Sermon Message: Making Our Walls Fall Down Flat
JOSHUA 6:20 ALSO SEE (HEBREWS 11:30)
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
WALLS WILL FALL WHEN WE DO THE FOLLOWING
1. We Must Fall at the right feet – Joshua 5:13-15
Joshua is doing reconnaissance of the city of Jericho. He is alone and he is busy trying to devise a plan to overcome the walls that surround the town. No doubt, he is confused and concerned and he has no idea about what he needs to do. Then, Joshua meets a man who is standing with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua confronts this man and asks him to declare whether he is friend or foe. The stranger responds not by answering Joshua’s question, but by identifying Himself as “The Lord of Hosts.” This is the battle name of the God of Israel! Joshua realizes that this is no ordinary meeting. This is a manifestation of God, and He has come ready for battle. Joshua’s reaction to the presence of the Lord is worthy of note and he reveals to us how we should respond when we are confronting the walled off areas of our own lives.)
2. We Must Follow the Right Plan – Joshua 6:12-16
As the Lord details this plan to Joshua, it must have sounded strange to that old soldier’s ears. There was no talk of armor or armaments. There was no talk of soldiers, swords or spears. There was no talk of sieges, of strategies or of secret weapons. God’s plan involved the Ark of the Covenant; priests; trumpets and people. God said, “Joshua, take the Ark, have seven priests blowing seven ram’s horn trumpets go before it and have them blow those trumpets. Then, have the rest of the people follow along behind. Don’t say a word. Don’t shout. Don’t taunt the people of the city. Don’t even speak! Just walk. Walk once around that city every day for six and then do it seven times on the seventh day. When you finish that last lap, stop and shout the victory and the walls will fall down flat.”
Now, I don’t care who you are, that is a strange plan! From a human standpoint it makes no sense. From a military standpoint, it makes no sense. From a logical standpoint, it makes no sense. Strange plans call for strong faith! Imagine the people of Jericho as the people of Israel marched around and around the city. Imagine the people of Israel and what they endured as they marched: ridicule, danger, and humiliation.
God’s plan boils down to this: walking. They were to walk in the right order; in the right path; for the right period of time; and they were promised the victory. This plan involved no input from the people; all they had to do was walk
By the way, God’s plan for His children is a bit strange also. All He asks us to do is nothing! The secret to living the successful Christian life is this: you can’t do it! It is not about what you can do, but it is all about what He can do. It is not about trying and failing. It is all about learning to abide in Jesus, and in drawing one’s strength from Him, John 15:1-8, Gal. 2:20. The Christian life can be condensed into that one word: abiding. If a believer can just learn to abide in Jesus; the walls in his life will come crashing down! If we can just learn to go with God and abide in Jesus, even when life makes no sense at all, we will see Him overcome the walls we have in our lives.
3. We Must Finish The Right Way Joshua 6:20-22
Some Things Must Be Claimed – God gave Israel absolute victory over the city of Jericho. All they had to do was enter the city and claim what He had already given them. The fact of the matter is this: many people never enjoy real victory over the things that hold them back. But, God has given us absolute victory in Jesus. All we really have to do to enjoy that victory is claim it by faith I am telling you that there really is “Victory In Jesus” and you can have it, enjoy and live it all the time if you want to! (Ill. 1 Cor. 15:57; 1 John 5:4-5.) Do you want that victory in your life today? It is in Jesus and it is available by faith!
Some Things Must Be Conquered – When Israel entered Jericho, they killed every single person in that city. Nothing associated with Jericho could be allowed to live. You see, the problem with Jericho was not the city itself. The problem there was the people in the city. They had to be destroyed or their ways would have corrupted the children of Israel. The same is true in your life and mine. When the Lord does give you victory and those walls come falling down in your life; you must rise up and put away everything that is associated with your Jericho.
Maybe someone needs to be forgiven.
Maybe you will need to develop a new circle of friends.
Maybe you will need to change the way to go to and from work.
Maybe you need to change the kind of TV you watch or books you read.
When God gives you the victory in your life, take whatever steps are necessary to see that the problem in your life is totally conquered.
That is the path to lasting victory.
EVENTS & SERVICES
October 17, 2015 (Sat)
Providence District Ushers and Nurses Annual Workshop (9:00am-12:00pm)
Location: First Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church: 1200 N. Wilmington Ave., Compton CA 90222
Pastoral Installation Services (4:00pm)
The pastoral installation services for Rev. Dr. William H. (“Bill”) Dandridge III as the second pastor of the Holy Light Missionary Baptist church. Please come out and support and encourage our new Pastor. Pastor Darrell Armstrong of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey will bring the installation message. Food will be served in the Inez Berry Fellowship Hall following the service.
October 25, 2015 (Sun)
Holy Light Men’s Day (All Day)
Please come out and fellowship with us all Day. The speakers will be: 8:00am: Rev. Bobby L. Newman Jr. Pastor of the Citizens of Zion Baptist Church in Compton, and Moderator of the Providence Missionary Baptist District Association.
11:00am: Rev. Dr. Wiiliam H. Dandridge III, Pastor of the Holy Light Missionary Baptist Church. 3:00pm: Minister Chris Hall, Member of the Life of Faith Christian Church - Pastor Anthony Pigee Sr., Son of our own Rev. Ray Hall Please contact Rev. Ray Hall, the program chairman for any additional information. Food will be served between the 11:00am and 3:00pm services.
November 7, 2015 (Sat)
Church Leadership Meeting (8:45am - Noon)
Pastor Dandridge has called a meeting for the church leadership to meet with him to discuss church vision and goals moving forward. The first 1.5 hours be meeting among the HL church leadership. The second half will be a presentation on church leadership by Pastor Jerome Carter of the South Bay Abundant Life Church in Long Beach, CA.
November 8, 2015 (Sun)
Mt. Moriah – Fellowship In Riverside, CA (3:30pm)
Our annual fellowship for Pastor Willie Chambers appreciation services. A bus leaving from the church will be available for this trip.
November 22, 2015 (Sun)
Fall Musical (3:30pm)