ACCOMPLISHING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Joshua 6

Introduction:     There are times when we will be in what appears to be impossible situations. There will seem to be no way out. There will seem to be no logical reason for expecting victory or deliverance. It is at these times that we need to remember Joshua's victory at Jericho . There are some principles found here for accomplishing the impossible. When we face impossible situations we must remember that the most important thing of all is that God's will be done! (Matthew 6:10, Luke 22:39-42) Joshua and Israel had entered the Promised Land at God's command. God's plan was for them to have victory over the enemy. If we are to accomplish the impossible:

I.          WE MUST CONSIDER IT DONE (VV. 1-2)

A.           A Real Problem (v.1)

Jericho was a formidable city and had shut its doors to Israel .

·        In Joshua's day, it was surrounded by a system of two massive stonewalls. The outer wall was 6 ft. thick and about 20 ft. high. The inner wall was about 12 ft. thick and was 30 ft. high. Between the walls was a guarded walkway about 15 ft. wide. Israel 's problem was that they had a city to conquer, but there were some extremely huge walls in the way.

·        As we go through life, we have obstacles that we face as well. We must learn not to look upon our obstacles as dead-ends, but as opportunities for the Lord to work in our lives! God is more clearly visible when we are totally out of the picture! He completely removed them from the equation! The victory at Jericho was all God!

            B.         A Divine Promise (v.2)

Jericho looked like an impossible enemy, but God said to Joshua, "I have given unto thine hand, Jericho ". When God makes a promise He keeps it.

·        We Have His Promise That Our Weapons Are Powerful Through God – 2 Cor.10:4-5.

·        We Have His Promise That Our Battles Have All Been Arranged By The Lord - Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor.4:17.

·        We Have His Promise That Our Ability Is Limited Only By Our Faith - Phil.4:13; Eph.3:20.

·        We Have His Promise Of Power In The Day Of Battle - Eph.6:10.

·        We Have His Promise Of Ongoing Victory - 1 Cor.15:57.

·        We Have His Promise That We Will Never Fight Alone - Heb.13:5; Matt.28:20.

·        We Have His Promise That When The Battles Are Ended, We will Celebrate The Victory In His Presence - John 14:1-3.

II.         WE MUST CIRCLE IT WITH PRAYER (VV. 3-11)
Here were some unusual orders. This was a test of Joshua's faith. Humanly speaking what God asked Joshua to do did not make sense.

            A.        Prayer’s Performance (vv. 3-4)

·        Joshua and the people were to circle the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day they were to circle the city seven times. This reminds me that God wants us to circle our problems with prayer! Before we do anything else, problems should be prayed about.

B.         Prayer’s Power (vv.5; 20-21)

·        Some of our " Jericho ’s" never fall simply because we do not circle the problem enough with prayer!

·        Some problems will be solved after one season of prayer, while others will require several seasons of prayer. We must continue to pray until God gives victory!

(Illus: "Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our argument, but they are helpless against our prayers!" Prayer has the potential to change any situation! Churches and individuals who have held onto the promises, power and the practice of prayer are seeing their walled cities conquered!)

III.       WE MUST CLAIM IT BY FAITH (VV. 15-16)
After the children of Israel had circled Jericho 13 times, the Israelites were told to shout because the Lord had given them the city.

            A.        Faith’s Partner           

There was still no outward evidence that the city would fall, but they were to claim the victory by taking action! The action was the shout of faith. It wasn't the shout of an attacking army, it wasn't a shout of fear, but it was a shout raised in praise to their God Who had promised them the victory.

·        I see the shout as the final claim to a conquered Jericho .

·        I see the shout as an outward expression of an inward confidence.

As we pray the Lord may ask us to give a "shout" by taking some sort of action.

·        He may ask us to talk to someone.

·        He may ask us to do something.

·        He may ask us just to have total confidence that He is about to work and to praise Him for it.

B.         Faith Prevails

There are some reasons why Israel experienced victory at Jericho :

1.      They had a Word from God - (v.2-6)

2.      They believed God - (v.8-20) God said it that settled it! Do we really believe God?

3.      They acted in faith –

4.      They did it God's way - (Ill. This is the secret to success!) His way may seem too hard, too slow, or as in this case too foolish, but His way is always the best way!

5.      God gave them the victory - (v.20-21) God conquered Jericho !

Conclusion:       God's church will prevail, Matt. 16:18; God's people will prevail! You can prevail in whatever situation you are facing right now! Take a lesson from Israel , God has promised us the victory