Untitled Sermon (2)

The Day the Sun Stood Still

January 16, 2011

Matt Todd

In preparation for this morning’s sermon, I’ve come to discover that the message is really directed at just one person in this room this morning. Me. You’re invited to listen in as I preach to myself, though. Something tells me I’m not the only one who needs to hear it.

One of the books that i recently completed reading was one that spoke to me in some pretty uncomfortable ways. It’s one of those books that I have a love/hate relationship with. The Author hits the nail on the head in many areas and he essentially kicks me in the teeth with some of his hard-hitting commentary about how we live as Christians in the United States.

In this book, the author tells the story of George Muller*, a pastor in England for more than sixty years in the 19th century. David says this about George Muller:

“He was best known for the orphan ministry he began. During his life he cared for more than ten thousand orphans. Remarkably, and intentionally, he never asked for money or other resources to provide for these orphans. Instead, he simply prayed and trusted God to provide.”

The author continues, “When I read Muller’s biography, I was shocked to learn why he started the orphanage. His primary purpose was not to (simply) care for orphans. Instead, he wrote in his journal:

‘If I, a poor man, simply by prayer and faith, obtained without asking any individual, the means for establishing and carrying on an Orphan-House, there would be something which, with the Lord’s blessing, might be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the children of God, besides being the testimony to the consciences of the unconverted, of the reality of the things of God. This, then, was the primary reason for establishing the Orphan-House…the first and primary object of the work was (and still is:) that God might be magnified by the fact, that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only by prayer and faith without anyone being asked by me or my fellow-laborers whereby it may be seen, that God is faithful still, and hears prayer still.’”

He concludes this story with this thought: “Muller decided that he wanted to live in such a way that it would be evident to all who looked at his life – Christian and non-Christian alike – that God is indeed faithful to provide for his people. He risked his life trusting in the greatness of God, and in the end his life made much of the glory of God.”[1]

That’s some pretty audacious stuff, isn’t it? He had a bold confidence in God and His provision, didn’t he? When I read that the first time, had to pause for a moment. It led me to ask myself, “Do I have faith like Muller’s?”

And in the weeks after I first read this account of his life, I find myself continuing to ask this question. What kind of faith do I have? Do I really believe that God will provide in His own perfect timing all of the things that I need? Do I really believe that? What if God called my family to do something like that? I don’t think I would never be able to do that. There’s too many bills to pay. I have a family of five to take care of. What about paying for their school, helping out with college. I can come up with reason after reason of why living on such an audacious and bold faith is not in my future.

It’s just too…impractical.

It’s just too…impossible.

It’s just too…crazy.

Maybe you’re like me. When presented stories and opportunities that sound pretty outlandish, I generally focus on that which cannot be done. Instead of seeing the opportunity, it’s much easier to focus on the obstacles.

So the real question is this: Do I believe that God is really God or not? Do I believe that He will do what He says He will do? Or am I merely content in believing in a challenging but not overly challenging, powerful but not too powerful, big but not too big and really rather small kind of God?

God is at work accomplishing His amazing plan. He has invited us to join Him in carrying out this plan. Our purpose is to make His name famous throughout the world. And that happens when people see God’s power at work through us. But are we really willing to rely on His power and His power alone? Or do we need to have a safety net – just in case? I’m reminded of a quote by Mark Batterson, a pastor in Washington, DC, who likes to challenge his congregation to

“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.”

[2] God has so much in store for us. And His power can be displayed moment by moment through our lives – if only we decide to give Him enough room to work through it. Are we audacious enough in our faith to live our lives in such a way that when people look at us, there’s no question that God is the One who moved in our lives? Are we audacious enough in our faith to live our lives in such a way that we can approach the throne of the Living God with confidence and can bring our bold requests before Him? No mountain is too big. No obstacle is too great. Jesus never promised that our lives would be comfortable when we choose to follow Him. He did, however, show us that a life that is committed to following God’s direction will be an amazing journey – even if you never leave your home town.

Mike Yaconelli, who was the co-founder of Youth Specialties, a training and encouragement resource for people in youth ministry around the world, said this

“If I were to have a heart attack right at this moment, I hope I would have just enough air in my lungs and just enough strength in me to utter one last sentence as I fell to the floor: ‘What a ride!’ My life has been up and down, careening left then right, full of mistakes and bad decisions, and if I died right now, even though I would love to live longer, I could say from the depths of my soul ‘What a ride!’”[3]

Can you say that? Looking back on your life, can you declare “What a ride!”?  The Scriptures are full of accounts of people who had the audacious faith to follow God’s direction wherever He led and could ultimately look back on his life and declare, “What a ride!” His name is Joshua and his story is told in, conveniently enough, the book of Joshua in the Old Testament.

If you have your Bibles with you – and I hope you do – please turn with me to the 10th chapter in the book of Joshua.

Joshua was an apprentice, so to speak, of Moses when he led the people out of Egypt. He served as Moses’ second in command during the exodus out of slavery and the subsequent journey towards the Promised Land. He had seen God at work time and time again. He was one of the people who walked across the Red Sea – on dry land. He, along with the rest of the children of Israel, had been fed by the hand of God Himself with the miraculous appearance of quail and manna on a daily basis. He knew that God was leading them and he was confident in God’s power. When the people of God approached the Promised Land, Joshua was one of the twelve spies who were sent into the land to scout the territory. He and Caleb were the only two who believed that God would provide them victory over their opponents. After all, He had already brought them this far. Why would He turn back on them now?

As we have studied this book, we have seen God do some amazing things. Stopping the Jordan from flowing, Bringing Down the Walls of Jericho, giving the victory over AI. The news of all of these were beginning to spread across the land as they heard of this people who had God on their side.

Because they could see God at work in their lives, the enemies of God’s people joined forces to put a stop to their advance. Five kingdoms joined together to attack the Gibeonites, who had formed a treaty with Joshua and the people of Israel. But Joshua knew the power of God and that He was fighting with them. So he responded to the threat of their enemies with boldness.

Joshua 10:1–11 KJV 1900

1 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; 2 That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. 3 Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. 7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. 8 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. 9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

Joshua and his troops were surely exhausted. They had just marched all night in order to confront the enemy head-on. Joshua saw that they were on the verge of victory when the sun was beginning to set. The onset of darkness would mean that the enemy could escape. It would be like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. “Joshua needed a special act from God to enable him to claim the victory the Lord had promised.”[4] Because He had seen God’s hand at work time and time again, he had the boldness to pray what might be the most audacious prayer contained in Scriptures. This was bigger than making a mountain move. This was bigger than making dry land out of the Red Sea. This was a request to alter time itself.

Joshua 10:12–15 KJV 1900

12 Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. 13 And 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. 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel. 15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

Read 10:12-15

The sun stood still. We don’t know how God did it. But He did. The world watched as time stopped and allowed the people of God to protect their new allies.

That’s an amazingly bold prayer, isn’t it? It was born out of Joshua’s experience as an eyewitness to God’s power throughout his own personal history. You and I have seen that same God at work, revealing His majestic power time and time again. We have thousands of years of recorded history, showing how God has moved in and through His people to the glory of His own name. We also have our own stories. I have seen God move mountains. You have, too. We’ve seen Him restore broken marriages. We’ve seen Him bring healing to the sick. Even the fact that you and I are here, misfits that we are, is a testament to the life-changing power of God, isn’t it? We have seen Him do the miraculous time and time again.

When Joshua saw an opportunity for God’s fame to be spread through His people, Joshua asked the impossible. And he and his troops kept fighting, confident that God was going to do what He said He would do.

I want that kind of faith! I want the kind of faith that can make the mountains crash into the sea. I want the kind of faith that can make the sun stand still. I want to live out my faith in such a way that I can look back on my life and echo the words of Mike Yaconelli – “What a ride! What a ride!”

That can only happen if I get out of my comfort zone. That can only happen if I step out on faith and become the person God has planned for me to be. That can only happen if I allow Him to work on me, in me, and through me. I have seen God do amazing things, but I believe it’s only the beginning. God is calling all of us to follow Him with audacious faith. That might mean we look ridiculous at times. People might question our sanity. But asking the sun to stand still isn’t exactly the most sane prayer, is it? It breaks every law of physics and time that we know of – doesn’t it? But God is a big enough God to alter time and space for His own. So again, the real question is: Do we really believe God is God? Or do we just believe in a safer, more comfortable version of Him?

Is there an area of your life where God is calling you to look ridiculous? When you look at what you’re sensing God is inviting you to do, it can be easy to focus on that which cannot be done. The challenge this morning is to take the opportunities that God has offered us and audaciously live our lives in boldness for Him – wherever He may lead.

When my kids were younger, they discovered a new game they loved to play. They would climb up on to something, the back of a couch, the top bunk, and say catch me daddy and without a moment hesitation, they would jump. If I didn’t catch them, there was great potential we could have wound up in the Emergency Room with a broken tailbone or arm or who knows what else. But they were confident that I would catch them. They had absolutely no fear because they knew there Dad would keep her from hitting the ground. It freaked me out every time they would do it because they would usually wait until I was on the phone or studying or just wasn't ready or expecting it!. But they would jump. And they would expect me to catch them.

They had a bold, audacious faith in there Dad because they had seen me catch them time and time again.

I wonder if we one of the things that holds us back in this kind of Bold, Audacious faith, is that we have not seen God working in our lives. Rather than trust God to take care of us, we have trusting in ourselves, our planning, our ability.

Does this negate our responsibility to be faithful to God as we serve him? No, it doesn’t. But we worry when we should trust, we plan and work sometimes, when we should just be still and know that He is God.

God has and will do the same thing for us. Time and time again. And He will continue to do even greater things to us, in us, and through us. After all, if God could cause the sun and moon to stand still, He can surely provide for us in whatever He has called us to do and be. Let’s start taking greater steps of faith today and watch how God shows up in unexpected, yet remarkable, ways![5]