Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.wartracebaptist.org/sermons/60473/joshua-513-chapter-6/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Alright, well good evening guys. It is good to see each one of you this evening and thankful to have the opportunity to be gathered with you.

[0:13] We will be in Joshua 5 verse 13 through the 6th chapter. So I will read the last few verses of the 5th chapter and then we will look at the 6th chapter in its entirety.

[0:25] I sought to divide this up but I don't think that it would be very fitting or becoming of us to divide this passage up.

[0:38] I think it better is seen in its context in its entirety. While you are turning there I want to ask that you would be in prayer for a couple of things.

[0:49] First, this week is Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Typically we would try to attend but this year due to distance and it is in Anaheim, California so obviously we are not there.

[1:03] We would be there, the pastor's conference starts well tonight. But it is a very important annual meeting in Southern Baptist life as it pertains to us because of a number of issues that have arisen lately.

[1:17] As a result of the conventions on investigation of itself. But there is a lot of things that have to be addressed there so I ask that you be in prayer for that and for the churches moving forward.

[1:30] I will try to at least watch or to read as much as I can as it pertains there. A lot of things are still going on. I do have, I'm on the schedule for a Q&A with Randy Davis.

[1:43] It's the week after the convention so not this week, next week. I'm going to go, there's a lunch in our association, a Q&A and I'm going to be able to question and ask questions as it pertains to Southern Baptist Convention then.

[1:55] Because I know some have asked me questions. And I had said confidently, yeah, I mean I think we're good where we're at. And last week more reports came out about funds from a cooperative program being used to pay organizations that don't have the same morals as us.

[2:13] Just for lack of better words. And that matters when over $4 million worth of cooperative program funding were paid to two different institutions which support organizations which we very clearly biblically and morally do not support.

[2:29] Though one was a law firm and the other was actually Guidepost, the firm that put out their own report for them. So the reason that concerns me is because when we give money that is it goes to the cooperative program.

[2:41] So that's our money. So those questions. So be in prayer for that. That's a general prayer. The other one is more specific. Be in prayer for those families that were affected by that car accident last night.

[2:54] Many of you have heard two young men lost their lives as a result of a car accident on Fairfield Pike, Blaze Bryson and Joshua Adcock. Blaze, his mother, lives just right across the tracks right here on Spring Street.

[3:06] Many of you know Blaze. I knew Blaze for much as, you know, most of his life. I coached him in baseball, coached him in football. I've been around him quite a bit. He rode my bus for a while.

[3:17] Had a chance to take him to church. He lived down in Normandy for a while. He attended church here. Josh Adcock. I kept knowing that I knew that name. And that was because his grandmother brought him to church down at Normandy when he was little.

[3:32] So those two young men, I lost their lives. Be in prayer for those families. Very, very grave situation there. And I'm sure very tragic. Joel Glasgow is the name of the grandmother of Josh Adcock.

[3:45] So be in prayer for the Glasgow family. Terry and Joel Glasgow. And then be in prayer for the Bryson family. Okay. Well, let's pray together.

[3:56] And then we'll just get right to the text with one another. Lord, we do come to you, Lord, with thankfulness that we have one that we can lean on in uncertain times, amidst questions and concerns, both as they deal with us in church life, personal life.

[4:17] Lord, we come to you that you are that solid rock. And we thank you for that. Lord, we ask that you would guide the leaders of our own convention. Lord, you give wisdom to the messengers that are in attendance of the annual meeting.

[4:31] We pray for the matters that are brought forth. We pray for the votes. We pray for the decisions that are made there. We pray for the independent churches.

[4:41] I pray for each church as they face questions within their own congregation. Lord, I pray, Lord, that you would give wisdom to pastors and to members and the churches that know how to move forward.

[4:54] Lord, I pray for these families that are affected from this tragedy. I pray, Lord, your arms of comfort would wrap around them, that the presence of Christ would be known.

[5:06] Lord, we pray that you would minister to your people for your glory. Lord, we ask that you would be with us this evening as we open up your word. And Lord, that your word would have its effect in our lives, that we would see it with clarity, that we would understand it with purpose, and that we would draw closer to you as a result of it.

[5:24] We ask it all in Christ's name. Amen. Joshua chapter 5, starting in verse 13. And in Joshua chapter 6.

[5:35] Joshua 6 is very familiar. It said a scripture to us because it is the fall of Jericho, right? The walls of Jericho come tumbling down. I was discussing this even with Carrie this afternoon.

[5:49] And it's amazing to me in these passages of scripture that often the thing which we are drawn that we would like to understand the most about, we are told the least of. We would love to know how Jonah stayed alive three days in the belly of a whale.

[6:04] And we would just like to know how that happened or what type of fish. Not necessarily a whale. It's a great fish is what we know. We would love to know exactly how the walls of Jericho fell down.

[6:14] We would love to know exactly how the Red Sea was parted and exactly how the Jordan River was dried up and the waters heaped up. But these things, it seems as if it just, the Bible just emphatically states them and moves forward.

[6:28] The Red Sea was dried up. They crossed on dry land. The waters of the Jordan River were piled up in a city named Adam. And they crossed on dry land. And the walls of Jericho did fall down. And Jonah did stay alive in the belly of a great fish.

[6:41] And that's all we know about it. Man, in his searching, wants to know how. And God doesn't focus so much on the how. His focus is always on the why.

[6:52] Because the matter at hand is not the focus. Right? It's never the focus. The focus is on the Lord God and what he is doing among and with and through his people.

[7:06] It is never the focus of the actual historical event that did happen. The city of Jericho itself shows structures that some have said, well, this is where the walls fell down.

[7:18] Or this isn't where the walls fell down. And maybe it is. And archaeologists have gone back and forth throughout history and discussed the reality of the event. And we settle it with the issue that the word of God says so, so it is so.

[7:30] And we move on from it being so. Because we understand it's not so important as to how the walls fell, but why they fell. And we'll see that hopefully in our text this evening.

[7:43] And our focus would not necessarily be on the event. But it would be on the person of the event. The word of God tells us in Joshua chapter 5, starting in verse 13.

[7:53] Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho. That he lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, a man was standing opposite him with a sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him.

[8:05] By the way, let me just stop right there. There's no doubt Joshua is a brave man. He was standing with a sword drawn and Joshua went to him. I love that, right? I just love that.

[8:17] I don't know why, but I love the reality, the boldness. It's almost the picture of when John in the book of Revelation sees the angel with a foot on the water and a foot on the land holding a book.

[8:28] And he's commanded to tell the angel to give him the book. So John walks up to this angel and says, give me that book. Right? This holy boldness. I know. Maybe I'm the only one that loves those things. But we move on.

[8:40] So Joshua went to him and said, are you for us or for our adversaries? He said, no, rather indeed, I come now as captain of the host of the Lord. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and bowed down and said to him, what has my Lord to say to his servant?

[8:57] The captain of the Lord's host said to him, Joshua, remove your sandals from your feet for the place where you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so. Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel.

[9:10] No one went out and no one came in. The Lord said to Joshua, see, I have given Jericho into your hand and its king and the valiant warriors. You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once.

[9:22] You shall do so for six days. Also the seven priests carrying seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark. Then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 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.

[9:44] So Joshua the son of nine called the priests and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark of the Lord. Then he said to the people, go forward and march around the city and let the armed men go on before the ark of the Lord.

[9:57] And it was so that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the Lord went forward and blew the trumpets. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.

[10:08] The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets. And the rear guard came after the ark while they continued to blow the trumpets. But Joshua commanded the people saying, You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard nor let a word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you, shout.

[10:22] Then you shall shout. So he had the ark of the Lord taken around the city circling at once and they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Now Joshua rose early in the morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

[10:34] The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of the ram's horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew the trumpets. And the armed men went before them and the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord while they continued to blow the trumpets.

[10:45] Thus the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did so for six days. Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times.

[10:57] Only on that day they marched around the city seven times. At the seventh time when the priests blew the trumpets Joshua said to the people, Shout for the Lord has given you the city. The city shall be under the band.

[11:09] It and all that is in it belongs to the Lord. Only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live because she hid the messengers whom we sent. But as for you only keep yourselves from the things under the band so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the band.

[11:25] And make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it. But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord. They shall go into the treasury of the Lord. So the people shouted and the priests blew the trumpets.

[11:37] And when the people heard the sound of the trumpet the people shouted with a great shout. And the wall fell down flat so that the people went up into the city every man straight ahead. And they took the city.

[11:48] They utterly destroyed everything in the city both man and woman young and old and ox and sheep and donkey with the edge of the sword. Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land. And go into the harlot's house and bring the woman and all she has out of there as you have sworn to her.

[12:02] So the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and all she had. They also brought out all her relatives and placed them outside the camp of Israel. They burned the city with fire and all that was in it.

[12:14] Only the silver and the gold the articles of bronze and iron they put to the treasury of the house of the Lord. However Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had Joshua spared. And she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

[12:30] Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time saying cursed before the Lord is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho. With the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation. With the loss of its youngest son he shall set up its gates.

[12:43] So the Lord was with Joshua and his fame was in all the land. Joshua 5 verse 13 through Joshua 6 verse 27. I want us to see this evening destroying strongholds.

[12:57] There's a lot of amazing things that take place in this chapter. One of which we have spoken of before the reality that while the walls fall Rahab's house stands.

[13:08] Even though her house is on the wall. God knows how to spare his people. Right? We understand that. But we see the destruction or the destroying of strongholds and enemy territory.

[13:21] It reminded me of what Paul declared in 2 Corinthians chapter 10. 2 Corinthians chapter 10. Paul says that I'll just read it to you. He states there starting in the third verse.

[13:32] For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.

[13:47] And we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. And we are ready to punish all disobedience whenever your obedience is complete. Paul speaks of the reality of destroying strongholds in the believer's life and taking every thought captive.

[14:02] And he speaks of the reality that though they walk according to the flesh they do not war according to the flesh. What we see literally taking place in Joshua chapter 6 is a physical army walking in the flesh but warring in the spirit.

[14:17] We see a stronghold set before the people of God and though they are militaristic. Though they are armed in the flesh and ready to fight the battle in the flesh.

[14:27] They do not win the battle by the flesh or through the flesh. But they destroy the stronghold through the spiritual principality and spiritual powers that are with them. We are reminded of this because each of us battles strongholds.

[14:41] We all have Jerichos in our life. And we all understand that to be fully in and to be fully committed to the following of Christ is to confront those strongholds head on.

[14:54] We have seen while going through the book of Joshua that Canaan is not so much a picture of heaven but it is a picture of the fullness of Christ. Of living a life fully devoted to and committed to him.

[15:06] And it is not to be despairing or degrading to the songs that refer to Canaan as the promised land. The reason we say this is because Canaan is a place of warfare. Canaan is a place of trial.

[15:17] Canaan is a place of failure. Canaan is a place of possibility of being removed from. None of those things can be applied to heaven. Those things just do not happen there. Heaven is not a place of failure.

[15:29] Heaven is not a place of sin. Heaven is not a place of removal. Heaven is not a place of battle. Heaven is a place of enjoying the victory. But in Canaan to be fully committed to the purposes and callings and plans of the Lord God.

[15:43] Is to enter into a position where you have to face strongholds. And this is what we see in individual believers life as we follow Christ completely. And we are confronted with the strongholds of Satan in our own life.

[15:54] And we need to see the application of the reality of what takes place in Joshua 5 and 6. The application in our lives of what it takes to destroy those strongholds.

[16:06] The first thing we see here is a readjusted focus. We are reminded of this readjusted focus because it says while Joshua was near Jericho.

[16:17] Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho. That is he was by the very thing that was in the way of his moving forward. Jericho was the first city that they would have come to.

[16:29] We understand when they crossed the Jordan River and they camped at Gilgal. It is called Gilgal because of the rolling away of the reproach of Egypt. It is there that they observed the Passover.

[16:40] It is there that they circumcised again the males that were born in the wilderness wondering who had not been circumcised. It is there that they renewed the covenant and they have rode away the reproach of Egypt. Now God has gotten Egypt out of his people.

[16:52] No longer are they slaves. Now they are a nation inhabiting a land. They are fully committed to his purposes for their life. But the one thing that stands in way and the first thing that stands in the way of their possession of this land is Jericho.

[17:08] And it is one of those obstacles which was referred to by the spies who had went in there 38 years prior. It is one of those cities with walls fortified to the heavens so they said.

[17:20] One of those secure places. In the land of Canaan you have many small cities. And these are city states or city governed with local kings. Not all of these are fortified cities.

[17:32] I do not think it is coincidental that the first place that the Lord God brings his people is to a fortified city. Because the strongholds must be removed to move forward.

[17:44] And God does that with his people. When he calls them to a full commitment. He always brings them face to face with the stronghold. And he brings them face to face with something which must be overcome.

[17:55] Something which seems impossible. And while Joshua was there near that stronghold. Surely contemplating what was the next step. Surely contemplating how they must move forward. Surely looking at at least what appeared to be an impenetrable force.

[18:10] And trying to figure out how they. Nomadic people who have just come out of the wilderness. Sure they have been tested and tried. And they have honed their military skills. But how are they going to overcome this stronghold?

[18:20] It is while he is there that it says that he lifted up his eyes. And behold he saw someone. He lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand.

[18:33] And Joshua went to him. It is here that we begin to see the focus is no longer on the stronghold of Jericho. The focus is now on the man before him. His focus has been shifted.

[18:45] No longer is he looking at the stronghold. Now he is looking at the strong man. No longer is he looking at the obstacle before him. Now he is looking at the man that is near him.

[18:58] And behold he looked up and he saw a man. And he went to the man. Now in case we have any questions as to who this is. This is much like the one that Jacob encounters.

[19:13] On the night before meeting Esau. This is exactly like the one that Balaam encounters when his donkey talks to him. The angel of the Lord with his sword drawn who is standing in the way.

[19:24] This is what some would call a theophany. That is an appearance of God in the Old Testament. Theophany is when God manifests himself and shows his revelation.

[19:36] The burning bush is a theophany. Because the very presence of God is manifested. But Joshua sees a man. I would rather refer and other Bible scholars would as well.

[19:47] I don't put myself as a Bible scholar. I'll say some Bible scholars. Let me make sure not other. Okay. Some Bible scholars would also agree that rather than just simply being a theophany. I feel like this is a Christophany.

[19:58] Christophany is an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. I believe that at the burning bush that is Christ speaking. Because in the beginning was the Word.

[20:11] And the Word was with God. And the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we refer to him as Emmanuel. So no one has seen the Father at any time.

[20:24] But Jesus says he who has seen me has seen the Father. So the only representation we have of what the Father God looks like is what Christ looks like. The only representation we have of what God would say to us is what Christ has said to us.

[20:37] Because he is the Word. And when Moses hears the Word I believe that's Christ speaking. I believe when Joshua sees the man that this is Christ in the Old Testament. Because he is eternal.

[20:49] Right? He's not limited. He manifested himself. They saw the manifestation of his presence when he became flesh. But that is not the beginning. The manger scene at Bethlehem is not the beginning of Christ.

[21:03] That is the manifestation of Christ. That is the Christophany of him taking on man's flesh. But here we see him. And his focus now is no longer on the stronghold. It's now on the strong man.

[21:15] And Joshua sees this man with his sword drawn. And he goes to him. And he asks him a question. Because see in the mind of Joshua and in the mind of all people. There's only one of two options. Joshua said with this stronghold before me.

[21:28] You're either for the stronghold or you're for me. Many, many. And it would be hard to attribute this to anyone. And Adrian Rogers says it. Tony Evans says it.

[21:39] Warren Wearsby says it. Over and over and over and over and over again. People who expound the scriptures. Going back even to the 1800s. Those who expound into scriptures.

[21:50] Love to highlight the reality here. Is that the captain of the Lord's army did not come to take sides. He came to take over. In the mind of Joshua there's only two options.

[22:02] But in the economy of God there's always the third option. Because God doesn't take sides. He's not for us. He's not for our enemies. He's for himself.

[22:15] And that's a reality that we need to understand. Now I also know that if God be for us who can be against us. I get that. But I think it's a little bit more important to be.

[22:28] If we be for God then who can be against us. We're not asking him to choose our side. We're declaring to him that we will be on his side. Because see he is claiming the battle here.

[22:43] Joshua is confronted with a stronghold. He's met by a man. And it is only as his focus is shifted from that which stood before him to the one who stood with him.

[22:55] And he sees him. Now there's no doubt. There's no doubt in my mind that this is more than an angel. And why is that? Because he fell on his face to the ground and bowed down before him.

[23:11] My friend read your scripture. Anytime in scripture. When someone falls on their face on the ground and bows down. It is always in the presence of the Lord God Almighty.

[23:23] As a matter of fact when John tried to bow down before the angels. The angels rebuked him and said don't do that. The angels told John in the book of Revelation don't worship me because I am your servant.

[23:36] The angels cannot accept the worship of man. But here we see that Joshua falls down on his face to the ground. And bows down before this captain of the Lord's army.

[23:47] And then he asked him this question. He says what has my Lord to say to his servant? Notice the focus has been readjusted. Joshua is no longer concerned about the stronghold.

[24:01] Joshua's concern now is about the Lord's instructions. Friend listen. The very first place anybody must start to destroy the strongholds.

[24:11] Is bowed down at the feet of the Lord. To stop focusing so much on the stronghold. And to begin to focus on the man.

[24:23] To focus on the one that we bow down before. And he says to him remove your feet. Remove from your sandals. Remove from your feet the sandals that are on them.

[24:35] Because the place where you are is holy ground. He is reminded of this reality. That it's not so much the presence of the stronghold. But the presence of the Lord that's going to dictate the situation from this point on.

[24:48] I would say that quite often the greatest struggle that believers have in their fullness of Christ. Is when Christ leads them to a reality of something that they must overcome. And that must whatever that reality is.

[25:01] Whatever that stronghold is. It differs from individual to individual. Everybody's Jericho looks a little bit different. That's one thing that I have found out. Some people's stronghold is this. Some other's stronghold is this.

[25:11] Our strongholds are not always defined by the same thing. But they're always tightly shut up within us. There's something that is bound up within us. And nobody's coming out. And nobody's going in. It's something that has a hold of us.

[25:21] And as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10. Satan has a stronghold built in our minds. And it is there. It's fortified. And the reality is that too many believers. Including myself. We like to focus on the problem.

[25:33] Instead of focusing on the man. And the focus is never to be to look at the stronghold. The focus has always been to look at the strong man. Because we don't destroy it by looking at it.

[25:44] We destroy it by bowing before him. Lord what would you have me to do? A readjusted focus. The second thing we see.

[25:57] Are orders to follow. Because Jericho is shut up. It's tight. Nobody's going out. Nobody's coming in. They've heard.

[26:07] They've had plenty of time to prepare. Remember? As soon as they crossed the Jordan River. They stopped. They had a pause. They could have went in. While the hearts were melting. And the people were trembling. But they didn't. They stopped. They circumcised their mouths.

[26:18] They observed the Passover. They had this pause of rejuvenation. Realignment. Not necessarily in military array. But realignment in relationship with the Lord their God. And Jericho has had time to fortify.

[26:28] To get everything in. Probably to bring provisions in. And now they're sitting here. And they're bound up. And they're strong. And God has very clear orders. Because the Lord says to Joshua.

[26:39] And I love this reality. I have given Jericho. And its kings. And its mighty warriors. Into your hands. Because in the mind of God. The battle's already won. In the plans and purposes of God.

[26:53] The battle's already been fought. And it's already been won. And God declares the beginning from the end. Right? Or the end from the beginning. He declares what's going to be. Before it ever takes place.

[27:05] So we need to understand this. Before he tells him what he wants him to do. He's going to tell him what he's already done. And what he's already done. Is given it to him. It's already yours.

[27:16] And since I have already given it to you. This is what I want you to do. Now think about that just for a moment. God did not say. Joshua do this. And I will give it to you.

[27:27] God did say. I have given it to you. And this is what I want you to do. Big difference. He did not say. Joshua if you will do this.

[27:39] You will earn it. He did say. Joshua I have already given it to you. Therefore since I have already given it to you. Just do this. James. Refers to that of faith and works.

[27:52] God does not look at us and say. If you do this. You will be saved. He says. I have already saved you. Therefore do this. Big difference. Working to earn one's salvation.

[28:04] Is a lot different than working. Because of one's salvation. salvation. The work that is. Hoping to attain salvation. Is a vainless effort put forward by.

[28:15] A longing man. But a work that is a result of. What has already been given to. Is a loving response. From an appreciative man.

[28:27] See the difference. Therefore. When God says. This is what I want you to do. March around the city. For six days. Keep all your warriors silent. Keep all your men silent.

[28:38] I want the shofars. Or the trumpets of ram's horn. To be blown. I want the. Priests to carry the ark. And just walk around at once. And go back to camp. Walk around at once. Go back to camp.

[28:49] Walk around at once. Go back to camp. Another. Miracle that we think. We overlook here sometimes. Is. How come nobody shot them. From the walls. You ever thought about that. Surely Jericho.

[29:02] Had. Archers and warriors. Stationed on the walls. So he's asking them. Go be sitting ducks. And just walk around the city. Don't say a word.

[29:14] Just walk around. And then on the seventh day. Walk around at seven times. Six times in silence. Seventh time. When the trumpet sounds. Have all the men shout. Now.

[29:27] This seems. Strange. But God gives very. Very. Clear. Orders. And these orders to follow. Come from the reality.

[29:39] That God has already. Given him the victory. These are the things. He is to do. Because the victory. Is already secure. Not in order to secure. The victory.

[29:51] God is literally. Drawing a circle around this. And saying. This is mine. This is mine. This is mine. God declares. To his people. I have forgiven you.

[30:04] And redeemed you. And. Saved you. Yet you have these. Strongholds. In your life. And he says. I want to destroy. Those strongholds. And these. Are what you do.

[30:15] Because I have already. Removed them. I see you as clean. And pure. And perfect. I see you as. You will be. Not as you are.

[30:26] And therefore. He gives very clear. Commands. For his people. To follow. The third thing. We see in this. Destruction of strongholds.

[30:36] Is not just a readjusted. Focus. In orders to follow. It is. A literal. Literal. In this case. Walk of faith. The majority. Of this chapter. Concerns itself.

[30:47] Simply with. The people doing. What God told them to do. It's a very. Repetitious chapter. You have.

[30:58] In chapter 6. The Lord speaking to Joshua. About what they should do. Joshua encouraging the people. About what God has said. They should do.

[31:09] And then the people doing. What God has said. They ought to do. Literally. The chapter is just full. Of the reality. That all they did. Is what God told them to do.

[31:22] Everything. He commanded them to do. They did. One time around. Go back to camp. One time around. Go back to camp. one time around go back to camp one time around go back to camp one time around go back to camp one time around go back to camp that's six seven times around and on the seventh time shouts and they did it no questioning no doubting they did it and then it tells us and the walls fell down why how again the focus is not so much on how the wall fell the focus is on why the wall fell the wall fell because the people walked faithfully what is the overall theme of the book of Joshua faith wins the victory they literally believe that what God told them to do was all that they had to do therefore they did what he told them to do and it turns out that's all they needed to do and the wall fell down very quickly told this is what takes place he doesn't take his time to tell us about how it crumbled or even how Rahab's house stood or what portion of the wall fell or any of these things it's just that the stronghold came down because the people walked forward faithfully so we see there's a readjusted focus there's orders to follow there's a walk of faith but here's the fourth thing that we need to understand about the destruction of strongholds there's the advance forward because as it falls or it's getting ready to fall

[33:14] Joshua encourages the people now we know this is the very encouragement that will get them in trouble in chapter 7 because this thing this city this is the first fruits of their battle and the first fruit belongs to the Lord right this is his this is set aside it belongs to him it is set apart it is holy we know Achan sees some of it and takes it for himself he took some of the things that were under the ban and we'll get to that in the 7th chapter the problems that he caused he's warned by the way of that if you see it in verse 18 but as for you only keep yourselves from the things under the ban so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it the very things that Joshua says are going to happen lo and behold when we get to the 7th chapter they do happen to a T he sees it he covets it he takes it and he brings trouble not only on himself but on the entire camp and we see this reality because in order to advance forward everything in the stronghold belongs to the Lord God it is his it is set apart save Rahab and all that is in her household we see God's mercy and his grace and his redemption here when Rahab and the entire household her father's whole household is brought out and therefore incorporated into the nation of Israel and says she is there with the nation of Israel to this day in the midst of them to this day and we've seen her her in the genealogy of Christ it's reality it says that they destroyed it they utterly destroyed it with the edge of the sword they set the city on fire and they moved forward this is why because we never ever ever want to leave the stronghold to be a place of returning you don't want to go back you don't want to have a memorial that oh yeah this is where I did this and this is where this used to have control of me and this is where this used to have a power over me and this is where this used to have a great influence and this is where this stood in a way you must completely annihilate it and move forward from it because it was to never ever ever unlike Gilgal

[35:27] Jericho was to never be a place where they went back to it was a stronghold that had been destroyed the stones and the rubble and everything was to be burned to the place where you couldn't rebuild it and as a matter of fact they pronounced a curse that with the death of his firstborn he would lay the walls and with the death of his lastborn he would set up the gate and Jericho is rebuilt later on and we see some of these things coming about but what was to take place is that Jericho was never ever ever be rebuilt see unfortunately what happens is when people are walking with Christ and Christ brings them to these strongholds in their life and he allows them through obedience and faithfulness to him and their walk and in his power and the strongholds are destroyed you must advance forward and move beyond the stronghold don't linger there and even relish in the victory because you're to move forward nothing there belongs to you it's all his it's committed to him because unfortunately what happens is that people move beyond those strongholds and I've seen it as a pastor over and over and over again and I know we experience this and we call this backsliding and we call it whatever we want to but literally what it is is there's this step forward and all of a sudden we go back and well you know there's still some of that rubble there

[36:43] I may can reconstruct I may can rebuild I may can I may can it'd be okay if I rebuild a little bit of it and you're not to do that you're not to do that you don't go back to Jericho because once that stronghold's been destroyed you advance forward and if we hold on to a little bit of the Jericho guess what it brings trouble into the camp Achan wanted a little bit of Jericho with him probably would have reminded him of how awesome that victory was they didn't do anything but march some of what was in Jericho looked good and as we'll see that cost not only him but others their lives because the call is to destroy it and move on from it God has empowered his people to destroy the strongholds and enemy territory but there must be an advance forward and to move away from it for his glory and his alone let's pray

[37:53] Lord we thank you for this evening and we thank you for your word Lord we pray that the reality of your word would captivate our hearts Lord may our focus not be on the strongholds around us but may our focus be on the strong men before us Lord we bow before you we say here we are your people what would the Lord have to say to his servant Lord even in such a small company as this we as your servants want to be your people in this time in history for your glory and yours alone it's in Jesus holy and precious name that we ask these things Amen so Thank you.