We recently bought a canopy and the instructions inside were in two different languages, neither were English. We figured out how to set it up, but tearing it down was ridiculous. We ended up breaking it and after a couple weeks, got a complete refund for the product. Instructions can be crazy! But instructions that you can’t understand, really?

Joshua 6:1, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.” Sounds like it was Jericho 1, Israelites 0. No entry, off limits, shut up with a big fat no trespassing sign on it. How many have ever felt that the thing that God had promised is securely shut up? The Lord promised it to you, but it’s like someone has put a ‘no entry’ sign on the only door in. Can I just encourage you this morning for a few minutes? Timing is everything! Stop frustrating yourself with trying every key on your key ring, praying every prayer in your book and everyone else’s book. It’s not going to open until God opens it up.

Verse 2, And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.” Ha! SERIOUSLY GOD? You do see the huge walls around the city, right? They’ve locked the doors! No entry! Surely you see that, Lord. What was it God was doing? He was opening Joshua’s ability to see in the Spirit, hear in the Spirit and obey in the Spirit. Every battle must first be won in that realm first.

Then instruction time in verses 3-5, “You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.  And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.  It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, andwhen you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

Wait a minute. Did I miss something in here? He called them ‘men of war’. I thought these were brick layers and slaves out of Egypt who’d been walking in the desert for 40 years. When did they learn THOSE skills? Where’d they get weapons? I’m confused. Perhaps God is seeing something we don’t. How many times do we hear God calling things that be not as though they are in the bible? Could it be that He sees us differently than we see ourselves? And why the crazy instructions? That doesn’t even sound like a good plan! March around a city once for 6 days and on the 7th you blow the trumpet and shout. Ummmm, that’s a little bit crazy. Ok, that’s a LOT of bit crazy!

Perhaps the reason we don’t get the doors to open is because we refuse to follow the crazy directions the Holy Spirit gives us to do. We’re so afraid we’re going to look foolish. Our flesh screams out in opposition, “That just can’t work!” We cry out to God for our door to open but we don’t trust His voice enough to do the crazy to get the door to swing open on it’s own.

Twelve years ago, we decided to step out in ‘crazy’ faith to move to Florida because God instructed us to. We had no job, no source of income.  We made an offer on a house and closed in July. September we moved our things in. 2 weeks later Walt found a job making less than what he made up north. Crazy, right? Let me show you where that ‘crazy’ connected us to. We hooked up to a pastor who had such a vision for the city and a heart after God because our pastor up north had mentioned we may want to assist him with his vision. 6 months later, he left his denomination to launch out an independent church where he could follow the crazy instructions the Holy Spirit led him to do.

Here we are, connected with this amazing man of God and his family, growing in faith and the commission God has for our lives. Our prayer lives are off the chart. Our marriage is off the chart. We are walking in the favor of God like never before, all because we chose to follow the crazy, unreasonable instructions God gave us. We didn’t share the plans with many people because we knew they wouldn’t understand. I don’t even think that WE fully understood the plans God had or has for our lives, but I will tell you this; regardless of how scary or intimidating those walls look, I know a God who can unlock any door and I will follow HIS instructions to take this city for Him.

Let’s repent for our disobedience, for not moving when God said to go. Let’s ask Him for another chance to obey, just remember, it WILL be crazy but He will get the glory.

I will begin this morning by reading from Habakkuk 3:19 Amplified translation;  ^“The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!”

My take on  this is that God created us to walk and make spiritual progress. If you’re not moving, you can’t progress. So often I hear people talk their problems, talk about the economy, talk about the president, talk about the war, healthcare, give their opinions on what they think should be done. What I DON”T hear, is the Word being spoken over these things. I see people sitting, watching, waiting, but I don’t see people standing on the Word, believing what they read and taking territory for their God.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:12 NKJV, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Ephesians 6:10-13 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.   For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Stand on His Word.

Like the old song, “Onward Christian Soldiers” We’re marching forward, not retreating. We’re taking souls for the Kingdom, speaking encouragement to the weary and downtrodden.  Administering first aid to the wounded, ministering to their need. Adversity and trouble were meant to cause us to grow, not paralyze us in fear. Trials are designed to make us realize that we can’t do a thing apart from the God who lives in us. It teaches us to rely on Him as our victory, to trust His strength in us when we’re weak. To trust the Healer who lives in us when we’re sick.

Remember this, my remnant friend; moving forward is what we are made to do. Retreat is not an option. I leave you with the words of Paul found in I Corinthians 9:24-26, “ You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win!  All who compete in the games use strict training. They do this so that they can win a prize—one that doesn’t last. But our prize is one that will last forever.  So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air.” Make your words and actions count today. May they mirror the image of the One who lives in us.

John 1:1-5 GW is my text this morning I will share; In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was already with God in the beginning.  Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.  He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity. The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.

‘The Word being shared here is Jesus. He was the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us, but He was already a part of God, for He was the Word of God. God spoke everything into existence and the Word He spoke was Jesus. Wow. That’s a whole lot to think about first thing in the morning! “He was the source of life, and the life was the light for humanity.” John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” 

I’ve always been a lover of the Word. I love to read it, think on it, ask for revelation on it. I love the hope and life it gives my soul. There is no part of it that doesn’t leave me in awe and astonished, but this part just blows me away. Jesus is the Word. No wonder he told us to eat his body and drink his blood, He’s asking us to partake of His Word, Himself. Get it? Which begs the question; Is this why so many are sick and die among us? (I Corinthians 11:29-30) because they don’t have understanding that the Word is still alive and living in us? Perhaps that is for another day.

Jesus is our source of light. That light shows us the path to take. He isn’t just a man who gave his life as a sacrifice for us, He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. That’s a picture completely alive and continually working for us. It’s not about works, it’s about Word. It’s about understanding the Word that never loses it’s power. It’s about understanding that the Word is in us, in our mouths and in our hearts. How can we be less than Him when He is in us. Perhaps what we really need to walk in complete victory, is to know that the Greater One lives in us. When we get understanding of this, nothing will be impossible for us. It’s faith in the One who is in us, the Word that is in us.

I used to think that occasional bible reading was sufficient, but I find that the Word has a more taste; the more I taste, the more I want. The more I want the more I need. I’m addicted to the Word. It’s an addiction that I don’t need to be delivered from or go through a 10 step program. It’s a healthy addiction, one that delivers and sets free, makes me do and say things I would normally not say or do. It gives me authority over things seen and unseen. It’s my DNA, who I am is who He is. Yes, I said it! I and the Father are one because the Word lives in me and the Word is with God. If you were to drain my blood, I would die, but you cannot take the Word from me.  

Life and death is in the power of the tongue. The life is the Word. Choose the Word.

As I was reading the story of the infamous ‘Prodigal Son,’ I found an astounding truth I had not seen before. Luke 15:11-12 GW; Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons.  The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided his property between his two sons.

Notice that he divided his property between his two sons. So both sons had access to their inheritance. Finishing the story in verses 25-31, we read; “His older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.  He called to one of the servants and asked what was happening. The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come home. So your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate your brother’s safe return.’ “Then the older son became angry and wouldn’t go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come in.  But he answered his father, ‘All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your commands. Yet, you’ve never given me so much as a little goat for a celebration with my friends. But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came home, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ “His father said to him, ‘My child, you’re always with me. Everything I have is yours.”

This is what the Lord showed me in this; This last son stayed and worked for the father. He was so busy working that he didn’t access or use any of what his father had provided for him. Both of them were given their inheritance. When the prodigal son came home and was celebrated, the hard working son was jealous of all the attention his brother was given. In these last days, there will be many prodigals returning to the Father. They will be given many gifts to operate in that those who have faithfully stayed and worked may not be given. We need to guard against those feelings of envy and strife. It’s our own fault we’ve not accessed the riches and miracles that God has already measured out to us. It’s been available to us since Jesus died and rose again. We’ve been too busy relying on our own righteousness to walk in what was provided.

Each time we have an altar call and I see lost sons and daughters return to the Lord, each time I see the power of God come on those children to deliver them from drugs and alcohol, heal their bodies and minds, I rejoice because I know that God is not a respecter of persons. He did it all for all of us. An inheritance comes to us after someone dies and Jesus died so that we could have everything we need now, in this life. Not for when we get to heaven! NOW!

Great and Awesome Father, thank you for every perfect gift you’ve given to us to enjoy. Gifts of peace, love and joy. Gifts of amazing grace. You clothe us with strength and provide us shelter. Healing is ours every minute of everyday because of the stripes Jesus took on his back for me. Victory over all the power of the enemy is mine to use everyday because Jesus took the keys of death, hell and the grave away from satan. He is under my feet. Thank you for your Word, it has so many hidden treasures you long to share with us if we only read it and meditate on it day and night. I love you deeper than I thought possible. What an amazing Father you are to me.

In reading through Luke this morning, I found two stories that I felt the Lord highlighted for me. One was found in Luke 13:6-8 GWT; Then Jesus used this illustration: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on the tree but didn’t find any.  He said to the gardener, ‘For the last three years I’ve come to look for figs on this fig tree but haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up good soil?’ “The gardener replied, ‘Sir, let it stand for one more year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  Maybe next year it’ll have figs. But if not, then cut it down.’”

The other one found in Luke 14:16-23;  Jesus said to him, “A man gave a large banquet and invited many people. When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come! Everything is ready now.’ “Everyone asked to be excused. The first said to him, ‘I bought a field, and I need to see it. Please excuse me.’  Another said, ‘I bought five pairs of oxen, and I’m on my way to see how well they plow. Please excuse me.’  Still another said, ‘I recently got married, and that’s why I can’t come.’ “The servant went back to report this to his master. Then the master of the house became angry. He told his servant, ‘Run to every street and alley in the city! Bring back the poor, the handicapped, the blind, and the lame.’ “The servant said, ‘Sir, what you’ve ordered has been done. But there is still room for more people.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go to the roads and paths! Urge the people to come to my house. I want it to be full.  I can guarantee that none of those invited earlier will taste any food at my banquet.’”

In the first story, I see a big and beautiful green tree in the garden. It wasn’t a maple or oak tree which is designed merely to give shade, it was a fig tree which was made to bear figs. When the owner came to the garden, he noticed that the tree wasn’t bearing and told the gardner to cut it down. That picture is one I see in the church today. So many Christians are faithful to come to church, hear the Word, get fat on the food prepared each week by pastors, yet they are not bearing fruit. They don’t give out of what’s been invested in them at work or at home. Many of them pull a switch as soon as they leave Gods house and become just like the world. They don’t want people to see them differently. They are unfruitful. Fruit bearing Christians put out fruit so that they can reproduce. This is why our hearts are challenged to do what God has created us for. It’s the Holy Spirit fertilizing our souls so that we may be found producing when the owner comes again.

The second story is also about the church. Jesus told us he has gone to prepare a place for us, His bride. When he invites us to come and we use excuses that we have other things to do, it angers him. So he invites those who are poor, sick and needy to come. He wants his house filled to celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb. If His own don’t have time to come, He will invite the criminals who long to be set free. They will be grateful for complete forgiveness and pardon. He will bring the sick and heal all their diseases. He will make the deaf to hear and the lame to walk. He will open blind eyes and cast out every demonic spirit of oppression and depression. Those new believers will surely make time to come to the marriage supper.

Sometimes we’re so busy working for the Lord that we don’t recognize that we’re not fruitful. God created us to bear fruit, to leave a legacy that continues on long after we leave this earth. Some of us are nut producing trees, produce good nuts! Nuts are a good form of protein, a needed supplement to our diet. Whatever your life has made you to be, seek to find good ways to reproduce that in others. Don’t try to be like someone else, be who God created you to be, but be fruitful and be ready. Someday we’ll all be inspected by the Father to see what our life has produced.

Do you remember the story of the 12 spies that Moses sent out to check out the land that God had given them to possess? When they returned and showed everyone the fruit they had gathered, 10 of them gave a ‘realistic’ report of giants in the land and very fortified cities but here’s what happened next; Caleb interrupted, called for silence before Moses and said, “Let’s go up and take the land—now. We can do it.” Numbers 13:30 MSG

Faith in God interrupts a negative report. It doesn’t see in the natural, it sees in the supernatural. It refuses to be told, ‘It just won’t work.’ Rather it chooses to look back at all God has done in the past and measures the current situation accordingly. When faith gets a report from the doctor saying it’s cancer, it interrupts that report and answers, “If Jesus healed them all then, He is well able to heal me now! One drop of blood is all that’s needed for me.” When the bank says they’re going to foreclose on the house, faith says, “My God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. If He provided for the Children of Israel, He will provide for me!” 

Mark 11:22-26; So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

What mountain are you facing today that doubt is trying to convince you can’t be moved like the fortified cities? Have faith in God. What situation are you looking at that is just too large, like the giants in the land? Have faith in God. Remember when the Israelites stood at the Red Sea with their enemies closing in? If God made a way through the sea to the other side, will He not also make a way for you? When Joshua led the people against Jericho, God gave him a plan and he followed it to the letter. For 7 days they marched around the city quietly, but the 7th day, they shouted and blew their horns and the walls came down. 

Perhaps it’s time you interrupted the plans and schemes of the enemy to take you out of the fight. Perhaps it’s time to get God’s plan for you, write it down and read it everyday, then get up and do it having faith in God. He is looking for someone who will stand up to the devil and interrupt him over your family, interrupt him over your finances, interrupt him over your body. It’s time we stopped allowing and started interrupting. When Jesus was in the wilderness fasting, the devil came and tried to tempt him, remember? He answered every temptation with the Word of God and the devil left him alone. 

We must arm ourselves with the Word and speak it over every attack of the enemy. Today is our day of salvation. Our God is a mighty God, mighty to save and deliver. Where are my Caleb’s who will join me and say, “Let’s go up and take the land—now. We can do it.” 

I woke up in the middle of the night and the word, interrupt, kept repeating itself over and over in my head. It wasn’t a soft, meek word, it was a loud order, as in someone was telling me to interrupt.  I asked the Lord what that meant, because obviously to me, He was trying to tell me something. He prompted me to look the word up in the dictionary and I found this; to break off or cause to cease, as in the middle of something. When I dropped down to noun, this caught my attention; Computer-a hardware signal that breaks the flow of program execution and transfers control to a predetermined storage locations so that another procedure can be followed or a new operation carried out.  I began to think of how many times our lives have been interrupted by satan, usually to get our focus off a spiritual battle by distracting us with small fires that demand our attention. In essence, he breaks the flow of what God’s trying to execute so that control can be transferred to a predetermined area of distraction so he can have his way and keep us constantly intimidated and distracted. Mark 1:23-24 MSG tells us Jesus was interrupted; Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you’ve come to destroy us!” Look how Jesus handled that in verse 25; Jesus shut him up; “Quiet! Get out of Him!” The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly-and got out. 

I believe that we need to discern distractions and interrupt them. We need to recognize and stop the voice or deeds of the enemy right off the bat, not wait for him to finish speaking, but interrupt! When he tries to tell you that you’re not smart enough, not qualified enough, not strong enough, we must interrupt him with the Word of God that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world.” When we feel pain that won’t go away, we must come against it with the Word that says, “Surely He bore our sickness and infirmities and by His stripes I am healed!” Don’t let him finish his sentence! Don’t allow him the luxury of planting a seed of doubt or fear. Pull out the big guns, the daddy of all swords, the Word of God and use it!

There are times when you just have to be rude! Mama always said never to interrupt when someone is speaking, wait for them to finish, but there are some people who need to be interrupted. I’m sorry, but if you’re going to be dumb enough to repeat lies to me that your enemy has spoken to you, I’m going to interrupt you! You shouldn’t have listened in the first place and I’m not going to allow you to repeat it to me. Thats what 2 Corinthians 2:5 tells us to do, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.“

It’s time we interrupted. Not with a, “Excuse me please, I need to say something!” but with an attitude, “Stop right there! That’s not what the Word says!” Then tell him what it says. If you don’t know what the Word says than you are missing a crucial part of your weaponry. You can’t fight a battle with out armoring up! Read Ephesians 6 and get dressed every morning because I can tell you this, whether you’re ready or not, he’s going to be constantly trying to get you to fail and fall. If you want to stop the madness, change what you’re doing because what you’re doing isn’t working. Dig into the treasure chest of the Bible and find out how to interrupt and mess up your enemy’s plans today.

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Thank you Lord that whenever I am lost, I can open your Word and find my way. Your Words will never return to you empty, it always finds it’s target, it’s aim is like an arrow, straight and true. When our bodies were sick and diseased, you sent forth your Word and healed us, you delivered us from disease. Your Word is the only report that I read and believe, every other report is subject to yours. 

When my bank account was empty and bills kept coming in, I remembered your Word (Philippians 4:19) that you supply everything I need and you’re not dependent on my supply or resources. You, oh God, own it all and can create resources we haven’t even seen yet. Then I raised my hands to you and worshipped you over my need and you remembered me and answered my prayer. My whole life is in you, my hope, my strength, all comes from my knowledge of who you are and what you’re able to do.  The more I read, the more I know. The more I know, the more I trust. The more I trust, the more I rely on You. Oh great and mighty God. There is none like you!

When I’m discouraged and downhearted because of the onslaught of my enemies, I say; To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.  Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. (Psalm 25:1-3) I lift up my voice to you and I call you my Deliverer, Strong Tower, Defender, Redeemer! You always come through for me and just lifting up your Name reminds me that there is no other like You.

Every knee will bow before Your Name, oh God. The knee of lack, the knee of sickness, the knee of death, the knee of discouragement, every knee must bow to You. You, oh God who led your people out of Egypt and opened the sea that they could cross. You, oh God, who confused the enemy so that your people could merely stand still and not fight. There is no enemy too great for you and you, God, you alone fight our battles for us. What a great God. Mighty to save, mighty to deliver, mighty to heal, mighty to provide. You will never leave us or forsake us. You are more than enough.

Have you ever wondered why God uses simple, down to earth people to do the greatest things for him? Going back through the stories in the Bible, you see time and time again that God uses men and women that no one else would choose. Ruth, a Moabite, an outsider, a childless widow, went on to be a great, great grandmother to King David. How did THAT happen! Moses, a stutterer, a murderer who went and hid for years in the wilderness tending sheep, led God’s people out of captivity on a wild 40 year journey. Gideon, self professed as the least of his tribe and least in his fathers family, was sought out by God to do something unusual that ended severe tribulation for God’s people. Mary, a very young virgin, no one knew her, she wasn’t in line to be queen, a simple young lady who was chosen to bear the Son of God.

These are only a few of the many stories that come to mind. Stories of simple people just going about their own business when God spoke a word to them that changed their story. I’m reminded that each one of us are candidates to have our lives interrupted by a God who knows us by name. We have all been set apart for purpose. Each of us have a destination that only God can take us to. Perhaps you are a single mom or dad, working two jobs to survive; God knows your name. Maybe you’re in your 60’s or 80’s and feel that your life is nearing the end, God knows your name. Get ready, your life is about to be interrupted. You could be minding your own business when suddenly, you get a call to do something you can’t possibly do on your own. That’s God looking for people who will allow Him to do it through you.

Luke 1:30-38; The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is very pleased with you. Listen! You will become pregnant and have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus.  He will be great. People will call him the Son of the Most High God, and the Lord God will make him king like his ancestor David.  He will rule over the people of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”  Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I am still a virgin.”  The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High God will cover you. The baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.  And here’s something else: Your relative Elizabeth is pregnant. She is very old, but she is going to have a son. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant now for six months.  God can do anything!”  Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let this thing you have said happen to me!” Then the angel went away.

What is God waiting for? You to say, “I am yours, do with me what you will.” God will never fit into your plan, you must fit into His. We are all set apart for His purpose but we must never be so comfortable in our life that we’re unwilling to go where He sends us to be who He has called us to be. God will never call you to what you feel qualified to do. He wants you to totally rely on Him for everything you do. He will give you step by step instructions, that’s why it’s so important to commune with Him everyday.

I close with this verse found in Revelation 3:20; “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” If you want that kind of relationship with Him, you must open the door and let Him in. Come in Lord. Speak to me and I will obey.