Bringing Down The Strongholds In Our Lives

Joshua 6.1-23

For Israel to receive all that God had promised them they had to bring down strongholds. God had promised the land they had just crossed the Jordan River to come into. Now Jericho stood there. 300 feet thick walls, 60 feet high, the city looked imposing to say the least.

The LORD works in us to bring into perfect balance and glorious freedom. A stronghold is where Satan has occupied territory, not rightfully his. This can happen through a number of ways.

Jericho was a Stronghold and yet...

1. Jericho was in fear because of the LORD and what He was through Israel.
It had to be conquered for Israel to inherit all God had for them.
The LORD had dried up the Jordan.-vs.5
He can strike fear in the enemy.
James 2.19
Panic and terror and dread of Israel had come into the city of Jericho, into the camp of the enemy.
Let the reports of God's work flourish among His people. I appreciate Samaritan's Purse, serving in difficult situations but sharing the good news!
Let the news of God's mighty power bring discouragement to the enemy.
A missionary to China was asked years ago,"What on earth are you going to bury yourself in China for? You'll never stand the climate- you'll be dead in 6 months!" The lady missionary responded, "I want you to know 5 years ago I died. When Jesus Christ called me to China, I bowed my head at the Cross and died to everything except God and China." She had faced the criticism of her Jericho. I believe gossip and negative faithless attitudes can be strongholds in God's people and can be used by the enemy to hold up progress. Look at the history of this nation.

God can handle our Jerichoes. He can strike fear in the hearts of those who oppose Him!

2. Jericho was an obstacle to Israel going in and possessing the land God had for them. Joshua 5.13-15
There are things that stand in our way of total victory.
Secret sins Psalm 90.8
Our own past failures.
Sins against us.
Obstacles can be as natural as the Jordan River and as man made as the city of Jericho.
All of these things can become strongholds.
Jericho is whatever is holding you back from entering into all the Promises of God. Hebrews 11.30 Our Jerichoes are brought down by God if we yield to Him, have faith, submit to to His will.

3. The LORD brought Jericho down.
Joshua may have been strategizing. I have seen seemingly endless strategy meetings over the years when facing problems but far too few prayer meetings! In each chapter of The Book of Acts The church was either on it's way to a prayer meeting, at a prayer meeting or coming from a prayer meeting.
Prayer pulls down strongholds. The circumcision at Gilgal reaffirmed thei faith and the Covenant God made with them. We look to Him for direction. The true character of our victory and nature of our warfare are spiritual. II Corinthians 10.4

When God's people wait on Him in obedience, He acts.

Israel was on its way to possessing the land so God could accomplish His purposes in them.