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Waiting for the Shout

Words of Faith Final

Waiting for the Shout

Words of Faith 8-31-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Joshua 6

    [8] When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord's covenant followed them. [9] The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. [10] But Joshua had commanded the people, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" [11] So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there.

    [12] Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. [13] The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. [14] So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

    [15] On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. [16] The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!"

 

       They say that patience is a virtue.  The Bible teaches that patience is the fruit of the Spirit.  It was surely a needed commodity at Jericho. 

       It must have been very difficult to walk in silence around the walled city of Jerusalem.  Because of the sheer number of the Israelites, it would have been an overwhelming image for those inside and already frightened.  For the Israelites outside, there would have been a great temptation to run ahead of God's plan and attack the fortress.  But this was a time to wait.  This was a time to march.  This was a time for silence.  There would soon be a time to shout and claim victory.

        In our humanness, it is easy for us to get impatient with the plan of God.  We may sense great confirmation that the Lord is calling us in a direction and that He is clearly at work, but we must be careful not to run ahead.  We may very much want to attack the obstacles before us, but in God's plan, there is often a time to march.

        There is a time for honoring the Lord with our feet.  There is a time for us to walk in obedience to the Lord even though we may not fully understand His plan.  There is a time to be silent, and then there is a time to shout and claim victory.  Knowing this difference is very important.

        If there is one quality that seems to mark the modern Christian scene, it is impatience.  Very much like the culture around us, we tend to want things to happen quickly.  We want the shout without the march.  We want blessing without obedience.  We want the victory without the journey.  This plays out in so many ways. 

        Many folks these days drift from church to church without ever settling one place long enough to make it a church home. Church relationships take time.  Folks buy Christian books and only read a few pages. Or they begin an endeavor of service but don't show up to follow through.   We want the victory quickly.  If we could buy it, we would.  We shy away from the season of marching and obedience that is often needed before we will see the shout of victory.

        Now don't misunderstand.  This is not about religiosity, nor is it about "earning" the victory.  The victory belongs to the Lord.  Our problem is that we tend to run ahead in our flesh and our own strength, thinking the victory is ours.   

        Popular Christian culture often caters to this impatience of our flesh.  These days, there is a trend to market quick fixes in the form of quick programs, seminars, and special television offers.  The truth is we need to walk a while to receive God's victory. The children of Israel did not get to Jericho overnight!

        Even this 7-day march was just the culmination of a much longer trip.  They had actually been on the journey out of bondage toward the Promise for 40 years.  Perhaps this is why they did not balk at the idea of marching for seven more days. 

        Here is the question.  Have you grown impatient with the Lord?  There are no perfect churches.  There is no quick fix.  There is no fast-track seminar.  Are you tempted to move on to some other place or some gimmick?  Don't do it.  Walk a while.  Listen a while. Worship a while—March in obedience to Him.  The shout will come.  The victory is nearer than you may think.

 

        O Lord, give me patience for the march.  Especially when the victory is near, give me the patience to trust in Your plan and direction.  You are the creator and redeemer.  You are the victor and sustainer.  I give thanks in Jesus' Name.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2005, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.