Who or What is Your Jericho?

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Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho [a fenced town with high walls] was tightly closed because of the Israelites; no one went out or came in. AMPC

Jericho was the first fortressed city that Israel encountered in their advancement into the Promised Land. It was the first thing that stood between them and the manifestation of their inheritance, and their promises from God. And it was the first thing they were going to have to fight through to break through into all God had for them.

I don’t know about you but I hate conflict and confrontation. Unfortunately, it’s what all the saints of Jesus are called to. The Pre-incarnate Jesus is mentioned in Joshua 5:13-15 and He is described as a Man…with His drawn sword in His hand and Prince of the Lord’s host. King David referred to God, the Father as Lord of Hosts, or Lord Sabaoth, literally interpreted as Lord of Angelic Armies. If you consider yourself a lover and not a fighter – think again. You are called to both. Even the title assigned to Jewish people, Israelites, is an indicator of Jesus’ followers job description. If you remember, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, because he had wrestled with God and overcome. In other words, Jacob had to wrestle or “fight” God for the blessing.

Jericho was tightly closed because the Prince of Heaven’s Armies, as well as His warriors, were just outside its walls. Now that is an interesting thought. Jericho being tightly shut because King and Warrior Jesus, and His people, are just outside getting ready to conquer and cause its walls to fall in submission, and surrender.

But here’s another thing to consider: In the spring, when kings go forth to battle,….2 Samuel 11:1. In Biblical times wars were going to be fought in the spring time. Guess what? Not a whole lot has changed. Ecclesiastes reminds us that To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:…(Eccl. 3:1) We are presently in one of God’s Biblical seasons. There are seasons, or cycles of manifestation, or mountaintop highs, and then there are seasons, or cycles of wildernesses, or valley lows. And presently, we are in a season, or cycle of warfare – spiritual warfare to be more exact. But there’s a sad verse that follows 2 Samuel 11:1 and its this, One evening David arose from his couch… (2 Samuel 11:2) HIS COUCH? What was David the giant-killer, lion smashing, bear stomping warrior of God doing on a couch? He was sending others to battle. He was being tempted to lust after his next door neighbor’s wife. It did not end well for David. It’s true All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) but that doesn’t mean you are going to be unscathed by the poor decisions you have made.

Why do I bring all of these things to your attention? Because now is time when you are called to battle for what God has promised you. In this season, who or what is your Jericho? Who or what is tightly closed to you because you brought Jesus to the fight? Is your Jericho a person, a circumstance, a healing, or a broken-hearted hurting? Is your Jericho an unfulfilled promise or prophetic word you have yet to see manifested that was given years or decades ago? What would happen if you listed those and presented them to the Lord as something to fight towards, and for? What would happen if you got off the “couch” circumstances have assigned you and began to thank God for the unseen as if it is seen?

You might be tempted to think, Well I’ve been dealing with this for decades; I’ve been waiting for the manifestation of this promise for decades. But let me ask you a question, Have you waited for 40 years? Wilderness, wandering Israel had. Have you waited as long as Jesus? He’s still waiting on the Father to answer some of His prayers. Besides, what other plans do you have? Get off your “couch of resignation” and armor up for the fight. We just celebrated Jesus’ fight for our salvation. Fight from victory not towards victory. If you are fighting for victory you have already lost the battle. You aren’t fighting from a place of faith but from unbelief. Ask forgiveness for that and press on. Stand up in and through the finished work of the Cross and Resurrection. Put your trust in His Blood and begin to rigorously give thanks for the unseen as if it is seen.

Time = Life

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Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

Julia Neves, in a web article titled, The Top Ten Time Wasters and How to Avoid Them wrote: Time wasters, by definition, are activities or tasks that drain our valuable time without contributing meaningful returns to our productivity, effectiveness, or fulfillment. They represent the errands we run, the habits we engage in, or even the tasks we undertake that, despite consuming time, offer little to no substantial value. Michael Gerber once stated: Time is just another word for life. If time is just another word for life then how would you describe your life? Are you an investor in time and life or are you one who wastes the life you have been given?

In this Psalm those who delight in the Lord, in His teachings and instructions, do not waste their time – their life – walking, standing, and sitting – with mockers, or scorners. Mocking and scorning are seen as actions that are contrary to the character and will of God. The Topical Bible states: These terms refer to the act of ridiculing, deriding, or showing contempt towards others, and they are often associated with pride, arrogance, and a lack of respect for God and His commandments. In the Old Testament these characteristics are associated with the sinful, wicked, and foolish. Proverbs 9:7-8 states: “He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” This passage underscores the futility of attempting to correct those who are entrenched in mockery, as they are resistant to wisdom and correction. The Psalms also address the issue of mockery, often in the context of the righteous being scorned by the wicked. We see this attitude emerging powerfully during Jesus’ five governmental trials of the night before the religious leaders, Pilate, and Herod. Jesus is scorned and mocked by the Romans soldiers, by the thieves on the cross, and by the spectators of His crucifixion. They scorned and mocked Him to the bitter, triumphant end. One writer stated that mockery and scorn are seen as manifestations of a heart that is hardened against God. They are often linked with pride, as those who mock others elevate themselves above them, failing to recognize their own need for grace and redemption. And there it is. Grace is the need of every blood washed saint of Jesus. Grace is the empowerment to do the will of God. Grace is the empowerment that exceeds do-it-your-self righteousness. 2 Peter 3:18 states: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. James 4:6-10 echoes this by stating: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

To grow in Grace is to grow in agreement and alignment with God’s Word and Truth. To grow in Grace is a daily surrender of every thought that comes from the Spirit of God, and every reminder from the Word of God. To grow in Grace is to do the opposite of Romans 3:10-12. It is to seek to be rightly related to God and others; it is to seek understanding of the Word; it is to seek to be connected to the manifest Presence of God; it is to seek to bear fruit and be teachable; it is to turn to God – in every way of obedience and faith; and it is to seek to be good. Mockers and scorners are resisted by God. Mockers and scorners are not teachable, nor humble, nor meek. They resist the Truth and in their resisting their resist Jesus Who is the Truth. With all of that in mind what are you investing your life in? Where are you spending your time and life? Are you growing in humility, meekness, and dependence on the Lord? Are you growing in His Grace and see its’ vital need? Mockers, and scorners put out the fires of His Grace and grieve the Spirit of God’s presence in their life. But those who delight in God and His instruction are constantly meditating in and on His Word.

Can Two Walk Together?

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Ephesians 1:16-19 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,…

Several things are mentioned in this prayer of the Apostle Paul. He prayed they would be given wisdom and revelation to grasp, experience and understand: 1) intimate knowledge of God; (2) the eyes of their heart flooded with light to know and understand; (3) know and understand Hope; (4) know and understand their calling; (4) know and understand their inheritance; (5) and to know and understand His Power that was in them.

I could take a long time to unpack each of these for you but let me make this concise by stating Paul is not seeking to be poetic, allegorical or metaphorical in his prayers. (He’s praying to the Father. Why would that need to be symbolic?) These are experiential realities available to all followers of Jesus. You may ask, Then why aren’t we experiencing these realities? A.W. Tozer answers this question: “Many people in the churches who profess that they have an interest in the subject of how to cultivate the Spirit’s companionship are not really willing to give up all to obtain all. They are not willing to turn completely toward God and walk with Him. You may remember that John Bunyan, in his great allegorical writings, often mentioned Mr. Facing Bothways, and we ought to know as well as he did that there are a great many Christians who try to accomplish the difficult task of facing in both directions at the same time. They do want Christ, but they also want some of the world. They allow the Lord to disturb their way, but they also disturb the Lord’s way. There is no use talking about being filled with the Spirit and walking in the Spirit, unless we are willing to give up all to obtain all! Now, this old question in the text, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” is a rhetorical question, equivalent to a positive declaration that two cannot walk together except they be agreed, and the affirmation that if the two walk together, they must in some sense be one. These two, in order to walk together, must agree that they want to walk together, and they must agree that it is to their advantage to have this companionship together. I think you will see that it adds up to this: For two to walk together voluntarily, they must in some sense be one. They must be unified on the important issues of their walk and companionship and direction if they are going to be committed to traveling together.”

A.W. Tozer summarizes the condition of the average Christian answering why the prayers of Paul are not a manifest reality in their Christian experience. What’s extremely sad is that those who have sought to walk in two directions at once have become the theologians, seminary professors, and shepherds of the Lord’s sheep leading them into their own dark, and cold hearted experience of information gathering without experiential reality. Thus, the average church goer has become an information gatherer in part, or in some cases, and information hoarder. Therefore, to borrow from A.W. Tozer and the prophet Amos, Have you agreed to walk with Jesus? Are you seeking His companionship? Are you willing to pay whatever price to be one? Another simpler way to express the question would be to simply ask, Are you committed to going in Jesus’ direction? That will always require an adjustment to be made on your part. When that occurs Paul’s prayers from 2000 years ago will begin manifesting into a reality that you could never imagine.

Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones?

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Philippians 1:12-13 Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this imprisonment] has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the] good news (the Gospel).13 So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest [here] my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ [that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him].

What does it take for an individual to be more free and at peace in prison than a person walking free outside of the prison? And what does it take to triumphantly declare my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ…? In other words, What caliber of man is able to triumphantly state, Christ put me in this prison?

In 1873 William Ernest Henley confided in a friend: “I am afeard my marching days are over” when asked about the condition of his leg. Who is William Ernest Henley? The man who was afflicted with tuberculosis at the age of 16 and had to have his left leg amputated below the knee owing to complications arising from the disease. He is the man who 5 years later was told a similar procedure would have to be performed on his right leg. Instead of accepting the diagnosis and treatment he traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland in August 1873 enlisting the services of the distinguished English surgeon Joesph Lister. Dr. Lister was able to save Henley’s remaining leg after multiple surgical interventions on the foot. While recovering in the infirmary, he was moved to write the verses that became the poem “Invictus”. You might recognize some of the lines that were written while Henley considered his marching days to be over: It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. Still doesn’t ring a bell? Possibly you have heard of Nelson Mandela who lived 27 years of his life in prison and who utilized this poem to encourage himself and his fellow inmates to not allow circumstances to determine the condition of their soul. Mandela, a survivor of turberculosis himself, also overcame racism, imprisonment, and the temptation to become a bitter and angry man. One author, Sharon Bloom wrote: Mandela persevered as the master of his fate. His lasting gift was his power of forgiveness—a gift we remember in his inimitable smile.

The Apostle Paul, and Nelson Mandela, chose to not allow themselves to become victims of their circumstances. Once we begin to think we are victims of our circumstances, or those we perceived created them, we become enslaved by them. This is referred to as a victim mentality, or victim syndrome. It is defined as, a way of thinking where someone perceive themselves as consistently wronged or powerless, often blaming external factors (or others) for their circumstances and struggling to take responsibility for their actions. Paul saw his prison cell as created by Christ for Christ. He saw his circumstances not as an opportunity to pity himself but to better himself and others. I was pondering how many of the books of the Bible were actually written by those who suffered horrible things usually ending in death (like the Apostle Paul being beheaded). Yet, their writing through suffering became their purpose for existence. Years, if not centuries later, their writings offer hope and life. As Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 4:11-12 For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.12 Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is in order that our] life [may be actively at work] in you. Your circumstances, good or bad, are not your savior nor are they your enemy. In each one you have a choice to make: Will I become better – more like Jesus – through this or bitter? We all have choices to make and our lives – good or bad – are the sum total of the choices we have made. There are those who seemingly have everything going their way yet their lives are a disaster. Conversely, there are those who live through horrible circumstances and are actually growing through them without a bitter bone in their body. A Jesus-honoring life, is made up of those who have turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

John Gardener wrote: Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.

Richard Bach wrote: If it’s never our fault, we can’t take responsibility for it. If we can’t take responsibility for it, we’ll always be its victim.

Erica Jong wrote: You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.

The King is Coming!

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Esther 1:10-12 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who ministered to King Ahasuerus as attendants,11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, with her royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to behold.12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.

Can you imagine this? Obviously, it was another culture and another time. The events in Esther occur during the Persian period of world history, between the first return of the Jews after the 70-year Babylonian captivity (around 538 BCE) and the second return led by Ezra (around 458 BCE). To put it another way, Daniel, preceded Esther – he had already passed away.

How can you apply this Scripture – here and now? Revelation 19:6 states: And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He has a name (title) inscribed, king of kings and lord of lords. Jesus, is King of kings and Lord of lords. The question is, Since Jesus is a King – shouldn’t He have a queen? Absolutely! Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. In this passage we know Jesus is the Lamb. But who is the Lamb’s Bride, His Wife? Ephesians 5:23-33 For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body. 24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].28 Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,30 Because we are members (parts) of His body.31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.32 This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church.33 However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly].

The Church is Jesus’ Bride, and since Jesus is the King – the Church is Jesus’ Queen. How does all of this apply to Queen Vashti in Esther 1 and Queen Esther? Esther 1:12 states: But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command…Revelation 19:7 reveals the difference: for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. The True Church of Jesus, the King’s Queen – has prepared herself to appear before her King. Esther 2:12 Now when the turn of each maiden came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the regulations for the women had been carried out for twelve months—since this was the regular period for their beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet spices and perfumes and the things for the purifying of the women—….

Esther is a symbol, or Biblical type of the Church. Esther went through 12 months of beauty treatments before she even was presented to King Ahasuerus. If Esther had to go through such rigor before appearing to the King how much more so Jesus’ future Queen? As Revelation 19:7 states, Jesus’ Bride prepares herself. This word “prepare” in the original language implies the practice of kings sending a forerunner before them to make roads. The roads were built for the conquering king, his army, and his vanquished foes to march down. The forerunner would go before the king leveling mountains and hills and filling in valleys to make the highway straight, flat and smooth for the conquering king. Then he would prepare the populations surrounding the highway to appear before the king, his army, and vanquished foes. After all the preparations had been made the forerunner would go before the king announcing the, the King is Coming! the King is Coming! At the root meaning of this word “prepare” is the idea of fitness. To be prepared is to be spiritually fit. The question now is, Which queen represents you? Have you applied for His beauty treatments? Are you an Ephesians 5:23-33 bride? Are you subject to your Husband – in everything? Are you allowing His Word to sanctify and cleanse you? Do you reverence and respect your Husband Jesus? The King is coming!