Secrets of victory – Preaching
Preaching Outline on Joshua 6:8-10 – So it was done as Joshua had said to the people: the seven priests carried the seven trumpets before the Lord, and passed by and blew them; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed after the ark, the priests always blowing the trumpets.
Introduction to Joshua 6:8-10
The account of the conquest of Jericho is one of the most impressive narratives in the Bible. Not just because of the miraculous victory, but because it reveals powerful spiritual principles that apply to Christian life today. Jericho represents barriers and challenges that we encounter on the journey to our heavenly Canaan. Just as Israel faced obstacles in taking possession of the promised land, we face barriers on our journey to eternity.
God delivered victory to Israel, but demanded obedience and faith. The instructions given to Joshua made no sense to human logic, but obeying God will always bring results that reason cannot explain. Today, we’re going to explore the secrets to victory in our Christian walk in the light of this text.
Jericho: barriers in the servant’s journey (v.8)
“The seven priests, carrying the seven rams’ horns before the Lord, passed by and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.”
- Jericho symbolizes barriers: Each of us faces “Jericho walls” in various areas of life: financial problems, family crises, spiritual and emotional struggles.
- The ark as a symbol of God’s presence: The ark of the covenant, which followed the people, represented God’s presence in their midst. Without God at the center of our lives, we face barriers with our own strength and fail.
- Just as Israel did not conquer Jericho with human weapons, we cannot overcome our challenges by relying solely on earthly strategies. Victory begins when we fully trust in God’s presence with us.
The ram’s horn: God’s message (v.8)
“The seven priests, carrying the seven rams’ horns…”
- The horn represents God’s message: The sounding of the horn was a divine announcement, a call to obedience and action.
- Seven horns and seven priests: The number seven in the Bible represents fullness and perfection. Here, it symbolizes God’s perfect ministry acting through His Word.
- Today, the “horn” is the preaching of the Gospel and the teaching of the Scriptures, which reveal God’s ways to us. Just as Israel needed to hear and obey the blowing of the horn, we need to be attentive to God’s voice through His Word.
Silence and obedience: Trust in God’s plan (v.10)
“You shall not cry out or make your voice heard…”
- Silence as an act of obedience: The people were instructed to remain silent as they surrounded the city. This required discipline and trust in God’s plan.
- Obedience above logic: Surrounding a city in silence for seven days seemed illogical, but obedience to the divine plan was crucial to victory.
- God often calls us to trust him in silence, without questioning or trying to work things out on our own. Obeying God when we don’t understand his ways is a demonstration of genuine faith.
The day to shout: Victory is certain (v.10)
“Until the day I say to you, Shout!”
- Victory after complete obedience: The shout of victory only came after the people had completed God’s instructions. This teaches us that blessings come at the right time, when we follow God’s plan to the end.
- Glorification for what God does: The cry was not just a sound, but an expression of faith and praise to the God who had already guaranteed victory.
- After persevering in obedience and faith, we can trust that victory will come in God’s time. Our praise should be the result of a life that obeys His will, even before we see the results.
Today, we live in challenging times, surrounded by barriers such as global crises, personal difficulties and uncertainty. The story of Jericho reminds us that God is sovereign over all situations. Just as Israel overcame by trusting in God’s presence and direction, we too can overcome when we put our trust in Him.
Conclusion
Victory in our Christian walk does not depend on our strength or ability, but on God’s presence and obedience to His Word. Just as Israel obeyed the sound of the horn and God’s direction, we are called to listen, trust and act according to God’s plan.
If there are walls in your life that seem insurmountable, hand them over to the Lord today. Trust in His Word, obey His direction and believe that, at the right time, you will see the walls come down.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
Preaching Outline on Joshua 6:8-10 – So it was done as Joshua had said to the people: the seven priests carried the seven trumpets before the Lord, and passed by and blew them; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed after the ark, the priests always blowing the trumpets.
More Preaching Outlines
- God is at work – Acts 12:9-11
- Whoever is not against us is for us – Luke 9:49-50
- Horse Gate – Nehemiah 3:2
