WEBVTT 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:05.200 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:11.039 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.960 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:23.359 Good morning, CCW. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:25.519 Amen. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:27.839 Hope you're doing good today. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:32.560 I asked if Pastor Joe would hang out here, and so he's wondering why. 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:35.280 Um ready to preach? 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:36.159 Yeah, I'll ready to preach. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:38.000 No. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:48.640 So today marks the end of our upward basketball season that uh we kicked off this year for the very first time. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:52.799 And uh Pastor Joe dove into something brand new. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:58.079 They don't teach in seminary how to develop a basketball or soccer league. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:04.799 Um or one of the other important uh classes I've decided should be moving chairs 101. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:07.200 Uh they don't teach you that stuff. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:16.959 But Joe and the team have done an amazing job this season in putting on a basketball thing for our kids. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.359 Real quick, I just wanted to ask if you're a coach, would you stand? 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:25.439 You've coached for upward this season. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:28.719 If you are, if you have refereed, would you stand? 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:34.000 If you're a parent of a child who has played this season, would you stand? 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:43.040 So we have seen a lot of ministry through basketball, but just wanted to tell you, Joe, we appreciate you and all your work. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:44.079 It's been awesome. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:47.599 Thank you, church, for the way that you've gotten behind it. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:50.879 And if you're gonna have a sanctuary, you might as well have a basketball gym. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:51.599 Am I right? 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:53.760 So praise God. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:59.280 It's been exciting here on Saturdays and Sundays, and all through the week, there's practices all through the week. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:05.680 So people are in church all week long, whether they know it or not. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:06.959 Amen. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:10.960 I wanted to mention one more thing by way of uh prayer requests. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:12.400 Is Barry Key in here? 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:13.680 I didn't see Barry. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:15.439 Barry, would you stand just a second? 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:16.879 I'm sorry, I'll put you on the spot. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:23.759 But if y'all would pray for Barry, he is departing on a missions trip for Costa Rica this Tuesday. 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:26.639 So we need everybody to be in prayer for that. 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:28.000 Thank you, Barry. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:30.800 Another team from the church is following. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:35.680 He's going with some firemen from work, and then another team from the church is going next week. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:41.680 So be in prayer for that trip and the opportunity we have to be a blessing to the people there. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:44.800 And we know God's gonna do a work in our hearts. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:48.080 So turn your Bibles to Joshua chapter 6. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.680 We are talking today about breakthrough. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:03.360 And uh one of the pictures I seen this week that I got excited about, I told you last week about uh everything, and you just have to be totally asleep to it not to know. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:09.360 But at Asbury and Lee and even at Samford here, the revivals that are breaking loose. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:16.319 One of the pictures I saw that I loved was a road sign that says, Revival is at max capacity. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:23.199 And I said, Yes, that's exciting about how much they they didn't have any more space there at that point. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:32.319 So uh an evangelist that I know of took and moved the revival down to Rupp Arena last night and filled that arena. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:40.080 And so there is no max capacity, there's just spaces that need to be uh large and so praise God for that. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:42.479 And I want to tell you, man, what a time. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:44.719 The way that God works things together. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:58.719 The Jesus Revolution movie came out, and uh they anticipated in the teens of millions to be making, they're already at 20 plus million, and so what a thing that God's doing. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.439 If you haven't gone, meet with us in our group. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.120 We're going at 620 this evening. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:06.719 We hope for you to come too. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:11.439 And look, if you're gonna put some money into something, you might as well put it into a revival movie. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:12.319 Amen. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:19.199 So God's been doing some breakthroughs right among us, and so to be speaking today about breakthrough, I'm excited. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:20.720 Uh definition. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:22.720 Definition of breakthrough. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:27.199 A sudden, dramatic, and important development. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:28.879 Breakthrough. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:31.680 Somebody here today might say, I need a breakthrough. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:34.800 I got a picture that I want to show you of my son Weston. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:36.959 He has had a breakthrough this year. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:42.639 Here's a picture of him and his friend Mark on a soccer field. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:43.120 Okay. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:48.639 Weston, this year, a major dramatic breakthrough. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.480 I want you to know about the picture for a second. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:54.319 Weston at 10 can now tie his shoes. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:06.319 Listen, at nine in this picture, he was still having a stroke, and his friend Mark would come in the middle of a soccer game and tie his untied shoes for him. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:11.360 And so we ever thought, if Mark's not on the team, we don't know what Weston's gonna do. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:15.040 But a major breakthrough has happened, and I'll tell you, he's inventive. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:19.120 He's figured out a way to tie his shoes that nobody else really could understand. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:22.240 He's got his own process, but they are tied. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.160 And I and I thought about this, society's made it hard for the young ones. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:28.879 They made these really cool strappy shoes, you know? 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:30.639 They don't ever have to be tied. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:33.680 So if you're 10 or you're 90, strappy shoes, man. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:35.600 Like they make it really easy for you. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:48.720 But now, when you think about breakthrough, I know that that's not really what comes to mind, but when we consider for the past several weeks, we've been talking about moving forward to get into this land. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:56.959 And it's time no more for wandering, it's time no more for Israel to be a foreigner in a strange land. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.600 It's time no more for them to be homesick. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.399 They're ready to be where they belong. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:04.000 This promised land. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:10.879 They're right on this precipice, they've been right on the brink, and now we're finally about to go in. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.920 A 700-year-old promise is about to come to fruition. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:17.600 There's just one thing left. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:19.759 And I bet Israel was just ready. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:23.600 Are you ready, church, for breakthrough? 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:25.199 I hope that you are. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:26.560 Let's pray. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:28.319 Father, we love you. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:30.879 And uh we thank you, God. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:37.680 That you're a God that wants to see us through, to move us forward, God, and um. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:39.759 We don't have to settle. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.399 God, you have your best available. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.040 And God, we pray today for our church. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:53.360 God, as we see things happening spiritually in our country and movement of the spiritual needle, God, we want to see more. 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:54.720 We want to be a part of that. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:07:00.000 Lord, I pray today that breakthrough would happen at the church at Chelsea Westover. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:09.920 So as we sit with our hearts ready for your word, God, we pray that you would do bidding, do your work, and let us be receptive in Jesus' name. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:10.879 Amen. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:20.959 The one thing left to do is this understanding, first thing this morning is God is supreme, and we must submit to Him. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:22.480 God is supreme. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:31.360 For this breakthrough to occur, we must understand that the source that's in front of us is greater than the struggle that we might experience. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:33.120 And that's hard for a lot of people. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:38.319 The thing that's keeping us from a breakthrough might be the idea of the struggle. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:42.800 So understanding that God is supreme is helpful. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.560 Easton's Bible dictionary defines God's supremacy. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.439 Also, the word sovereignty is related. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:57.120 His supremacy says this, it is his absolute right to do all things according to his pleasure. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.519 All things come from him and depend on him. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:06.079 If you need a Bible reference for that, look up Colossians 1, 16 and 17. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:10.160 It says, by him and through him all things consist. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.079 They're for him and through him. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:15.839 And so I want you to see back under with this understanding. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:17.759 We're gonna go back to chapter 5 for a second. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:21.759 Joshua is a letter that's written continuously. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:26.079 It wasn't until much later that chapters were divided, man-made chapters. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:42.879 And so understanding that this division in chapter five is not a stopping of the letter, and so then we're gonna jump into chapter six, but look again at chapter five, fourteen, and fifteen, just as a background explanation that Joshua understood God is supreme. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:49.200 It says, So he said, No, but as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:52.639 Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.919 And he said to him, What does my Lord say to his servant? 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:02.000 The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.799 And so Joshua did so. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:20.720 Understanding that Joshua's encounter last week that we saw with the commander of the Lord's army is the pre-incarnate Jesus, who is saying, This battle ahead of me, you don't be confused in thinking that you need my help to help you with your battle. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:25.679 Today, church, listen to me, God is gonna have his plan done with this world. 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:40.799 And we can either be apart and see victory and experience God's goodness and experience the best we can in this life, or we can be elevator music background, but God is gonna do what God desires to do because he is supreme. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:43.840 Once you go down to chapter 6, verse 1 and 2. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.919 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:50.240 None went out, and none came in. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:53.200 And the Lord said to Joshua, look at this. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:54.879 Don't miss this one word. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:55.840 He says, See. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:01.759 I have given Jericho into your hand, its king and the mighty men of valor. 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:04.720 And so he says this important word, see. 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:08.399 Letter A is this submission to God's covenant past. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:09.919 I'm getting somewhere. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:10.639 Stay with me. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:12.480 I know we're unpacking a lot early. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:15.679 This is belief in his track record. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:17.279 Belief in what he's done. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.279 He says this to Joshua, it's interesting. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:20.559 He says one word. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:29.440 He says, see, I have given, as if from God's perspective, this was already done. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.000 He says, see what I have given. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:33.759 I've already given Jericho to you. 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:36.399 See what I have done. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:49.279 And if you go back and understand the context, Genesis 17, 8 says, Also I give to you and your descendants, after you, all the land of Canaan, an everlasting possession. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:54.240 This was a promise of this land from the past. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:59.039 And Abraham had been born in 2160, Moses was born in 1526. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:03.039 Joshua now about to begin this journey, about 1406. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:09.120 700 years of this promise from the past. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:17.200 Stories have been passed down from generation to generation of Israelites about all that God had done. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:21.759 Stories from grandfathers to grandsons about the presence of God. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:28.559 This is the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Moses, and we had the Red Sea and the plagues and the burning bush. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:33.279 And just recently we cross over a dry Jordan. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:36.720 This is the same God. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:43.759 And so submission, trust to his track record is important. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.960 And submission, listen to me, is an issue of trust, church. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:57.600 One of the great compliments that my wife has paid me in our marriage is that it has been easy for her to submit to my leadership. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:11.279 And if you knew sort of her background and story and need for safety and security, so when she says that it was easy for her to submit, it means it's because I have made myself trustworthy. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:17.120 Submission has to come with trust, and trust is a problem for many today. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:21.440 How many would say, Pastor, I don't trust everybody? 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:26.799 Life has taught me that I can't trust just anybody. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:30.240 We're prone in our life to desire predictability. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:38.879 Meaning, I like two plus two, because two plus two equals four today, and two plus two equals four the same tomorrow. 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:42.159 And in years to come, I like the predictability. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.600 In 50 years, two plus two is going to equal four. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.799 Mathematics does not bring me let downs. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:51.919 Mathematics doesn't bring me breakups. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.799 Mathematics never gets cancer. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:02.000 Mathematics never loses a best friend to a job that's pulled them across the other side of the country on a move. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:04.080 Two plus two never cheats. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:07.279 Never changes, it never shifts. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.840 Two plus two I can trust. 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:19.039 But one of the great plights of our finite human cognizance is we are incapable of God's mathematics. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:27.919 Isaiah 55, verse 9 says, His ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:34.399 But we say, I want sensibility, I need calculation, and I need logic in order to submit. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:47.519 But I need to tell you today to get into that next portion of land, for a lot of you, there's going to be unfulfilled questions, uncertainties, and fears. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:55.120 And I need you to understand when God said see, God is eternal and he is timeless outside of time. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:59.519 And so when God said see, he surely saw the end from the beginning. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:05.440 And so when God said to Joshua, see, I have done this thing, he could see it. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:12.240 When Callie was little, um, we would play this game when she was young. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:20.639 I'd get her on the counter or she'd be doing something, and I'd look at her sweet little eyes, and I'd say, Callie, jump. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:29.840 My arms outstretched, looking at her pretty little eyes, and you'd you'd see what was going on in the mind, the calculation. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.440 And if I could have conveyed words, I would have wanted to say this. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.120 It's not really the jump. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:37.279 I want you to trust me. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:46.559 Conquer the hesitancy, conquer the resistance, conquer all those fears, and just jump. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:53.919 But for many of us, God gets us to that edge and we see danger if we jump. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.399 We see dread if we jump. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:58.960 We see death if we jump. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:04.799 And so for us, this trust is really held back with walls that we're gonna look at. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:21.039 Now, for me, on the other side of the counter, in absolute confidence, I could say unwavering, I know that if my little girl jumps, nothing is gonna stop these arms from catching her on that jump. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:23.679 I have all the confidence in the world. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:26.000 So I say, Callie, jump. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.600 And let me tell you what happened. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:31.679 She jumped, and the last second I moved and said, Didn't you learn a life lesson? 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.879 I'm just kidding. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:40.240 I caught her, pulled her up, and she looked at me, I jumped. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:47.279 I can jump! Let me tell you something, church. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:58.080 What we see on that edge, what we see will violate what we know unless what we know dictates what we see. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.480 I'm gonna say it again. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:07.200 What we see will violate what we know unless what we know dictates what we see. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.200 What do you know about God? 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.080 What do you believe about who he is? 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.919 Do you believe he loves you? 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:20.080 I know on the other side of that counter, that little girl has to believe he loves me. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:22.960 He would never want me to hurt. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.080 Do you trust God enough to jump? 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:32.720 You see, he said to Joshua, see, as if it was a thing of the past. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.519 What do you see, Christian, in your faith walk? 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:39.759 The Bible says that we walk by faith, not by sight. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.360 Faith is the evidence of things not seen. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.000 And so, what do you see? 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:50.240 We jump by faith, not by sight. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.679 We share a testimony by faith, not by feeling. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:56.480 We give by faith, not by calculation. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:00.399 Burning the boats, listen to me, is not about comfort. 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.600 It's about command. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.079 What do you see? 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:11.920 And what I've learned through this church, he is a covenant God, worthy. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.279 And his track record deserves that trust. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:19.279 I got thinking about that, and I called up Miss Niva this week. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:22.319 Some of y'all wonder why Miss Niva's standing up there. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:29.599 I called her up this weekend and I said, Man, when I think about God's trust and his tracker, it takes me back. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:38.720 And so I'm gonna ask if y'all would stand with us, and Miss Niva's gonna take us back a little bit to sing to God about his trust. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:49.680 Let's sing this old hymn, and it's trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:56.079 That's just the words for that chorus, and then we'll go into that old hymn to so sweet to trust in Jesus. 00:17:56.640 --> 00:18:07.839 Trust and obey on this time to be happy. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.480 Sing it with me now. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.279 Amen. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.839 You give them a clap offering this morning. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.599 Y'all can be seated. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.359 Thank you, Miss Niva. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:20:06.559 I got in my study this week, and just sometimes God takes me back to little places where I was as a young man, and these these songs meant something to trust in him. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:09.359 So sweet to trust in Jesus. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.920 Look at letter B this morning. 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:15.519 Next part of that is submission to God's circling plan. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.480 Look at what it says. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.480 Verse 3 through 5. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:26.720 You shall march around the city, all you men of war, you shall go all around the city once. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.799 This you shall do six days. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:39.039 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark, but the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priest shall blow the trumpets. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:54.400 It shall come to pass when they make a long blast with a ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout, then the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight before him. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:00.319 I want you to understand today, submission to God's circle and plan, God's plan is never random. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:09.200 For God, it's never random to you and me trying to understand things with human logic and to a God mindset is difficult, but it's never random. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:19.119 Romans 8 28 says this, and we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to those who are called according to his purposes. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:22.000 And so we know that, we understand that. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:26.160 God told Israel, walk across a river. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:29.680 He said, But focus straight ahead. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:32.240 Not left, not right, just focus. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:40.079 Now he tells them, you're gonna go out and circle the city one time a day for six days, the seventh day seven times. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.599 God's mathematics isn't always like ours. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:46.640 And it's not always instant either. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:50.079 We like instant today in our society. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.160 We like instantaneous results. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:55.680 But remember what it took for the Israelites to get to this point. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:22:00.960 He said, You have to be consecrated, you're gonna have to be cleansed, you're gonna Cross the Jordan. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.720 Then you got to be circumcised. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.160 Then you got to enter in a covenant. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:06.079 You see, God worked in alliteration. 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.880 Right? 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:11.200 And so humanly we'd say, let's go, let's charge. 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:14.400 Staying within the alliteration, of course. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:18.960 But God's math says, we've got seven more days. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:23.279 Imagine six days, it says that they march in silently. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:29.039 An army ready and poised to reach a 700-year promise. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:31.519 And he tells them, march around. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.079 F. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.319 B. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:35.920 Meyer said, silence is the hardest of all commands. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:46.880 These days, in a busy and noisy world, it is a great debacle for us to find seclusion and silence. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:53.119 In the 21st century, commotion is the veritable custom. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:58.720 Noise, not silence, busyness and schedule. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:06.480 And so some of the problem about us getting even to that edge is we have made zero space to hear from God. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:13.920 The schedule's filled up already for some, until you go to bed tonight and it's just busy. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:18.079 How can we hear from God when our ears never have a respite? 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:22.559 He says, silence. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:25.119 My timing is coming. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.680 You're gonna go seven more days. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:28.480 Interesting. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.559 God does nothing out of randomness. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.079 Why seven? 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:34.000 Why seven more days? 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:40.079 Well, the number seven is God's number for divine completion, perfection. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:44.240 You see through scripture, seven days of creation and God was done. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.200 He was complete. 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.799 An animal had to be seven days old for it to be sacrificed. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:52.240 Seven pairs of every clean animal went into the ark. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:56.400 Seven qualities of the Messiah are found in Isaiah 11, 2. 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:59.680 Seven things the Lord hates are found in Proverbs 6. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:03.519 If you're going to forgive, the Bible says, forgive seven times 70. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.839 Don't let me even get started in Revelation. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:13.119 Seven letters to seven churches, seven spirits, seven lamps, seven stars, seven seals, seven horns, seven trumpets, seven plagues, seven boats. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.720 I don't have any more breath. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.720 But there's more sevens. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.400 It's God's number. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:20.960 So if you want to play on a team, go ahead and get number seven. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.839 That's the one. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:25.119 God does nothing out of order. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.400 He is a God of order. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:29.759 He does everything scripture says decently and in order. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.599 And God likes seven. 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:37.519 And this, the grand ceremony, after seven, you guessed it, hundred years of a promise. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:42.240 God wanted them to take seven godly laps to complete the task. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.720 And so that's what they're gonna do. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.839 Well, why? 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:47.200 What else is going on? 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:49.759 There's a lot of fun things that happen in this walk. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:53.039 Well, why circling the walls? 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:56.079 Because we said something about completion. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:02.720 I covenanted with my wife with this ring. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:06.319 September third, twenty fifteen. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.799 I know I get bonus points, got it right. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:13.359 And we made a covenant. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:18.480 This circle, what'd you say? 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.440 Two thousand five. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:31.599 We've been married for eight years. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:34.960 See, that's it. 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:37.200 Humility just taught. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:39.359 I gotta drink some water. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.400 Ma'am. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:45.359 If my face looks red, it feels red. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:50.720 I didn't have it in my notes incorrectly. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:26:02.240 Well, the point is I made a covenant 17 years ago and I meant it. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.119 Okay? 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:05.759 It's about completion. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:09.440 This for me was a covenant, and when I said it, I meant it. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:11.920 And when she said it, she meant it. 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:17.440 And so God tells them to circle and complete the task. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.839 Well, what else is involved in this? 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:25.839 Well, he says that seven priests are going to blow on trumpets. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.119 Well, what about that? 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.359 A lot of things could have happened here. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:35.680 And he decides during those laps, horn blasts are gonna go off. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:39.680 Well, trumpets are associated in scripture with triumph. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:42.559 Trumpets are associated in scripture with victory. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:50.559 On the seventh day, in essence, we are going to let all of Jericho know defeat is walking through your door. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:54.079 We're coming and we're bringing defeat. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:00.640 They in Jericho were on borrowed land because my promise is about to come true. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:09.359 It'd been better for the, I don't know what they call them, Jericho lights, to hightail it to another country than to stay here when those horn blasts went off. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:15.200 I'm gonna start blowing a horn to start the service at church. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:19.759 We're gonna have a trumpet up here because victory is on its way. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:23.920 Now, Ivan, we can sing victory in Jesus after we blow that trumpet horn. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:32.960 And so we see all of these things that are a part of God's plan as they get ready, as they're on that brink to charge in. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:35.599 Secondly, this morning I want you to see this. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:41.359 God brings success when Israel is steadfast. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:51.759 Joshua 1.8, we saw as we started, is about our playbook. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:28:07.759 It said, This book of the law shall not depart from our mouth, but thou shalt meditate on it day and night, and observe to do all that is written therein, that thou mayest have success, thou that should prosper and then have good success. 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:18.480 And so I would have to believe up to this point, undoubtedly, Joshua's mornings and Joshua's evenings were filled with readings of the Torah. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:24.960 Because it says, God will bring success when you meditate on his law day and night. 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:28.640 Undoubtedly, Joshua was a man of the book. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:40.960 When life for you, church, and the government and news and economy is all shifting sand, you can build on this rock. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:44.720 Success is found in reading the Bible. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:47.599 Say, man, that's real deep in church. 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:56.480 But if we polled people about their daily walk in this book, I think we might be surprised by the truth. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:59.920 We grind a way for success in some other means. 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:07.359 And I've heard lost people talk about the book of Proverbs being a great way to acquire wealth and to live in business. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.759 This is not even Christianity. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:14.160 And so this book, day and night, brings success. 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:22.319 I have to believe that Joshua was steadfast, focusing, not left or right. 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:26.960 He was staying focused ahead of him on what God has called him to. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.440 You say, Pastor Rick, I'm just one. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.640 No, listen to me. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:34.079 You have an impact on everything. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:41.359 The people all in your circle, and the people that those people impact, and the people that those people impact, and generations. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:43.519 What you do now matters. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:46.079 Look at your neighbor and say, You matter. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:49.759 Look at the other one and say, You matter too. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.240 Be steadfast. 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.200 How? 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:57.039 Well, how do we do this? 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.640 I want you to look. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:10.960 Verse 6, it says, Then Joshua, the son of Nun, called the priests and said to them, Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of ram's horn before the ark of the Lord. 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:18.000 And he said to the people, Proceed and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:20.880 So how do we stay steadfast? 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:24.880 Letter A is this devotion to accomplishing God's will. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:31.920 Being devoted, being steadfast, being constant to accomplish God's will. 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:37.200 With great resonance, two vital words jumps out of Joshua. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.720 This is what he articulates. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:40.720 He says, Take up. 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:45.599 God finished the command, told him what to do as soon as he finished. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:48.400 Joshua doesn't say it took him five days, three weeks. 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.599 He didn't pray about it. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.359 He didn't gather his family together. 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:54.400 God said, and he said, Take up. 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:57.039 Great resonance. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:59.359 I love Joshua. 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:05.839 Unwavering, resolute, impervious to all the things that could have done something to this plan. 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:08.880 As soon as God finished, he said, Take up. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:15.200 Joshua is one of probably my favorite Bible character, not named Jesus. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:19.440 But in my studies, I find a sort of, I can say to that. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:27.440 In the Greek, the Hebrew name Yeshua, which is Jesus, translates in English to Joshua. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:31.359 Joshua means God is salvation. 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:34.960 And God spoke to Joshua when he said, Take up. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:41.680 What are we waiting on, church, to do God's will? 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:44.720