Join Michael Sumner as we continue our sermon series "Joshua : Lessons of Leadership" with a message about the Israelites and Joshua, and the walls of Jericho titled "Faithful till they fall"

Faithful ‘til they fall- [Do it again]

Intro: The Exodus Story

• Background of God’s miracles. How He leads His people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and across the wilderness.
• Moses’s sin forfeits his right to the promised land.
• 12 spies go into Canaan.  
• The people are sentenced to wander for 40 years while a generation dies off.

Joshua 6 (ESV)

6 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 

6 groups of Leaders

1. New Leaders - I want to see it for myself

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

1. Complacent Leaders

• The next generation of Israelites had grown up in the desert
• Settling for manna when God has milk and honey for you
• Just because God’s providing your daily bread doesn’t mean you don’t have to walk.

1. Overqualified Leaders – Men of War

Joshua 6:3

“3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. “

Practical illustration: Some are qualified for war, but God’s only asking you to walk.

1. The Veteran Leaders

Joshua 6:4 (ESV)

4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day, you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

Joshua 6:9 (ESV)

9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.

1. Leading by Faith – I thought they’d fall by now

• You’ve been walking for a long time waiting on God’s miracles, and you’re losing your strength to keep walking.

Joshua 6:3 (ESV)

• 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.

Joshua 6:10 (ESV)

10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 

***God tells Joshua how long to walk, but Joshua does not tell the people****

Joshua 6:2-3 (ESV)

2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.

Joshua 6:10 (ESV)

10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 

*Keep Walking!

• The walls in your life are going to fall, and it's going to be epic, but you won’t see it if you stop walking now.

1. Do it again, Leaders.

• The “Calebs“
• You’ve seen the miracles of God, but it’s been a long time.

• You saw God’s miracles as a young man, but haven’t in a while
• You were perhaps a man of war 15-20 years ago.
• You had Faith in what God would do and saw his provision, and now you’re one of the few from the last generation

• Joshua needs you.

Joshua 6:20 (ESV)

 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.