Joshua 6 is a exciting chapter about the walls of Jericho coming
down by faith! That is what it says in Hebrews 11:30, “By faith the walls of
Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” That is how we
have victory in our Christian life! We are to live by faith not by our feelings,
not by our emotions, not by our circumstances or situation, not by looking at
the problem or the obstacle, the mountains or giants that have come between us
and God’s best for our lives. But by faith we look up to the greatness of God
and fix our eyes on Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews
12:2). Jesus is our Joshua and we can walk in victory every day! I know that is
easier said than done!!!!
Remember Joshua is engaged in a conversation with the Captain
of the LORD’s Host by the walls of Jericho. The LORD is giving him specific
instructions about the next step to take. And no doubt the instructions seemed
very foolish and unreasonable. But they were to be observed and obeyed! This past
Sunday, in my last message as interim pastor at Friendly Community Church in
Burgaw, I preached on Titus 3. Paul was giving instructions to Titus to help
him organized and minister to the churches on the island of Crete. At least twice
in chapter 3, Paul told Titus to teach the believers there “to learn and be
careful to maintain good works”.
We all need a spiritual maintenance program for our lives.
And God has given us a maintenance manual called the Bible! It has very simple
instructions on what we should do on our Christian walk every day. Things we
should do and things we shouldn’t be doing. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the Bible, God’s Word, teaches us doctrine. It tells us who
God is. It tells us who we are and what our purpose in life is and what life is
really all about! So many people today are living vain and empty lives and they
wonder why. I can tell you why and it is because we have forgotten the main
instruction Book, the Bible. Not only does the Bible tell us who we are and
what life is about, it gives us reproof. It warns and tells us when we are
wrong and have gotten on the wrong path in life. But it does even more! It then
corrects us and tells how we can be forgiven and get back on the right path.
And finally, it tell us and gives us instructions on how to stay on the right
path! God has an awesome maintenance program for our lives! Are you reading and
applying it to your broken life, your broken family, your broken relationships?
You can’t help but notice that God’s in plan and instructions
the emphasis is on the number seven: seven priests, seven trumpets, seven days
of marching, and seven circuits of the city on the seventh day. The number
seven is written clearly into the life of Israel: The Sabbath celebrated on the
seventh day of the week; seven weeks from Passover is Pentecost; the seventh
year is the Sabbatical Year; and after forty-nine years (seven times seven)
comes the Year of Jubilee. Three of Israel's feasts fall in the seventh month:
the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16), and the Feast of
Tabernacles.
In biblical numerology the number seven represents
completeness or perfection. The Hebrew word translated "seven"
(shevah) comes from a root that means "to be full, to be satisfied."
The Jews were announcing the arrival of the "Year of
Jubilee" for Israel in their new land. God's people today can march in
triumphal procession because of the victory of Jesus Christ over all the
enemies of God (Rom. 8:37; 2 Cor. 2:14; Col. 2:15). We should be living like
victors, not victims. God's people don't simply fight for victory but from
victory, because the Lord has already won the battle.
Reckon on His promises and obey what He tells you to do,
and you also will have the victory.
God bless!
