OPENING SCRIPTURE: Joshua 6:1-21

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. (Joshua 6: 1-2 NLT)

• God had already given Jericho into their hands, but they had to something.
• God gives Joshua clear instructions on how the breakthrough would come.

You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” (Joshua 6:3-5 NLT)

• It took faith to accept those instructions.
• Without faith, it is impossible to make sense of what God is asking you do.

So Joshua called together the priests and said, “Take up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram’s horn.”  (Joshua 6:6 NLT)

• The ark was a visible reminder that it was God that was leading the charge.
• This battle was not a physical one but a spiritual one.

Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the Lord.” After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant followed behind them. (Joshua 6:7-8 NLT)

• In ancient Israel, ram’s horns announced God’s movement or battle: A call to alertness, worship, and reverence.

Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” So the Ark of the Lord was carried around the town once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp. (Joshua 6: 9-11 NLT)

Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the Lord. The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time the priests were blowing their horns. On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days. (Joshua 6: 12-14 NLT)

• God was testing their resolve to trust Him.
• It was about trusting in God’s power, not their own strength.

On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town! (Joshua 6:15-16 NLT)

• 7 is the number of perfection, fulfillment, completion.
• Hebrews 12: 2FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the pioneer and PERFECTER OF FAITH. (Hebrews 12: 1-2 NIV)

#1. Faith Requires Action

In the same way, FAITH by itself, if IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION, is DEAD. (James 2:17 NIV)

• Faith alone didn’t make the walls fall. It was faith in action

#2. Obedience Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense

“TRUST in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.” (Proverbs 3:5 NIV)

• God is not looking for your logic — He’s looking for your obedience

#3. Participation Is Required for Victory

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS.” (James 1:22 NIV)

• Jericho didn’t fall from hearing — it fell from doing.

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message.