Joshua 6:1-5

1. a doomed city (the sinners state)
1. under the curse of God
1. the death sentence had been passed upon it 40 years before - Exodus 23:27
1. during those years they probably gloried in their own strength
2. they were ignorant of their condition before God
3. now it was to late because the time of judgment had come
2. the sentence of death and the curse of God are upon all men, for all have sinned
2. straightway shut up - 1
1. they had shut God out of their lives
2. a characteristic of defiant sinners: shut themselves up within the walls of their own righteousness
1. no need to let God in
2. he that covereth his own sin shall not prosper
3. this is a vain effort to keep God out
3. quickly brought down - 20
1. their only refuge had failed
2. they had placed their confidence in the great walls, the works of their own hands
3. such hope will only makes us ashamed in the time of judgment
2. a strange assault (the victory of faith)
1. the course of action appointed by God is often foolishness with men, but the believer delights in obeying
2. compassing the city - 3 (measure of faith)
1. they must have had great faith
2. their faith as well as their feet had to compass the city
3. it is in the compassing that their faith was tested
1. all they could see was huge walls of difficulty
2. all they could feel was their human inability
3. this is when the true value of our faith is seen
3. blowing of the trumpets - 4 (the ways of faith)
1. the ways of faith are far different than the inventions of the human mind
2. God uses simple, seemingly weak things - I Cor. 1:27-29
3. the simple and weak things are mighty in the hands of God
4. shouting of the people - 5 (the expectations of faith)
1. this is not the work of the priest alone, but of all the people
2. why are their so few great victories for God? Only few expect anything, and few join in the shout
3. there is much blowing today by many preachers, but little shouting among the people
5. carrying the ark - 6 (the object of faith)
1. the ark was a symbol of God’s presence
2. if God is not in our activity, then we cannot have the victory
3. a family spared - 25 (the great salvation)
1. she believed - Joshua 2:9-11
1. her old belief was cast away
2. she heard and believed
2. she obeyed - Joshua 2:21
1. her faith was proven real by her works
2. the scarlet line represents the blood [when I see the blood, I will pass over you]
3. she testified Joshua 6:23
1. not only was she saved, but so was all her kindred
2. she believed and testified
3. the time for winning the lost is now, before the judgment comes