Victory Through Faith: Trusting God's Unconventional Ways

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Is the Victory Over Impossible Barriers

When facing insurmountable obstacles, God calls us to trust Him completely, knowing that victory is not achieved by our own strength or cleverness, but is received by faith in His power and promises. Just as Joshua and the Israelites stood before the towering walls of Jericho, overwhelmed by their own limitations, God had already prepared a way for them to overcome. The lesson is clear: no matter how impossible your situation may seem—whether it’s a personal struggle, a daunting decision, or a dream that feels out of reach—God is able to bring you through when you lay your fears and plans at His feet and trust Him to act. [43:59]

Joshua 5:13-15 (ESV)
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Reflection: What is one “wall” in your life that feels impossible to overcome? Will you lay it at Jesus’ feet today and ask Him to take over, trusting Him for the victory?

Day 2: Faith That Moves Mountains

Jesus teaches that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, and that the real obstacle is not the size of our problem, but the size of our faith. When the disciples failed to cast out a demon, Jesus rebuked them for their little faith, reminding them—and us—that God’s authority is accessed through believing prayer and trust, not through our own efforts or qualifications. If you find yourself discouraged by repeated failures or by the enormity of your challenges, remember that God is not limited by your weakness; He is looking for your willingness to believe that nothing is impossible for Him. [57:53]

Matthew 17:19-20 (ESV)
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Reflection: Where have you been relying on your own strength instead of trusting God’s authority? What is one specific area where you can pray boldly in faith today?

Day 3: Obedience Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense

God often asks us to obey Him in ways that defy our logic or understanding, just as He instructed Joshua to march around Jericho’s walls rather than attack them. True faith is demonstrated not by understanding every detail of God’s plan, but by a willingness to obey even when it seems strange or uncomfortable. When you step out in obedience, you may not see immediate results, but God honors your trust and works in ways you could never imagine. The greatest understanding comes after obedience, when you look back and see how God’s wisdom far surpassed your own. [01:05:28]

Joshua 6:2-5 (ESV)
And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”

Reflection: Is there something God is asking you to do that doesn’t make sense to you? What would it look like to obey Him fully in that area this week?

Day 4: God Is Able to Do Far More Than We Ask or Imagine

God’s power is not limited by our imagination or our requests; He is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, working through His power already at work within us. When we pray, we often ask too little, forgetting that the God who split the Jordan River and brought down Jericho’s walls is the same God who hears our prayers today. Don’t be afraid to bring your biggest needs, dreams, and fears to Him, believing that He delights to show His greatness in your life and in the life of the church. [01:09:19]

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Reflection: What is one “big” prayer you’ve been hesitant to pray? Will you bring it boldly to God today, trusting that He is able to do more than you can imagine?

Day 5: Surrender and Trust—Letting God Take Over

True victory comes when we surrender our own plans, weapons, and strategies, laying them at the feet of Jesus and allowing Him to take over. It’s tempting to pick up our “sword” again when God’s timing doesn’t match ours, but great faith means leaving it at His feet and trusting Him in both the silence and the noise. As you surrender, you’ll find that God is more than able to handle every battle, provide every need, and bring down every wall for His glory. [01:11:14]

Psalm 37:5 (ESV)
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Reflection: What is one area where you need to stop striving and start surrendering to God’s control? How will you commit this to Him and trust Him to act today?

Sermon Summary

The story of Joshua and the fall of Jericho is a powerful reminder that God’s ways are not our ways, and that true victory comes not by our own strength or cleverness, but by faith in the One who commands the armies of heaven. As Joshua stood before the imposing walls of Jericho, he faced an impossible task—walls too high, a city too fortified, and a people too strong for Israel’s limited resources. Yet, God’s plan was not for Joshua to devise a new strategy or muster more strength, but to trust and obey the word of the Lord, even when it seemed illogical or impossible.

God’s presence was the difference-maker. When Joshua encountered the commander of the Lord’s army—none other than the pre-incarnate Christ—he learned that the question was not whether God was on Israel’s side, but whether Israel was on God’s side. The victory was already determined in the mind of God; Joshua and the people simply needed to align themselves with God’s will, lay down their own swords, and follow His instructions in faith.

The walls of Jericho represent the barriers and impossibilities we face in our own lives—obstacles that seem insurmountable, whether they are personal struggles, daunting tasks, or spiritual battles. The lesson is not to focus on the size of the wall, but on the greatness of our God. Faith is not passive; it is active obedience, even when we don’t understand the plan. God calls us to trust Him enough to obey, to lay down our own strategies, and to believe that He is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine.

Sometimes, God’s instructions may seem strange or even foolish to the world—marching around a city in silence, shouting at walls, or simply waiting on Him. But it is in these moments of humble obedience that God’s power is revealed, and the impossible becomes possible. Our role is not to make sense of God’s ways, but to trust and obey, knowing that He is faithful and able to bring victory in His time and His way.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith is the victory, not our own strength or strategies. When we face impossible situations, God does not require us to fight harder, but to trust Him more deeply. True victory is received by faith, not achieved by our own efforts, as God transforms our nothingness into His almightiness. [47:11]
2. The object of our faith must be God Himself, not our plans or resources. Joshua’s encounter with the commander of the Lord’s army teaches us that God is not here to take sides, but to take over. Our faith is rightly placed when we surrender our agendas and align ourselves with God’s will, trusting Him to lead the way. [54:09]
3. Obedience often precedes understanding. God’s instructions to Joshua and Israel seemed illogical, but their willingness to obey without fully understanding led to miraculous results. In our own lives, we often want to understand before we obey, but God calls us to trust Him first, and understanding often follows obedience. [66:06]
4. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and impossibility. The walls of Jericho fell not because of Israel’s might, but because God acted on their behalf. When we reach the end of our own ability and confess, “God, I can’t, but You can,” we make room for God to display His power and glory in our lives. [68:40]
5. Faith is linked to authority and boldness in prayer. Jesus taught that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, and Paul reminds us that God is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think. When we pray and act in faith, we invite God’s authority and power into our circumstances, trusting Him for outcomes beyond our imagination. [69:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:45] - Lion of Judah, Lamb of God: The Unexpected Messiah
[36:10] - Lighthearted Sports and Community
[37:31] - Joshua Leads Israel into the Promised Land
[38:11] - Joshua’s Encounter with the Commander
[39:28] - Crossing the Flooded Jordan: Facing the Impossible
[40:45] - The Imposing Walls of Jericho
[42:43] - Barriers in Our Lives and God’s Plans
[44:34] - Faith in Action: Hebrews 11 and Rahab
[47:11] - Victory by Faith, Not by Fighting
[49:45] - The Commander Revealed: Christ in the Old Testament
[52:19] - Trust and Obey: Joshua’s Leadership
[54:09] - God Takes Over: Surrendering Our Swords
[56:35] - The Danger of Little Faith
[61:07] - The Power of Shouting and Obedience
[64:51] - The Willingness of Faith: Obedience Tested
[66:41] - Observing God’s Miracles
[69:19] - God’s Abundant Power at Work
[71:14] - Laying Down Our Swords: Trusting God to Take Over
[73:50] - Responding in Faith and Invitation
[76:23] - Praying Boldly for God’s Victory
[78:23] - Faith is the Victory: Closing Prayer and Song

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Joshua 5:13–15 (ESV) — > When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Hebrews 11:30–31 (ESV) — > By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV) — > Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us...

Observation Questions

In Joshua 5:13–15, who does Joshua encounter outside Jericho, and how does this figure identify himself? What is Joshua’s response? ([38:11])
According to Hebrews 11:30–31, what was the key factor that caused the walls of Jericho to fall, and what role did Rahab play in the story? ([44:34])
What specific instructions did God give Joshua and the Israelites for taking Jericho, and how did these instructions differ from normal military strategies? ([50:59])
In Ephesians 3:20, what does Paul say about God’s ability compared to what we can ask or imagine? ([01:09:19])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the commander of the Lord’s army (the pre-incarnate Christ) told Joshua, “Neither,” when asked if he was for Israel or their enemies? What does this teach us about God’s role in our battles? ([54:09])
The sermon said, “Victory is not achieved by fighting. Victory is received by faith.” How does this idea challenge the way we usually approach problems or obstacles in our lives? ([47:11])
Why do you think God’s instructions to Joshua and Israel seemed so illogical or strange? What might God be teaching us when He asks us to obey before we understand? ([01:06:06])
How does Ephesians 3:20 encourage believers to pray and act in faith, especially when facing situations that seem impossible? ([01:09:19])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “Faith is what links our nothingness to God’s almightiness.” Can you think of a situation in your life right now where you feel powerless? What would it look like to trust God with that situation instead of trying to fix it yourself? ([47:11])
Joshua had to lay down his own sword and surrender his plans to God’s will. Is there an area in your life where you are still holding onto your own “sword” (your own plans, strategies, or control)? What would it mean to lay that down at Jesus’ feet this week? ([54:09])
Sometimes God’s instructions seem strange or don’t make sense to us. Can you share a time when you felt God was leading you to do something that didn’t seem logical? What happened when you obeyed (or didn’t obey)? ([01:06:06])
The walls of Jericho represent barriers or impossibilities in our lives. What is one “wall” you are facing right now? How can you shift your focus from the size of the wall to the greatness of God this week? ([42:43])
The sermon mentioned that faith is linked to authority and boldness in prayer. Is there something you have been hesitant to pray for because it seems too big or impossible? What would it look like to pray boldly for that this week? ([01:09:19])
The Israelites had to trust and obey before they saw the results. Is there an area where you are waiting for understanding before you obey God? What step of obedience could you take this week, even if you don’t have all the answers? ([01:06:06])
The pastor said, “God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and impossibility.” How can you remind yourself this week that your weakness is not a barrier to God, but an opportunity for Him to show His power? ([01:08:40])

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

1. What does the encounter with the commander of the Lord signify?

2. How does faith transform our perception of impossible obstacles?

3. Why is obedience crucial in experiencing God's victory?