"WAITING,........WALKING,.............AND NO TALKING!!! 

(God's plan for conquering Jericho).


After Joshua led the Israelites across the river Jordan and into the Promised Land of Canaan--------they came up to the walled city of Jericho!!!

Here, Joshua was made clearly aware that GOD HIMSELF is in charge!!!!  It was Joshua's task, as it is ours, to know the Commander.  We need to be on HIS side, not He on our side.

Read God's Word here-----

"And it came to pass, when Joshua
was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes
and looked, and behold, a Man stood
opposite him with His sword drawn.
in His hand.  And Joshua went to Him
and said to Him, 'Are You for us or
for our adversaries?

"So He said, '...No, but as Commander
of the army of the Lord I have now
come.'  And Joshua fell on his face to
the earth and worshiped, and said to
Him,  'What does my Lord say to His
servant?

"Then the Commander of the Lord's
army said to Joshua, 'take your sandal
off your foot, for the place where you
stand is holy."  And Joshua did so."
(Joshua 5:13-15)


The Destruction of Jericho

"Now Jericho was securely shut up
because of the children of Israel;
none went out, and none came in.

"And the Lord said to Joshua: "See!
I have given Jericho into your hand,
its king,, and the mighty men of valor.

You shall march around the city,
all you men of war; you shall go all
around the city once.  This you shall do
six days. (Joshua 6:1-5)

"Now Joshua had commanded the
people, saying,  "You shall not shout or
make any noise with your voice, nor
shall a word proceed out of your
mouth, until the day I say to you.
'Shout!'  Then you shall shout."
(Joshua 6:1-5; 10)

Right about now.....you may be thinking..."Why did he command them  'You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of  your mouth...."

You might even be thinking..."I would not like that!"

(Well, I would not like that either; but Holy God has a lesson here for me and for you-----just as He did for the Israelites!

Many texts in God's Word tell us to "wait on God", to stand still, to be silent before Him (Exodus 14:13-14; Psalm 37:7-8, etc.).  When Joshua commanded them to be silent......he was probably remembering that Israel's 40 year punishment in the wilderness was a result of the people's murmuring in unbelief. (Numbers 14:26-35)

***[I, Barry, must confess---as I was reviewing this message--the Holy Spirit seriously convicted me about my murmuring and complaining, and strongly reminded me of how much  God dislikes it!!!  Oh God Most High, I confess my sin, I ask You to forgive me, and I ask Your enablement to repent--- (change my heart and behavior. Thank You!!!!!!!  Amen)**

Now, with that history lesson in mind, Joshua's directive to keep silent is a precaution that teaches us.  When we face great challenges, don't permit your lips to speak unbelieving words.  Words can bind up or set free, so Joshua gave the order for silence!

We can't always help what we see or hear, but if we refuse to speak doubt or fear.....it will keep our hearts more inclined to what GOD can do, rather than what we cannot see!!!!!!!

"And Joshua rose early in the morning,
and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

"Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets
of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went
on continually and blew with the trumpets.  and
the armed men went before them.  But the rear
guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the
priests continued blowing the trumpets.

"And the second day they marched around the
city once and returned to the camp.  So they did
six days.

"But it came to pass on the seventh day that they
rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched
around the city seven (!!!) times in the same manner.
On that day only they marched around the city
seven times." (Joshua 6:12-15)


(verse 20)-
"So the people shouted when the priests blew the
trumpets..  And it happened when the people heard
the sound of the trumpet, and they shouted with a
great shout, that the wall fell down flat.  Then the
people went up into the city, every man straight before
him, and they took the city."!!!!!!!
(Joshua 6:20)

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!


Wow!!!  If obedient silence, followed by an obedient shout, caused a wall to fall and a city to be taken.................what could God do with an obedient prayer lifted up in "...the name above every name...JESUS CHRIST" (Philippians 2:9)???

Let me tell you a true story abut prayer and our brothers and sisters that are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ!!!

In a country where Christians are persecuted by the military forces....

A small local church planned to baptize some of its members in a local river....

The local military commander had been informed of the planned baptism, and he was determined to stop the baptism and imprison the church members.  But it was a hot, humid day.....so the military commander decided that first, they would go swimming!

While the troops were cooling off in the river..... a breeze sprang up.....and it blew away the clothes of the commander (only)!!!   Humiliated, the commander ordered his troops to return back to their base (without him).  The commander stayed in the water until dark.....and walked home in the dark.....naked.

(The people were indeed baptized in the river, as the Lord had planned).

So, What should you, and I do (daily)???

Jesus Christ's chosen and beloved ones, let us:

1) Ask God for His plans,
2) follow His directions,
  and "be silent", "shout", or "pray" in  JESUS CHRIST'S HOLY NAME!!!!!!!!!
and flood the atmosphere with thanksgiving, praise, and worship to  "THE LORD, THE MOSH HIGH GOD "!!!!!!!!!!!! (Genesis 14:22)   





          




                                                                              

HELP!!!!!!!!  

YOUR  BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE IN  DANGER!!!!!!!

MY  BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE IN DANGER!!!!!!!


November 2nd was the International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians!!!
(More about the date later).

There are now more than 100 Million Christians (our brothers and sisters) around the world that are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ!!!  Yes, 100 Million!!!!!

To our brothers and sisters, "Persecution" is not just an unpleasant sounding word!

To each one of them, persecution can mean a life-or-death every day and every night  -  and sometimes  -  a life-or-death decision with every breath.

To your brothers and sisters, and my brothers and sisters, persecution can mean something between not being allowed to go to school,  or not being allowed to have a job ----- to having their 5-year-old child's head cut off---because the child refuses to deny Jesus Christ.

It can mean not being allowed to go to church, not being allowed to have a Bible, it can mean being 
chased out of your home (and your nation!) by crazed men shooting machine guns at you---forced to flee your home  -  with literally nothing other than the clothes on your back!!!  Nothing.

It can mean being locked up in a jagged metal shipping container--for years and years--while suffering 120-degree heat and freezing cold!!!!


You might be thinking....."our brothers and sisters".......where do you get that?

In God's Word, HE says:

"...so we, though many, are one body in Christ,
and individually members one of another."
(Romans 12:5)

"But God has combined the members of the body...that
its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one
part suffers, every part suffers with it;  if one part is honored,
every part rejoices with it."
(I Corinthians 12:24-26)

"Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and
those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body."
(Hebrews 13:3)


"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was
earnestly praying to God for him."
(Acts 12:5)

"They will also answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and
did not help you?  He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever
you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"
(Matthew 25:44-45)

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you
a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so
that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Romans 15:5-6)


Now we should be thinking-------"How can I help?"

All these that we are "...one-with in the body of Jesus Christ"---they ask that first---we must pray for them!!!

They do not ask that we pray for the persecution to end!!!

They ask that we pray that they remain strong-----and that they may lead their persecutors to faith in Jesus Christ!!!!!!!


Here below are 3 most vital needs, along with 3 powerful passages/promises from God's Word,
and the ONE who fulfills every promise of GOD!!!!!!! (II Corinthians 1:20)

Need # 1: PROTECTION- (Daniel 3:1-25)-

Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego refused to worship the false god.
They would worship only the One True God!!!
Verse 17, Our God is able to deliver us..."
Verse 19, "the furnace was heated seven times hotter!"
Verse 25, God protected them...and Jesus was "with them" in the fire!
Matthew 28:20, "I (Jesus) am with you always."

"Jesus Christ ("the 'Yes' answer to every promise of God" (II Cor. 1:20/Amplified Bible)- is the same yesterday, today and forever."!!! (Hebrews 13:8)


Need # 2: PROVISION- (Matthew 14: 13-21)-

Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish...to feed 5,000 men plus women and children.   Twelve baskets of food remained!!!

"Jesus Christ ("the 'Yes!' answer to every promise of God" (II Cor. 1:20) is the same yesterday, today, and forever."!!! (Hebrews 13:8)


Need # 3: HOPE-(I Timothy 1:1)- Jesus, (Himself!!!) is "...our hope."

"May the God of our hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing-that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing with hope,"!!! (Romans 15:13/Amplified Bible)

"Jesus Christ ("the 'Yes!" answer to every promise of God" (II Cor. 1:20)is the same yesterday, today, and forever."!!! (Hebrews 13:8)


As mentioned above, November 2nd was the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians...

But you and me, together - let's pray through November 30th.

---You know what, we do not have to stop praying November 30th at midnight. 
---Their needs will not end Nov 30th. 
---God will!!! continue answering prayers beyond Nov. 30th!!!!


Go to:  www.opendoorsusa.org    for more ways to help these members of our family.

Praising and thanking our Holy God for Who He Is!!!  And for His answers to our prayers!!!!!


For the glory of "The LORD, the Most High GOD," (Genesis 14:22)