Faith and Obedience: Breaking Down Life's Walls
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the powerful story of the walls of Jericho from the book of Joshua. This narrative is not just a historical account but a profound spiritual lesson about faith, obedience, and the power of God to break down barriers in our lives. From the beginning of time, humans have built walls for various reasons—defense, separation, and control. But the walls we build in our hearts and lives can be even more formidable. These walls can be built from fear, doubt, sin, and past hurts, and they can prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's promises.
In Joshua 6, God instructs Joshua to lead the Israelites in a seemingly strange strategy to conquer Jericho. They were to march around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day, then shout and blow trumpets. This act of obedience, despite its oddity, led to the miraculous fall of Jericho's walls. This teaches us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His instructions, no matter how unusual, are always for our good.
We often question God's methods and timing, but like the Israelites, we must trust and obey. When we follow God's instructions, even when they don't make sense, we position ourselves for breakthrough. The story also highlights the importance of community and unity in achieving God's purposes. The Israelites marched together, and their collective obedience brought down the walls.
Moreover, the story of Rahab, a woman with a questionable past, shows that God's grace is available to all. Her faith and actions not only saved her but also her entire family. This reminds us that no matter how far we think we've strayed, there's always room at the cross for redemption and restoration.
### Key Takeaways
1. Obedience to God's Unconventional Methods:
God's instructions to Joshua to march around Jericho may have seemed illogical, but obedience led to victory. This teaches us that God's ways are not our ways, and we must trust His plans even when they don't make sense. Our breakthrough often lies on the other side of our obedience. [41:19]
2. The Power of Collective Faith and Unity:
The Israelites' unified march around Jericho symbolizes the strength found in community and collective faith. When we come together in obedience and faith, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Unity in the body of Christ is crucial for spiritual victories. [42:56]
3. God's Grace for the Undeserving:
Rahab's story shows that God's grace extends to everyone, regardless of their past. Her faith and actions not only saved her but also her family. This reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God's redemption, and there's always room at the cross for one more. [45:41]
4. Breaking Down Personal Walls:
Just as the walls of Jericho fell, God can break down the walls in our hearts and lives. These walls, built from fear, doubt, and past hurts, can be dismantled through faith, prayer, and obedience. When these walls fall, we can step into the fullness of God's promises. [47:21]
5. Trusting God's Timing:
The Israelites had to march for seven days before the walls fell, teaching us the importance of patience and trust in God's timing. Delays are not denials; God's timing is perfect. We must remain faithful and patient, knowing that God is working for our good. [52:39]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[34:47] - Acknowledgments and Gratitude
[36:10] - Introduction: Building Walls
[37:02] - Historical Context of Walls
[38:11] - The Wall of Jericho
[39:23] - God's Instructions to Joshua
[41:19] - Obedience and Trust in God's Plan
[42:56] - The Power of Unity
[45:03] - Rahab's Redemption
[47:21] - Breaking Down Personal Walls
[49:03] - God's Power Over Walls
[50:10] - Possessing the Land
[51:21] - Walking Around Your Jericho
[52:39] - Trusting God's Timing
[54:03] - Closing Remarks and Praise Team
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 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. Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 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. 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.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give Joshua regarding the conquest of Jericho? ([39:23])
2. How did the Israelites respond to Joshua's instructions from God? ([42:56])
3. What was the significance of Rahab's actions, and how did they impact her and her family? ([45:03])
4. What happened when the Israelites shouted and blew the trumpets on the seventh day? ([39:53])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose such an unconventional method for the Israelites to conquer Jericho? ([41:19])
2. How does the story of Rahab illustrate the concept of God's grace and redemption? ([45:41])
3. What can we learn about the importance of unity and collective faith from the Israelites' march around Jericho? ([42:56])
4. How does the story of Jericho challenge our understanding of obedience and trust in God's timing? ([52:39])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was asking you to do something that didn't make sense. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([41:19])
2. Are there any "walls" in your life built from fear, doubt, or past hurts? What steps can you take to begin breaking them down through faith and prayer? ([47:21])
3. How can you foster a sense of unity and collective faith within your small group or church community? ([42:56])
4. Rahab's story shows that no one is beyond God's grace. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear this message of redemption? How can you share it with them? ([45:41])
5. Trusting God's timing can be challenging. What are some practical ways you can cultivate patience and trust in God's plan for your life? ([52:39])
6. Think about a situation where you questioned God's methods or timing. How can the story of Jericho encourage you to trust and obey even when you don't understand? ([41:19])
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you need a breakthrough. How can you apply the principles of faith, obedience, and unity from the story of Jericho to this situation? ([47:21])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Unconventional Methods
God's instructions to Joshua to march around Jericho may have seemed illogical, but obedience led to victory. This teaches us that God's ways are not our ways, and we must trust His plans even when they don't make sense. Our breakthrough often lies on the other side of our obedience. [41:19]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt God's instructions were unclear or unconventional. How can you take a step of faith to obey Him fully in that area today?
Day 2: The Power of Collective Faith and Unity
The Israelites' unified march around Jericho symbolizes the strength found in community and collective faith. When we come together in obedience and faith, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Unity in the body of Christ is crucial for spiritual victories. [42:56]
Ephesians 4:3-4 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call."
Reflection: Identify a group or community within your church or life where you can foster greater unity. What practical steps can you take to contribute to this unity and collective faith?
Day 3: God's Grace for the Undeserving
Rahab's story shows that God's grace extends to everyone, regardless of their past. Her faith and actions not only saved her but also her family. This reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God's redemption, and there's always room at the cross for one more. [45:41]
Titus 3:4-5 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt undeserving of God's grace. How can you extend that same grace to someone in your life who may feel unworthy?
Day 4: Breaking Down Personal Walls
Just as the walls of Jericho fell, God can break down the walls in our hearts and lives. These walls, built from fear, doubt, and past hurts, can be dismantled through faith, prayer, and obedience. When these walls fall, we can step into the fullness of God's promises. [47:21]
Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Identify a personal wall you have built in your heart. What steps can you take today to begin dismantling this wall through faith, prayer, and obedience?
Day 5: Trusting God's Timing
The Israelites had to march for seven days before the walls fell, teaching us the importance of patience and trust in God's timing. Delays are not denials; God's timing is perfect. We must remain faithful and patient, knowing that God is working for our good. [52:39]
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
Reflection: Think of a promise or prayer you are waiting on God to fulfill. How can you practice patience and trust in His perfect timing today?
Quotes
1. "See we may not know Everything God is doing in our lives We may not understand Why he's doing certain things in our lives In the story someone might have said I wonder why he wants us to walk around This wall seven times Six times once a day Seven times on the seventh day It might sound crazy to us But how many know It's working for our good Sometimes God tell us things And show us things And use people for different areas We may not understand But it's working for our good That's when we have to trust God And trust him That everything is going to be alright" [41:19] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When God is working on you The walls will begin to chip away A little at a time Because it's a process The more you read your Bible It's chipping away The more you pray It's chipping away The more you sing songs to the Lord And worshiping the Lord It's chipping away Then all of a sudden All of a sudden The wall did fall And when it falls I say when it falls flat You just begin to Step over that The witch has you bound Step over Because the walls The walls have been broken" [47:21] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sometimes when the walls Are hard to come down God sometimes will have to break us To rebuild us Break us up And rebuild us again Down at the potter's house Till he sees something That he can use Yeah it doesn't matter How thick the walls are It doesn't matter How tall the wall is They can use whatever they use And think that's the best Right Remember the Titanic went down The twin towers Lord have mercy Got to be gentle on that Amen But there's nothing too hard for God There's nothing too hard for God" [49:03] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Bible says when they shouted With the voice The walls came down Hey The walls came down The walls came down And when the walls fell flat They began to go in and possess the land When the walls come flat in your life When God knocked the walls down in your heart Go in and possess the land Go in and get your healing Go in and get your deliverance And bring them on through All that was behind the walls hiding Yeah Yeah He don't put the walls down That's all we got to do is trust him" [50:10] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Walls stop us from doing a lot of things We let walls block us A lot of things Somebody may be looking for a job There's a wall blocking may be waiting on a home to go through There's a wall blocking God bust that wall down Let wall break it Let God break it down Seems like it's taking long For you to get what you're supposed to get But the army walked around Six days once a day So when God promised you something Don't murmur Don't complain It's been delayed Don't deny So you walk around And don't say nothing Until the Lord tell you Rejoice Because it's healed now" [51:55] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "What kind of woman she was See it doesn't matter How you think your life is How bad you think your life Or how bad you think you messed up Or how raggedy you think your life is God can save you Out your troubles I dare you to tell him all about your troubles It doesn't matter How bad you think you messed up There's always room At the cross Always room for one more I'm so glad that he looked beyond our faults And see our needs He looked beyond our attitudes And see our needs Yeah Yes he do God can bring you out that thing" [45:41] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "See we need not to know everything And we don't have to explain everything All the time Just follow instructions trust God I don't care how crazy it sounds If it comes from God Amen So they did this for six days once a day And on the seventh day They marched only that day They did it seven more times And when it came to pass At the seventh time When the priest blew the trumpets Joshua said unto the people Shout! For the Lord has given us the city I believe that means it's time to move When they shouted I believe the anointing was in the shout When they blew the trumpets I believe the anointing was in the shout I believe the anointing was in the trumpets" [42:19] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Sometimes it just have to be You and the Lord It's all about your troubles Sometimes when the walls Are hard to come down God sometimes will have to break us To rebuild us Break us up And rebuild us again Down at the potter's house Till he sees something That he can use Yeah it doesn't matter How thick the walls are It doesn't matter How tall the wall is They can use whatever they use And think that's the best Right Remember the Titanic went down The twin towers Lord have mercy Got to be gentle on that Amen But there's nothing too hard for God There's nothing too hard for God" [49:03] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "How many know that God Can break down the walls in your life And set you free The walls have been Too long Standing in your hearts Somebody say wall did fall That's the title Amen When God is working on you The walls will begin to chip away A little at a time Because it's a process The more you read your Bible It's chipping away The more you pray It's chipping away The more you sing songs to the Lord And worshiping the Lord It's chipping away Then all of a sudden All of a sudden The wall did fall And when it falls I say when it falls flat You just begin to Step over that The witch has you bound Step over Because the walls The walls have been broken" [47:21] (71 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "See someone may be going through what I went through I had a wall built in Within myself Didn't let nobody in And I didn't want to come out Didn't want to open up But how many know that God Can break down the walls in your life And set you free The walls have been Too long Standing in your hearts Somebody say wall did fall That's the title Amen When God is working on you The walls will begin to chip away A little at a time Because it's a process The more you read your Bible It's chipping away The more you pray It's chipping away The more you sing songs to the Lord And worshiping the Lord It's chipping away Then all of a sudden All of a sudden The wall did fall And when it falls I say when it falls flat You just begin to Step over that The witch has you bound Step over Because the walls The walls have been broken" [47:21] (86 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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