Praying Circles Around Your Walls – 11
Subject: Hyperlinked
by Rick Welborne
Joshua 6:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.
2 And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.
3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.
4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."
1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.
2 And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.
3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.
4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."
1 Kings 18:41-46 (NKJV)
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."
42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,
43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."
44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' "
45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."
42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,
43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."
44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' "
45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
--I was close to changing the direction of what we have been preaching for the last several weeks…I kept reading, studying, and praying for a new series. I even had people ask me if I was continuing the series.
--I decided to do something novel like asking God What He wanted me to do…He said to me, “I never asked you to stop preaching about praying circles around your walls,” So we continue.
--I truly believe any of these messages can stand alone but I also believe God has spoken to me that He is building a foundation of faith in each of us to see walls come down. Keep circling your walls in prayer.
--Last time we talked about Martha’s faith when Lazarus had died and the declaration that she made:
John 11:21-22 (NKJV)
21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
--Her declaration of “even now” moved the heart of Jesus and she witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead.
--Elijah had endured three and a half years of drought and obviously had bouts of depression but was able to believe God that “even now” God can send rain again.
--It is difficult to believe that the sage Honi was not inspired by the story of Elijah praying for rain seven times.
A sage was someone who studied and was well educated. He more than likely knew this story.
--Elijah (the original rainmaker) could have possibly been Honi’s childhood super-hero…today our super-heroes are fictional and ridiculous. Last week we had a true hero of the faith with us…Huldah Buntain.
--I wonder if Honi’s persistent faith to believe that God was going to send rain was hyperlinked to Elijah’s miracle to see the rain come. If God did it for Elijah, He can do it for me.
--It is not a stretch to believe that one miracle is more than likely hyperlinked to another one…If God could send a quail-storm for Moses, He could easily send a thunderstorm for Elijah and Honi.
1. Our most powerful prayers are hyperlinked to the promises of God.
--Isn’t it true that when you are praying the promises of God (His Word), you can pray with a holy confidence that God, not only hears, but He is going to answer those prayers.
--When we are praying prayers that are not backed up by the Word of God we are praying on thin ice. When we pray God’s Word and will, we know that we have a strong foundation.
Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
--It is the difference in praying tentatively and praying tenaciously. You don’t have to second guess yourself because you know God wants you to double click on His promises.
--The couple I talked to you about 2 weeks ago from the DC area whose son totally lost his speech and they wondered if He would ever talk again. The diagnosis of high-functioning autism dropped them to their knees.
--During a meeting with their pastor (it could have been any of their Christian friends) God spoke to the pastor and told him to give John and Heidi this verse:
Isaiah 59:21 (NIV)
21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
--The pastor shut his Bible and said, “I guess that settles it. Your child will talk.” John and Heidi now had a promise from God that was hyperlinked to God’s promise in His Word. It became a Rhema right now word.
--Did that mean there would be clear sailing from that moment on…of course not, but when that Word was given walls came crushing down and a promise from God came rushing in.
--They had disappointments and set-backs but because they knew God’s promise was hyperlinked to God’s Word…they circled that promise in their Bible and circled their son in prayer.
John and Heidi – God gave us a promise, and no matter how many times we have to keep circling, it’s settled!
Mark Batterson – You’ve heard the adage: “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” Here’s a fresh take on an old truth: God said it, I’ve circled it, and that settles it.
--John and Heidi circled that promise for 10 years before they saw any changes but the changes came. Don’t give up…don’t quit…don’t stop circling.
2. It is finished.
John 19:30 (NKJV)
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
--It was settled on the cross when Jesus said, “It is finished.” Hear me though…It wasn’t just the final installment on our sin debt; it was the down payment on all His promises.
--No matter how many promises God has made…they are made “Yes” in Christ Jesus!
2 Corinthians 1:18-22 (NKJV)
18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
--Someone needs to pray like God’s promise to them is “Yes”. I know God’s answer to my prayer is “Yes, the miracle is coming!” As we pray the will of God the answer is yes and amen in Jesus. It is finished.
3. Your answer to prayer may be hyperlinked to someone else.
Joshua 1:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
--Look at how remarkable this is…God’s promise to Joshua is hyperlinked to God’s promise to Moses. The promise was originally given to Moses and now it is transferred to Joshua.
--Now I know this can be abused but it doesn’t have to be…let me explain. You need to not only read God’s Word…You need to pray through the Word of God.
--As you are reading God’s Word with a deep attitude of prayer…Holy Spirit can quicken a word that was given to someone else…to become yours.
Batterson - What if reading became a form of praying and praying became a form of reading?
--We can be sure Joshua was in an attitude of prayer when he knew he was taking over for Moses. God’s Word to Moses became his. Joshua could lay hold of those promises.
Joshua 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
--Moses got his promises from God…Joshua received the promises that were hyperlinked to Moses. It does not end there. The people were hyperlinked to Joshua, Moses, and God!
Joshua 1:13 (NIV)
13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.'
13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.'
--While you are hyperlinked to God and His Word, who is going to be able to link their faith to yours…who will you leave a legacy for…I pray it will be those following you.
LEGACY – Leading Every Generation – Adults – Children – Youth.
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