The Sermon Circling Prayer (Jericho) by David McGee
Mar 18, 2012
Circling Prayer (Jericho) (39:55)
Referenced Scriptures: Joshua 5:9-15; Joshua 6:1-20; Job 1:10; Luke 18:35-43
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Joshua 5:9-15
9) Yahweh said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, to this day.
10) The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal; and they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
11) They ate of the produce of the land on the next day after the Passover, unleavened cakes and parched grain, in the same day.
12) The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
13) It happened, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against 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?
14) He said, No; but [as] prince of the host of Yahweh am I now come. Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said to him, What says my lord to his servant?
15) The prince of Yahweh‘s host said to Joshua, Put off your shoe from off your foot; for the place whereon you stand is holy. Joshua did so.
Joshua 6:1-20
1) Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
2) Yahweh said to Joshua, Behold, I have given into your hand Jericho, and the king of it, and the mighty men of valor.
3) You shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shall you do six days.
4) Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams‘ horns before the ark: and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5) It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram‘s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him.
6) 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 rams‘ horns before the ark of Yahweh.
7) They said to the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of Yahweh.
8) It was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams‘ horns before Yahweh passed on, and blew the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed them.
9) The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, [the priests] blowing the trumpets as they went.
10) Joshua commanded the people, saying, You shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall you shout.
11) So he caused the ark of Yahweh to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12) Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of Yahweh.
13) The seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams‘ horns before the ark of Yahweh went on continually, and blew the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of Yahweh, [the priests] blowing the trumpets as they went.
14) The second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15) It happened on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on the day they compassed the city seven times.
16) It happened at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout; for Yahweh has given you the city.
17) The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Yahweh: only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18) But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so would you make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it.
19) But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy to Yahweh: they shall come into the treasury of Yahweh.
20) So the people shouted, and [the priests] blew the trumpets; and it happened, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with 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 took the city.
Job 1:10
10) Haven‘t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Luke 18:35-43
35) It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
36) Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
37) They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38) He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
39) Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
40) Jesus, standing, commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
41) "What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
42) Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
43) Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
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When I talk about prayer again and startling prayer, you know, I never really stayed on a topic. This long and I don't think but I wanted it just seems like every time I think I'm finished income up with a different at different idea different scenario I received get in the mail received in the mail different books and things and sure enough right there is a another issue another way of looking at prayer. So today I called this message is called circling prayer and in Joshua chapter five, beginning at verse nine. K-1 version that I message good at what I have I have the message version and Joshua chapter five verse nine. No, the setting for this is Joshua. Joshua was the only children of Israel have left there. There forty years of wandering in the wilderness seat prior to this that come to this promised land. They sent spies into back out and said we can go in like grasshoppers and they are too big for us, and that the forty year trip in the wilderness while now they come back to the point of God has directed Joshua is directing Joshua to go in and take the land. And so they have left the wilderness wanderings. And now they've come to this place of making a decision and the decision as they are developed for zest promised land land was promised to Abraham to their forefathers. So the problem with this is there are people who lived there now. Sometimes whenever we were thinking of our life and how that we are to make me make changes in our life. We think of it. Should this happen, but you know there's something there's always difficulties that were facing and that's as we take the promises of God, and we use them in our life were challenged with are the goals and Jericho is a challenge to the children of Israel, and how that they're going to face this obstacle and how they're going to conquer that we are in Joshua chapter five verse nine God said to Joshua, today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt. The place is called the . It's called. It's still called that the people of Israel continued care at the Gil Gaul. They celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. And I remember when Passover. It they were released from the got out of Egypt. Okay, they got out of agent by the plagues in the last play was the angel of death and the children of Israel had taken the Lamb slain the land with the blood of the lamb on the doorpost of their home and when the Angel of death came upon the Egyptian Egyptian community on agent. The dollhouses. The homes that had a lot of the landline, the angel of death passed over hassle, so whenever the New Testament analogy is Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world when his blood cleanses us from sin, death has no claim on our life so this little information there. So they celebrated Passover. This is done is the first celebration of Passover, since they left Egypt. The other was the night of the Angel of death in the Passover, then not celebrated out until this occasion, and it's on this occasion, now that they remember bringing, being delivered from Egypt and it's on this occasion they have a new challenge: take Jericho so right away that the day after Passover they started eating the problems of the country on raisin bread rate roasted grain, and in the and then no more man saw the man that they had been eating waking up every morning a man on the ground now suddenly stopped. They were no longer going to be spread by man of the hats and now take the land grain on the promised land in that wood that was now where they were going to find their fruit verse thirteen and then this while Johnson was there near Jericho, he looked up and saw all right in front of him. The man standing, holding his drawn sword, Joshua stepped up to him and said I'm sorry. R us or our enemies. Verse fourteen. He said neither I am commander of God 's army. I've just arrive and Joshua fell face to the ground abortion. He asked what orders does my master have one server he recognized God, it shall not shown up at this place and it's here that he is confronted with his orders. God 's army commander ordered Joshua take her sandals off your the place you are standing is holy ground and Joshua did in John in chapter six. Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because the people of Israel, no one going in and no one coming out, God spoke to Joshua, look sharp. Now, I've already given Jericho to you along with its kings and its crack troops guess what you are to do much around the city all your surgeons, folders, circling the city once repeat this for six days have several trees carrying seven rams horns, trumpets in front of the chest on the seventh day march around the city seven times the priest blowing away on the trumpets and then a long blast on the rams horn when you hear that all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs, the city walls will collapse it once and all the people are to enter every man straight on in Joshua the son of nun, called the priest and told them take up a test of the common seven three thirty carry seven rams horn trumpets leading God 's chest. Now the Japanese talking about is the art, the Ark of the covenant can contains the ten Commandments Aaron 's rod that divided and also pick up picture of man, though this one out what's out in front would be like the word of God in front of you and the and the people live the priests, and so I'm carrying it and celebrating lowing the rental and announcing that God is coming on. They did all of that verse ten, Joshua given to the people don't shouted back. Don't even speak not so much as a whisper until you hear me say, shall then shout away. So I think people are walking around Jericho. Not that they're not the talk dinosaur( problem with that but I been saying my name is anything but where I have a hard time being silent father to be silent and while there walking down one of the things enough people. The ever walk around difficulties in all, emotionally, physically walk around problems. What happens when you do that you generally start talking negatively. I don't know why they become negative about. But in this case, if we are silent, where in, and we're supposed and I hopefully they are reflecting upon how great the wall is but also remembering where they've come from. They just celebrated Passover and hope how great their captivity was too mighty empire on Egypt, and yet they walked out with everything that they could ever long for. So now they're faced with the same difficulty on each other just of God. Verse eleven, said the just and honest way around the city circled once came back stay for the night. Josh was up early next morning, someone first fourteen on the second day. Then again circled the city wants to return to camp verse fifteen, when the seventh day came. They got up our landmarks around the city. The same way, but seven times, and on the seventh time around the priest blew the trumpets and Joshua signaled the people shopped, and God had given you to say in the city and everything in it under the curse, and offered up to God that they were allowed to take anything of the city soul verse twenty. The priest blew the trumpets and the people heard the blast of the trumpets. They gave a thunderclap in the wall fell at once and the people right rushed straightway into the city and took it. Now there are now, we said this before, there are no formulas for prayer in the idea that if use no say the same thing the same way every days like repeating the Lord 's prayer. You can repeat the Lord 's prayer everyday attitude). It's a great prayer, but whenever we just say it to say it as if that's going to do something for us. Some type of magic formula doesn't mean anything, but if you take the Lords priority. This started as they are father member, with we dispute you weeks ago our father. Just think about that the Scripture says to meditate on things that we are to meditate on the wording and think of prayer is our father God is my father. He's your father, the same God. I pray to sing when you pray to the same Jesus of the New Testament that I read about in the Scriptures, and what we teach about here to send Jesus to each of us. So when I'm praying God help me at the outset to pray with someone about a need. I'm trying to your father who is my father and my father who is has has my undivided attention this is a undivided prison to, so I am praying that my father. Your father would talk your life, and I'm taking the needs and in the circumstances I find myself in. I'm taking them to God in prayer because prayer is a very important part of who we are as Christians, we cannot be a Christian without Christ, and whenever we help because Christ is the center of our faith is a living Christ risen from the dead are alive, and he ever lives to intercede for us. So Jesus is praying for us. We are praying to him, and we are completing the circle of prayer in which God is once only the best for our life and we are praying about the things in our life, offering our high thoughts and ideas and problems to God, and we pray and God brings it back into our life and allows us to understand your dream or have visions of vision of what we want to be common. Do while today were looking at Jericho. Imagine the children of Israel coming out of the wilderness. Their investment out in the desert mountain region of work for the last forty years and living in tents ever been around any wall cities are walled encampments in the first glimpse of Jericho is this awe-inspiring and yet frightening city never seen anything like this never met around me skyline like this before you remember your first experience going into a life-saving, I would remember Rachel whenever we going to Pittsburgh to guide your through the tunnel coming on the Parkway from Monroeville, you go through the tunnel and needed on their little ways you make the Brandon, there is Pittsburgh down the skyline of Pittsburgh. It was like always a thrill or coming from the airport yet you come through the top and loan their brands and their three members in the stadiums on the left and an Intel that the boat on the Rhine in the city in front of you and it's like, wow, I feel that I have been a member now in its outstanding member so you can imagine the feeling of the children of Israel, they never seen anything like this before and the closer they get the smaller they feel, you know, the closer you get to the skyscrapers. Those smaller you feel that life will, they are being the grounds now these people understand what their ancestors fell forty years prior when they said we are as grasshoppers in their site, so the engine. There links at their parents, grandparents, their parents and have for years, they left an opportunity behind. They left the opportunity to face the Giants behind because they became afraid now their children are faced with the same obstacles, walls, the reason I have this up. I never really understood what the walls of Jericho were were about driving down. I've been doing this since I can't got in Sunday school class on about the walls of Jericho and how they did the right chariot across the top of and what made them so sold formidable wife when I was in Israel. We were at Jericho. I never under. I couldn't get a picture of what the walls where an accident houses on the walls. It's like I don't I don't get so I was on the Internet last night. These walls of Jericho has been handled as a trying to picture what I'm asking. So anyhow, if not his fault line. So if you and this was the diagram. The thing they they gave us was on the on the Internet. If you have the planning of Jericho and you have this wall highlight here and then you have another wall on top of it. Okay well here's these people and this is about a four-story building is about forty feet so behind this always dirt was feeling this partly finished this area here, and very calls RPL to the next wall and the city of Jericho. It is up here. So whenever you're trying to attack the city. It got a distance between this wall and the small and here advances of four stories and in this one from here is ten stories. So if you're ever a doubt one of the Israelite soldiers, you're coming against not only does we see this wall that would be enough, but then you've got an incline up to this one. And then there is another wall appear wide enough to run chariots across so Jericho was considered impregnable fortress and the history of Jericho. It is said that they were something like nine thousand BC. So this is an ancient city is a very ancient city and in those days they didn't like a something found out they just build on top of and you know we were in one of the towels they call that tells where they they were fortresses and was sophomore Solomon had his forces, and so on and in a calling to tell and and and also military encampment and what wise was a large area and whenever I pay you got it okay, but that's part of it, Daisy, modern-day excavations of what's going on in Jericho, but I tell is that if somebody were to meet and conquer another empire would come in Concord. They would care at all about it and it would build on top of so whenever the archaeologists excavating, they will just know now, at age level, I find different empire by five different people might conquer so they are not the one telegraph had the horse stables of Solomon, and actually a trial that was used for the horses in Solomon 's in Solomons Army, so you have this history and it's all built on it. If you go into the excavations that are in Jericho, you find that these walls are all there now so an army was to march around the city once a day for six days now, Miss said he can comprise twelve acres at least so a twelve acre field. I'm not quite sure what would be a twelve acre field. That's a pretty good size for criticized area 's oldest wall would encompass you around twelve acres inside so you have twelve acres of ground inside and inside. This is all of the city and the fortress of Jericho and again Jericho been around for centuries, not being able to be conquered and here in the heart of the land that the children of Israel are to possess is this impregnable fortress. And so, God brings them out of the wilderness and says Donna Jericho that from the start, and I forwarded it were a take on the biggest dog first butterfly you will first before we go on from here. So every arm and resulted in the Army, then I'm on Israel that the city and I'm sure that you're walking around. This attends storing building the goals the entire way around the city and you're wondering how North American indigenous, however, are we not trained, not now. We don't have a military background, we don't have scaling wall apparatuses you know, we don't have the Secret Service to get Anand sabotaged will have ladders and catapults due to melt throw rocks at the Walden taken down without any of that. So they're probably wondering how your government, business and the only instructions that have is the third of March around the wall once a day in silence, and then on the seventh day the remarks around Sam in time for the drop in and on about a shout and brought into the city. How many are going to volunteer for this job if they if not, it's an impossible task if the God told Israel army to be too good to be silent. Sometimes we just need to be quiet about our problems and don't worry about them will begin to pray about the and what does this have to do with you. Now the lot, walking around Jericho walking with what is this have to do with prayer. While this story is a prayer which the story is the story. The challenge is to confidently circle the promise God has given us confidently circle the promise of God 's given us so armed with the prime God has given us. We startled the problem now Passover has already happened number. They celebrated Passover, Jesus, that the blood of the land had been delivered from the most powerful empire in the entire world. They were delivered from that, by the blood of the Lamb was on the doorpost of the heart, so they were to circle now just like for instance. So I circle you and I circle you and I pray for you. I pray God would bless you. I pray that God will bless your family. I pray that God will bring blessing upon your life bring wisdom and guidance to you. I pray that all of your problems that you would sense that God has a way of working in you that he is a way of touching your life and touching you in such a way that God 's spirit would bless you that it would did you guys in the middle. Don't be outside the circle. I pray that God will bless your life. And when you're in school that God would bless you and give you wisdom. I pray that no matter where you live in your travels in your work that God would be there with you. I pray that his spirit would touch you, and that he would bring peace to you in the difficult times of life that God would touch your life in such a way that it would be, and that he would bring his glory to you what I do. I circled you with prior now there are obstacles that you and I that you have that I don't know about this. It isn't that I know about your obstacle is that I know the God who will help you overcome your obstacles you pray for your children, your grandchildren you pray about the pray out loud when you pray a circle around them, as it were, you pray that God would touch their lives in such a way that would keep them say that they would be able to make wise decisions that they would be not influenced by not being clear pressure if they were building. I had a protection job chapter one verse ten and is listed as a couple weeks ago we did Joe is a very important plot is very important thing here would find in John chapter one percent say it is complaining to God because I was complaining about this is why knowledge ever had it so good. Like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possession. You bless everything he does, he can't lose. In one version says, have you not made a hedge around him around his household around all that he has on every side, say there is complaining to God about Joe, but somehow God has built a hedge around Joe Circle your problem with prayer. Somehow the devil can get in somehow evil doesn't and loses its influence that you know the plot of the land that was spoken up with agent and an excellent day blood of Jesus Christ. When the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to our life. It's like drawing a line circle around us we focus on how that Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins. The blood was shed upon the cross is sacred and evil, Satan, demonic what everyone called can't cross the line you see the blood of Jesus Christ is not just a figure of speech is the reality of God 's love for you and I demonstrated for us. And whenever we pray our prayers are helping us to understand that the difficulties that we face are not as difficult and not as bad as the power of God to be able to overcome them. Now, so we build a hedge of protection. We built a wall of prayer. So we see here how prayer can bring down while we see how prayer can create walls, prayer can change you and I it can change us to help us face our Jericho. You know the place and the circumstances that make you feel inferior. We all have them. We all have those places where we feel not as good as or inferior to someone because of something. All are doing is comparing ourselves with the wrong level. All we take our weaknesses compare them to their strengths and we say we can't do it. We feel inferior. While in this case they are comparing their weaknesses through Jericho. Strengths and arrogant. All humanly speaking, no one has been able to conquer the city and thousands of years, and here is God telling them march around the city and something will happen while you see Joshua, this is Josh was event with Jericho and symbolizes the fulfillment of a dream that originated with their ancestor Abraham that was a dream passed on to the children of Israel by Abraham and Abraham was this guy who left his homeland and took his family and started out for a place that he didn't know where he was going, and God would tell him when he got there any of this plan am not mad, and he had a son named Isaac, who had a son named Jacob, who had whose name was later changed to Israel because he had eleven sons twelve and we have the twelve tribes of Israel. The calendar that with Joseph in the kids, and so on. They are, we have the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve tribes literal end up in Egypt, and God delivers them. And here we have in your Jericho. That all started with a promise to one guy now. Are any of you dreamers REA interview dreamers, dreams, what is it you want to be. What is it that you want to do, they'll go back to school write a book move no note that half, then what is it you wanted it. What is it that you want to do what is why the drains. If you wanted to use it. Often we look at this and we say this is me and this is my Jericho, my impossibility and all I'm doing is praying around that. All I'm doing is praying about this because the drain is often the dream originates with a promise, the dream originates with the promise of what I can become not sometimes we have misguided dreams go, I wanted to be football player. I wanted to play the big thirty three game back then there was the film that we play was thirty three guys in the front, Pennsylvania plate thirty three people from Texas that was a big thirty three game. Now they have the big thirty three games in Hershey and thirty three from the East play thirty three from last. This don't think they're treating by my friend made it my friend. My friend was a back at him back whatever he had with the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech student with a Georgia Tech on full scholarship and every other. All our style and do that but you know what I was a hundred and eighty pound lineman hundred eighty pound lineman, you know, three hundred pound guys now play line, so I wasn't going to happen, but that was what I wanted and then I went to college to be a football coach that was my goal was to go being an athletic know gym teacher and football coach at type of thing. It was there, the God called me to be a minister. So I left being a football coach and went to Bible school to be a preacher. So here I am sure Long story short, I was a guy with a dream. But God had a different plan in my Jericho was. I thought to become a football player, but in reality it was to be administered and to work with people 's lives and to challenge individuals initiate we look at this. What promises are you praying around. She yelled with Jericho symbolizes the fulfillment of your dreams originated with Abraham, now we look at it. What promise are you praying around what miracle are you marching around what dreamed is your life revolve around. So what is it, why should Jericho. What is it that you are looking at it seemed like an impossible task. So, here's the outline is not going to define the need. Jericho defined the promise God will give you the city defined the action walk seven days and on the seventh day walked seven times to see there is a consistency about what we do. There is a definite action that we take there is a definite plan that we have in place that we are allowing God to inspire us and that we act upon that plan yell in Jericho. Luke chapter eighteen, verse thirty five to forty three. This is Jesus your Jericho, saying city is about the reason we know in and in the desert area in the desert area. They build cities around water management. Jericho has an oasis. I've been to the oasis of Jericho, but not quite there in NNS and it's not the same city that of Jericho is a real city, and it's still there today. Jericho is still there today and it but if not, this Jericho that fell. We don't think they think it's about a mile down the road or something else, but some people said, but anyhow Jesus is a Jericho on the chapter eighty best short verse thirty five that it happened as he was coming near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road begging and hearing the multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they felt in the Jesus of Nazareth was passing by me, cried out, saying, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me, though still with me before I wanted him to be quiet and let something out when you have a drain someone tells you who don't talk about that. Here's a blind man that knows that Jesus is coming, and he said he won't shut up. He wants Jesus to know that he is there. So Jesus stood still commanded him to be brought to him and when he had come near me has been saying. What do you want me to do for you. This is the most and I I use this, this is the most bullish question, and I can ever ask Jesus, save a blind man than a blind man's eyes gazes and gazes at him. Anyone, now isn't that stupid goner. Note Jesus who knows everything. One is the one that's blind man to do. He wants him to define exactly what it is that he wants in Jesus to do walking around Jericho. What is it exactly that you want God to do if you don't say exactly what it is you want God to do in your prayers. Then young. There's not this while ninety nine e-mail yeah we all know that but the idea is what help you need. What specifically are you asking for what promises are you asking God to see, e.g., prayer can be instant with Jesus and a receiver site. Lord I want to restate my site Jesus. Everything recycled was done for Jericho, Israel had to believe that March and one of the key for the key verses in this. This text is verse two when a flute of Joshua chapter six, God spoke to Joshua and says, look sharp. Now I already given Jericho to you that word is past tense. I've already given Jericho to you. Now I want you to go in March CVM answer to our prayer may already be here. We just need to upon what God wants to do with Angel act upon what God wants to accomplish in our life is a godsend. I have delivered the battle was long before the battle ever began. God has already given in the city, and now all they have to do was to circle it are a thousand true faith. Dozens does not not not not necessarily celebrate after the victory. RFA celebrates before the victory. That's what makes people of faith visionaries, we began to see things as if they already were that we alright. We believe that God will answer our prayers and we begin to act upon the answer to that prayer so Joshua had the people marched seven times around the city yells once a day for seven eight seven eight seven times now. The challenge here is this the Scripture says that Wednesday March the seventh time around the city on the seventh day they blew the trumpet. They did everything and what happened while now, and everyone went straightway into the city. What happened was when the wall came down. They filled in the gap. The walls collapsed in such a way that they were able to ascend the hill and take the city. The walls were taken down now as their marching never got a clue how this can happen, but they have to believe in. They marched in faith believing God does not answer their prayer and these walls collapse in such a way that the whole city was able to be accessed by the children of Israel, you see God as a way of making things happen in our life as we walk by faith and people who pray are people who see things differently. We see things as as if they could be different than what they are we. We believe that God is invalid is where I finished being who we are, where the process of becoming. And the problem is will you as we get older we become more analytical more factual and less visionary, but people of prayer become greater in seeing things that are in people that can become seeing possibilities and people seeing things about life that it is all it looks this way but you know what there's something else here, there's something greater here, there's something in here that special do something different about you and you seem a little too small a life inside the walls of our sameness mainland China small, life as far inside walls of sameness. We like things the same because we feel safe. But in reality we argue by now, from the inside. God has live for us to live and live to the fullest. My, my peace I give unto you, they also says that I will make a way for you where there is no way that there are mountains and obstacles that you face. But don't worry about them that he is greater than them. You see me. We make a rug down into feeling secure in your sameness. We often feel secure in our sameness, but Tara down your walls walk around them live find the promises and the expectations while the trumpets is a declarative promises of God. What is it that you want to find it believe it, bring it before God and pray about it and allow God to touch your life the way it ends fires you to do something just because you think it was the cartoon in the pipe of the smile of two and this cartoon says preachers counseling that his is the sky and and and and the preacher tells the guys counseling up being always right is not a spiritual gift, but will you do always right is not a spiritual gift, because you think it doesn't mean God wants you to do because you think it also says, need to pray about receive God 's direction. Start off praying and asking God to lead you and he will put the things in place to take you where you need to go and if you're confronted with a Jericho. It doesn't mean you quit it just means we begin to pray about how God is going to help us overcomeWhen I talk about prayer again and startling prayer, you know, I never really stayed on a topic. This long and I don't think but I wanted it just seems like every time I think I'm finished income up with a different at different idea different scenario I received get in the mail received in the mail different books and things and sure enough right there is a another issue another way of looking at prayer. So today I called this message is called circling prayer and in Joshua chapter five, beginning at verse nine. K-1 version that I message good at what I have I have the message version and Joshua chapter five verse nine. No, the setting for this is Joshua. Joshua was the only children of Israel have left there. There forty years of wandering in the wilderness seat prior to this that come to this promised land. They sent spies into back out and said we can go in like grasshoppers and they are too big for us, and that the forty year trip in the wilderness while now they come back to the point of God has directed Joshua is directing Joshua to go in and take the land. And so they have left the wilderness wanderings. And now they've come to this place of making a decision and the decision as they are developed for zest promised land land was promised to Abraham to their forefathers. So the problem with this is there are people who lived there now. Sometimes whenever we were thinking of our life and how that we are to make me make changes in our life. We think of it. Should this happen, but you know there's something there's always difficulties that were facing and that's as we take the promises of God, and we use them in our life were challenged with are the goals and Jericho is a challenge to the children of Israel, and how that they're going to face this obstacle and how they're going to conquer that we are in Joshua chapter five verse nine God said to Joshua, today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt. The place is called the . It's called. It's still called that the people of Israel continued care at the Gil Gaul. They celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. And I remember when Passover. It they were released from the got out of Egypt. Okay, they got out of agent by the plagues in the last play was the angel of death and the children of Israel had taken the Lamb slain the land with the blood of the lamb on the doorpost of their home and when the Angel of death came upon the Egyptian Egyptian community on agent. The dollhouses. The homes that had a lot of the landline, the angel of death passed over hassle, so whenever the New Testament analogy is Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world when his blood cleanses us from sin, death has no claim on our life so this little information there. So they celebrated Passover. This is done is the first celebration of Passover, since they left Egypt. The other was the night of the Angel of death in the Passover, then not celebrated out until this occasion, and it's on this occasion, now that they remember bringing, being delivered from Egypt and it's on this occasion they have a new challenge: take Jericho so right away that the day after Passover they started eating the problems of the country on raisin bread rate roasted grain, and in the and then no more man saw the man that they had been eating waking up every morning a man on the ground now suddenly stopped. They were no longer going to be spread by man of the hats and now take the land grain on the promised land in that wood that was now where they were going to find their fruit verse thirteen and then this while Johnson was there near Jericho, he looked up and saw all right in front of him. The man standing, holding his drawn sword, Joshua stepped up to him and said I'm sorry. R us or our enemies. Verse fourteen. He said neither I am commander of God 's army. I've just arrive and Joshua fell face to the ground abortion. He asked what orders does my master have one server he recognized God, it shall not shown up at this place and it's here that he is confronted with his orders. God 's army commander ordered Joshua take her sandals off your the place you are standing is holy ground and Joshua did in John in chapter six. Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because the people of Israel, no one going in and no one coming out, God spoke to Joshua, look sharp. Now, I've already given Jericho to you along with its kings and its crack troops guess what you are to do much around the city all your surgeons, folders, circling the city once repeat this for six days have several trees carrying seven rams horns, trumpets in front of the chest on the seventh day march around the city seven times the priest blowing away on the trumpets and then a long blast on the rams horn when you hear that all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs, the city walls will collapse it once and all the people are to enter every man straight on in Joshua the son of nun, called the priest and told them take up a test of the common seven three thirty carry seven rams horn trumpets leading God 's chest. Now the Japanese talking about is the art, the Ark of the covenant can contains the ten Commandments Aaron 's rod that divided and also pick up picture of man, though this one out what's out in front would be like the word of God in front of you and the and the people live the priests, and so I'm carrying it and celebrating lowing the rental and announcing that God is coming on. They did all of that verse ten, Joshua given to the people don't shouted back. Don't even speak not so much as a whisper until you hear me say, shall then shout away. So I think people are walking around Jericho. Not that they're not the talk dinosaur( problem with that but I been saying my name is anything but where I have a hard time being silent father to be silent and while there walking down one of the things enough people. The ever walk around difficulties in all, emotionally, physically walk around problems. What happens when you do that you generally start talking negatively. I don't know why they become negative about. But in this case, if we are silent, where in, and we're supposed and I hopefully they are reflecting upon how great the wall is but also remembering where they've come from. They just celebrated Passover and hope how great their captivity was too mighty empire on Egypt, and yet they walked out with everything that they could ever long for. So now they're faced with the same difficulty on each other just of God. Verse eleven, said the just and honest way around the city circled once came back stay for the night. Josh was up early next morning, someone first fourteen on the second day. Then again circled the city wants to return to camp verse fifteen, when the seventh day came. They got up our landmarks around the city. The same way, but seven times, and on the seventh time around the priest blew the trumpets and Joshua signaled the people shopped, and God had given you to say in the city and everything in it under the curse, and offered up to God that they were allowed to take anything of the city soul verse twenty. The priest blew the trumpets and the people heard the blast of the trumpets. They gave a thunderclap in the wall fell at once and the people right rushed straightway into the city and took it. Now there are now, we said this before, there are no formulas for prayer in the idea that if use no say the same thing the same way every days like repeating the Lord 's prayer. You can repeat the Lord 's prayer everyday attitude). It's a great prayer, but whenever we just say it to say it as if that's going to do something for us. Some type of magic formula doesn't mean anything, but if you take the Lords priority. This started as they are father member, with we dispute you weeks ago our father. Just think about that the Scripture says to meditate on things that we are to meditate on the wording and think of prayer is our father God is my father. He's your father, the same God. I pray to sing when you pray to the same Jesus of the New Testament that I read about in the Scriptures, and what we teach about here to send Jesus to each of us. So when I'm praying God help me at the outset to pray with someone about a need. I'm trying to your father who is my father and my father who is has has my undivided attention this is a undivided prison to, so I am praying that my father. Your father would talk your life, and I'm taking the needs and in the circumstances I find myself in. I'm taking them to God in prayer because prayer is a very important part of who we are as Christians, we cannot be a Christian without Christ, and whenever we help because Christ is the center of our faith is a living Christ risen from the dead are alive, and he ever lives to intercede for us. So Jesus is praying for us. We are praying to him, and we are completing the circle of prayer in which God is once only the best for our life and we are praying about the things in our life, offering our high thoughts and ideas and problems to God, and we pray and God brings it back into our life and allows us to understand your dream or have visions of vision of what we want to be common. Do while today were looking at Jericho. Imagine the children of Israel coming out of the wilderness. Their investment out in the desert mountain region of work for the last forty years and living in tents ever been around any wall cities are walled encampments in the first glimpse of Jericho is this awe-inspiring and yet frightening city never seen anything like this never met around me skyline like this before you remember your first experience going into a life-saving, I would remember Rachel whenever we going to Pittsburgh to guide your through the tunnel coming on the Parkway from Monroeville, you go through the tunnel and needed on their little ways you make the Brandon, there is Pittsburgh down the skyline of Pittsburgh. It was like always a thrill or coming from the airport yet you come through the top and loan their brands and their three members in the stadiums on the left and an Intel that the boat on the Rhine in the city in front of you and it's like, wow, I feel that I have been a member now in its outstanding member so you can imagine the feeling of the children of Israel, they never seen anything like this before and the closer they get the smaller they feel, you know, the closer you get to the skyscrapers. Those smaller you feel that life will, they are being the grounds now these people understand what their ancestors fell forty years prior when they said we are as grasshoppers in their site, so the engine. There links at their parents, grandparents, their parents and have for years, they left an opportunity behind. They left the opportunity to face the Giants behind because they became afraid now their children are faced with the same obstacles, walls, the reason I have this up. I never really understood what the walls of Jericho were were about driving down. I've been doing this since I can't got in Sunday school class on about the walls of Jericho and how they did the right chariot across the top of and what made them so sold formidable wife when I was in Israel. We were at Jericho. I never under. I couldn't get a picture of what the walls where an accident houses on the walls. It's like I don't I don't get so I was on the Internet last night. These walls of Jericho has been handled as a trying to picture what I'm asking. So anyhow, if not his fault line. So if you and this was the diagram. The thing they they gave us was on the on the Internet. If you have the planning of Jericho and you have this wall highlight here and then you have another wall on top of it. Okay well here's these people and this is about a four-story building is about forty feet so behind this always dirt was feeling this partly finished this area here, and very calls RPL to the next wall and the city of Jericho. It is up here. So whenever you're trying to attack the city. It got a distance between this wall and the small and here advances of four stories and in this one from here is ten stories. So if you're ever a doubt one of the Israelite soldiers, you're coming against not only does we see this wall that would be enough, but then you've got an incline up to this one. And then there is another wall appear wide enough to run chariots across so Jericho was considered impregnable fortress and the history of Jericho. It is said that they were something like nine thousand BC. So this is an ancient city is a very ancient city and in those days they didn't like a something found out they just build on top of and you know we were in one of the towels they call that tells where they they were fortresses and was sophomore Solomon had his forces, and so on and in a calling to tell and and and also military encampment and what wise was a large area and whenever I pay you got it okay, but that's part of it, Daisy, modern-day excavations of what's going on in Jericho, but I tell is that if somebody were to meet and conquer another empire would come in Concord. They would care at all about it and it would build on top of so whenever the archaeologists excavating, they will just know now, at age level, I find different empire by five different people might conquer so they are not the one telegraph had the horse stables of Solomon, and actually a trial that was used for the horses in Solomon 's in Solomons Army, so you have this history and it's all built on it. If you go into the excavations that are in Jericho, you find that these walls are all there now so an army was to march around the city once a day for six days now, Miss said he can comprise twelve acres at least so a twelve acre field. I'm not quite sure what would be a twelve acre field. That's a pretty good size for criticized area 's oldest wall would encompass you around twelve acres inside so you have twelve acres of ground inside and inside. This is all of the city and the fortress of Jericho and again Jericho been around for centuries, not being able to be conquered and here in the heart of the land that the children of Israel are to possess is this impregnable fortress. And so, God brings them out of the wilderness and says Donna Jericho that from the start, and I forwarded it were a take on the biggest dog first butterfly you will first before we go on from here. So every arm and resulted in the Army, then I'm on Israel that the city and I'm sure that you're walking around. This attends storing building the goals the entire way around the city and you're wondering how North American indigenous, however, are we not trained, not now. We don't have a military background, we don't have scaling wall apparatuses you know, we don't have the Secret Service to get Anand sabotaged will have ladders and catapults due to melt throw rocks at the Walden taken down without any of that. So they're probably wondering how your government, business and the only instructions that have is the third of March around the wall once a day in silence, and then on the seventh day the remarks around Sam in time for the drop in and on about a shout and brought into the city. How many are going to volunteer for this job if they if not, it's an impossible task if the God told Israel army to be too good to be silent. Sometimes we just need to be quiet about our problems and don't worry about them will begin to pray about the and what does this have to do with you. Now the lot, walking around Jericho walking with what is this have to do with prayer. While this story is a prayer which the story is the story. The challenge is to confidently circle the promise God has given us confidently circle the promise of God 's given us so armed with the prime God has given us. We startled the problem now Passover has already happened number. They celebrated Passover, Jesus, that the blood of the land had been delivered from the most powerful empire in the entire world. They were delivered from that, by the blood of the Lamb was on the doorpost of the heart, so they were to circle now just like for instance. So I circle you and I circle you and I pray for you. I pray God would bless you. I pray that God will bless your family. I pray that God will bring blessing upon your life bring wisdom and guidance to you. I pray that all of your problems that you would sense that God has a way of working in you that he is a way of touching your life and touching you in such a way that God 's spirit would bless you that it would did you guys in the middle. Don't be outside the circle. I pray that God will bless your life. And when you're in school that God would bless you and give you wisdom. I pray that no matter where you live in your travels in your work that God would be there with you. I pray that his spirit would touch you, and that he would bring peace to you in the difficult times of life that God would touch your life in such a way that it would be, and that he would bring his glory to you what I do. I circled you with prior now there are obstacles that you and I that you have that I don't know about this. It isn't that I know about your obstacle is that I know the God who will help you overcome your obstacles you pray for your children, your grandchildren you pray about the pray out loud when you pray a circle around them, as it were, you pray that God would touch their lives in such a way that would keep them say that they would be able to make wise decisions that they would be not influenced by not being clear pressure if they were building. I had a protection job chapter one verse ten and is listed as a couple weeks ago we did Joe is a very important plot is very important thing here would find in John chapter one percent say it is complaining to God because I was complaining about this is why knowledge ever had it so good. Like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possession. You bless everything he does, he can't lose. In one version says, have you not made a hedge around him around his household around all that he has on every side, say there is complaining to God about Joe, but somehow God has built a hedge around Joe Circle your problem with prayer. Somehow the devil can get in somehow evil doesn't and loses its influence that you know the plot of the land that was spoken up with agent and an excellent day blood of Jesus Christ. When the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to our life. It's like drawing a line circle around us we focus on how that Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins. The blood was shed upon the cross is sacred and evil, Satan, demonic what everyone called can't cross the line you see the blood of Jesus Christ is not just a figure of speech is the reality of God 's love for you and I demonstrated for us. And whenever we pray our prayers are helping us to understand that the difficulties that we face are not as difficult and not as bad as the power of God to be able to overcome them. Now, so we build a hedge of protection. We built a wall of prayer. So we see here how prayer can bring down while we see how prayer can create walls, prayer can change you and I it can change us to help us face our Jericho. You know the place and the circumstances that make you feel inferior. We all have them. We all have those places where we feel not as good as or inferior to someone because of something. All are doing is comparing ourselves with the wrong level. All we take our weaknesses compare them to their strengths and we say we can't do it. We feel inferior. While in this case they are comparing their weaknesses through Jericho. Strengths and arrogant. All humanly speaking, no one has been able to conquer the city and thousands of years, and here is God telling them march around the city and something will happen while you see Joshua, this is Josh was event with Jericho and symbolizes the fulfillment of a dream that originated with their ancestor Abraham that was a dream passed on to the children of Israel by Abraham and Abraham was this guy who left his homeland and took his family and started out for a place that he didn't know where he was going, and God would tell him when he got there any of this plan am not mad, and he had a son named Isaac, who had a son named Jacob, who had whose name was later changed to Israel because he had eleven sons twelve and we have the twelve tribes of Israel. The calendar that with Joseph in the kids, and so on. They are, we have the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve tribes literal end up in Egypt, and God delivers them. And here we have in your Jericho. That all started with a promise to one guy now. Are any of you dreamers REA interview dreamers, dreams, what is it you want to be. What is it that you want to do, they'll go back to school write a book move no note that half, then what is it you wanted it. What is it that you want to do what is why the drains. If you wanted to use it. Often we look at this and we say this is me and this is my Jericho, my impossibility and all I'm doing is praying around that. All I'm doing is praying about this because the drain is often the dream originates with a promise, the dream originates with the promise of what I can become not sometimes we have misguided dreams go, I wanted to be football player. I wanted to play the big thirty three game back then there was the film that we play was thirty three guys in the front, Pennsylvania plate thirty three people from Texas that was a big thirty three game. Now they have the big thirty three games in Hershey and thirty three from the East play thirty three from last. This don't think they're treating by my friend made it my friend. My friend was a back at him back whatever he had with the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech student with a Georgia Tech on full scholarship and every other. All our style and do that but you know what I was a hundred and eighty pound lineman hundred eighty pound lineman, you know, three hundred pound guys now play line, so I wasn't going to happen, but that was what I wanted and then I went to college to be a football coach that was my goal was to go being an athletic know gym teacher and football coach at type of thing. It was there, the God called me to be a minister. So I left being a football coach and went to Bible school to be a preacher. So here I am sure Long story short, I was a guy with a dream. But God had a different plan in my Jericho was. I thought to become a football player, but in reality it was to be administered and to work with people 's lives and to challenge individuals initiate we look at this. What promises are you praying around. She yelled with Jericho symbolizes the fulfillment of your dreams originated with Abraham, now we look at it. What promise are you praying around what miracle are you marching around what dreamed is your life revolve around. So what is it, why should Jericho. What is it that you are looking at it seemed like an impossible task. So, here's the outline is not going to define the need. Jericho defined the promise God will give you the city defined the action walk seven days and on the seventh day walked seven times to see there is a consistency about what we do. There is a definite action that we take there is a definite plan that we have in place that we are allowing God to inspire us and that we act upon that plan yell in Jericho. Luke chapter eighteen, verse thirty five to forty three. This is Jesus your Jericho, saying city is about the reason we know in and in the desert area in the desert area. They build cities around water management. Jericho has an oasis. I've been to the oasis of Jericho, but not quite there in NNS and it's not the same city that of Jericho is a real city, and it's still there today. Jericho is still there today and it but if not, this Jericho that fell. We don't think they think it's about a mile down the road or something else, but some people said, but anyhow Jesus is a Jericho on the chapter eighty best short verse thirty five that it happened as he was coming near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road begging and hearing the multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they felt in the Jesus of Nazareth was passing by me, cried out, saying, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me, though still with me before I wanted him to be quiet and let something out when you have a drain someone tells you who don't talk about that. Here's a blind man that knows that Jesus is coming, and he said he won't shut up. He wants Jesus to know that he is there. So Jesus stood still commanded him to be brought to him and when he had come near me has been saying. What do you want me to do for you. This is the most and I I use this, this is the most bullish question, and I can ever ask Jesus, save a blind man than a blind man's eyes gazes and gazes at him. Anyone, now isn't that stupid goner. Note Jesus who knows everything. One is the one that's blind man to do. He wants him to define exactly what it is that he wants in Jesus to do walking around Jericho. What is it exactly that you want God to do if you don't say exactly what it is you want God to do in your prayers. Then young. There's not this while ninety nine e-mail yeah we all know that but the idea is what help you need. What specifically are you asking for what promises are you asking God to see, e.g., prayer can be instant with Jesus and a receiver site. Lord I want to restate my site Jesus. Everything recycled was done for Jericho, Israel had to believe that March and one of the key for the key verses in this. This text is verse two when a flute of Joshua chapter six, God spoke to Joshua and says, look sharp. Now I already given Jericho to you that word is past tense. I've already given Jericho to you. Now I want you to go in March CVM answer to our prayer may already be here. We just need to upon what God wants to do with Angel act upon what God wants to accomplish in our life is a godsend. I have delivered the battle was long before the battle ever began. God has already given in the city, and now all they have to do was to circle it are a thousand true faith. Dozens does not not not not necessarily celebrate after the victory. RFA celebrates before the victory. That's what makes people of faith visionaries, we began to see things as if they already were that we alright. We believe that God will answer our prayers and we begin to act upon the answer to that prayer so Joshua had the people marched seven times around the city yells once a day for seven eight seven eight seven times now. The challenge here is this the Scripture says that Wednesday March the seventh time around the city on the seventh day they blew the trumpet. They did everything and what happened while now, and everyone went straightway into the city. What happened was when the wall came down. They filled in the gap. The walls collapsed in such a way that they were able to ascend the hill and take the city. The walls were taken down now as their marching never got a clue how this can happen, but they have to believe in. They marched in faith believing God does not answer their prayer and these walls collapse in such a way that the whole city was able to be accessed by the children of Israel, you see God as a way of making things happen in our life as we walk by faith and people who pray are people who see things differently. We see things as as if they could be different than what they are we. We believe that God is invalid is where I finished being who we are, where the process of becoming. And the problem is will you as we get older we become more analytical more factual and less visionary, but people of prayer become greater in seeing things that are in people that can become seeing possibilities and people seeing things about life that it is all it looks this way but you know what there's something else here, there's something greater here, there's something in here that special do something different about you and you seem a little too small a life inside the walls of our sameness mainland China small, life as far inside walls of sameness. We like things the same because we feel safe. But in reality we argue by now, from the inside. God has live for us to live and live to the fullest. My, my peace I give unto you, they also says that I will make a way for you where there is no way that there are mountains and obstacles that you face. But don't worry about them that he is greater than them. You see me. We make a rug down into feeling secure in your sameness. We often feel secure in our sameness, but Tara down your walls walk around them live find the promises and the expectations while the trumpets is a declarative promises of God. What is it that you want to find it believe it, bring it before God and pray about it and allow God to touch your life the way it ends fires you to do something just because you think it was the cartoon in the pipe of the smile of two and this cartoon says preachers counseling that his is the sky and and and and the preacher tells the guys counseling up being always right is not a spiritual gift, but will you do always right is not a spiritual gift, because you think it doesn't mean God wants you to do because you think it also says, need to pray about receive God 's direction. Start off praying and asking God to lead you and he will put the things in place to take you where you need to go and if you're confronted with a Jericho. It doesn't mean you quit it just means we begin to pray about how God is going to help us overcome