Shout - Day 5 - Friday, October 28th, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 4:33PM On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a] to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.”
20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. Joshua 6:15-21
AND THE WALLS CAME DOWN...
Nothing in the world is like the miracle of God bringing walls down. Whatever those walls may be. I've experienced this miracle in my life many times and seen others experience it right before my eyes. I've watched as a person who was tortured and crippled with unforgiveness and bitterness in their life towards someone who had hurt them deeply - finally let go of that unforgiveness and pain. And when that wall comes down, the floodgates of heaven open and peace like a river flows in with the type of healing that can only be expained when you've experienced it personally. I've seen walls of addiction crumble, walls of unbelief, walls of deep discouragement and depression, walls of doubt, and walls of hopelessness - all destroyed and brought down by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. God is the collapser of walls. He is the ultimate destroyer of ungodly fortresses that keep people in darkness and bondage. Only He can bring those kind of walls down. Not our own strength, or wisdom, or knowledge, or counseling - we need those things just as we need doctors and counselors - but God and God alone is the Great Physician - the Almighty destroyer of walls that seek to enslave us in bondage.
WHAT ARE YOUR WALLS TODAY?
Think about that for a few minutes. What seemingly impenetrable fortresses have an area or areas of your life trapped - unable to get past and be free? Where are you esnslaved and held in bondage? Is there someone you need to forgive and when you think about actually, really, deeply forgiving them you get sick to your stomach and can't even really entertain the thought? Is there an addiction you can't ever seem to really break free of? Are you stuck in a cycle of not having or being able to keep a job? Is there a wall around your finances that you can't seem to get over? I could go on and on, but I don't need to tell you what your walls are - you already know full well. Well let me tell you something today straight from the Holy Word of God - HE CAN BRING THOSE WALLS DOWN! There is hope my friend - no matter what that wall might be!
First - you must believe there is indeed hope. This passage we've been studying isn't just a great story that happened in the past for us to go WOW - that is awesome! It's a story of spiritual principles that we can out into practice today to turn a corner in our lives, see walls crumble, and begin to take new ground according to the great promises of God! That is great news!
Second - start today putting these truths into practice that we've been reading and discussing. Spend time in prayer, worship, in the presence of God just as we see the example of the priests blowing the trumpets before the ark of the covenent marched around the city. You begin to march around the walls you want to see crumble - singing the song of freedom thats in your heart as you seek God in His presence.
Third - keep going! God will surely bring the walls down! Your job is to continue to blow that trumpet and be in His Holy presence. God is your forward and rear guard as you continue to march. Let others around you speak into your life through prayer, words of encouragement and hope. You're not alone in this battle my friend - you are part of the army of God and we are here for each other! Open up to someone you love and trust that has the same hope in God as you do and let them help lift your arms as you wait in expectation for the walls to come down.
Finally - Shout! Let His praises fill your mouth and heart. Sing and make music in your heart unto God. Live a lifestyle of worship and don't stop. Worship on your own and gather with the rest of your church family as you shout together and worship the Lord. That wall will come down! And when it begins to crumble you will know it - and you will surely know that it was God Himself that brought it down. Talk about shouting! Like I said before - there is indeed nothing like the miracle of God bringing a wall down in your life. You will never be the same. Hope and faith will rise like a spring coming from the deepest place in your heart - and you'll be part many times over of helping others see walls in their lives crumble as well.
DAY 4
*You just read your lesson for today.
*Now take a time to worship and pray.
*Pray about the fifth and sixth of The Seven Areas of Life:
Marital and Parental
Pray over your marriage and your family. Ask the Lord to break down any walls of communication or hurt that may be a barrier in your relationships. Ask him to reveal walls that may be being built between you tht you need to pray together about.
*Pray for your church, it's pastor, leaders, people and community.
*Finally, close by praising God and thanking him for destroying the walls in your life that try to hold you in bondage. If you can, gather with your family tonight for a time of prayer. You'll be amazed how special and awesome it is and how it brings you closer together!
to the glory of the bringer down of walls :)
PK








