Sermon# 56                                                           Miscellaneous Sermons

 

      Title:           Jericho Taken By Faith”

      Text:           Hebrews 11:30

      Subject:      The power of faith to accomplish its aims.

      Readings:   

      Date:         

      Tape:         

 

Introduction:

 

      Under the leadership of Moses, God accomplished great things for his people, Israel. He had revealed to Moses what he was going to do for his people, and Moses acted upon the Divine Revelation by faith. He brought the children of Israel out of Egypt by a mighty hand; they crossed the Red Sea as upon dry ground and God slew the armies of Pharaoh in that same body of water. Because of Moses’ intercession the children of Israel were fed with manna from heaven, and because of his earnest prayer in their behalf God preserved the nation. But throughout his ministry, he had the heartache of a grumbling, discontent, and rebellious congregation. Now, God had slain Moses and had raised up a new leader for the congregation of Israel. Joshua was God’s selected servant to lead the Israelites into the promised land. NOTE: God raises up a certain man for a certain purpose, when his purpose is accomplished God takes him.

 

      In our text this evening we have an exhibition of the triumph of faith under the leadership of Joshua. In our previous text we beheld what faith accomplished during the exodus from Egypt, now we see what it achieved as they entered into the land of promise. The yoke of cruel bondage was broken asunder by faith, and by the same faith the people of God obtained the blessings of the promised land. Thereby, we are taught that the true Christian life is from beginning to end a life of faith. Without faith no progress can be made, no victories can be obtained, and no fruit can be brought forth for God’s glory. It is solemn to note that an interval of forty years duration comes in between Hebrews 11:29 and 30. Those years were spent in the wilderness. As we observed in our study of Hebrews 3, those were years of judgment from God because of the unbelief, and resulting disobedience, of the people. Oh my dear ones, how many years of your life records no acts of faith to the glory of God?

 

      Our text is an inspired commentary on the sixth chapter of Joshua, which begins by telling us, “Now Jericho was straitly shut up, because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.” Israel had reached the borders of Canaan. They had safely crossed the Jordan, but could not enter the land because of Jericho, which was a powerful fortress barring their way. This was one of the cities which had frightened the spies, causing them to say, “The people is greater and taller than we: the cities are great and walled up to heaven” (Deut. 1:28). To their eyes of unbelief the cities appeared impregnable, and far too secure for them to take.

 

      Jericho was a frontier town. It was the gateway to Canaan. Therefore, its capture was absolutely necessary before any progress could be made by Israel in their conquering and occupying their promised inheritance. Failure to capture it would not only discourage the Israelites, but it would strengthen the morale of the Canaanites. It was the enemies leading stronghold, which they likely considered to be quite invulnerable. Yet, it fell to a people who possessed no artillery, and without them fighting a single battle. All they did, in response to Jehovah’s order, was to march by faith around the city once each day and seven times on the seventh day, the trumpets of rams horns were to be blown, and when the people shouted, the walls collapsed before them.

 

Proposition:

 

      “Faith, persevering faith, enabled Joshua and the Israelites to do what otherwise they could not have done, and by doing so, to obtain what otherwise they could not have obtained” John. Brown

 

      By faith they destroyed Jericho and obtained their promised inheritance.

 

Divisions:

 

1. Their Captain.

2. Their Commission.

3. Their Conduct.

4. Their Conquest.

 

I. Their Captain (Joshua 5:13-15).

 

      A. His Person.

 

  1. This was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ – The Prince of Israel.
  2. He is the Great I Am – Who commissioned Moses.
  3. He is the Covenant God who promised to Abraham the land of Canaan.

 

B. His peculiarities.

 

  1. His peculiar ways – God’s ways are often entirely different from ours.

 

a. Moses was preserved in the ark of bulrushes.

b. Goliath was slain by a shepherd boy’s sling.

c. Elijah was fed by a raven.

d. The Messiah was laid in a manger.

e. God’s ways stain the pride of man.

 

2. His peculiar power.

 

      God is totally independent of all natural means, and superior to all “laws of nature.”

 

      a. Daniel in the lion’s den.

      b. Three Hebrews in Babylon’s furnace.

 

II. Their Commission (Josh. 6:1-5).

 

      A. the prescribed difficulties (v. 1).

 

  1. Formidable difficulties and powerful oppositions are encountered in the warfare of faith.

 

Quote: Jordan rivers and Jericho fortresses still exist. But though the one may be unfordable and the other appear impregnable, yet, they are the veriest trifles to the Almighty” A. W. Pink.

 

  1. The difficulties are placed in our path by God.

 

B. The powerful destruction.

 

  1. Satan’s strongholds cannot stand before a people who are obedient to and who rely fully upon God.

 

How this is illustrated in:

 

a. Jericho’s ruin.

b. Apostolic days.

c. Reformation.

d. Great awakening.

 

  1. Why is it that we are not witnessing the same Gospel triumphs in our day?

 

a. We have a promise and a commission (Matt. 16:18).

b. The Spirit is grieved – quenched.

      (1). Through sin and unbelief.

      (2). Through man’s ways and wisdom – “Not by might nor by power.

c. Let us go forth doing God’s work in his way, and dependent upon his power.

 

III. Their Conduct – It was a persevering faith.

 

      A. Theirs was a daring faith.

 

      When Israel crossed Jordan, they burned their bridges behind them. They were cut off from flight; they had no houses to which they could retire, and no fortress to which they could retreat. They were now in enemy territory, and victory or death were their only alternatives.

 

      1. There are three degrees of faith.

 

      a. Receiving faith (John 1:12).

      b. Reckoning faith (2 Tim. 1:12). Counting on God to fulfill his promises and to undertake for us.

      c. Risking faith – Faith which dares something for the Lord – Exemplified in:

 

      (1). Moses before Pharaoh.

      (2). David before Goliath.

      (3). Daniel in Babylon.

      (4). Elijah before the prophets of Baal.

 

      2. God honors faith which risks everything for his cause.

 

      Quote: “Ask great things of God; expect great things from God, undertake great things for God.”

 

      B. The obedience of their faith (Josh. 6:3-4, 6-8).

 

      1. God’s commands are often strange to man’s wisdom.

 

      a. Naaman.

      b. The apostles (5 loaves and 2 fish).

c. Consider Israel’s condition.

 

2. God’s commands must be implicitly obeyed.

 

C. The discipline of their faith.

 

1. Their silence.

1. Their procession.

 

D. Theirs was a patient faith (Psa. 37:4-7).

 

  1. Here was Abraham’s failure.
  2. Here Moses failed (Ex. 2:11-12).
  3. The apostles were commanded to tarry at Jerusalem.
  4. “Men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Lk. 18:1). Often we faint when victory is almost in sight. God is in no hurry (Gal. 6:9).

 

E. Theirs was an expectant faith (Josh. 6:20).

 

  1. The people shouted before the walls fell down. It was faith expecting the victory (Mk. 11;24).
  2. Let us expect the promises of God –

 

a. In prayer.

b. In preaching.

 

IV. Their Conquest (Josh. 6:20).

 

      A. God made a promise and they claimed it.

 

      B. Let us likewise claim his promises (Matt. 17:20; 1 John 5:4).

 

  1. Not presumptuously.
  2. Obediently (2 Chron. 20:20).

 

Application: God would have his people to:

 

  1. Work – Each one.
  2. Wait.
  3. Win.