Joshua 10:1-15 is the scripture for the message.
Gibeon was about to be attacked by five kings in the area and sent word to Joshua for help fighting them. He got the troops together and began to attack. All day long the Lord fought them. It’s important to remember that the battle we face belongs to the Lord. Joshua won. The devil is not afraid of us, but he is afraid of the Lord and the blood of Jesus Christ. Claim the blood! Verse 11 tells us that the Lord sent hailstones down from heaven to kill the enemies.
When we say the sun stood still, in reality the sun always stands still. It is the earth that moves around the sun and moon. The same God who moved on behalf of Joshua created the sun, moon and earth. If he wants to halt things, he can, and nothing bad will happen because of it. God is still in control. This was a miracle. You cannot explain a miracle. We got here by one. God took dust, created man and breathed into us the breath of life. We’re here because God started us. We can’t explain it. This day God caused the sun to stand still. Verse 13 says the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. The kings fled and hid in a cave. Joshua had them captured and killed. Then their bodies were put back in the cave. I want us to see some things from this story.
Honor your word. Joshua was deceived by Gibeon into entering into a treaty with Gibeon in the first place. When they sent word they needed help to fight these kings, Joshua could have just let them be destroyed because of their deceit, but he honored the treaty. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Too many people make vows of marriage or stewardship and never fulfill them. How many people have promised the Lord that if he’d heal them or a loved one they would do this or that only to never fulfill it when God does it? The Bible says it’s better not to make a vow than to make it and break it. Yes. It’s good to make them, but keep them. Let your word be your bond.
Ask God for big things. Don’t limit God! The problem is not on God’s end. Why don’t we pray more? There is nothing too hard for God. A $100 need is just as easy for him to fulfill as $1,000,000. We act like we’ll overload God or that something is too hard. It’s not. The Bible says we are to cast all our cares on him. He’s unlimited and Ephesians 3:20 says he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Exceeding abundantly above! He exceeded the need when he fed thousands. We’re rich and don’t even know it. Why? I don’t have a big bank account, but my heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He’s preparing a place for me that has streets of gold. You and I are heirs to all he owns through Jesus Christ. Pray. Ask for the big things.
Be aggressive in your warfare. Show the devil you mean business. James says that we are to submit ourselves to God. When we do, the Lord draws nigh to us and the devil will flee. We can fight the battle against Satan through the Lord.
Don’t leave sin lurking in the caves of your heart. Joshua didn’t allow the kings to hide out in the caves. Hate turns to murder. Lust to rape. Covetousness to robbery. Too often people try to take care of the external without taking care of the internal. Morality cannot be legislated. That’s something that must come from the heart. A bad temper? A critical spirit? Jealously? Whatever it might be, we need to bring it all to Jesus. Identify what’s hiding in the caves of your heart, and let him take care of it.
Joshua returned to Gilgal, a place of remembrance. Never forget God’s blessing in life. Remember how good he is. Remember how important fellowship with God’s people is in the house of God. Get a battery recharge. Bring everything to Jesus.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 