Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham. There is no sickness that God cannot heal. There is no addiction that God cannot destroy. There is nothing in your life but that God can do what He promised He would do, and that is to give you victory in your life. On today's PowerPoint, Doctor Graham brings a message about how God can work a miracle in the circumstances of your life.
Now, here is Doctor Graham with his message. Are you ready for a miracle? Many of you do not know my story, but when I was a college student, Hardin-Simmons University, Deb and I were married after our my second year in college. We were college sweethearts. She's from Mineral Wells, Texas.
I'm from Fort Worth. We met in Abilene at Hardin-Simmons, fell in love, got married that summer. It was great. We'd just been married. Life was good, and my father was mortally wounded.
And tragically, died as a victim of violent crime in August of 1970.
So my father was murdered. But the night that he died, after ten days after being injured, never regaining consciousness, my family left. Deb had gone with the car somewhere, and I had a. I don't know exactly how I ended up by myself at the hospital, wrapping things up. And I didn't know what to do.
I just knew I needed God. Have you ever been in that situation where you just knew there were questions? Of course, but I didn't have time for questions at that moment. I just needed God. I hurt too bad to ask a bunch of questions: why this and why that.
I went down to the chapel, and it was dark, and it, of course, was emotionally dark. And I can't tell you exactly what happened in that room tonight. That night, but it was so powerful that I had an encounter with God like few other times in my life. I remember stretching myself out, prostrate on the ground. Remember, I'm a young preacher, just getting started.
And my dad, who I love, was my best friend in many ways, is now gone brutally. Murdered, and I lay myself out, and just cried out to God, and God came into that room that night. I didn't hear angel wings, I didn't hear an audible voice, but the divine encounter that I had with God that night set me up for the rest of my life. What God did in me was something that I will never forget. And everything that has happened going forward is a result of a surrender that I made that night to Him.
So, just a review. The Ark of the Covenant went with the children of Israel, and inside were the tablets of Moses, the law of God, God's Ten Commandments, the rod that budded Aaron's rod, and the manna, a pot of manna that God sustained them supernaturally in the desert. And so, this all in the Ark of the Covenant.
So you had God's precepts, the commandments. You had God's power in that. Miracle of the rod that budded, Aaron's rod, and then you had God's provision, the manna, and then most of all, with the Ark of the Covenant, is the presence of God.
So just to pick you up, remember the children of God have come out of Egypt. They're set free. They spent forty years wandering because of unbelief in the wilderness, in the desert. They became desert disciples. But all along, God had promised them a land.
God had given them a land. He said, flowing with milk and honey. It was a land of bounty, a land of beauty, a land of blessing. It was God's land that He had given His chosen people, Israel. And now, having come through the Jordan.
The Ark of the Covenant led the way through. They got on the other side, and now, standing in front of them, like a huge sign that says "Keep out," are the walls of Jericho and the city of Jericho, famous for its enormity. It was a large city in the In the desert area of Israel, you can still go there today. I've been to Jericho many times. And the ruins of the walls of Jericho and the ancient city of Jericho are being uncovered, and we know this miracle happened, and the city existed in antiquity and in enormity and in iniquity because it was a vile city in so many ways, full of idolatry and sacrificing of babies and extreme sexual immorality that took place in that city.
And they had many opportunities to repent, but they did not.
So now the children of God, the people of God, Israel, are on the brink of this blessing. They are ready to go in, but here are these walls, and they've never passed this way before, like through the Jordan. But now these walls stand in front of them. What a challenge! How are they possibly going to get through the walls and into the Promised Land?
They'd had a few skirmishes in the desert, a few battles, but nothing like this. This powerful city, fully protected, and now the Israelis are wondering how we ever going to do this. And Joshua, General Joshua, is feeling the same pressure. He's up early, and he's praying, and he's looking at this Jericho, this challenge. Maybe you're looking at a challenge in your own life, like the walls of Jericho.
Something that's going on in your life, as though it were saying, "Keep out from the blessing of God," stopping you from experiencing the abundance that we have in Christ. Remember, the promised land is not heaven. The promised land is heaven on earth. In Christ, it is the abundant life. It is the spirit-filled life.
It is the victorious life that we have been promised in Him. And God says, "It's yours. Go take it. Go take it. Step into it.
Every place the feet your feet touch, this is already yours." But now they're looking at these walls and these enforcements and this army that is in front of us. What a challenge! And you may be looking at a great challenge in your marriage, in your home, with your kids. With your health, it may be a diagnosis. It may be a darkness in your life.
It may be a distraction in your life. I don't know what may be standing in front of you, but like the walls of Jericho, it seems as you are kept out and left out from going in and experiencing the fullness and the fruitfulness and the freshness of this life that you've been promised in Christ. And you need a miracle. You need God to move. You need a miracle in your life.
The Bible is full of miracles, and miracles still happen today.
So, in chapter five, verse thirteen and fifteen, before the miracle comes, here's what has to happen before God moves and the miracle takes place in our lives. Here's what has to happen. What happened to Joshua at Jericho when Joshua was by Jericho? He lifted up his eyes and he looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No." But I am the commander of the army of the Lord.
Now I have come, and Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Now this is one of the mysteries of the Bible. Who is this person who's standing before Joshua, with drawn sword in his hand? Who is this one?
Well, Joshua first supposed that it was an enemy. Are you for us or against us? Could have been an adversary, but this was not a human adversary. This was not a man at all, a human being.
So not an adversary, not an apparition. Maybe you might be thinking, "Well, Joshua spent a lot of time in the desert, and now he's hallucinating." It's not an angel.
Now angels exist, as we're going to see in just a moment, but we know that this is not an angel, a warrior angel. And biblically, angels are often portrayed in their powerful, warlike witness, and they appear from time to time. And yet, angels are not allowed to accept worship because worship God only.
So angels are powerful spiritual beings, created beings. I've written a book about angels, and the study of angels is again one of the mysteries of the Bible. It's is so very fascinating, and angels do exist. But this is not an angel because when Joshua fell down and worshipped at the feet of this one, then that one accepted the worship that was given.
So there's only one option left, isn't there? Who is this divine stranger? This was God, the Son of God, Jesus Himself, the Commander of the Lord's Army. Theologically, we call this a theophany; it's an appearance of God of Christ, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. That means that this is God in the flesh, and we know that on.
Several occasions in the Old Testament, Jesus made an appearance, like in the fiery furnace, one standing there with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, like the Son of Man. He shows up from time to time. You see, Jesus did not begin to exist at Bethlehem, but He was chosen before the foundation of the world. He is God, the Creator. In the beginning was the Word, Jesus, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the same was in the beginning with God. He was slain, the Lamb of God, before the foundation of the world.
So, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, forever, and He's not limited by time or history or heaven or any of that.
So. God chose to show up in the flesh from time to time, and this is one of those instances. This is Jesus, and He's the Commander of the Lord's Host, and He shows up in the presence of Joshua before the miracle would take place. What happened to Joshua must happen to you and me. And you know what that is?
Surrender. Before the victory comes, the surrender to the Commander of the Lord's armies. You are listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message. Are you ready for a miracle? Did you know that you can join Dr.
Graham for his daily devotion? It's a study of God's word that will help you grow in your faith. Encourage you in your walk with Christ and show you how to navigate through the challenges of life. To sign up, text DEVO D E V O to five nine seven eight nine and begin receiving Dr. Graham's devotional every day.
Again, text DEVO D E V O to five nine seven eight nine. Every day, people around the world are hearing the truth of Jesus Christ through PowerPoints, broadcast, podcast, television ministry, and digital outreach. Often during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and friends like you help make that ministry possible. That's why this month we want to say thank you for your gift of ten dollars or more, by sending you Dr. Jack Graham's book Destiny.
In this encouraging resource, Dr. Graham walks through the life of Joseph to show how God is always working even through painful and confusing circumstances to accomplish His greater purpose. To give your gift and request your copy, text OCT O C T to five nine seven eight nine. That's OCT O C T. As in October to five nine seven eight nine.
Now let's get back to today's message. Are you ready for a miracle? I like that phrase, "the commander of the Lord's armies," because back to angels. Angels are witnesses. They often come bringing messages from God in the Bible.
Angels are worshippers. Their primary Role in creation and throughout eternity is to worship God, and the beautiful, powerful angels. Are great worshippers. They're workers. Let me give you a few scriptures: Psalm one hundred and three, verses twenty and twenty-one.
Bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, hosts, the heavenly hosts. It literally means angel armies. And here we discover the Lord of angel armies. He ministers who do His will.
Then Psalm ninety-one. You should know ninety-one, the ninety-first psalm, and it. Verse eleven and twelve. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, and on their hands they will bear you up, unless you strike your foot against a stone. They're everywhere.
You need to realize that all around us is a spiritual world, an invisible world, an unseen world that exists more real than the world we're in right now. And in this world, there are demon forces, fallen angels, Lucifer himself, Satan is a fallen angel. The forces of hell, fallen, but these angelic beings that God has created, and they are with us, and they are around us, and they are serving God, and they're serving God's people. Hebrews one verse fourteen are they not all these angels ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who inherit salvation? Have you inherited salvation?
Do you know Christ? Then angels are present to protect you, to provide for you in ways that you may never even know. But this is not an angel. This is the captain of the Lord's hosts of these warrior angels. Powerful and present are these angels, but they are commanded by God Himself.
Jesus commands them all, and the message: Are you ready for a miracle? The message to Joshua is clear: I am with you, Joshua. Is looking at these walls like you may be looking at some obstacle, some difficulty, some danger, some situation in your life. Joshua was looking at all of that and wondering how the battle would be, what how they would ever get through there. And God shows up, and God says, "I am with you.
I am here, and I am for you." We need to know that God is near when we face our fears. When we face those foes, when we fight our battles, we need to know that God is present. That He was real. What I experienced that night in that little room, that little chapel, I know it was the presence of God in that place, and I experienced something that I, I remember to this day as a turning point in my life.
Well, this was a turning point for Joshua. And when we cry out in the night, and when it's dark, like it was in Joshua's day, here, when we cry out, our Father is there to comfort us. The Lord of the Angel Armies, who never lost a battle, is leading you forward in your life. And he will be present in your darkest hour, in your most difficult moment. That's when God shows up in ways we could never imagine.
When you're sick and in a hospital room, and you're laying there alone by yourself, and the Lord of the Angel Army shows up for you. It could be in the touch and the kindness and the words of a friend who, like an angel, visits you. It could be in Scripture that God shows up; His presence is real, and you're hurting, and yet in the pain there comes a promise from God's Word that maybe you learned it long, long ago, but the Holy Spirit reminds you of that promise, and you can then remind God of His promise. You know, when how about when your children come to you and they say something like, you know, that you get you gave them a promise. And then something happens.
You don't get it done. You're delayed. You're, and then your kids say, "What do they say?" But you said, "God's children, not arrogantly, but in awe, can come to Him and say, 'God, you said, but you said in your Word that we are more than conquerors through Jesus.' You said, 'If God be for us, who can be against us?' You said, 'God.'" That I know the plans concerning you, plans to give you a future and a hope. You said, Lord, and maybe that's the way that God shows up to you in such a powerful way. It's through scripture.
It's through prayer, supplication. It's. It could be even in this sermon that God. Would show up and speak to you because you're facing something you don't know how to get through, you don't know how to get over, and God showed up this morning. And even in something that is said right now, you know that the Lord is with you, that the Lord is speaking to you, and He's giving you hope for your future.
This is a promise: I will be with you. There is no exception. No exception for the child of God.
So Joshua then asked a question. Are you for us or are you an adversary? And the answer came, no, neither. Because I haven't come here to take sides. I've come here to take over.
He's the captain of the Lord's host, and what matters is not. Whose side God is on? In the end, God now God is on your side. If God be for us, who can be against us? But the question at this point is: Are you on the Lord's side?
Who's on the Lord's side? That's what God wanted to know. That's what Joshua needed to know.
So I'm not for you or against you.
Sometimes people say something like, "Well, you know what? God is my partner in business. God's my partner. God doesn't want to be your partner in your business." No, no, he's not your partner. He's not an equal partner.
He's not even a majority partner. He's the Lord of life, the Lord of all. God doesn't need you to be His partner. He can take your business, or whatever you're doing, and do what only God can do, and more than you could possibly do.
Sometimes we say, you know, well, God's my copilot. God's not going to be your copilot. He's the pilot. What Carrie Underwood's saying? Jesus, take the wheel.
Quit trying to drive his car and move your life. This is what is happening to Joshua, and I really believe that was what was happening to me that dark night. It was a time of surrender when I said, "Lord, you have my life. You have all of my life, whatever it is. Lord, I am yours.
I am on your side." And it says, when Joshua was by Jericho, look at it again in verse thirteen. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, he saw the man—the man, Christ Jesus.
So you see, what happens before the miracle can take place, before the walls fall, is to get our eyes on Jesus. Stop looking at your Jericho. And start looking to Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of your faith. Look to Jesus. Oh, glance at your problems.
You got to deal with problems. You can't change something, do you? Confront something, but glance at your problems and gaze at the promises and the promised one, Jesus Himself. Don't be looking at Jericho. Because if you keep looking at your Jericho, you're going to be discouraged and defeated.
You start looking to Jesus, and that's where the victory is found. It happened to Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas were in jail in prison for preaching the gospel, and what happened? Were they whining and complaining? No, they were worshiping God at midnight.
This is all in Acts chapter 16. They're worshiping God, and all the prisoners are listening to them. And as they're worshiping God, the walls began to fall, shake, an earthquake. The walls fell down, and the chains fell off, and now they are free. And they tell the jailer about Jesus, and his whole family comes to Christ.
But I'm just saying that when you find yourself at midnight in a dark place, and prison chains are binding you, whatever is going on, lift up your eyes. Lift up your eyes to Jesus. Get your eyes on Him, because your Jericho is never going to fall until the Commander of the Lord's hosts takes command of your life and mine. And so, what does this old grizzled general Joshua do? Having seen the Lord, he gets on his face before Him.
He takes off his shoes. He knows he's on holy ground. This isn't the desert any longer. This is God's ground. This is holy ground.
The presence of the Lord is here, and he's worshiping the Lord. He was strong. He was mighty. He came out of Egypt with Moses. He lasted all through the desert and the wilderness.
He was one of the spies sent early on that said we can take this land forty years earlier. He had to put up with all the death and the dying in the wilderness because somebody else, a bunch of other people, the majority, said we can't go. The giants are too big, and he's put up with all this. By now, he is a strong and mighty man. But not too strong, not too mighty, not too powerful, not so great, not so old, not so sage that he would get on his face before God.
Can I tell you, you're not strong enough. You're not too strong. You're not too big. You're not too great that you don't need to get on your face before God in your life and worship Him, which means you give Him your heart. Joshua was a big man.
He was a he was a powerful war hero, but not too big that he knew that he didn't need to get on his face before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
So here's what we're saying today: If you want the walls to fall down and the miracle to take place in your life, then get on your knees. When you are knocked off your feet, get down on your knees and then rise with the victory of Jesus in your heart. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message. Are you ready for a miracle? We want to tell you about an encouraging resource available this month from PowerPoint Ministries.
It's Dr. Jack Graham's book Destiny. Have you ever wondered if God really has a purpose for your life, or question what He might be doing through the seasons of disappointment, waiting, or uncertainty? In Destiny, Doctor Graham explores the life of Joseph to reveal how God's sovereign hand is always at work, even when we can't see it. This powerful resource will help you trust God's plan, find peace in a difficult season, and move forward with confidence and hope.
And when you give a gift of ten dollars or more to help share the biblical truth around the world through PowerPoint, we'll send you Destiny as our thanks. To give your gift and request your copy, text OCT OCT to 59789. That's OCT OCT, as in October, to 59789. Let me remind you that you can join Dr. Graham for his daily devotion.
It's a study of God's word that will help you grow in your faith, encourage you in your walk with Christ, and show you how to navigate through the challenges of life. To sign up, text DEVO D E V O to five nine seven eight nine and begin receiving Dr. Graham's devotional every day. Again, text DEVO D E V O to five nine seven eight nine. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today?
Notice what happens in in chapter six, verse two. And the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given you Jericho into your hand with its king and mighty men of valor.
So the battle was already won. I've already given you this victory, and Christ has given us our victory.
So go and take it. Surrender your life completely to the Lord." Because we share in Christ's victory, He died on the cross for our sins, defeating the powers of sin and death and hell, and He rose again on the third day, and He lives and is coming again. Talk about walls of Jericho falling down when they blow blew the trumpet and shouted. There's coming a day another trumpet is going to sound. And the shout and the voice of the archangel and Jesus is coming again, and forever we're going to share in His victory.
Then, but it all begins now. You can live in your victory and experience your miracle today. And the greatest miracle is the miracle of salvation when we are forgiven our sins. I tell you this: there is no person that God cannot save. There is no problem that God cannot save.
There is no mountain that God cannot move. There is no sickness that God cannot heal. There is no wall that God cannot crush. There is no addiction that God cannot destroy. There is no habit that God cannot enable you to overcome.
There is. Nothing in your life but that God can do what He promised He would do, and that is to give you victory in your life. You can live the promised land life now by surrendering your life to the Lord. And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember, when you give a gift of ten dollars or more, we will send you Dr.
Graham's book Destiny as our thanks. Just text OCT to five nine seven eight nine. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how you can protect yourself from missing out on God's blessings. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.
