The Walls of Jericho
In Joshua 1, we see God direct Joshua to "be strong and courageous" 3 times. He tells Joshua to lead God's people across the Jordan into the land he has prepared, a land full of hostile agents who do not want to allow the Israelites to succeed in coming home to a place they have never been, but a place that has been prepared for them. When we started this journey, instead of strong and courageous as intended, I would say we were optimistic and naive. Like most church planters, we were flying at 100 miles an hour with our hair on fire, but we had no real clue what we were doing. But God was calling us to something awesome in this place he has prepared for His work. But back to Joshua.
Joshua 1:6-9
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on[a] it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua took command of the people of Israel. A people with no land to call their home. And God gave him direction to prepare for 3 days and then cross the Jordan and into the land. The land we walk into is not the land of the Hittites, the land of the Canaanites, a land of armies who will stand and oppose us. It is instead a land filled with a people who are comfortable in their discontent. Our neighborhoods are filled with people who are striving for more, without seeing an endpoint and without seeing a need for God. They live lives trapped in the lies of the enemy.
They work hard seeking after earthly treasures, return home and close their doors. They raise walls against the world before returning to work again the next day, never opening their doors and interacting with their community. Like Jericho, the walls protect from intruders, but God's people can overcome them. We stand across the river and prepare to walk before these walls praying for God to take them down.
Joshua followed the Lord's command and led his army around the walls each day for seven days. And on that seventh day, the army shouted out and the walls came down. They captured the city. As we face our neighborhood's Jericho walls, prayerfully consider joining us in prayer walks around the walls of Far West San Antonio. Sunday will be the first of seven days that we will walk around the neighborhood we live in praying for walls to fall, for doors to open, for His warriors to join His mission, to see every person and family within 5 minutes of Harlan High School know the love of community and the love of Jesus.
Sunday afternoon, we will set out from my house, and each day we will meet again to cover our neighborhood in prayer. We will be strong and courageous, following God's call to love Him and to love our neighbors. If you want to join us from afar, I will be sending out a list of prayers to pray on Sunday, join us by walking your neighborhood.
Joshua 1:6-9
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on[a] it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua took command of the people of Israel. A people with no land to call their home. And God gave him direction to prepare for 3 days and then cross the Jordan and into the land. The land we walk into is not the land of the Hittites, the land of the Canaanites, a land of armies who will stand and oppose us. It is instead a land filled with a people who are comfortable in their discontent. Our neighborhoods are filled with people who are striving for more, without seeing an endpoint and without seeing a need for God. They live lives trapped in the lies of the enemy.
They work hard seeking after earthly treasures, return home and close their doors. They raise walls against the world before returning to work again the next day, never opening their doors and interacting with their community. Like Jericho, the walls protect from intruders, but God's people can overcome them. We stand across the river and prepare to walk before these walls praying for God to take them down.
Joshua followed the Lord's command and led his army around the walls each day for seven days. And on that seventh day, the army shouted out and the walls came down. They captured the city. As we face our neighborhood's Jericho walls, prayerfully consider joining us in prayer walks around the walls of Far West San Antonio. Sunday will be the first of seven days that we will walk around the neighborhood we live in praying for walls to fall, for doors to open, for His warriors to join His mission, to see every person and family within 5 minutes of Harlan High School know the love of community and the love of Jesus.
Sunday afternoon, we will set out from my house, and each day we will meet again to cover our neighborhood in prayer. We will be strong and courageous, following God's call to love Him and to love our neighbors. If you want to join us from afar, I will be sending out a list of prayers to pray on Sunday, join us by walking your neighborhood.
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