When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, the first city and people they attacked were the city of Jericho, a city of giants. The wall around the city was so big that you could drive a chariot around the wall on top of it. The Israelites were given strict instructions on how and what to do to gain victory over this city and not bring a curse on themselves. It is written in Joshua 6:1‑5:
[1] Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. [2] Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. [3] March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. [4] Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. [5] When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
This worked, as we see in Joshua 6:20‑21:
[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.
Now in Joshua 6:18‑19 it is written:
[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.
But certain Israelites were unfaithful to God’s strict instructions, as it is written in Joshua 7:1:
[1] But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
Let’s see what happened because of the few unfaithful Israelites, as it is written in Joshua 7:4‑5:
[4] So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai. [5] They killed about thirty‑six of them, chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.
So how did Joshua correct this situation that he knew nothing about? Let’s see, as it is written in Joshua 7:6‑12:
[6] Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. [7] And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! [8] Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? [9] The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
[10] The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? [11] Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. [12] That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.”
First, every good shepherd knows his sheep well and watches over them so the wolves don’t get in or the sheep don’t wander off physically or spiritually. Second, we are all responsible for what and whom God puts in our lives, just as Joshua was responsible for the Israelites and suffered the consequences of their disobedience to God’s instructions.
- Fight on God’s side.
- Fight on the devil’s side.
- Do nothing – and the third is actually doing the devil’s work.
This is why I had a sermon on not sitting around on your “rapture rug” and waiting on Jesus to return. If you are on the devil’s side working against God, or if you are doing nothing and allowing the devil to do what he wants, you will pay the consequences just the same. It is written in Luke 19:13:
[13] And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, “Occupy till I come.”
It is written in Matthew 28:18‑20:
[18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
How do you make disciples if you are sitting around on your rapture rug waiting on Jesus to come? We must advance the Kingdom of God, and it is written in Matthew 11:12:
[12] And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
You have to watch over and fight back against the devil and his minions and those who give the devil their power and authority. Your weapons are not of this world but are the blood and Name of Jesus, the Name above all names. So when you repent, fast, supplicate and pray, do it directly to the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Keep watch over all God has given you and be vigilant, for you will be held accountable here on earth and on Judgement Day! Ciao for now!
God loves you and we love you, and if you have any prayer requests, please e‑mail us here at KRK Church. We will put you on our permanent daily prayer list and pray over you daily.
If you would like to give your life and heart to Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, who is the only way to the Father, then pray this:
Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father. I choose now to turn from my sins, my ways and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ your Son. Help me to fulfill everything that is written about me in the Book of Life. May your perfect will, covenants and precepts be done in my life as it is in Heaven. Restore me, Jesus. Live in me. Love through me. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
