the Gospel go, the forces of darkness flee.
3. We only need to go around the walls with authority
Children of God have amazing authority; therefore, we only need to go around the walls of Jericho. God tells us not to “fight and break down” but to “go around” the walls every day. God told the priests to walk before the Ark of the Covenant and for all the people to shout out loud when the trumpets sounded. He told us to never speak a word when we walk around Jericho and to shout out together on the last day. Because we have already received the covenant of the Gospel and the blessed identity as children of God, God’s works will begin if we pray in concentration. If the saved children of God pray holding on to the covenant for just five minutes a day, the forces of darkness will crumble down like the walls of Jericho. For people with severe spiritual problems, those problems will crumble down when you go into deep prayer. If you experience this, then you will gain strength and influence others.
- What is the Jericho of your life? How will you break it down? Deeply meditate on your identity and authority as a child of God, and pray for the forces of darkness that work around you to be completely broken down.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 2nd Service / 2011.1.16