Bringing Down Strongholds, Part 2

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ when it comes to bringing Don stronghold. We need to know fights a battle and we need to follow his plan, that is, you need to follow joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor go get Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill got for now is once again he shows us how God's word. Our world freezing at Jericho. I challenge us to most too thick to assist right so that's the first thing we need to know now to verse 20 he says when it comes to breaking down strongholds you need to follow my directions completely missed that you need to follow my directions come completely if you want to take on a stronghold. That's what he says. Notice verse one he says now Jericho was tightly shot because of the sons of Israel. No one went out and no one came in. The Lord said to Joshua C. Given Jericho in your hand with its king and valiant warriors.

What you see, I'm just giving you Jericho not know it is a go get them. Don't go getting Joshua go after this people should know I give it to you.

It's a done deal. It's God's will that all of us succeed in dealing with the strongholds our life.

He wants all of us to overcome the strongholds when Jesus and of come to give you life and give it you abundantly. He wants all of us as children of God to have a life of joy and peace and hope all of us see any says I'll give it to you. I've already given it but then he says look all I'm asking from you is a follow my plan completely verse three you shall march around the city. All the men of war circling the city once and you should do so for six days also.

Seven.

Preshow carry seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark and then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times in the appreciable of the trumpets, and it shall be that when you make a long blast with the ram's horn and when you hear the sound of the trumpet. All the people shall set out with a great shout in the wall. The city will fall down flat in the people go up every man straight ahead. So Joshua the son of nun called the priest and said, take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests carry seven trumpets rams horns before the ark of the Lord.

Then he said to the people go forward and march around the city and let the armed men go on before the ark of the Lord and it was so. And when Joshua had spoken to the people of the seven priests carrying seven trumpets rams horns before the Lord went forward and blew the trumpets and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them in the arm and went before the priest who blew the number of trumpets and the rearguard came after the ark, and they were continued to blow the trumpets not this is goofy. What kind of scene is this you have these different groups. You have seven priests with thorns. You have all the priest there during the ark of the covenant, you see many of the Army's 40,000 by the way there an army and are marching around then you have 2 million people walking around and he just system is what I want to do. I want you just go walk around the city. Noble men I want to do that six days around the seventh. They want to do. Sometimes now I don't know you're probably not an expert in military tactics but does that sound right to you is that sound like the way you take on a fortified city like Jericho. You see, that's an amazing thing. He says know that that's the way this is going to have to be those verse 10 but Joshua commanded the people, and said, you shall not shout nor let your voice be heard, nor letter word proceed out of your mouth until the day that I tell you shout than usual shop. No talking.

2 million people.

No talking number how many kids are in this group.

Maybe you people can even keep your kids quiet in the car hi are you going to keep them quiet marginally said no talking no one will talk all they hear inside. Jericho was 2 million people for million feet just bouncing through this just walk day after day, the first thing that God says if you want to bring on a stronghold silent shut up don't talk see the silent let God do what God does. She has an interesting thought because I snoozing on the case were really struggling with the problem when we want to do a talk when I tell everybody about our problem is. But first, you just be silent is an interesting thing when you think about it from that point of view, you know all the sunbaked days all these terrible things because of this is crucial that you do this over the place and go with me to Psalm 46 Psalm 46 versus 10, 11, probably to my favorite verses in the Old Testament, especially 10.

This means something God's point of view. The new American Standard says cease striving, I like the King James better just be still required. Cease striving, what know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth the Lord of hosts is with us.

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Silent be quiet stop talking to.

This is hard for us. We don't really want to do that we want to talk about this. He says don't do that. The machinery another verse go with me to Exodus 14 Exodus 14 verses 13 and 14. You know the story of the Exodus is happened the plagues of happened there on the run, they come to the Red Sea and now the Egyptian army is in hot pursuit and their view is were all going to die.

That's their view is nothing we can do sees here Egyptian armies there. When we do that's a stronghold you see that that's something that scares the daylights out of them. In verse 13 it says Moses said to the people do not fear stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which is accomplished for you today for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent silence, facing adversity, silence. Let the Lord fight for you. Remember the worst adversity.

Jesus faced the whole rest and everything the mock trials and they were all wrong right illegal wrong. How much to talk about that how unfair they were not a word. It says he never spoke a word, they beat him. They slapped them they spit on him. He never spoke a word, silence because I gonna let you work see it's an interesting aspect from our point of view. Can we remain in that sense.

Silent as this goes on. Now back to Joshua know what I find so interesting about this is that as the story goes on. You see something happens completely different. It says in verse 11, so the ark of the Lord was taken want to see something at once and they came into the camp and they spent the night in the camp.

Now Joshua rose early in the morning and the priest took up the ark of the Lord, seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the Lord. When one continually and blew the trumpets in the arm and went before them and the rearguard came after the ark of the Lord while they continue to blow the trumpets. Thus, the second day they marched around the city once and return it And they did so for six days. What data you think of you and I were walking one of us would've said you really think there's been doing really just got this. How is what see one of the things he never told the people he told the priest it until the people. How many days are going to do this to describe Mark again today.

Just imagine, from the inhabitants of Jericho the first day there and tear.

They and their terrified of the Israelites in a what you want to run your someone's boat.

Nothing happened. They went back to the first day they were just like over the gonna do was the second day of psych.

What are they doing.

By the third day the trash talking start you cowards what is a stupid, what you doing to do it day after day, so I said when it comes down to this.

You have to follow his plan completely if you don't follow it completely and never take a stronghold on in your life just won't work like that is that I have a plan you have to follow it completely the machinery. Another example of that second Kings chapter 5 second Kings chapter 5 were introduced to a man and it's interesting that his response is a lot like ours when it comes to following the Lord's plan completely. Here's what it says it says no name, and was captain of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man with his master highly respected because by him. The Lord had given victory to Erin. The man was also a valiant warrior but he was a leper but outsourcing in the world, possibly in that world is all these wonderful things, but is a leper and something verse nine. So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and he stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha, the great prophet of God, he said while this is this is this is important, and he said Elisha sent a messenger when said go and wash in the Jordan seven times in your flesh shall be restored to you and you should be going door wash the Jordan.

How many times I seems to be going. It didn't Naaman you like it. Naaman was furious anyone away and he said, behold, I thought he will surely come out to me and stand and call the name of his Lord is God and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper book was he doing that.

What would happen on the Jordan wash seven times. That's ridiculous how*might go like that and should get better now in verse 12, so he turned and went away in rage semifinal verse 13. His servants came near and spoke to him and said my father. He said had the prophet told you to do some great thing we do not of done it. How much more than when he tells you to wash and be clean if you told your some amazing thing you tried it, but it's only just good I watch yourself sometimes you're saying that's a stupid but that's God's plan. So they went down. He dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, he was clean godfather plan completely UCF to follow the plan completely, not partially think of this. How do you deal with not becoming bitter in relationships that are hurtful. See how you do with those well this clear in Scripture you forgive right right you forget and that always works not necessarily right so you know how the culture thinks about it you know if you do some the mail forgive you present shame on you, but if you keep doing it to me and I keep forgetting that shame on me, but they asked Jesus that question directly. She directly answerable, how many times you give give 2341. How many Jesus said 70×7, 490 really is bigger than that, but 490.

Yes, that's just ridiculous. I just don't just keep forgiving, somewhat yes that's God's plan. That's his plan, you forgive and keep forgiving jealous work, there's no Asterix, but not not your case you're justified were not justified. He says this is what I'm telling you you want you want take on that stronghold of bitterness in your life you forgive see you have to do that will how often do I do that you just keep doing it. See you just keep doing it. She Jesus said this over and over again the application of the verse so hits me on the faces and I mean is any to turn the other cheek.

Notice what it didn't say just once and then let him have it doesn't say that. Look, I put up with her for a while, but I'm done. See that's we get ourselves in trouble with certain sins see that you have to follow the plan completely. You know it's interesting if just one more chapter and second Kings when you get that chapter 6 Elisha is innate in his house with an attendant and the armies are coming in around them.

Same thing as Jericho and the attendant says to what we going to do what what can we do the armies gonna come and get us an Elisha system. Do not fear, for those who are with us are much more than those who are with them in the attendant when there's just us and so Elisha prayed and said, oh Lord, open his eyes and the Lord opened his eyes and he sold hold mountain for horses and chariots of fire so right here essentially says to us over and over right here. I've got this but you have to follow my plan and you have to follow it fully if it's going to be my plan see what we want to do is we went over the plan then when this isn't working. I need to do something else. Seeming failure should never mean to adopt a strategy other than God. You can never say will God's plan is not working.

I got got to come up with something on my own. You do that you stay in the stronghold and never differ human when it comes to bringing down strongholds. We didn't know who fights the battle and we need to follow his plan, please leave. That's what he is saying you need to follow his plan completely. Once again, I'd like you to go with me to second Corinthians were started chapter 10 again and look second Corinthians chapter 10 now look at it since what we looked at in Joshua he says, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh he says for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh. They were divinely powerful for the destruction for the destruction of fortresses, strongholds were destroying speculations and every lofty thing that's our own opinion or what we think would work. He said were destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience Christ. That's what this is all about. That's how we know the strongholds are like we think differently. Recent modem is going to follow your plan. I'm just gonna follow you and your plan. I'm going to do it completely.

No one last time is Québec the Joshua stories. I read the rest of the story of what happens verse 16 it says it came about the seventh time when the priest did my seven times in a row they'd gone around the city on the seventh day when you just imagine how long it to million people walking around seven times the priest blew the trumpets. Joshua said to the people shop for the Lord has given you the city.

He said the city should be under the ban, he said.

In it he said it and all that is in it belongs to the Lord.

Only Rahab the harlot and all those who are in our house a live because she hid the messengers when we sent them but as for you only keep yourselves the things that are under the ban, so do not covet them and take any other thing from the band make he said and make the camp of Israel cursed and bring trouble upon it, but all the silver and gold articles of bronze and iron and holy or holy to the Lord. Initial going to the treasury of the Lord. So the people shouted the police.

The priest blew the trumpets. It came about when the people heard the sound of the trumpet that the people shouted with a great shot.

The wall fell down flat so that the people went up into the city. Every man straight ahead, they took the city's amazing no military strategist would say that's the way to do this but this is an about that. This is a spiritual battle now archaeologists find something interesting with ancient Jericho.

For most cities. Proceeds with its walls and walls of ancient Jericho fell outward moment when you received your city with Walsh or not the walls inward, but these walls fell outward because God did it. He destroyed the stronghold know what stronghold has a hold of you. God could never forgive me if you know the things I did.

God could never forgive me. That's the stronghold of guilt.

I will never forgive that person. That's the stronghold of resentment and bitterness.

Bad things always happen to me. The stronghold of self-pity. Some of us turn this into an art form. Everything every conversation we have we victimized ourselves. All my life is so good. Just as with everything that could go wrong is wrong with me yes because that stronghold has a whole you. I have to be in charge, the pride I don't deserve to be loved stronghold of rejection. I'm never recover stronghold of the feet got to be good.

Otherwise, Gotto reject me stronghold or performance only as good as I look stronghold of appearance my value equals my possessions. The stronghold of materialism to the problem we have as Christians. Most of us don't even recognize the stronghold so we don't even see it. They are encumbrances there the sin that so easily entangles us, and they stop us from ever getting the life that we know we should have as Jesus described the abundant life. Don't let some joy sucking Jericho taken on of your life if you don't let that happen to your life. Isn't that what we all want to belong to CR strongholds like the walls of Jericho just demolished so that we could get on with it. We can we have to know who fights the battle we have to follow his direction completely spring father.

The truth of this story in Joshua touches all of us because I think we all know that were not all that we should be. I also believe that all of us know what our real weaknesses are of all the things to get us in trouble envy and lust and pride, all those things Lord that constantly hungers and augurs that steal our joy. Still our peace and still our hope and father. We feel helpless.

We say we can never just get rid of that in our lives and for that you would say amen to us because we can't but you can. That's why you appeared. That's why the son of God appeared to Joshua to let him know who really fights the battle battle belongs. Lord know what you ask us to do as we read through the Scriptures, and especially in the New Testament when you ask us to do, where to follow obediently faithfully continually and when we do that father when we don't abort the mission at all when we follow you, and we obey. The stronghold comes down father, may your spirit just convict us to ask us what stealing our joy stealing our peace stealing our hope. Father will deal with the previous four are good pastoral giver on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listen to the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio program at Fellowship in the Word.

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