Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Pastor's Ponderings, March 23, 2021

Let Us Defeat Any Jericho In Our Lives.

The song, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho,” according to Wikipedia is believed to have been composed by slaves in the first half of the 19th century.  Some of the lyrics are, “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho. Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down.”  This song celebrates the story of a battle fought by Joshua and the Children of Israel on one side and the city of Jericho on the other side (Joshua 6:20, 21).  Today we are called to fight in the Lord’s Army. 

 

The New National Baptist Hymnal is the source for the hymn, “I’m in the Lord’s Army.”  Some of those lyrics are, “ I may never march in the infantry, ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery. I may never zoom o'er the enemy, but I'm in the Lord's army.” Many of us have discovered that we are in a pitched battle for our lives.  We are facing our Jericho because we are in God’s army and our enemy looks to be just as implacable as that ancient city.

 

Poverty, pandemics, violence, crime, mental anguish, personal enemies, sickness and disease may be your Jericho.  However, God explains that no weapon of the enemy will prosper against us (Isaiah 54:17).  We have mighty weapons to pull down all strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). As a soldier for the Lord, we have been given the command to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10, 11).  It may not seem like we are going to win.  The Jericho challenges seem to be like whack-a-moles, but we have to remember that God said if He is for us, He is more than the whole world against us (Romans 8:31).

 

Joshua successfully fought the battle of Jericho. Because he obeyed God, Jericho’s protection collapsed, and they were quickly defeated.  We have to know that the devil goes about like a roaring lion trying to destroy us, but we have to remember that he is not a lion (1 Peter 5:8).  We may not seem to be victorious in everything that we do but God has the final say. We serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and He always causes us to triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14).  Let us fight our Jericho challenges, confidently, continuously, and completely knowing that God is on our side and will never leave us (Joshua 1:5).

 

Joshua 6:20, 21

New International Version

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.

 

Isaiah 54:17

New International Version

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.

 

2 Corinthians 10:4

New International Version

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

 

Ephesians 6:10, 11

New International Version

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes

 

Romans 8:31

New International Version

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 

1 Peter 5:8

New International Version

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

 

2 Corinthians 2:14

New King James Version

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

 

Joshua 1:5

New International Version

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

 

 

 

 

 

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