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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.

Confession and Declaration – Day One

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One of the keys to restoring spiritual vision is through the transformation that comes through declaration. Revelation 19:11 states that the “Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of all prophecy.” When we make declaration we are “prophesying” to ourselves. What is prophecy? Prophecy in its essence is the spoken words of God made manifest in reality. Prophetic dreams, visions, or words become manifested realities. Thus when you speak aloud the declarations of God’s Truths you are “prophesying” to yourself, to others and the atmosphere around you. You are speaking for a shift to occur. In these exercises you are seeking for a shift to occur in your spirit and a transformation in your thinking. You are moving beyond your soul man (mind, will, emotions, and personality) addressing your spirit man. As you call to it you cause your soul man to come into alignment. As David spoke to his soul in Psalm 103:1-3 Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name…” If all this is weird, and out of the norm for you, consider the prophets who were to speak to a valley of dry bones to come to life, or for trees to clap their hands.

Revelation 12:11 is our first declaration: And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

The Greek word for “testimony” is “martyria.” It essentially means to testify and is used specifically in Scripture regarding the office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events; or what one testifies, or gives a testimony before a judge. (You did’t realize you were called to be a prophet did you?) In this declaration they are overcoming “him” by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony. So who is “him?” Read the rest of the prophecy in Revelation 12:5-11 below:

Revelation 12: 5-11 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years). Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer. And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him. Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

What’s real interesting about this prophecy is that it uses 6 words to describe the devil: dragon, serpent, devil, satan, seducer, and accuser. The title that we want to zero our focus on (we are trying to improve our spiritual vision) is that of satan the accuser. This word in the Greek means that you have become a judge, or plaintiff with an offense. Because of the offenses he makes accusations before the judge. You see this being played out in the book of Job in which satan comes before God’s Throne to accuse Job. For us to be restored to God’s Vision we must overcome the accusations that the devil screams at us, and God. How do you overcome the accusations? By the Blood of Jesus. What has Jesus’ blood done for us? What is it doing for us even as we speak? That is the “Word” of your testimony. Thus our first declaration is to declare our thanks for the awesome victory this has obtained for us:

Day One, Declaration 1: Father God, Lord of Heaven and Earth, I thank and praise you for the precious Blood of Jesus, My Savior, the Lamb of God! I thank you Father that today I stand before Your throne, and before angels, demons, and saints as an overcomer. Jesus has overcome satan, death, hell and sin to make me an overcomer. I stand today overcoming the accusations of your enemy, and mine, by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of my testimony. And my testimony is what Jesus’ Blood has done for me. Thank you Jesus that through Your Blood I have have been washed clean and I am being cleansed. Thank you Jesus that Your blood cleanses away every sin, failure, condemnation, accusation, transgression, iniquity, trespass, and weakness. Thank you Jesus that I have overcome the accuser of the brothers by having Your Blood wash away my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins. I rise up because He rose up. I get back up, even after falling down, because I am washed and I am being washed in the Blood of the Precious, Spotless, Lamb of God. Hallelujah and thank you Jesus! I am Your overcomer! Amen.

Remember don’t just read the confession. Declare it out loud like you mean it. Repeat it throughout the day. Use it when you are reminded of some sin, or failure from your past. Use it when you don’t “feel” like praying or doing right. Prophesy to your obstacles. Prophesy to your pains, or trials. Prophesy to your fears, or doubts. Overcome!