Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua Part 9—Destroying Satan’s Strongholds

The people in the city of Jericho had heard of the things that God had done in Egypt and had heard that the children of Israel had crossed the river of Jordan on dry land. They sealed themselves behind the walls surrounding their city, securing the gates. They had somewhere in time built this stronghold.  Behind these walls they could close in their ideas and keep out all others. They believed it could protect them, somehow. Despite their fearing the God of the Israelites; they did not see God as Glorious nor did they desire to worship Him. Many today like the people of Jericho believe in His existence and His power; but, do not worship Him as King of their lives. Joshua instructed the people as God had commanded them for this battle. They were to march around the city every day for 6 days with the warriors in front, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant surrounded by other priests carrying horns and then the remainder of the people behind. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. They were then to blow the horns and everyone shout—an act of faith and praise to God. The walls then all fell down. God crumbled the walls with one command from Him.

picture courtesy of @istockphoto.com

What walls or strongholds are you facing today? Are they strongholds of unbelievers that you have been witnessing to day after day with no results and you are discouraged over your ministry? Or are they strongholds that are even more personal within your own heart? Are there areas of fear, doubt, and discouragement because you feel so inadequate everyday as a Christian? You wish you had said the right thing or you wish you had shown the love of Christ in your actions or you just wish you could learn to keep your mouth shut sometimes? What is that stronghold of doubt and defeat which Satan chips away at every day of your life?

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Time and Space Encircling Me

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Time and space encircling me

You came to save and set me free

That I might find eternity

Forever there your glory see

 

Guide me Lord within this life

To lay aside all doubt and strife

That I might live eternity

Fix my eyes your face to see

 

You came to earth to bear my pain

To wash away my sin laid stain

My hope now based eternity

Forever there Your love to see

 

Teach me Lord, draw me near

That I proclaim for all to hear

The Joy you share, eternity

Salvation’s song of love for me.

©2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua Part 8— It’s Not About Me

Joshua 5: (NIV)^”13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

“Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”¹⁴ “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord^[e]have for his servant?”

¹⁵ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

So who was this man standing there with his sword in hand?

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Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua Part 7—A Matter of the Heart

So, the children of Israel had crossed over Jordan and were going to take possession of the land that God had promised to Abraham so many years before. Imagine their excitement and the eagerness they must have been feeling to move on further; yet, they waited calmly at their first destination. There was no mention of grumbling, impatience or fear among these who had been chosen. In fact, you may find it strange that there they stopped and Joshua circumcised the people before they moved any further. They then tarried there until all were healed. This was an act of surrendering faith born from hearts that loved, feared, and awed at who God had proven Himself to be. They knew that the armies of the land which had caused their parents to tremble and doubt, could easily come and attack while they were all weakened from the surgery; yet, there was no doubt here. Everyone surrendered to the knife cutting away their flesh. The circumcision was not what would save them any more than the law had been able to cause them to be victorious. It was merely symbolic of the circumcision that had already occurred in their heart. They were willing to sit and wait for God to say “Go”.

art is courtesy of istockphoto.com

They had glimpsed at God’s Glory and they desired to be a people who worshipped God. They had been captivated by His Glory, His Beauty, His Honesty, His Power, and His Abiding Love. Their hearts had been transformed into hearts that sought after God and that loved God with all their heart, all their soul, and all their strength.

They had learned that the letter of the law could not save them; but, it would have

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Victory’s Battle Cry- A Study in Joshua Part 6—

Once more, God demonstrates to His people the majesty of His power and His Glory. He halts the raging river while all the people cross over the Jordan into the Promised Land. The priests were in the midst of the River with the Ark of the Covenant—a symbol of God’s presence and strength.

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

Once everyone had safely crossed over, God tells Joshua to have one man from each tribe to go back, pick up a stone from where the priests are standing and bring it to the place they will camp that night to build a memorial shrine as a reminder of what God did for them and a reminder as of the perfect sovereignty, righteousness, justice, Mercy and grace that is God.

God had remained faithful to redeem Himself a people in spite of all their failures in the past and He is about to prove to the entire world that He is the Victory in every trial or battle of life.

Continue reading Build An Everlasting Memorial to God With Your Life →