Increase Beyond the Wall: Jericho Experience

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Dear Friend, We are so glad you have decided to participate in an extended time of prayer, fasting and personal devotion. For this time of prayer and fasting, we will focus on Joshua and the Walls of Jericho. Joshua 5:31 - 6:1-27 is a testament to faith, obedience and the promise to see God’s will fulfilled in the lives of His people. Let us explore the demonstration of these attributes through this devotional, “Increase Beyond the Wall: The Jericho Experience.”

Jericho was a strong fortress in the land of Canaan, which God promised the Israelites. Joshua, the now appointed leader of the Israelites, was instructed to lead his people into this land knowing they were out manned and did not have the military power to take down its wall. But, what they did have was a man who sought God’s wisdom and instruction. Due to his obedience and faith, God gave him everything that was promised.

During these next seven days, please set aside time to study the Word and to seek God beyond the Wall. Whether you have prayed and fasted before, or if this is your first time, you can start where you are and experience what God has in store for you in a powerful way.

The tools provided in this devotional are practical guidelines to help you navigate through your seven-day personal journey. As you read over the information, please consider how it applies to you and your personal circumstances and convictions. Use the SOAP Method (Scriptures, Observation, Application, Prayer) for allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

Increase is awaiting …Are you ready to go in and

receive it?

Pastor Tom Manning

Senior Pastor

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FASTING TIPS Fasting is a principle that God intended for everyone to be able to enjoy. It’s not a punishment; it’s a privilege! By making fasting a way of life, you can get closer to God and grow in your spiritual walk like never before.

Fasting is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us for our daily lives.

Through fasting, you can experience a release from the bondage of sin ... restoration in your relationships ... financial blessings ... spiritual renewal ... supernatural healing and so much more!

When you fast, you open up the blessings and opportunities He has provided for you.

Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Matt 6:33 says, When you seek God, and His Righteousness, He will reward you.

Isaiah 58:6 “[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”

Ezra 8:21-23 (TLB) “21 Then I declared a fast while we were at the Ahava River so that we would humble ourselves before our God; and we prayed that he would give us a good journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. 22 So we fasted and begged God to take care of us. And he did.”

How to Begin: Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily, and read the Bible.

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Preparing Spiritually: Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).

Deciding What to Fast: Decide ahead of time the type of fasting you choose, it is up to you. Remember to replace that time that you would have spent eating with prayer and Bible study.

CORPORATE FASTING There is power in Unity! God’s anointing will break the yoke of bondage.

2 Chronicles 7:14-16 (NIV) “14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.”

In corporate prayer and fasting, there is tremendous power.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASTS: • Full Fast: Drink only liquids, usually just water • Daniel Fast: Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables.

• Partial Fast: Fast a meal. Some fast from sun up to sunset.

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DAY 1: HEARING THE WORD OF GOD Read Joshua 5:13-15 On the Israelite’s journey to the Promised Land, they faced some obstacles. In this passage, Joshua had already brought the Israelites through Jordan, now Jericho was before him. Jericho was a fortitude city with a three-tiered wall ranging from 12 to 46 feet and an army skilled for battle. The highest wall surrounded the city in which Joshua had to overtake. His army was out manned and did not have the military power to take down a wall of this magnitude. How was he to accomplish such a feat? In our eyes today, Jericho would have seemed like an impossible obstacle to overcome. In fact, often times when we see an obstacle in front of us and because it seems so huge in our mind sight, we fail to seek God for wisdom.

However, that was not the case for Joshua. He understood how to seek God for wisdom and counsel in all he did.

The Bible tells us that an “angelic messenger” came to him and explained his position. Joshua then fell to the ground and asked, “What do you want your servant to do?” Then he instructed Joshua to remove his sandals for this is ‘holy ground.’ Immediately, the messenger began to speak the instructions of the Lord unto Joshua. The ‘holy ground’ represents the place in which we can enter into the presence of God and His instructions can be heard.

REFLECTION: 1. Are you allowing the Wall of your circumstances to be an obstacle that keeps you out of the presence of God? 2. What are some obstacles/distractions that you feel are interfering with your intimate time with God? 3. Write down a time in your life where you heard the instruction of God but allowed those obstacles/distraction to hinder your progress.

ACTION: 1. Pray God removes those obstacles/distractions using the scriptures.

2. Consecrate yourself, study His Word, and worship Him. 3. Once you have entered into God’s presence, write down any instructions He gives to you. His instruction can be in the form of scripture and/or spoken word. Remember, whatever God speaks unto you will always align with His Word.

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DAY 2: WALKING IN OBEDIENCE Read Joshua 5:6, Luke 11:28, John 14 -16 In Joshua 5:6, the passage makes us aware the importance of following the instruction of God and the consequence or outcome of our disobedience, if they are not followed. Under Moses, the Israelites were given a promise from God when they were delivered from Egypt. However, due to their disobedience, some of them were not allowed to enter into the Promise Land. Joshua chose to obey the Word of the Lord, and he was able to lead his people into the Promised Land that was established before him. We have always heard the saying, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” What if we said it this way, “Obedience is giving honor and trust to the one who sacrificed it all for us”? That gives a different perspective, right?

Obedience is a choice. God does not force us to walk in obedience; He gives a word and awaits our response. We are guaranteed a blessing when we choose to obey.

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” - Luke 11:28 REFLECTION: 1. Your promises and increase are before you, what is God asking of you in order to fulfill your journey to the promises?

ACTION: 1. Study “prayer and obedience” according to John 14 –16.

2. Pray that you begin to see obedience as a sign of honor and trust, instead of duty.

3. Continue to seek God for guidance along the way.

4. Ask God to reveal one friend to invite to Nights Ablaze, August 14-17. Pray for them now before inviting them.

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DAY 3: FOLLOWING HIS PLAN Read Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-16, Job 38:35-36, Isaiah 55:9 Sometimes God gives us a plan that we do not quite understand at the time but, just take up the Nike slogan and “Just Do It.” The Bible shows us through countless occasions that His ways are not our ways.

Imagine for a moment being Joshua at the Wall of Jericho. You were instructed to march around the city once with the Ark of the Covenant, seven priests and their shofars and armed men for six days in silence except for the sound of the shofar.

Then, on the seventh day, march around the city gates seven times, release a shout and the walls will come falling down. Joshua did not hesitate after hearing the instruction of the Lord. He immediately told his men of God’s plan; they followed through and the walls fell down.

Today, there are some walls in our lives that we need God to destroy. They can be walls that others have built or walls we have built ourselves. Whatever these walls are, we need His supernatural power to shatter it from the bottom, preventing it from ever being built again. However, He needs us to have faith and move in accordance to His plan to make these walls come down. Remember, there is a promise on the other side.

REFLECTION: 1. What are some walls you can think of that have been built in front of you and your ability to move into your promise or promises?

2. Write some scriptures that you can use to tear these walls down. God’s Word is the key to your breakthrough!

ACTION: 1. Pray the above scriptures in your devotional time with God. The best way to get God’s attention is to speak His Word back to Him. 2. Be still and know the Lord is God. He will guide you through the process.

3. With great expectation, begin praying about what you desire God to do in your life at Nights Ablaze, August 14-17. Your time of preparation is preparing the soil for miracles and breakthrough to be released in your life.

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DAY 4: REMEMBERING GOD’S COVENANT Read Joshua 1:5-6; 6:1-12, Joshua 8:3, Exodus 33:14-15, Isaiah 43:15 In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant always went before God’s people during a battle or expedition. What is that? It was gold-covered wooden chest said to have held God’s commandments, His power and His presence. It was ultimately known as the tabernacle of the Lord God. Today, we represent the tabernacle of God. Though His presence goes before us, He also dwells within us. After Jesus had ascended back to heaven, God sent a part of Himself to live within us, and He is called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies and confirms the new covenant in which God now has with us.

God’s covenant with us is a beautiful testament and confirmation of His love, grace and mercy. It is also an assurance that as long as His presence is with us, no enemy can stand against us. Therefore, in all we do, we must always remember our covenant with the Father. His promises will always remain, but His covenant cannot remain with those who fail to keep His commandments.

REFLECTION: 1. Write down times in your life where you know the Lord’s presence went before you.

2. Explain why God’s covenant with us is so important, especially in the world in which we live.

ACTION: 1. Spend time alone with God and learn to soak in His presence.

2. Watch as He begins to change you over from the inside/out.

3. Work hard today to get all obstacles removed so nothing will hinder your attendance at Nights Ablaze, August 14-17.

4. If you haven’t already invited the person God laid on your heart, do it today!

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DAY 5: STANDING ON HIS PROMISES Read Proverbs 3:5 -6, Jeremiah 29:11, 2 Corinthians 1:20 We live in a world where everything is expected to happen instantly. Then we try to apply that same worldly principle to the things of God. There are times when God will call forth a “suddenly” moment in our lives. He speaks a promise, and it happens immediately. Then there are times where we have to get in alignment with His timing to receive the promises of God. God’s promises are in His past; yet we see them in our future. However, if you can get to a place where His past and your future collide in the supernatural, it will be manifested in your natural.

It’s like following a recipe from a cookbook, the author has already prepared the outcome and you see the picture of what it should be. However, you have to gather up all that is needed to make the dish.

If you have not received your promises yet, just know you are in preparation to receive it. God has it ready for you; you just have to seek His divine alignment to see it in your now.

REFLECTION: 1. What are some of the promises that God has spoken into your life?

2. Explain some of the ways you have begun to position yourself to receive these promises.

ACTION: 1. Start positioning yourself to receive the blessings of God for your life.

2. Don’t waver in standing on His promise. He is not a man that He shall lie, nor the son of man that He shall repent.

3. His promise for those who are in Christ are “Yes” and “Amen.”

4. Begin rejoicing for what God will do during Nights Ablaze, August 14-17.

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DAY 6: ENTERING INTO THE PROMISE Read Numbers 13:1-24; Joshua 2: 1-15, Matthew 1 Joshua and Caleb knew about the provisions in the land of Canaan through their expedition to scout the land under Moses. During that time, those who went on the expedition brought back figs, pomegranates and grapes so large they had to put them on a pole and carry it between two men.

When Joshua was later appointed leader to the Israelites after Moses, he in turn sent out two spies of his own to enter the city of Jericho. Jericho heard of their arrival and planned to kill the spies if they were caught in the city. However, God provided provisions for them through Rahab, a known prostitute in the city. Rahab protected the spies and gave them a way of escape. Once Joshua returned and conquered Jericho, he honored the spies’ promise to Rahab and her family, allowing them to live among the Israelites. Rahab later would become the mother Boaz and the bloodline from David to Jesus.

On the journey to the promises that God has for you, the enemy will try to distract and cause you to go off course, or to abandon the promise. Just know God has made provisions to help you accomplish that which He has already spoken over you.

REFLECTION: 1. In what ways have you seen God’s provision in your life?

2. What steps are you willing to take to enter into the promises of God? 3. Are you willing to sacrifice those things that you deem important in exchange for the promises of God? ACTION: 1. Keep the promise of God before you.

2. Use the steps above to create your action plan.

3. Speak the Word over these promises and your life.

4. Stand firm knowing that every provision made by God is complete for the fulfillment of the promise and His purpose.

5. Thank God (in advance) for what He will do during Nights Ablaze.

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DAY 7: LIVING OUT THE PROMISE Read Jeremiah 11:5; Hebrews 11:40 God has given you promises as a part of His master plan for His people. Though the promise is to bless you first, the outcome of your blessing is usually for a grander purpose. “You are blessed to be a blessing”.

We can see in the story of Joshua because of his faith, obedience, and trust in God’s Word, he was able to bless nations. The people were able to live out their lives in the Promised Land “flowing of milk and honey”.

When you receive your promises, think of others that can also be blessed in the outcome.

REFLECTION: 1. If you had an abundance of finances, how would you be a blessing to others?

2. Knowing that you have been blessed with salvation and redemption in Christ, how many people do you plan to share this blessing with?

ACTION: 1. Write a list of all the blessings and promises God has already given you.

2. Write a list of friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors who don’t know or have a relationship with Christ.

3. Pray that God will provide an opportunity to share your testimony with them.

4. Lead at least two people to Christ before the end of the year.

5. Get Ready! Nights Ablaze starts tonight through Wednesday, August 17.

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PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LEVEL Join us, as we continue in this season of “Increase” with our Night Ablaze revival services on Sunday, August 14 through Wednesday, August 17 at 7:15pm nightly.

Meet us here to experience a refreshing night of worship and seeking God. Then, immediately following the service, you will have the opportunity to sign up to pray for one of the ministries of Christian Life Center (CLC).

Gatekeepers Prayer Ministry is modeled after the twelve gates in Jerusalem referenced in the book of Nehemiah. The restoration of the gates in the book of Nehemiah was birthed in the pain of a man who witnessed the ruins and desolation of his nation. In response, Nehemiah set up 12 gates and set a captain for each gate. The captain had gatekeepers to work alongside him. Gatekeepers kept watch on the gates, watching for what may be coming in and out of the city. All had the sword girded at their side!

In building God’s Church, we must be alert in prayer and the Word (Sword of the Spirit) to stand watch against every attack of the enemy.

The vision for the gatekeeper prayer ministry is to see every area of the church life, its people and workers covered in prayer. The Gatekeepers and their team commit to praying for 15 minutes a day for the given area. They will then also meet once a month to pray together, for the church, each other and for their ministry. The congregation is also invited to choose to pray for a Gate 15 minutes each day.

We have the following gates to represent the ministries at CLC: • • • • • • • • • • •

Administration & Finance Care & Healing Discipleship & Training Evangelism & Outreach Kids Ministry Kingdom Builders/Missions Pastoral Leadership Revival & Freedom The Church Body Worship & the Arts Youth & Young Adults Ministry

We encourage you to join us for all nights of our revival services, “Nights Ablaze”. We also invite you to take part in our Gatekeepers Prayer Ministry, by choosing a ministry gate to pray for at the end of the revival on Wednesday, August 17.

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