*This sermon comes directly NewSpring Church and the guest speaker Steven Furtick.
If you have the audacity to ask, God has the ability to respond. Dare to believe that God wants to do the impossible in your life. Expect the kind of results you see in the Bible. Let the sun stand still in your life.
Sun Stands Still
Joshua 10:7-14
“So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:
“O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
Till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!
Biblical Background– (Joshua 10:1-15) – Joshua had been leading Israel in battle. The people of Gibeon had made a peace treaty with Israel, and Joshua had agreed to protect them. While Joshua and Israel’s army were away, kings from five nations decided to attack Gibeon. Joshua received word and left at once with his army to rescue Gibeon. When he arrived, the Lord led Israel in a surprise attack. While the enemy was fleeing, the Lord killed more soldiers with hailstones than Joshua’s army killed with swords. During the battle Joshua cried out to God in prayer and asked for the sun to stand still so that his army could be victorious before the sunset. The Lord heard Joshua’s prayer and kept the sun from setting for an entire day. So Joshua avenged the Amorites and the Lord fought for Israel.
God wants us to pray with boldness and expect Him to move in ways that are bigger than we could ever imagine. God can and will do amazing things if we will simply dare to ask Him. The world is waiting for change. And God’s people are the change the world is waiting for. Believe that God wants to do the impossible in our life, pray boldly for Him to act, and expect the kind of results we see in the Bible.
This passage speaks to me as I prepare for the World Race, because the same God who made the sun stand still for Joshua lives inside me. Joshua cried out to God, and God responded. He was a man of faith and courage. Asking God to keep the sun from setting took an amazing amount of faith. Joshua knew that God was able to keep the sun from setting and he was not afraid to ask Him to do it. I want have this kind of faith and boldness as I prepare for the World Race, on the mission field next year, and every single day.
I am praying and believing that God will work through my squad as we come together in 3 weeks for training camp (Oct 16-23). I am praying that God shows up as we are challenged through this week, that there is a unity among the squad, that we are humbled, and that we bring God all the glory, praise, and honor through this week together. The first financial deadline is Oct 1st for $3,500. I am praying for my squad mates who are still looking to reach this deadline that God will show up in mighty ways. God equips those He calls. I am blessed to have met that deadline. I am praying and believing that I will be fully funded by my launch date in January. I am $1,516 away from meeting my personal October goal of $10,500. As God provided for Joshua in battle, I know that God will provide for me. It’s incredible to look at the Bible at all the stories and miracles and to know that the same God who preformed those miracles lives inside me. God is still active and alive today. And I trust in the Lord.
Matthew 17:20 “…you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”…
I just wanted to share what God is showing and teaching me in my life with you. I would love for you to partner with me in this journey. I know it would not be possible without the gifts and prayers of people like you. Thank you. Continue to remember my squad mates as this first deadline is quickly approaching. Also, if you have any ideas for blog topics/ideas please let me know. 🙂 I would love some ideas on what to write on. 🙂
