The Walls of Jericho (Part 1)

I was listening to the book of Joshua last week using The Word of Promise, and the Lord was really using the story of the fall of Jericho to teach me some things.

The lesson that we'll talk about in this post is the power of persistent prayer. In Joshua 6:2, the Lord tells Joshua that He has given Jericho into Joshua's hand—even its king and the best warriors the city had to offer. Jacob and his army would defeat the entire city. However, there were some stipulations. They were to march around the city for 6 days, and on the seventh they were to march around the city seven times, blast the trumpets, and let out the loudest shout they could muster.

The Lord had already given them the city (check out verse 2 again), but they needed to walk that out in faith. They had to live by what the Lord told them and not what they saw in front of them (2 Corinthians 5:7). And they had to endure the scoffing of the rest of the city for what they did day in and day out without any immediate results.

So, if the Lord has promised us something that hasn't happened just yet (this promise can be through His Word or through Him speaking directly to you), then we need to keep marching around our wall declaring victory in the name of Jesus. Too often we fall short of what God has for us because we live by what we see and not by faith. And yet, what God is calling all of us to do is walk by His Word and not our own natural eyes.

So what happens to Joshua and the rest of Israel? Most of you know the story. They did what God told them to do. On the seventh day, they let out a loud shout, and the walls came tumbling down. What things has God promised to you that you haven't received just yet? Do you need to be healed physically? Do you need to be healed emotionally? Is there someone in your family that doesn't know Jesus personally? Has the Holy Spirit been calling you to do something that seems utterly impossible? Well, I have news for you. Jesus wants all those things for your life. He wants you to be healed physically and emotionally. He wants each and every person to know Him personally. And He wants you to walk out and do everything that He has called you to do.

So, what are we to do? Get in the Word. Seek Him with prayer and fasting. Find out what God's will really is. Then, find some people to march with you (Joshua didn't march alone) and declare God's victory over Satan's biggest strongholds in your life. Life will change dramatically. And don't take my word for it. Take His.