My Dear friend,

Are you experiencing a very challenging test of faith and patience? Despite much prayer, obedience, sacrifice, and waiting, are stubborn obstacles still preventing you from achieving God's objectives in your life? Then this message is for you.

Before going forward with it, however, let's first go back and learn a vitally important truth from ancient Jericho.

At Jericho, God created a model test disclosing the secrets to spiritual victory (see Joshua 6:1-27). God's objective was simple: conquer Jericho! But Joshua and Israel's armies had a formidable and stubborn obstacle preventing this: Jericho's thick, heavily guarded walls. With what, with whom, and by what method would this obstacle be pulled down and God's objective accomplished? This was the problem puzzling God's servant, Joshua. But there was no cause for alarm.

God had already solved the problem. His ingenious solution? Give Joshua a vision of victory before he went to battle, a divine visitation so strong, so powerful, so captivating, that it would hold him in its grip until the victory was actualized.

So, on the eve of battle, God permitted Joshua to see a very rare sight: Victory Incarnate! The ageless Son of God, Jesus, in full battle mode, ready to execute His duties as the fierce, fighting "Captain of the host of the Lord," or General of heaven's angelic armies (Joshua 5:14). "Behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand . . [who said] as captain of the hosts of the Lord am I now come" (Joshua 5:13-14)! This stunning vision was identical in essence to that given the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos fifteen centuries later (Revelation 19:11-21).

Three facts prove the One Joshua saw was no ordinary man or even an angel. First, this "man" received Joshua's worshipful obeisance (Joshua 5:14), something no angel or redeemed man would dare do for fear of divine judgment (see Acts 10:25-26; Revelation19:10). Second, He said the place upon which He stood was "holy," invoking the memory of the words God spoke to Moses as he stood before the burning bush on Sinai (Exodus 3:5). Third, the "host" this Captain led was no ordinary human army. No information typically given about a military force about to engage in human combat is found in this context: where this "host" was encamped, how large it was, what its weapons were, what its nationality was, and, most specifically, what its actions were in the battle that followed. Why was this military force not described?

It was not earthly, but heavenly; not natural, but spiritual; not mortal, but immortal. It was God's angelic army, which always surrounds His committed servants. It was the same army Elisha revealed to his servant (2 Kings 6:15-17), David heard marching in the treetops (2 Samuel 5:24-25), and Israel's enemies, the Syrians, heard marching against them (2 Kings 7:6). It was this invisible army whose presence was made known when Jesus manifested to Joshua by Jericho. Though spirit beings, they fight against, and easily overwhelm, physical opponents and natural barriers. Though invisible, they are invincible - no physical weapons can injure, kill, or scatter them. These were the awesome allies that stood with Joshua and Israel at Jericho and won the great victory by toppling its walls.

Wisely, God gave a visual manifestation of His battling Son and His angelic battalions before the contest began. And He ordered Joshua simply to "see" the vision (Joshua 6:2). That was all, just "see" it, or continuously look at it. Though simple, these divine instructions were profound.

By telling Joshua what to see, God was also telling him what not to see. Joshua was not to focus on the frustrating object standing between him and God's objective - the formidable, firmly shut gates and thick, rigid walls of Jericho. If Joshua would just continue "seeing" the vision God gave him in his mind's eye, and continue focusing on it, thinking upon it often, and recalling it when distracted or tempted to be intimidated by his obstacle, he would receive his victory and achieve God's objective. But that wasn't all.

We must also note the other keys to victory at Jericho. Joshua and the people had to obey God completely, in every detail, by marching, being silent, and shouting only when God ordered. That took a fully surrendered will, discipline, and attention to detail. They had to fight this battle God's way, not theirs. And they had to trust in Him implicitly, wholly relying on Him to do what they couldn't do and depending entirely on His strange instructions and odd path to victory: marching and blowing horns instead of battering Jericho's gates, breaching its walls, and fighting with its defenders!

Furthermore, they had to endure. The battle was not finished quickly. It lasted not one but seven days. Seven long days. And the seventh day required seven times the effort of the previous six days. It must have been exhausting, demanding all their strength! So, in addition to "seeing" Jesus in their minds' eyes, as Joshua was doing, and as he surely instructed them to do also, they had to endure, or persevere, in trust and obedience. Then God moved the obstacle: "the wall fell down flat" (Joshua 6:20). Then they took His objective: "they took the city" (Joshua 6:20). And then God was glorified by their victory, which filled them with lasting joy. What does all this mean to us?

Are you at Jericho today, figuratively speaking? Is there a major obstacle blocking God's will in your family, ministry, church, mission, or other kingdom labors? Follow Jericho's keys to victory. Choose to "trust in the Lord with all your heart [mind]" (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV). Obey Him in every detail. Blow your "trumpet" of steadfast thanksgiving, enthusiastic hymns of praise, and warm, heartfelt songs of worship. When God doesn't want you to speak, remain silent, giving Him time to speak to your opponents' hearts with Spirit-induced conviction and to speak to others to favor you. Then, when He opens a door, speak. Say what He has taught you to say without distorting or adding to it. When He prompts you to act, work. Faithfully and fully do what He wants. Then rely on Him for the results.

Hold tightly to your faith in His unfailing faithfulness. Never doubt the outcome will be as He has promised, even when the enemy batters your mind with fears reminding you of just how foolish His guidance seems. Remember this instead: the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men! Finally, endure, persevere, pressing on steadily in seeking and serving God when you feel that you cannot go on - only to discover He faithfully meets you with His refreshing presence and nourishing Word every morning. Continue walking in all His ways, or spiritual life disciplines. And remember to keep fighting spiritually, not naturally, especially by your unceasing intercession "in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18-19), until your "seventh day," or God's appointed time for victory.

Above all, "see" the Captain, Jesus, every day, standing before you in full battle mode. Remember, He is ready, as you continue enduring and praying, to disarm the "rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12), dismay your adversaries whom they control, and destroy your obstacle. So, refuse to focus on your obstacle. Refuse to let it intimidate you, weakening your faith and causing you to disbelieve God. Instead, continue seeing your almighty Victor in the steady, sober, loving gaze of faith. How?

Every time you read your Bible, you are seeing Jesus. Every time you worship and pray in God's presence, alone or with other believers, you are seeing Jesus with your inner eyes, the "eyes of your understanding" (Ephesians 1:18). Every time you turn your mind to remember and meditate on His presence and promises, you are seeing Jesus. Every time you pray in the Spirit, with the Paraclete's supernatural help you are seeing Jesus - His perfect faithfulness, love, and power. Every time you prayerfully review God's victories recorded in Scripture, you are seeing Jesus. Every time you reread faith-building, biblical content in excellent books and articles, or listen to Spirit-anointed messages, you are seeing Jesus. And as you behold Him in childlike faith, His angel armies are fighting for you. And so effectively!

They turn away your adversaries' friends, so they stop helping your adversaries harass you. They intimidate your enemies with premonitions of their failure and your success, steadily weakening them until they give up the fight or flee: "The wicked flee when no man pursues" (Proverbs 28:1). They confuse your enemies, so they can't think clearly to scheme against you. They divide your enemies, so they criticize and fight each other, and thus fight you less effectively. They cause your enemies to reap what they are sowing by putting stubborn obstacles in their paths that weary and discourage them as they have you. These angelic hosts continue fighting for you as long as you continue seeing their Captain day after day: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen" (2 Corinthians 4:15). Immutable, your angelic defenders never change or lose their effectiveness, making your ultimate victory sure.

So, my friend, let Christ's armies do what you cannot do while you do what you can do: see their Captain! Until, one day - and, yes, that day will come - your obstacles fall flat at your feet, and you go on to fully realize God's purpose in your family, church, ministry, mission, or other kingdom labors. For God's glory. For your joy. For the conversion of many sinners. For the encouragement of many Christians. And for an example that will teach many confused, harassed Christians for years to come to simply follow the Jericho model, and "see!"

Following, seeing, winning,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES