The Power of Obedience
Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him. Joshua 6:1-5 ESV
Jacob and Isaac! - Jacob had trouble listening and Isaac was sneaky…
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 ESV - (What His Word says)
Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46 ESV - (Voice / Conviction)
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16 ESV - (His Heart)
Like a good teacher, God cares enough to give homework.
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:7-8 ESV
TA: Obedience like a muscle, must be consistently exercised and stretched to work well under stress or strain.
TA: Obedient is what you are, not just what you do… James 1:22
TA: Obedience is an attitude of the heart that results in God graced or empowered living.
On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. Joshua 6:15 ESV
A lot of us never make it to the 7th day!
Impatience has been the point of defeat for way to many of God’s best plans and promises.
So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted 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 captured the city. Joshua 6:20 ESV
Never underestimate the power of obedience.
Obedience is success