Impossible Made Possible
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 05/12/2024
Foundation Scriptures:
Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.” Joshua 6:1-5 NKJV
1. God’s Promises Fulfilled.
a. When God made a promise to Abraham, to give him and his descendants the land of Canaan forever, He kept His promise (Gen. 13:14-15).
b. He used men, who were chosen and obedient, to fulfill His promise.
c. We must co-operate with God to see His will fulfilled in our lives.
d. Because Joshua was a man of faith and obedience, God used Him to bring Israel into the Promised Land.
e. Because of the wickedness of the idolatrous pagan nations of Canaan, the Lord drove them out from before Joshua and the Israelites (Deut. 9:4-5).
f. There are times when God uses godly people to execute His judgement on the ungodly.
g. But He requires obedience from us—explicit submission and obedience—to accomplish His will.
2. Going Before to Make a Way.
a. Joshua 3:11 NKJV — Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.
b. When you obey God’s Word to you, He goes before you and makes a way where there is no way.
c. Obstacles are supernaturally removed!
d. The Jordan River overflows its banks throughout the time of harvest (Joshua 3:15).
e. It was not the opportune time to cross the Jordan!
f. But when the feet of the priests, bearing the Ark of the Covenant (the presence of God), touched the water, the river dammed up upstream and cut off the flow of water.
g. Everyone passed over on dry ground and when the soles of the feet of those who bore the Ark came up on dry ground, the Jordan began to flow and overflow its banks again (Joshua 4:18).
h. When they were crossing the river, according to Joshua’s command, a representative from each tribe brought up a large stone from the riverbed.
i. They camped in Gilgal and set up the twelve stones as a memorial to them and their children, and all the people of the earth, of the great things God did for them.
j. Joshua 4:23-24 NKJV — For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.
k. Always be grateful, honor the Lord, and never forget what great things He has done for you.
l. Remind yourself often and testify to others of His goodness.
3. Permanent Promises.
a. Joshua 5:11-12 NKJV — And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. 12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.
b. God provided manna for the Israelites for 40 years—a temporary solution.
c. But His promise was a more permanent solution—that they would eat of the good of the land that He would bring them into (Ex. 3:8; Deut. 1:25; 8:7-9).
d. God’s promises to you are permanent promises.
4. Impossible Made Possible.
a. Joshua had an encounter with the Lord, Himself, like Moses’ encounter with the Lord in the burning bush (Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5).
b. The specific direction you need for your life is found in the presence of God.
c. Some people want God to bless their plans — but if you receive plans from the Lord, you can be assured that they are already blessed!
d. The Lord gave Joshua explicit instructions to defeat and destroy the wicked city of Jericho.
e. Everything the Lord commanded Joshua required faith and obedience — not just from Joshua, but from the children of Israel.
f. They had to come into unity and agreement and do exactly, and only, what the Lord commanded.
g. Then, they saw Him move mightily and supernaturally on their behalf.
h. They marched silently around Jericho (except for the trumpets blown by the priests) for six days and then seven times on the seventh day.
i. At Joshua’s command, they shouted a great shout and the walls fell down flat.
j. They utterly destroyed every living thing, except for Rahab and her family, and burned the city with fire.
k. The great things God did for the Israelites were a testimony to them and to their enemies, who were afraid of them and their God.
l. When you follow God’s instructions exactly, He shows up to do what He promised!
m. He will fulfill His promises, supernaturally defeat your enemies, remove obstacles, and bring you into all His abundant blessings.