06/23/2024 Midtown Church Elk Grove
Lifelines: Scriptures That Formed Me
“Conquering Life’s Battles and Challenges with Faith: Lessons from Jericho”
Pastor Tyronne Gross Jr.
Main Text: Joshua 6:1-5 (NIV)
Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Biblical Background on Joshua:
- Joshua, originally named Hoshea, was the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim
- Joshua was born in Egypt during the Israelites’ period of slavery.
- Joshua first appears in the Bible was during the battle against the Amalekites, where he served as the military leader under Moses.
- Joshua was Moses’ assistant and accompanied him partway up Mount Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments.
- Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore Canaan.
- Along with Caleb, Joshua brought back a positive report, encouraging the Israelites to trust in God and enter the land.
- After Moses’ death, Joshua was appointed by God to be the leader of Israel.
- Under Joshua’s leadership, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River miraculously as the waters parted.
How Do We Conquer Life’s Battles and Challenges?
1.) Divine Strategy Preparation (Joshua 6:2-5)
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
“God’s strategies and ways should not be viewed as an option or request but rather a command that should be followed exactly as He lays it out.”
“Divine strategy met with preparation leads to unstoppable victories!”
2.) Unwavering Faith
Joshua 6:16
The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!
Joshua 6:10
But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!”
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
3.) Power of Community
Joshua 6:20
When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
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WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK MIDTOWN!
STAY CONNECTED:
Midtown Sacramento: Instagram | Facebook
Midtown Elk Grove: Instagram | Facebook
CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING EVENT AT MIDTOWN CHURCH