Jericho--A Forgotten Stronghold
/2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Promise— Gen 17
Egypt— world— Passover
Red Sea— salvation/baptism—crossing over into new life
Wilderness— struggle with the [flesh] after salvation
Gilgal— rolled away the reproach/ circumcision— getting right— they had been walking in
Jordan—cross from defeat to victory Joshua 3:3-6 the priests and the are ark lead the way
Jericho— the enemies stronghold attempting to prevent access into the promise
Canaan/ Israel— Promised Land- God’s promises individual victory/ our church the promises God has given
Joshua 5:4
This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt.
Joshua 5:5. Joshua tells them to sanctify themselves and then circumcises the new generation the people of God can’t move into the promises by walking in the flesh
For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
Joshua 5:6 They did not trust the Lord could give them the promise
For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey."’
Joshua 5:7 The first act of disobedience led to another act of disobedience
Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.
Demonic lies Casting down-demolish (literally or figuratively): — cast (pull, put, take) down, destroy.
Strongholds— a fortress/argument or reasoning that fortifies an opinion against opponent, lie stands against God
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 imaginations— a reasoning that is hostile to the faith
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down- imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Ephesians 6:11-12
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:13 Resist/oppose
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14. Joint participation
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
A principle in God’s word
Matthew 13:14-15 ESV
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
wax gross 2; to make thick, to make fat, fatten metaph. to make stupid (to render the soul dull or callous)
Hebrews tells us that the original rebels never made it in. Their bones dried up in the Sinai sun. I don’t know about you, but I’d not want that to be my testimony (Hebrews 4:1-7)