Sermon Date: 8/24/2025
Bible Verses:
Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-
Theme: Victory comes by faith, not by force. Spiritual battles are won when we trust God, obey His commands, and consecrate ourselves to His purposes.
Introduction to the Message: “By Faith the Walls Fell Down”
Good morning, church!
Today we turn to Joshua 6, a passage that reminds us of something crucial—faith doesn’t always look impressive to the world, but it’s powerful in the eyes of God.
Israel stood before the mighty, walled city of Jericho. A city built for war. A city humanly impossible to conquer. But God had already declared the outcome: “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.”
From that moment, the battle was no longer about military strategy—it was about obedience and trust.
God didn’t ask Israel to storm the gates. He didn’t call them to catapults or battering rams. He called them to walk, to wait, and to worship—in faith.
This chapter isn’t just ancient history. It’s our story, too.
But today’s message is this: Through faith, the walls can fall.
Let’s open our hearts as we walk with Joshua and the people of Israel around Jericho, and see how God brings victory—not through might, but through faith.
Joshua 6:1–2
“See, I have given Jericho into your hand…” (v. 2)
Key Idea:
Even before a single step was taken or a shout was raised, God had already declared the victory. Faith doesn’t begin with what we see—it begins with trusting what God has said.
Cross References:
Application:
Are you walking like the victory is already yours? Faith means walking in obedience before the results.
Joshua 6:3–14
God’s battle plan made no worldly sense: march around the city in silence. Blow trumpets. Wait.
But God’s way brings down strongholds when we obey by faith.
Cross References:
Application:
You may face walls of addiction, fear, bitterness, or anxiety—but God tears down what we cannot.
Joshua 6:15–16
“Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!” (v. 16)
This wasn’t just about Jericho—it was about reclaiming the Promised Land, the inheritance that was delayed by unbelief.
Cross References:
Application:
Has sin or fear robbed you of what God intended for your life? God restores by faith what was lost through disobedience.
Joshua 6:17–19
God gave them the city—but not to plunder for personal gain. They were to devote everything to the Lord and not take the accursed things.
Key Warning: Not everything within reach is meant to be grasped.
Cross References:
Application:
God wants to bless you—but not at the cost of your holiness. Let go of the things He has marked for destruction.
Joshua 6:20–21
The final march and shout occurred on the seventh day—the Sabbath. On a day of rest, God brought the walls down.
Key Point:
Rest is not idleness. Resting in God is a weapon of faith.
Cross References:
Application:
Your spiritual rest is not passivity—it’s trust in God’s power. Set apart time to worship, reflect, and trust Him to fight on your behalf.
Joshua 6:22–25
Rahab, a prostitute, believed God. She hid the spies. And she and her family were saved.
Not only that—she became part of the lineage of Jesus.
Cross References:
Application:
Don’t count yourself out of God’s story.
Your past doesn’t define your future—your faith does.
Conclusion:
Joshua 6 isn’t just about walls falling down—it’s about the faith that brings them down.
Final Challenge:
Where do you need to walk by faith?
What walls are standing between you and the next step in your calling?
The same God who brought down Jericho will bring you through.
But He calls for your faith, your obedience, and your full surrender.
Will you walk in faith today?