Imagine a 15-year-old girl from a devoted church family, ensnared in severe rebellion. Influenced by a toxic peer group, she secretly delved into witchcraft and the occult. Her mother discovered a folder labeled "Leave this blankety-blank alone. This is my life"—letters inside smeared with blood, revealing the depths of her spiritual bondage.
Desperate and outmatched, her parents sent her to live with her godly aunt for three months. There, she was immersed in the Bondage Breakers program, Precept Bible studies, and homeschooling. Miraculously, she experienced genuine conversion, surrendering her life to Christ. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Upon returning home, she was transformed—eagerly joining youth group and boldly sharing her testimony. She had claimed Victory through Obedience.
Would you believe that no matter the sin, turmoil, circumstance, or trial you're facing today, you too can claim Victory through Christ by way of Obedience? It's the ultimate test of love, as one scholar wisely noted: "Never try to explain God until you have obeyed Him. The only bit of God we understand is the bit we have obeyed—the King of our lives."
In this third message of our Lenten series on Joshua, we'll explore a truth Christ Himself proclaimed: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Throughout Scripture, obedience is God's top priority for His people—from small acts leading to miracles like the parting of the Red Sea or victory with a tiny army. God unleashes unexpected triumphs through His obedient servants.
How many of you can testify: "What God did for me, I never saw coming"? I can! Like Christ and Joshua, our victories aren't from our strength but from what God accomplishes through us when we obey.
Jesus, the perfect Obedient One, demolished sin and death through His flawless sacrifice, obeying the Father to the end. Even Paul, once a fierce persecutor, triumphed by declaring: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
Imagine the scene: Israel stands at the formidable gateway to the Promised Land—the towering city of Jericho. Fresh from celebrating Passover, they eat the land's first produce, and the miraculous manna ceases as milk and honey flow abundantly. Then, Joshua encounters the Captain of the Lord's army—likely a pre-incarnate Christ—who declares: "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy" (Joshua 5:15). Here, true obedience begins with profound reverence.
The Lord proclaims: "See, I have given Jericho into your hand" (Joshua 6:2). His commands are exact and unconventional:
March silently around the city for six days, with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant ahead.
On the seventh day, circle seven times, sound the trumpets, and let out a mighty shout.
The city is under divine ban—utterly devoted to destruction for the Lord. Spare only Rahab and her family; claim no plunder.
Israel obeys every detail. On the seventh day, after the thunderous shout, the walls collapse flat! They conquer the city, rescue Rahab's household, and Scripture testifies: "She has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho" (Joshua 6:25).
Picture it: Thousands of Israelite warriors encircle the impenetrable fortress of Jericho, its massive walls defying every human strategy (Joshua 6:1-20). No brilliant tactics. No superior weapons. Just obedience.
Day after day: Silent marches, priests bearing the Ark, trumpets silent until the finale.
No swords drawn, no arrows fired, no spears thrown.
Then, God's command: A unified shout rises to heaven—and the walls crumble in a deafening crash!
The unconquerable city falls, just as promised.
What an awe-inspiring reminder! When we trust and obey God's voice over our own plans, victory is assured—"not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).
Today, we must consider, surrender our strategies to His obedience. March in silence where He leads. Shout in faith at His command. And watch the walls in your life—addictions, fears, strongholds—crumble to dust! During this Lenten season, Christ confronted our ultimate Jericho—the stronghold of sin. Through His obedience "even to the point of death" (Philippians 2:8), He demolished the grave's walls, securing our eternal rest.
Beloved, when we obey and trust God, great things happen. Shout in faith like Israel! The impregnable falls—not by might, but by Victory through Obedience.
Hear Obedience: Think Better Than Sacrifice
Obedience is the calling of every believer. As Prophet Samuel proclaimed: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22).
Both Christ and Joshua embody perfect obedience. Hebrews 5:7-8 describes Jesus: "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears... Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." REPEAT
Here are four ways obedience mirrors Christ's submission:
1. Obedience Requires Faith
Faith fuels obedience, born from God's Word: "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Jesus affirmed: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
In Gethsemane, amid agony, He prayed: "Not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42)—fulfilling Isaiah 53:5: "He was pierced for our transgressions." Even "foolish" commands like the cross yield victory.
2. Obedience Is a Collective Effort
Christ builds His Church as one body for obedience, echoing Jericho's unity. "Go therefore and make disciples... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). The Acts 2 Church devoted itself to the apostles' teaching. Our battle against "spiritual forces of evil" (Ephesians 6:12) demands unity—shared Word, shared victory.
3. Obedience Brings Unexpected Results
Christ's obedience birthed the Resurrection—far beyond expectation: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me" (John 4:34). It fulfilled Hosea 6:2 ("On the third day he will raise us up") and Psalm 16:10 ("You will not let your Holy One see decay"). Graves burst open (Matthew 27:52-53).
Obedience unleashes the impossible: "If you abide in my word... the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).
4. Obedience Is a Lifestyle, Not a One-Time Act
It rhythms our daily walk: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). "By faith the walls of Jericho fell" (Hebrews 11:30); "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22); "Be doers of the word" (James 1:22); "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).
Beloved, in Christ—the Obedient One—claim Victory through Obedience today. Amen.