God gives us promises that are based on conditions. Joshua 6:5, “And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” He told Joshua that if the people obeyed and marched around the city, blowing the trumpets when commanded, then the walls would fall down flat. This is the miracle of God in the gospel: if we believe on our Lord Jesus Christ, then he will subdue our sins. He’ll overcome our lusts, make us able to walk with God, and we’ll enjoy the blessings of the Spirit. If we turn from sins, then he will refresh us and bring us the glory of heaven. Do what God says, and God will do what he has promised. This is the beauty of the relationship of faith: believe God.

Secondly, let us shout with all of our might. Joshua 6:16, “And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.”

Be fully confident that the Lord is with you, and he will do as promised. Believe his gospel, and preach it! He says that the gospel is the power of God, and it will conquer the world; it will subdue sin and sinners; it will convert the stubborn and the hard hearted; it is the only power that will.

The Bible has nothing against rebuke, but the gospel must be preached for sinners to be saved. Major in it, and rely on the Spirit. We don’t contribute to the gospel… nor do we craft it… we simply proclaim it. Say all that it says, as it speaks to you by the Holy Spirit, and you will do the work that God has for you. It may seem boring to many. It may seem that some new trick may work. It may be appealing to tear down without ever building, but ours is the mission of the gospel. We must preach it, and pray in faith. We practice it ourselves. The best thing for the world is a church filled with the power of gospel, making it known, and living by its precepts. This is not a life of hating our enemy; it is love - gospel love - as Jesus commanded.

Finally, Rahab hid the messengers, so she was spared. Joshua 6:17, “And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.” Just like the messengers promised her, if she stayed in the house - her and her family - tied the scarlet cord, and did not tell anyone about their mission, then she would be spared [Josh 2:17-21]. She held to the promise, even though the city was devoted to destruction. She believed Christ, even though wrath was coming.