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.
- This was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ – The
Prince of Israel.
- He is the Great I Am – Who commissioned Moses.
- He is the Covenant God who promised to Abraham the land
of Canaan.
B. His
peculiarities.
- 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).
- 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.
- The difficulties are placed in our path by God.
B. The
powerful destruction.
- 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.
- 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).
- Here was Abraham’s failure.
- Here Moses failed (Ex. 2:11-12).
- The apostles were commanded to tarry at Jerusalem.
- “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).
- The people shouted before the walls fell down. It was
faith expecting the victory (Mk. 11;24).
- 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).
- Not presumptuously.
- Obediently (2 Chron. 20:20).
Application: God
would have his people to:
- Work – Each one.
- Wait.
- Win.