Planet Pausing Prayer

Roger W Piger

Joshua • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Transcript

Joshua 10:1–15 ESV

1 As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it. 6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 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.” 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword. 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, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel. 15 So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Review- Avoiding the Willy-Nilly Wonky Way-

Don’t suffer the ill affects and consequences that arise when we fail to seek His counsel prior to making a decision.

Don’t become sidetracked from God’s blessing by avoiding the Wisdom and Word of God.

WE focused last week, primarily on the negative. We saw from Joshua and the leaders of Israel, what not to do. We also saw from the example of the Hivites, the destructive effects of deceit and lying as they became slaves to the people of God because of their scheming and deceitful behavior.

This week we are going to focus on the positive. The wonderful illustration of Joshua’s . . .

Review- Avoiding the Willy-Nilly Wonky Way-

Don’t become ineffective in glorifying God by failing to seek His counsel.

Don’t become sidetracked from God’s blessing by avoiding the Wisdom and Word of God.

Earth Altering Intercession

Planet Pausing Prayer of Unmatched Proportion

Joshua 10:13 ESV

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

Joshua 10”

Sundown Slowing Supplication

Revolution Reseting Request

Earth Altering Intercession

Before we get to the specific prayer that I am referring to I want you to see something very important. God’s Promise!

Joshua 10:

Joshua 10:7–8 ESV

7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 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.”

The Promise of God

God made a very clearly descriptive promise to Joshua.

“Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man shall stand before you.”

Joshua 10:9-

Joshua 10:9–11 ESV

9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

The Israelite men of war marched through the night 25 miles to ambush the Canaanites, who were attacking the people of Gibeon.

They ambushed them. If you are a history buff, and have read the many accounts of the Wars throughout history, you can find countless stories of amazingly heroic feats, that were accomplished by great soldiers, many of whom used surprise and unexpected tactics to accomplish victory. We know from history these kinds of events are not exclusive to the Israelite’s Conquest of the Promised Land. But there is something additional in this story, which I believe teaches us more than any military authority or war strategist could ever teach us. and we read about it in remaining verses of our text this morning.

Joshua 10:12–14 ESV

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, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Joshua

Joshua’s prayer

“The tool that God uses to empower human endeavor with supernatural results.”

It was a planet pausing prayer of unmatched proportion. “There has never been another day like it.”

This was Joshua’s request concerning events surrounding something God had already promised He would do. Yet he spoke to the Lord and asked for Him to intercede in a particular way, in a miraculous way, even as God had already been at work during the battle by causing hailstones to kill the enemy.

God’s Words- “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon in the Valley of Aijalon.”

After considerable reflection and study, it is my opinion that those were the words of the LORD (Yahweh) after Joshua spoke with Him.

Lessons for Us:

From this planet pausing prayer we learn a few things

Prayer is effective!

When done properly, it will always bring results!

How to Pray is taught by Christ and the example of the early church in Scripture. For the sake of time, we will look at just one example of a prayer of the early church members.

Acts 4:23–31 ESV

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:23

Recognize God’s Sovereignty

Recognize God’s Creative Power

Recognize God’s Redemption

This is something that we can surely rest upon!

Recognizes God’s Continuing Work

“The tool that God uses to empower human endeavor with supernatural results.”

“A means of accessing the power of God, for the glorification of God.”

When you pray, do pray expecting God to do great things?

When you pray, do you expect the unexpected?

When you pray, do you desire to see God glorified?

Then you better pray for things that are not possible for man to do!

James 1:

James 1:5–8 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

What can you ask for, without any doubting?

Joshua could have prayed for the Lord to extend the day, and the Lord could have opted for another solution. BUT HE DIDN’T!

When we consider that the Old Testament narrative points forward to the work of Christ, and we see that Christ’s ministry on earth, affected peoples physical lives in many miraculous ways, we must confess that the greater purpose, the far more significant work of Christ was a Spiritual work. Just as I believe the possession of the Promised Land was more of a spiritual event than a physical event. Think back over the portions of the book of Joshua that we have discussed so far in this series of messages. Each time something significant takes place it always has a spiritual cause and effect. God was working through the Israelites everyday lives to show them His goodness, His power and His commitment to keep His Covenant promises.

This wasn’t just true for the Israelites, This is true for us today.

Richard Foster (Quaker) says, “Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life.”

I believe our most frequent and most significant prayers ought to be concerning our spiritual lives, our “abiding in Him” and the spiritual lives of the people God brings us into contact with.

John 15:5–7 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John

Did you hear that? If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

So what are examples of things that we can and should be praying for?

Wisdom- In how best to glorify Him

Faith and perseverance

“Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

During the Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and Hopeful, while they were in the cage in the Castle of Despair needed hope, which is so closely tied to our faith.

Paul’s prayer in 16-21

Ephesians 1:13–17 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Ephesians 1:16–21 ESV

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

and His prayer in

Ephesians 3:14–20 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

What a joy and a blessing it is to be able to pray such things for one another.

We have many examples of incredible prayers, and incredible answers to prayers, but one thing is certain, we can pray for more faith, more understanding and more wisdom.

Boldness in proclaiming the Gospel

WE can pray for more Boldness in proclaiming the Gospel, just as the early church did in and Paul does on several occasions in his letters to the churches.

We can pray for additional creativity in serving others and serving God.

We must act! WE cannot expect God to move when we are not acting in faith, when we are doubting His goodness.

Prayer itself is confessing our dependance upon the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe. It is also a privilege to know that our prayers are effective and active in accomplishing the will of God. They are effective in bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.

There are many means which God uses to guide people to Himself. Many of us in this room have personal testimonies of how God drew us to Himself, and many of those testimonies involve, the prayers of people just like you and I, people who prayed for boldness, who took action and walked in obedience to His voice when He answered.

How wonderful it is to lead someone who is at enmity with God, to a place of faith and trust in Him, and to a place of abiding in Him, effectively waging war against the Father of lies.

Will you take up the cause? Will you call out your voice in prayer, asking for God to open the eyes of the lost in our community? To grant us boldness in proclaiming the Gospel in a time when so many even within the church today are apathetic and indifferent to spiritual things and even more apathetic about the spiritual needs of the people around us.

Joshua fought a battle against the five kings, though it was a physical battle, we know that it was also a spiritual battle. God was using the Israelites to pass judgement upon the wicked Canaanites. Even as Joshua and the army fought, he sought God’s help, effectively allowing them to conquer the enemy and take a major victory for God and His people.

We have another example of one who fought a battle. In fact, this example was the one to whom Joshua’s life was pointing to. This warrior however, was fighting on our behalf. That is Christ Jesus. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords humbled himself, cried out for victory and chose to obey the Father’s will and in so doing He won for us the victory over sin and death so that we could have Life everlasting!

As I close this part of the service in prayer, I’d like to ask the worship team and the elders to come forward as we sing a song that speaks to the very topic I have been preaching about this morning.

Prayer & Singing

Communion- Remembrance of His sacrifice and victory!

Christ, who is the very son of God, and is God Himself, prayed earnestly! How much more ought we to seek God’s help and wisdom and way, by praising Him, and asking Him to intercede in the circumstances of this sin cursed world, to bring His glory to a place of greater recognition and esteem.

Those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ as Lord and Savior have been given FREEDOM from death and sin.

Romans 6:1–14 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6

Paul addressed this very thing in . In this chapter he encourages us to remember that we who have died with Christ are also raised with Christ and therefore, we have been set free from sin. He then goes on to encourage us in our daily lives, in

Romans 6:12–14 ESV

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

If you have been struggling with sin. If you have been suffering from lack of faith, from doubt, from discouragement, from unrighteous anger, from lust, from greed, from discontentment or pride. Or if you have been bound by the chains of either cynicism or apathy. I want to encourage you to take back your freedom. Cry out to God to help you win these battles and seek His help in persevering in holiness.