Walls Come Tumbling Down
Sermon Series: Thinking Outside The Walls
Preacher Jeff Strite
Acts 2:36-41
OPEN: About 1400 B.C. (1400 years before Jesus was born of Mary) Israel crossed the Jordan
River, following Joshua into Promised Land. The first city that Israel that came to was Jericho,
and archaeologists tell us that Jericho was a massive fortress-city with walls as high as a 4-story
building. (https://www.israel-a-history-of.com/walls-of-jericho.html).
Jericho was an almost impenetrable city - safe even from the armies of Israel. But they just
weren't safe from the GOD of Israel. In 7 short days, the walls crumbled to dust and the city was
burned beyond recognition. Archaeologists have found that the city was destroyed exactly as the
Bible says it was. (see footnote)
Now what's interesting to me is that - when God sent Israel into Palestine - from crossing of
the Jordan River until Joshua conquered the rest of the land - Israel never built a fortress, nor a
castle. No place!
Nowhere did Israel ever build a fortified wall anywhere in the land. Why? Because Fortresses
and castles are places to be... DEFENDED, and Israel was not there to defend anything. They
were there to conquer!!!!
Now hold that thought, and let's fast-forward to the days of Jesus. In Matthew 16 - Jesus asks
His disciples to explain who THEY thought He was, and Peter replied: "You are the Christ, the
Son of the Living God."
Pay attention to what Jesus said next: "On this rock (Peter's confession) I will build my church,
and the GATES of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
So, Jesus was going to build His church, and the purpose of the church was to attack the gates
of hell. Now gates are usually attached to something. Gates are what you'd find on a fortress or a
castle, because gates are barriers to keep people out. The church is called to attack the gates of
Hell and like the walls of Jericho, the Gates of Hell can' ...
Sermon Series: Thinking Outside The Walls
Preacher Jeff Strite
Acts 2:36-41
OPEN: About 1400 B.C. (1400 years before Jesus was born of Mary) Israel crossed the Jordan
River, following Joshua into Promised Land. The first city that Israel that came to was Jericho,
and archaeologists tell us that Jericho was a massive fortress-city with walls as high as a 4-story
building. (https://www.israel-a-history-of.com/walls-of-jericho.html).
Jericho was an almost impenetrable city - safe even from the armies of Israel. But they just
weren't safe from the GOD of Israel. In 7 short days, the walls crumbled to dust and the city was
burned beyond recognition. Archaeologists have found that the city was destroyed exactly as the
Bible says it was. (see footnote)
Now what's interesting to me is that - when God sent Israel into Palestine - from crossing of
the Jordan River until Joshua conquered the rest of the land - Israel never built a fortress, nor a
castle. No place!
Nowhere did Israel ever build a fortified wall anywhere in the land. Why? Because Fortresses
and castles are places to be... DEFENDED, and Israel was not there to defend anything. They
were there to conquer!!!!
Now hold that thought, and let's fast-forward to the days of Jesus. In Matthew 16 - Jesus asks
His disciples to explain who THEY thought He was, and Peter replied: "You are the Christ, the
Son of the Living God."
Pay attention to what Jesus said next: "On this rock (Peter's confession) I will build my church,
and the GATES of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
So, Jesus was going to build His church, and the purpose of the church was to attack the gates
of hell. Now gates are usually attached to something. Gates are what you'd find on a fortress or a
castle, because gates are barriers to keep people out. The church is called to attack the gates of
Hell and like the walls of Jericho, the Gates of Hell can' ...
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