The journey of faith often involves moments of doubt and questioning. We may look at the promises God has made and wonder if they will ever come to pass, especially when our circumstances seem to contradict them. Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, we can feel like we are going in circles, unsure if God's plan will unfold as we hope. Yet, the narrative of scripture consistently reveals a God who is faithful to His word, even when His ways don't immediately make sense to us. [01:02:29]
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Reflection: When you feel uncertain about God's promises in your life, what specific past instance of God's faithfulness can you recall to strengthen your trust in His current plans?
Sometimes, God's instructions for us may seem unconventional or even illogical from a human perspective. The battle plan for Jericho, for instance, defied all military strategy. Yet, the people were called to obedience and trust, not to understand the mechanics of the victory. This reminds us that our role is often to follow God's lead, even when the path ahead is unclear, trusting that He orchestrates the outcome. [59:43]
Joshua 6:15-16 (ESV)
"On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. On that day, only, they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, 'Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord by destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.'"
Reflection: In what area of your life has God presented you with a plan that feels counterintuitive or difficult to grasp, and how might taking a step of obedience in that area reveal His faithfulness?
The victory at Jericho was not achieved through the might or strategy of the Israelites, but through God's direct intervention. This is a crucial reminder that our successes, whether in personal battles or in serving God, are ultimately His doing. When we face challenges, it's easy to rely on our own strength or wisdom, but true victory comes from acknowledging God's power and allowing Him to work through us. [01:00:57]
1 Samuel 17:47 (ESV)
"And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."
Reflection: Consider a recent challenge you faced. In what ways did you rely on your own abilities, and how could you have more intentionally invited God's strength and wisdom into that situation?
Even in moments of judgment, God provides opportunities for repentance and offers a path to salvation. The story of Jericho includes Rahab and her family, who, despite living in a corrupt city, chose to believe and act on God's promises. This highlights that no one is beyond God's reach, and there is always time to turn to Him, receive His grace, and experience His life-giving power. [01:00:18]
Acts 3:19 (ESV)
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you sense God calling you to repent or to turn away from something, and what is one small, concrete action you can take this week to respond to that invitation?
Baptism is a powerful symbol and a tangible promise from God, signifying our inheritance of eternal life. It's a covenant where God assures us of His love and our secure future with Him, regardless of our present circumstances. Clinging to this promise, even when life feels uncertain, allows us to experience the fullness of His life here and now, knowing we are His children. [01:04:37]
Romans 6:4 (ESV)
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Reflection: Reflect on your baptism. What specific promise of God that was sealed in your baptism do you need to hold onto more firmly this week, and how can you actively live in the reality of that promise today?
The congregation was invited to see the Old and New Testaments as one unfolding story of redemption, where God’s promises move from future hope into present fulfillment. Tracing the arc from creation, Abraham, and the Exodus, the narrative focused on moments that demand trust: the Israelites’ flight from Egypt, the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, forty years of wilderness, and the tense threshold at the Jordan River and Jericho. Across each juncture, ordinary fear and the lure to regress met divine provision and unexpected strategies—God positioned an angel and a pillar of cloud to protect, empowered Moses to hold out his hand, caused the waters to stand when the priests stepped in, and directed an unconventional siege at Jericho that required obedient marching and a great shout. These scenes were presented not as curiosities of ancient history but as living patterns for contemporary faith: God’s methods often confound human wisdom, timing rarely matches human expectations, and faith frequently precedes visible outcomes.
The sermon emphasized that the demand to trust is not merely psychological but covenantal—the people were called to act on God’s word before seeing the deliverance. The victories recorded in scripture were framed as gifts from God rather than prizes wrested by human strength; even the opportunity for repentance within Jericho (for Rahab and her household) illustrated that God’s justice and mercy operate together. Finally, baptism was lifted as a present guarantee of inheritance in Christ: a visible pledge that the promise of everlasting life is both future hope and present reality to be clung to amid uncertainty. Worship, prayer, and communal acts of obedience were urged as the ordinary means through which faith is tested and strengthened. The overall charge was sober yet hopeful: walls in life will confront the faithful, but God’s faithfulness, not human ingenuity, is the decisive factor in bringing promises to pass.
But Joshua's story reminds us that faith isn't about understanding everything. We don't have all the answers. Faith isn't about understanding everything, it is about trust, trusting that God will do what he says he is going to do.
[01:02:40]
(22 seconds)
#FaithIsTrust
So cling to your baptism. Know that you are his child. Know that he is for you and not against you. Know that there is life to come, and yet at the same time, experience that life that he gives you right here, right now.
[01:05:34]
(19 seconds)
#ClingToBaptism
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