Breaking Down Walls: Trusting God's Power and Grace

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound story of Jericho from Joshua 6, drawing parallels between the physical walls faced by the Israelites and the metaphorical walls we encounter in our own lives. The narrative of Jericho is not just about a historical event but a powerful reminder of God's ability to break down any barrier that stands between us and His promises. The Israelites, having been freed from slavery in Egypt, faced numerous obstacles on their journey to the Promised Land, with Jericho being a significant one. This city, fortified with impenetrable walls, symbolized the challenges and fears that often seem insurmountable in our lives.

We are reminded that walls, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, are not too great for God to overcome. The Israelites' victory at Jericho was not due to their strength or strategy but because of their obedience and trust in God's plan. This teaches us that our human capabilities are limited, and often, the walls we face require divine intervention. God's instructions to the Israelites were unconventional, yet their faith and obedience led to a miraculous victory. This story encourages us to trust in God's plans, even when they don't align with our understanding or expectations.

The story of Rahab, a marginalized and unlikely ally, further illustrates God's grace and redemption. Her faith not only saved her but also integrated her into the lineage of Jesus, showing that God can use anyone, regardless of their past, for His purposes. The greatest wall we face is the separation from God due to sin, but through Jesus, that wall has been broken down, offering us reconciliation and eternal life.

As we navigate our own walls, whether they be financial struggles, relationship issues, or personal callings, we are called to trust and obey God, knowing that He is capable of accomplishing the impossible. Our response should be one of faith, prayer, and praise, acknowledging that God is our ultimate wall breaker.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Power Over Walls: The story of Jericho teaches us that no wall is too great for God to break down. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, the barriers we face are opportunities for God to demonstrate His power and faithfulness. We must trust that God is bigger than any obstacle in our path. [44:03]

- Human Limitations and Divine Intervention: Our human capabilities are limited, and often, the challenges we face require divine intervention. The Israelites' victory at Jericho was not due to their strength but their obedience to God's unconventional plan. This reminds us to rely on God's power rather than our own. [55:00]

- The Role of Faith and Obedience: Trusting and obeying God, even when His plans seem illogical, is crucial. The Israelites' faith led to a miraculous victory, teaching us that our obedience can lead to breakthroughs in our lives. We must be willing to follow God's guidance, even when it defies our understanding. [01:13:21]

- God's Grace and Redemption: Rahab's story illustrates God's grace and ability to redeem anyone, regardless of their past. Her faith not only saved her but also placed her in the lineage of Jesus. This shows that God can use anyone for His purposes, offering hope and redemption to all. [01:09:14]

- Breaking the Wall of Hostility: The greatest wall we face is the separation from God due to sin. Through Jesus, this wall has been broken down, offering us reconciliation and eternal life. Our response should be one of gratitude, embracing the relationship God offers us through Christ. [01:10:35]

YouTube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [44:03] - Introduction to Jericho
- [46:25] - Identifying Our Walls
- [48:33] - Reflection and Prayer
- [49:54] - Trusting God in Uncertainty
- [51:18] - The Impenetrable Walls of Jericho
- [52:57] - Human Limitations
- [55:00] - Facing Life's Challenges
- [58:03] - God's Unconventional Plan
- [59:45] - Trust and Obedience
- [01:03:21] - God's Promise to Israel
- [01:04:56] - God Accomplishes the Impossible
- [01:09:14] - Rahab's Redemption
- [01:10:35] - The Wall of Hostility
- [01:13:21] - Trust and Obey
- [01:15:56] - Prayer and Praise
- [01:18:39] - God's Love and Victory

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Joshua 6:1-20

Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions did God give to Joshua and the Israelites regarding the battle of Jericho? How did these instructions differ from typical military strategies? [58:03]
2. How did the people of Jericho react to the presence of the Israelites and their God, Yahweh? What measures did they take in response? [51:18]
3. What role did Rahab play in the story of Jericho, and what promise was made to her by the Israelite spies? [51:18]
4. How did the Israelites demonstrate their trust and obedience to God during the siege of Jericho? [01:13:21]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might God have chosen such an unconventional plan for the Israelites to conquer Jericho? What does this reveal about His character and His ways? [59:45]
2. In what ways does the story of Rahab illustrate God's grace and redemption? How does her inclusion in the lineage of Jesus impact our understanding of God's plan? [01:09:14]
3. How does the story of Jericho challenge our understanding of human limitations and the need for divine intervention in overcoming obstacles? [55:00]
4. What does the breaking down of the wall of hostility between us and God through Jesus signify for believers today? [01:10:35]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a "wall" you are currently facing in your life. How can you apply the lessons from the Israelites' obedience and trust in God's plan to your situation? [46:25]
2. Rahab's story shows that God can use anyone for His purposes. Is there an area in your life where you feel unworthy or inadequate? How can you embrace God's grace and redemption in that area? [01:09:14]
3. The Israelites shouted a victory shout before the walls of Jericho fell. How can you incorporate praise and gratitude into your life, even before seeing the outcome of your challenges? [01:15:56]
4. Consider a time when you tried to rely on your own strength to overcome a problem. How can you shift your focus to rely more on God's power and guidance? [55:00]
5. The sermon mentioned the importance of prayer and community. How can you engage more deeply in prayer and seek support from your church community when facing life's challenges? [01:22:00]
6. The story of Jericho emphasizes the importance of trusting and obeying God. What is one specific area in your life where you need to practice greater trust and obedience? [01:13:21]
7. How can you actively share the message of God's power and redemption with someone facing their own "walls" this week? [01:18:39]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: God's Power Transcends Our Barriers
In the story of Jericho, the Israelites faced a formidable obstacle in the form of the city's impenetrable walls. These walls symbolize the challenges and fears that seem insurmountable in our lives. The narrative reminds us that no barrier is too great for God to overcome. The Israelites' victory was not due to their own strength or strategy but because of their obedience and trust in God's plan. This teaches us that our human capabilities are limited, and often, the walls we face require divine intervention. We must trust that God is bigger than any obstacle in our path. [44:03]

Joshua 6:20 (ESV): "So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city."

Reflection: Identify a "wall" in your life that seems insurmountable. How can you invite God to demonstrate His power in overcoming this barrier today?

Day 2: Embracing Divine Intervention
The Israelites' victory at Jericho was not due to their own strength but their obedience to God's unconventional plan. This story reminds us that our human capabilities are limited, and often, the challenges we face require divine intervention. God's instructions to the Israelites were unconventional, yet their faith and obedience led to a miraculous victory. This encourages us to rely on God's power rather than our own, trusting that His plans, though they may defy our understanding, are perfect. [55:00]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you relying solely on your own strength? How can you begin to trust in God's power and plan instead?

Day 3: The Role of Faith and Obedience
Trusting and obeying God, even when His plans seem illogical, is crucial. The Israelites' faith led to a miraculous victory, teaching us that our obedience can lead to breakthroughs in our lives. We must be willing to follow God's guidance, even when it defies our understanding. This story encourages us to trust in God's plans, even when they don't align with our expectations, knowing that He is capable of accomplishing the impossible. [01:13:21]

Hebrews 11:30 (ESV): "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days."

Reflection: Think of a situation where God's guidance seems unclear or illogical. How can you practice obedience and faith in this area today?

Day 4: God's Grace and Redemption
Rahab's story illustrates God's grace and ability to redeem anyone, regardless of their past. Her faith not only saved her but also placed her in the lineage of Jesus. This shows that God can use anyone for His purposes, offering hope and redemption to all. Rahab, a marginalized and unlikely ally, demonstrates that God's grace is available to everyone, and He can use anyone, regardless of their past, for His purposes. [01:09:14]

James 2:25 (ESV): "And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?"

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel unworthy of God's grace. How can you embrace His redemption and allow Him to use you for His purposes?

Day 5: Breaking the Wall of Hostility
The greatest wall we face is the separation from God due to sin. Through Jesus, this wall has been broken down, offering us reconciliation and eternal life. Our response should be one of gratitude, embracing the relationship God offers us through Christ. This story encourages us to trust and obey God, knowing that He is capable of accomplishing the impossible. [01:10:35]

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."

Reflection: Consider the ways you might be experiencing separation from God. How can you actively embrace the reconciliation offered through Jesus today?

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Quotes

1. "So in the story of Jericho, we're going to see that there is no wall too great for God to break down. God truly is a wall breaker, and he will break down the walls that we face in our lives. So the question I want you to think about, we're going to go into a time of reflection, but the question I really want you to ponder this morning is what wall is standing between you and what you believe God has for you?" [44:03] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Whatever the wall may be, no matter how big it is, I want you to know this morning that God, our God, is bigger." [46:25] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You know, when you and I, when we size up the walls, that are in front of us, the things that we face every single day, we often see them through the lens of what you and I could accomplish. The problems, circumstances, situations that we find ourselves in our lives, we often see them view them through the lens of what I can do through my gifts, my talents, my abilities, my resources. What can I accomplish? But what we have to realize and recognize is that walls are impenetrable." [53:52] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "From a human perspective, the Israelites were completely unequipped to take down this wall. They did not have siege weapons. Like, they did not go into a season where they were building stuff so that they could take down this wall. I mean, they literally had ram's horns and their voices. I mean, it's like if you have an infant in your house asking that infant to do your taxes and then make you breakfast. It ain't happening. Completely impossible." [58:03] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God told Israel, I have given Jericho into your hands. He told them the outcome. He told them the outcome before He even told them what the plan was. And He tells us in His Word what the plan is. And He tells us in His Word what the outcome's gonna be. He has already won the victory for us." [01:03:21] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "God accomplishes the impossible. God accomplishes the impossible. Look at verse 15 with me. Only, this is important, Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers who we sent. But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them, you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it." [01:04:56] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The biggest wall you will ever face is not your finances. It's not the struggles that you have in your marriage. It's not being a teen. It's, it's not, uh, the calling that you're running away from. The biggest wall you were ever faced in your life is the wall of hostility that sits between you and a holy God for all of eternity." [01:10:35] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "So our God is a wall breaker. Amen? So what do we do with this? What's our response to this? It's trust and obey. There's an old hymn, trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus and to trust and obey." [01:13:21] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "You know, there was this moment, I've used this example before, but it's such a clear example to me. My parents, when I was really, really young, they were looking at RVs. And then this one particular RV, if you know anything about RVs, there's usually like a kitchenette section. And under the kitchen benches, there was storage space. And there was a little thing at the end that you could open up and then you could stick stuff underneath the seats. So me as a rambunctious little kid, I decided to crawl into one of them, not realizing that the door was on a hinge and it was going to slam shut behind me, trapping me inside. This thing. So I start freaking out. I didn't know I was claustrophobic until that moment. But I was freaking out. And all I could hear was my dad tearing up this RV, trying to find the voice of me crying out to him. And I remember the moment when I heard the latch on that door begin to open and I was able to crawl out and jump into his arms and feel his embrace and be freed from that trap." [01:16:58] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "And so we stand and we stand. We sing and we praise and we go out and we tell the world about his good news because every single person in your life has a wall that they are facing. And the only way that they are gonna be able to see that wall break is through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. So let's trust and know that he is who he says he is and that he is for us and not against us." [01:18:39] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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