VISION OF VICTORY – SHOUT OF FAITH

And the LORD said unto Joshua, SEE, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour…Joshua said unto the people, SHOUT; for the Lord hath given you the city – Joshua 6:2, 16

FAITH SEES the end from the beginning. Faith beholds a VISION of VICTORY. God has detailed Victory Plans for all aspects of your life. All of His plans for His children are destined to bring victory. But we must catch a VISION of VICTORY ahead of tasting the victory! We must SEE with the eyes of faith and of the spirit, expecting God’s best in every situation.

The challenge of Jericho paints a lucid picture of the power of expectation! Jehovah revealed to Joshua His victory plan for Jericho’s conquest, giving him instructions and definite expectations. God has a purpose for every detail in His plan for your life and demands your expectation and obedience of faith. Joshua rehearsed the Lord’s plan and promise to all of Israel so that they would know what the Lord required of them and because “faith comes by hearing” (Rom.10:17).

Every part of the victory plan was targeted at their faith. The instruction to maintain a SEASON of SILENCE was to ensure that the people would not talk themselves right out of faith into doubt, fear and unbelief (vs. 10). It was easy to observe the magnitude of Jericho’s walls and spew out complaints, murmuring and negativity all the way. If God had permitted them to talk, their tongues could ensnare and get them into defeat. But, nothing must tamper with the focus of their faith!

Ultimately, the people were to give a SHOUT of FAITH and VICTORY as corresponding ACTION to their EXPECTATION (vs.14-16). Having promised to give them the city, they were to ACT IN FAITH by shouting the victory BEFORE the walls came down! When the priests blew and Joshua told the people to shout, the walls were still standing formidably. The shout of faith always comes before the answer. Faith “sees” and expects the best. God desires that we go ahead and shout the victory in faith, regardless of what our senses or the situation may be saying. Are you shouting the victory in faith while the “walls” of difficulties, problems, hindrances and opposition are still standing? Faith in God will bring those walls down!