The Life of Prophet Elisha– Four Places of Spiritual Growth- III

Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. (2 Kings 2:4)

What is the significance of Jericho?

The clearest reference concerning the significance of Jericho is found in the book of Joshua Chapter 6.

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. 2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. (Joshua 6:1-3)

Jericho was the first city that the children of Israel took for their possession as they journeyed toward the Promised Land, Canaan. It did not just fall into their lap. They had to fight for it.

We as Christians need not only to overcome the flesh and the world, but we must also deal directly with the enemy and overcome him. Many Christians are aware of the battle between the spirit and the flesh; but they are ignorant about the spiritual battle that rages between us believers and the forces of darkness.

Apostle Paul highlights this in Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle (fight) against flesh and blood (enemies), but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness (evil spirits) in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

The enemy knows his time is short and what stops him from carrying out his devious schemes is the children of God and so he tries and does all he can to attack them through his evil spirits.

Christians often face such attacks on their environment (the place that they work or live in), sometimes in their physical bodies through sickness or accidents. Some Christians face vicious attacks in their thoughts and emotions which create havoc in their relationships. Some Christians face vicious attacks on their spiritual life which hinders them from effectively serving the Lord.

Many simply don’t understand why everything and everyone seems to be against them, creating terrible confusion and distress in their life. Too often, some regard these things just as natural occurrences, not realizing that they are being supernaturally oppressed by the forces of darkness.

Here is a letter from a worn-out Christian mother. “Pastor, I’ve had enough with my son. I tried everything. I argued with him about the faith. I tried to get him to read the bible and pray. I shared Christian videos and podcasts. I have tried being extra nice but it seems like I am not getting anywhere. It’s like I am against a wall. Could you please help?”

Let me tell you, this is not the kind of battle that can be won through your logic, intelligence or persuasion. This is another kind of battle - a spiritual battle. In these spiritual battles, you must not allow the walls that you face to overwhelm you.

In order to progress spiritually, a Christian also needs to overcome the works of the enemy.

How? Hidden in Joshua 6 are three gems

And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days. But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. (Joshua 6:14-15)

1.The March: That’s the daily discipline of life. Don’t stop. Don’t give up. 7 times, seven days of the week.

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. (Joshua 6:12-13)

2.The Trumpet: That’s the proclamation. It’s like celebrating the victory before you see it. It’s like celebrating the victory even before the first stone falls from the evil fortress you face.

You must keep declaring regularly. “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world!” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” “By His stripes, I am healed.” “I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.” “God always promises me victory in every circumstance!” “All my needs are met according to God’s riches in glory through Christ Jesus” (1 John 4:4; Philippians 4:13; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 8:37; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Philippians 4:19).

At Jericho, you start talking differently. You don’t talk about the problem, you declare the solution. You declare the end from the beginning.

And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! (Joshua 6:16)

3.The Shout: That’s worship. There is nothing that makes darkness scatter faster than true worship in the spirit and truth.

If you are already in Jericho, that’s great. If not, you need to get to Gilgal and move on to Bethel. From there come over to Jericho. When you come to Jericho, you become a warrior in the spirit.

Glory to the King!

The Life of Prophet Elisha– Four Places of Spiritual Growth- III

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