Grace World Outreach Church
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Joshua 10:7-15 ESV
What Audacious Dream are you believing God for? What big bold prayers are you praying right now? What are you believing for that captures the attention of a God who says, “all things are possible” to those who believe?
I want to challenge you today bolder prayer life, a bigger faith walk and a better dream!
"LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS"
Jericho may be the most familiar story, but the greatest miracle Joshua witnessed was not stopping of the Jordan, or the walls of Jericho… it was the moment the entire universe paused so that he could finish off his enemies.
It is the greatest and last recorded miracle in Israel’s conquest.
Here’s the other side of this miracle…it’s a battle that Joshua should have never had to fight. He got Israel into a situation they never should have been in because of a massive mistake… here’s the grace:
1 We serve a God who delights in turning your most significant mistakes into his most glorious miracles
“So Joshua went up from Gilgal,” (vs 7)
Joshua is brought into a conflict where he will not only be defending his enemy, but also fighting five armies at the same time…
Joshua’s compromise with the enemy, led to a conflict Joshua didn’t choose
Key: We are kingdom people called to fight kingdom fights!
Deu 7:1 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you…2 and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them…6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
OT example of a spiritual principle… 2 Co 6:14–16
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God;
The church fails when it takes its eyes off the real fight, and focuses on the enemy's fight
Joshua Believed the Enemy’s Bluff and now found himself having to fight on the enemies field
You may have found yourself fighting a fight after your most significant mistake, but the grace of God is, he delights in turning your mistakes into his miracles.
2 Perseverance is the key that unlocks God’s promises
8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”
a) Joshua had a PROMISE from God
“I have given them to you” (vs 8)
b) Joshua had a PAST with God
It is an insult to the nature of God to fear your present fight, when you have a past filled with parted seas and drowned enemies
c) Joshua had to PERSEVERE before God
They believed God’s promise and knew that the victory was assured. But it still required a willingness to march! Are you willing to march all night for your promise?
You have to act in alignment with what you are asking!
3) Audacious faith moves the hand of an Almighty God
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
It isn’t the battle Joshua chose… fighting a fight he didn’t pick. But now the enemy is one the run.
Joshua could finish the battle and secure a complete victory over the enemy. His men were weary and if night came on, the enemy could escape. Joshua needed a special act from God to enable him to claim the victory the Lord had promised.
Joshua looks up and says… “Sun, Stand Still”
God said, if you are bold enough to pray it, I am big enough to perform it
If the size of the vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there is a good chance it is insulting to God - Stephen Furtick
C.S. Lewis wrote, “The mind which asks for a nonmiraculous Christianity is a mind in process of relapsing from Christianity into mere ‘religion.’ ”
God did not call us to survive this world, He called us to change this world!
He saved us, so that he could use us for his glory… Its the only way to truly honor the limited time He’s entrusted to us
#UNITE714Dates: 6/7-13
“O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known…” Habakkuk 3:2a (ESV)
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the
body. Hebrews 13:3 (ESV)
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
THE PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace in the name of Jesus. We are united in prayer, and we are in awe of the ways You have been faithful to your people over the centuries. Time and time again, You have revived Your Church and poured out Your Spirit on the peoples of our world.
We are not satisfied by hearing of past glory and magnificent moments. We believe we have come to our own historic hour. Our world is desperate for a touch from heaven! With millions still in the grip of COVID-19, supply chains ruptured, and world economies broken, we humbly cry out to You, Father, for a fresh move of Your Holy Spirit. Repeat in our day what You have done throughout history.
As Your Church proclaims the Gospel,we ask You to revive us. We pray and ask You to redeem millions from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
We are thankful for the way You are mitigating COVID-19 in many cities and nations around the world. We will not forget Your mercies to us! Yet, we also will not forget all the nations and peoples around the world who are still quarantined in their homes. With food in short supply, no clear end in sight, and, in some places, increasing violence, many people feel imprisoned with no way of escape. We ask You today to meet them with Your provision, power, and peace. Heavenly Father, only You have the ability to halt the invading fear and pain fracturing our world.
Lord, in the name of Jesus, we ask You to eradicate COVID-19 and heal the hurting peoples of the world.
Lord, in an hour where many places in the world are being shaken by political, religious, and ethnic tensions, we thank You for empowering Your Church by the Holy Spirit to walk in love and unity. Deeply examine our hearts, so we can repent of every form of bias and prejudice toward other humans, based on their political affiliations, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. Fill us afresh with empathy love, understanding, and forgiveness, as the world around us erupts in tension and pain.
Lord, in the name of Jesus, we humbly ask You to heal our lands from political, ethnic, and religious, hatred and the division it fuels.