The month of May 2020 has been declared a month that God Almighty is re-assuring us by saying, we will walk and not faint, through his Prophet as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Brethren walking with God requires faith and not fear, total obedience to the commands and instructions of God in the place of waiting on Him.
Hebrews 11:6 says, ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him’. (I will add serve Him).
‘’But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him’’. (Amp Version)
2 Timothy 1:7 ‘’For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control’’. (Amp Version)
Brethren Life in itself is like fighting a war, our mind is the battlefield, where wars are fought and won to the Glory of God because we are more than conquerors and the battles we fight have already been won by our Lord Jesus, Jehovah El-Gibbor: The Lord who is Mighty in battle, The Man of War. (A very good example is when a child is born if the child does not cry, he/she gets a smack on the bottom that makes them cry out, this is an invite to war, no wonder they say a closed mouth is a closed destiny, the child is being taught that if you want something, you better cry, otherwise you will not get it: ask and ye shall receive)
We seem to be fighting a war at the moment and an unseen enemy(coronavirus) with no physical weapons, but as children of God, our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 2Corinthians 10:4.
We rejoice in the word of God that says in Psalm 46: 1-5, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth is removed, and though the mountains are carried into the midst of the sea.
3 Though the waters thereof roar and are troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early’.
2 Corinthians 9:8 ‘And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work’.
We are not only walking but the grace and strength of God are made available to us, so that we do not faint in Jesus Mighty Name, and above all God is walking with us and we are walking with Him. Awesome, Brethren this comforting and reassuring. (An example: Isaiah 54:17 is one of my favourite bible verse: ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord’.
Ask me why I love it when you read verses 15-16: 15‘if anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you. 16 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; 17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. (Amp Version). The one who has the final say has spoken, so we rest in Him and so shall it be in Jesus Mighty Name.
Our main Bible text will be taken from the Book of Joshua 6:1-27 (Please can we make a note of this and read the whole chapter at home because of time).
The Conquest of Jericho: Joshua 6:1-5 (Amp. Version) ‘’Now Jericho [a fortified city with high walls] was tightly closed because [of the people’s fear] of the sons of Israel; no one went out or came in. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty warriors. 3 Now you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do this [once each day] for six days. 4 Also, seven priests shall carry seven trumpets [made] of rams’ horns ahead of the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 When they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall cry out with a great shout (battle cry); and the wall of the city will fall down in its place, and the people shall go up, each man [going] straight ahead [climbing over the rubble].”
God gave Joshua specific but senseless instructions regarding matching around the walls of Jericho once for six days, blowing the trumpet and horn by Priests, shouting Hallelujah (a shout of victory) on the seventh and final day. Brethren Joshua spoke to the children of Israel and no one questioned or doubted these set of instructions not even Joshua when God spoke to him. Who does that, which Army General will go to war with seven Priests carrying trumpets and horns, matching/walking around a city that is fortified and has the choicest of all warriors, except that he has the backing of the Almighty, the Man of War Himself? Joshua and the children of Israel obeyed God’s instruction totally and this brought down the fortified walls of Jericho and they entered into the promise of God for them (the land flowing with milk and honey).
You are here and you have been walking but there seems to be a wall, a door, a gate that is hindering you from entering your next phase of Glory in the Lord. I declare by the power and mercies of God, those hindrances and obstacles in your way are hereby removed, I say the walls crumble today in Jesus Mighty Name. The Bible says in Revelations 3:7 ‘Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Key of David; He opens doors that no one can shut, and He shuts doors no man can open’.
You are here under the sound of my voice today, you have been struggling with an instruction that God has given you to do, you are thinking the instruction does not make sense, please go and do what God has asked you to do, just obey and see what God will do in your life and situation.
I also want to talk about the faith of Rahab, the prostitute that believed in a God that she had never seen but heard all He did to the enemies of His children as they made their way from the house of bondage (Egypt) to the Promised Land. She said to Joshua in Joshua 2: 9-11, ‘‘And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath’’. She hid the 2 spies sent by Joshua by faith and asked for the lives of herself and her family to be saved. She and her family were the only ones that got saved from the ruins of Jericho. She became the mother of Boaz who married Ruth and became the great-great-grandmother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh the Reckless Love of God, it’s overwhelming, never-ending, it chases one down, fights, till the person is found, there is no mountain He will not climb up, there is no wall He will not kick down, lie He will not tear down, coming after us, He leaves the 99 and comes after us. This is my story and I believe this is your story too, and this can be someone’s story too today.
There is someone here today, God has been impressing on your spirit to take a step of faith and launch out into deeper waters, but you are afraid of the unknown, trying out something new, you think you are not qualified, you are not equipped to do what He has asked you to do, He is saying to you again today, Be of good courage, don’t be afraid, I will enable you, I will equip you, I have qualified you, I have called you, justified you and glorified you to do what I have asked you to do, so launch out and keep walking in faith, for victory is yours in Jesus Mighty Name.
It does not matter where you are now, what you are going through, just keep walking, trusting, believing him, waiting on Him and He will continue to strengthen you, make His grace sufficient for you and give you victory in all things, you will not faint in Jesus Mighty name.
What Lessons Can We Learn From the Wall of Jericho Falling:
- It teaches us that God is stronger than any walls (this could represent afflictions, trials, failures, limitations in our lives)
- It teaches us that if God tells us to do something, no matter how much somebody teases you, makes fun of you or thinks you are acting foolishly, just do it, keep walking don’t stop or look back. God will never lie to you or deceive you; He does not make mistakes, He is intentional. Joshua and the children of Israel must have looked dumb when they were matching and walking around Jericho in circles blowing a horn, God told them to do it and they did it and had victory over their enemies. Naaman would have remained a leper if he had allowed his pride to take over his thinking and did not obey Elisha’s simple instructions. 2 Kings 5:1-14
- Never underestimate what God can do through you if you make yourself available to him.
God will use your availability, before he uses your ability, as a matter of fact, he calls you first before He qualifies you. When God gives you a vision, He makes provision for the vision. If he sends you on an errand. He goes ahead of you to make your way & path straight and walks with you. Joshua knew that as he and his army walked and marched around Jericho, the Battle belonged to the Lord.
No one in the army of Israel would have thought a shepherd boy with a sling and few rocks had a chance against a giant and a seasoned warrior dressed in full armour. David had to endure mockery and ridicule as he approached what looked like an impossible task. But he knew the God he served, who gave him victory in the end. (Even from his Brothers: 1 Samuel 17:28 ‘‘His oldest brother Eliab heard what he said to the men. He became terribly angry with David and said, “Why have you come here? With whom have you left those few sheep in the desert? I know of your pride and the sin of your heart. You have come to see the battle.”).
Joshua and his men told Rahab to tie a cord of scarlet thread in the window through which she let the spies down and bring into the house her father, mother and her brothers and all her father’s household so that they will be safe. Rahab obeyed this simple instruction and she & her family received the victory.
- Joshua and the children of Israel were instructed by God to walk and match around the walls of Jericho seven times and at the seventh time the Priests were to blow the trumpets, and everyone shouts. Joshua instructed in Joshua 6:10 ‘And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout’.
There is a time to be silent and a time to shout while you keep walking. Knowing the difference may determine whether barriers stand or fall, doing God’s work in God’s way will always accomplish God’s purpose. The Bible says in James 1:19 ‘My Christian brothers, you know everyone should listen much and speak little. He should be slow to become angry’. (NLT). Elisha did not argue with the Sons of the Prophet when they were mocking him asking him if he knew his Master was going to be taken from him today. He spoke his mind when his Master came to a place where he knew he was a faithful servant and gave him the opportunity to ask for something he wanted from him before he was taken away. 2 Kings 1-15
- When we obey God’s instruction, it strengthens and increases our faith, because our walk with God is a process, He takes us from one level to another.
Conclusion:
Our Lord Jesus Christ wrote this love letter to us and it is comforting: John 16:33, ‘’I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding’’.] (Amp Version)
Brethren, we were never promised as Christians that this life would be easy, however, we have the confidence in knowing that victory is already promised. Our Father has been there, done that and won the victory. He says trust me no matter what you face, fear not, be of good courage, I am with you till the end, just keep walking, as you walk, look unto me, the Author and Finisher of your faith, don’t look back, I will continue to strengthen you as you wait on me, you will not faint in Jesus Mighty name.
Prayers: Psalm 16:11 ‘Father the path of life you have shown me, give me the grace to continue to walk on it without looking back, looking unto you Jesus the Author and Finisher of my faith. Father grant us the strength not to faint, not fall, not fail you or flutter in Jesus Mighty name. Let our path continue to shine brighter and brighter till you come.
Father continue to order my steps, always take delight in my ways in Jesus Mighty name.
Father even as I plant and water as I walk in your ways, give me an increase in every area of my life in Jesus Mighty Name. It is only your blessing that makes rich and adds no sorrow. Father, please let me and my seed not suffer any loss or lack, but as I seek and trust you, let every blessing be added unto me in Jesus Mighty Name.
The sermon, The Faith That Keeps Us Walking Without Fainting, by Pastor (Mrs) Tonia Obafaiye was delivered on May 10, 2020.