If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you. Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” – Isaiah 54:15-17 BSB

Warrior;

If you are a TRUE FOLLOWER of JESUS the Messiah, then you have been PREJUDICED, PRE-CHOSEN! We, who are Yahweh’s children have been called out, and are continually being separated, set aside, consecrated: Holy! We are to be IN the world, but we are NOT OF the world.  We are a chocolate chip, in a Chocolate Chip cookie.  You cannot remove the butter, flour, or sugar from the baked cookie, but you can take out the chocolate chips- they maintain their form under the pressure of the process. Hear the Word of the Lord; For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) Warriors for Yahweh fight differently. For the battle is the Lord’s!

Leader, the story of Jericho gives us a great example of understanding the principles of a Godly Warrior. One of the reasons God chose to put His word in print, on tablets of paper and airwaves is because it was given to us as an instruction manual, a ‘Guidebook’, an ‘Existential Compass’. The amplified Word says this about Himself; All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately–behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The Bible has shadows of the substance. Call them metaphors, similes, they are forms, pictures of substance, what is to come. There are also ‘Patterns of Success’ that can be drawn out and used in contextually similar situations in our lives. The Fall of Jericho shows us a pattern of how followers of the Living Christ battle differently from mere Earth dwellers! Joshua 6 shows us a great pattern for a Warrior of God.

Conduit, Joshua 6 is the story of Jericho. It is a story about the Israelites finally going into the Promised Land and another great miracle, a great victory from above that leads to a miraculous victory. Like many times in the Bible, the Children of God didn’t have to lift a finger to secure victory against far greater foes. Most children know the story of Jericha and how the walls came tumbling down. Read chapter 6 and notice the Pattern of Success. Jericho shows us the importance of the 1st things! Stephen Covey in his highly acclaimed 7 Habits, gets credit for the importance of putting ‘First things First’, but God said it long before. If we are to be an effective ‘Arrow in the quiver of Yahweh’ we need to know 1st Things! In 6:2 we notice the First Thing: Begin with the outcome, begin with the end in mind. A good Habit! The other First Thing we must remember: We must be in the presence, and in the purpose of God. 6:6 tells us they were commanded to take the Ark of the Covenant with them, to take God’s presence. He is called Yahweh Shammah. Another First Thing: Listen to God’s instructions and Follow God’s commandments. Partial obedience, delayed obedience, is disobedience. (6:3- to the end of The Word)! After you know the FIRST THINGS, then; Hedge yourself. Put God’s presence behind you as well. Put a hedge of protection around you. (6:8) Lastly, be prepared, don’t be stupid! It is written, “…AND THE ARMED MEN WERE WALKING BEFORE THEM.” (6:13) The Way of God’s Warriors is not easy, but it NEEDS NOT BE confusing. Keep It Simple Soldier and follow the Pattern of Success laid out in God’s instruction manual. Remember, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In other words what we see, hear, and feel Him do. He is our example. We are to do what He did, and do it like He did- with Passion, Heart, Body, and Soul, Like It Matters!