Steve Gentry
[0:00] Joshua [0:02] Chapter 10 [0:03] This is not gonna be our where we’re gonna be we’re gonna camp there [0:06] For the whole time. I’ll probably throw some other verses at you, but you won’t have to turn to them
[0:12] When I was in college when I was an undergrad decades ago [0:17] I took philosophy 101 [0:19] It’s actually one of my favorite classes just because [0:23] The professor was man. He was snarky. So I really enjoyed his snobbery and a sarcasm [0:29] But one day it was towards the end of the semester [0:33] His name was dr. Beck and he was
[0:35] Passing our term papers back to us [0:38] I mean, I mean it’s probably the last day of class before our final exam and you know [0:42] People are getting excited people are getting good grades [0:44] Some people are getting F’s and he passed me back my paper and of course, I got an A but [0:49] Actually, I do not remember what I got [0:51] I hope it was an A but uh and the guy that sat directly behind me
[0:57] Gave him his paper and [1:00] There was no grade on it. And so the guy looks at dr. Beck and says [1:05] What’s what’s that all about? And the dr. Beck says? [1:09] You’re gonna need to see me in my office after class. I’ve seen that paper before and [1:14] so what he had done is he had [1:17] Just gotten a paper from a friend gotten a paper from online got it somewhere plagiarized the whole thing and
[1:23] From my entire life I’ve never liked cheaters I’ve never liked cheating I hate plagiarism [1:28] I think it takes no integrity. So if you’ve ever done it before repent [1:33] But so I’m not gonna do that today. What I want you know is today our sermon the guy that [1:39] First preached this sermon not the whole thing just parts of it [1:43] His name is Stephen Furtick down in Charlotte, North Carolina [1:45] He wrote a book that I recommend you going on Amazon run up to Barnes & Noble
[1:50] See if they can get it for you [1:51] It’s called Sun stands still and a lot of the concepts and ideas from today’s sermon are coming from that [1:56] So I just wanted to put that footnote down there so that I’ll still have my integrity intact. All right [2:02] I love that. I sometimes come up with good ideas [2:04] I usually don’t so I didn’t come up with this idea, but I did write the sermon myself. I didn’t download it [2:10] I don’t want you get that idea. I’ve said too much, but I did write the sermon myself, but uh
[2:15] The concept comes from that and in Joshua chapter 6 is where we’re gonna check [2:20] Joshua chapter 10 is where we’re gonna be and what I want to do today is I want to give you an idea [2:25] of why we exist as a church and [2:29] I also want to give you an idea of where we want to go [2:33] This year as a church [2:37] 2010 honestly, it was an amazing year in the life of the village
[2:41] God moved in incredible ways and I want to start by giving you guys a little background as to how did all of this [2:49] Come to be where did we even start from? Where did we come from and really where the village came from was? [2:57] It probably seven years ago [3:00] Myself and the executive pastor Nate Schlum and sitting in a dorm at midnight and many late-night [3:08] conversations and just [3:10] Talking about the scriptures talking about theology talking about where God was taking us
[3:15] Just really wrapping our mind around part of this immense [3:20] God that we are privileged to know through Jesus Christ and through that we begin to become [3:27] Your typical idealistic [3:30] 25 year olds who think we can do everything better than people that have gone before us worked much harder [3:38] Gotten way more experience and we thought we were better [3:40] So what we started to do is we started to just look at the state of the American Church and say hmm
[3:47] I don’t think that’s good. Hmm. I don’t think that’s good [3:50] And that’s where it started from but a couple of years later [3:53] What happened in us is we became really convicted that we were against a lot of stuff and for very little and [4:01] That really is [4:03] Adolescence, isn’t it? [4:04] You’re against a lot you’re not for much you’re angry most of the time, but you’re rarely happy
[4:10] So what we did after a while as we began to sit down and hash out what exactly are we for? [4:17] Because the gospel is overarchingly positive. It’s not negative and [4:23] So we sat down and we began to just kind of put together a strategy for what would we do if we [4:32] were pastors
[4:34] And so out of those long conversations [4:37] Came a lot of prayer a lot of worship and God moved mightily in both of our hearts that he [4:45] Did not have the usual pathway for seminary graduates for us [4:49] But rather that he wanted us to start a church and to start far more than a church but to start a movement for the gospel [4:57] And so what happened is is we started a small Bible study in my house [5:01] And I was living in Lynchburg, Virginia at the time that grew and
[5:06] Just grew and grew and then out of that came a women’s Bible study because the wives of everybody was like what about us? [5:13] And most of the people didn’t come to church didn’t excuse me didn’t go to church [5:17] So what kind of spawned out of that was a movement of a bunch of guys from different? [5:22] States all the way from Alaska to San Diego to to unfortunately, North Carolina just kidding if you’re from there, but North Carolina [5:28] I tell that because the drummers from North Carolina, and we don’t get along
[5:33] but uh [5:34] It happens [5:36] From places like North Carolina from New Mexico just all over the United States and even now some people have come from Oregon and [5:42] And he brought us together in [5:45] Mellothian Virginia and what has come out of that has been the village church [5:50] And if you weren’t here a year ago
[5:52] This is a far different church than it was a year ago not just location [5:57] But size a year ago today, we probably had 23 people coming together and everybody be like I don’t think this is working
[6:06] But today we’re more than doubled that on a typical Sunday not January [6:12] Day is a January 2nd, but on a typical Sunday [6:15] We usually have over a hundred people in here [6:17] Worshipping God trying to figure out where our lives fit in the mission of Jesus [6:21] Because the thing that we’ve learned and the thing that we want to teach is not only does God want to connect yourself to him [6:27] Through Jesus, but he wants you to live a life of mission where you form a plan
[6:34] To actually be used by God to reproduce your faith in as many people as possible in your lifetime
[6:43] And that’s what we believe that’s our heartbeat [6:46] That’s what we want to see we want people to move from this static place of having [6:52] Redemption to a life where we’re moving with God in community with each other [6:59] Pushing his mission out into the culture around us all for the glory of God finding an end in worship
[7:08] Where we live to see the vision that God gives John the revelator in Revelation chapter 7 verse 9 where he says and [7:16] I looked around the throne of God and there were people from every tribe every tongue every nation [7:22] Gathered around the throne and saying [7:25] Salvation belongs to our God and that is the end that is where history is going [7:30] Maybe you think history is going where everybody gets a tattoo on their forehead and guillotine to chop people’s heads off [7:35] But history is going to the worship of God
[7:38] That’s where history is going and our cry and my plea is how can I be a part of seeing that happen? [7:46] Because for most of us what we do is we spend our lives saying man somebody should do something I [7:52] Know God’s gonna gather worshipers, but I guess he’ll do it himself because I’m not good enough to be used
[7:58] And you’re right when you say you’re not good enough [8:00] But God desperately wants to equip you and God wants to use you to bring his harvest in [8:07] He looked at a group of fishermen in the book of Matthew [8:10] fishermen tax collectors [8:13] publicans [8:15] People that weren’t rabbis people that weren’t even in the religious right at the time
[8:22] And he said look that field it’s ripe for harvest, but the laborers are few [8:31] And then he sent them out people who had no talent lacked education [8:38] But were caught up in a mighty move of God and trusted in him and had the audacity [8:50] To believe that God can use them to bring about bring about his purpose [8:59] And God has taken us from 15 people in September of 09 to over a hundred now [9:05] God has taken us from one Bible study that met on a Thursday night in some people’s house to eight
[9:12] Bible studies about to become nine and ten Bible studies community groups that meet during the week trying to strategize as to how [9:20] We can live the mission [9:23] So God is doing something he is moving [9:27] But what is very tempting for us to do is to stall out and say wow this is just bigger than I thought it would [9:33] I mean 75% of church plants fail, and it looks like we’re growing so maybe we could just stall out here [9:38] But what I want to do is I want to look at the scriptures today, and I want us to come together and say is that faith
[9:46] Hebrews chapter 10 verse 6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God
[9:53] So is it faith to look around us and say good enough? I? [9:59] Don’t think so
[10:03] So what I want us to do today is I want us to come together [10:05] I want us to get in his word and say what does it look like to have audacious? [10:10] faith that is daring and bold and it [10:15] transforms our lives and gives us a purpose worth living for [10:19] Beyond our paychecks beyond our plasma [10:24] Beyond our girlfriend boyfriend wife children is there anything that faith wants to do beyond that because for most of us
[10:33] We spend our time having faith that God will supply those things
[10:40] And usually those are the first things in our lives to fall apart [10:45] And when they do we say my faith has got nothing [10:49] It’s quite frankly. I think when we look at those things. We’re starting off in a faulty footing
[10:55] So where should we start off go to Joshua chapter 10
[11:01] I [11:02] Talked to you about a time when God did a miracle of cosmic proportions
[11:11] Miracles that we don’t think can really happen today [11:14] Let’s start reading in verse 6 and the men of gibbion sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal saying do not [11:21] Relax your hand from your servants come up to us quickly and save us and help us for all the kings of the Amorites [11:28] Who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us so Joshua went up from Gilgal [11:33] He and all the people of war with him and all the mighty men of valor and the Lord said to Joshua [11:39] Do not fear them for I have given them into your hands not a man of them
[11:46] Shall stand before you [11:48] first night or not [11:51] so Joshua [11:52] Came up excuse me went up from Gilgal he and all the [11:57] Lost my place sorry [11:59] So Joshua let me just be really frank with you for a second here my wife pointed out something to me a few weeks ago
[12:05] I’m going blind [12:06] Not many people know this I’m getting older and [12:11] When I’m up here [12:12] I always can’t always see my Bible and so sometimes I try to use the teleprompter that I have so so nicely put up [12:18] Here and so when they get slow sometimes I get too fast. I’ll try to switch back to my Bible, but remember I’m blind [12:26] So it’s really a delusion of grandeur on my part
[12:29] So Joshua came up pond them suddenly having marched up all night from Gilgal and the Lord threw them into a panic before [12:36] Israel who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Bethhoron and [12:44] struck them as far as [12:45] Azekah and Makkah and as they fled before Israel while they were going down the ascent of Bethhoron [12:51] The Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah and they died [12:57] There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword at that time
[13:05] Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel [13:11] And he said in the sight of Israel son [13:15] stand still at Gibeon and moon in the valley of [13:19] Eijalon and [13:20] The Sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on their enemies [13:26] Is this not written in the book of joshua?
[13:30] The Sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day [13:36] There has been no day like it before or since when the Lord heeded the voice of a man for the Lord [13:43] fought for [13:45] Israel [13:46] There’s two approaches we can take to this text the first approach is to explain this type of event away [13:54] Scientifically and say well the cosmos may have appeared through this or that or there’s another thing where you can just believe what the Bible says
[14:01] All right now. I’m not gonna spend a ton of time breaking science down [14:05] But what I’m gonna tell you is I’m coming coming at it from a presupposition that the Bible is true [14:10] All right and that on this day [14:13] Not only did God send a hailstorm that killed most of an army, but God literally either [14:20] Just simply made the Sun move along with the rotation of the earth or he stopped the rotation of the earth [14:28] And there was a 24-hour period where the Sun did not go down
[14:36] And we read this story [14:37] And I think a lot of times what we do is is we read the Bible and we look at it as if it’s like a movie [14:44] Or some type of book that isn’t necessarily true, and we’re like what an amazing story [14:50] What if that could actually happen?
[14:54] But here’s what I want us to do I want us to realize that these stories in Scripture happened and [15:01] That there were not just simply people [15:06] Who were of this great [15:08] monumental Marvel comics type of proportion where they’re [15:13] Superheroes that have a faith that’s like a superpower [15:16] But rather these are men just like you and I who are simply caught up in a monumental
[15:24] move of God and [15:25] actually believe that God can do the miraculous and
[15:32] but [15:33] What we do is is we often live life in light of these stories [15:37] And we say that’s my God, but we don’t literally believe that he can still move in [15:45] cosmic proportions in our lifetime
[15:52] Well that was the nation of Israel [15:56] He doesn’t do that we’re not his chosen people read Ephesians 1
[16:03] Read Romans 8 I beg to differ [16:09] Says in there that God
[16:14] Moved at the request of a man and that they’ve never seen a miracle like that before and they’ve never seen the miracle like that [16:21] afterwards [16:23] So the question that we have to come at this with today is [16:27] Where does faith like Joshua had there?
[16:33] Where does faith like that come from? [16:35] Where he looks up to the heavens and he prays usually we’re like God. Let me get to work on time [16:41] What I pray the game doesn’t rain out. I pray she’ll say yes when I ask her to marry me
[16:48] I’ve never looked at God and said Lord. I just prayed the Sun wouldn’t set [16:53] Well, that’s a ridiculous request yeah seems that way to me, but Joshua made it and it happened
[17:01] So can we [17:02] And I just want to get crazy [17:04] Can we put ourselves into a position in life where we pray for things like that and it might possibly happen?
[17:12] Track with me some of you were tuning out Steve’s gone crazy. He’s gonna be on TV in next week. No I have not and no [17:18] I will not all right [17:21] What I want you to understand is that this type of daring [17:25] Faith is not [17:28] Something that you can muster up from within you while you’re living life as usual [17:36] It must start far before that event will ever take place
[17:43] Or it is an out-of-the-ordinary [17:45] miracle the first thing I want you to understand about this miracle [17:48] Audacious faith is
[17:52] In a trustworthy God [17:55] Joshua’s faith was not the power [18:01] Joshua’s faith did not make the Sun stop moving God did
[18:10] Joshua did not have audacious faith that he could pull a Yoda and make objects move with his will [18:17] Joshua because quite frankly, that’s what we say what got you through this my faith [18:23] That sounds good, but that doesn’t make any sense [18:26] Your faith did not get you through God did [18:30] Your faith has no power the object of your faith is where the power is [18:36] I can have faith that I can run a sub five-minute mile all day long
[18:42] But it is not going to happen [18:46] There is no power in faith [18:50] There is power in the God who supplies the faith and you say what do you mean? [18:57] Joshua chapter 1 all right you don’t have to turn there [19:00] It’ll be up on the screens where did Joshua’s faith come from it did not come in that moment [19:05] It came far before that in Joshua chapter 1
[19:09] God says to Joshua [19:11] Behold to the Lord your God belong heaven excuse me wrong verse [19:16] Joshua chapter 1 every place [19:19] That the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you [19:23] Just as I promised to Moses from the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river the river [19:29] You freighties all the land of the Hittites to the great sea
[19:33] Toward the going down of the Sun shall be your territory [19:37] No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life [19:42] Just as I was with Moses so I’ll be with you and I will not leave you or forsake you then go back to Joshua chapter [19:49] 10 in Joshua chapter 10 in verse 8
[19:56] God does not tell Joshua anything new he reminds him of his original promise look in Joshua chapter 10 verse 8 when Joshua was [20:03] Preparing to go into battle God looks to Joshua and he says do not fear them for I have given them into your hands [20:09] And then look at this not a man of them shall stand before you God [20:14] Originally told Joshua that in Joshua chapter 1 so God is looking at Joshua and saying Joshua [20:21] remember [20:23] What I promised
[20:27] Joshua’s faith does not spring out of this place within him where he has the secret of positive thinking
[20:40] Joshua’s faith [20:41] Springs out of a trust in a God that he believes can deliver on his promises [20:48] And you say but come on a miracle of cosmic proportions can God even do that
[20:58] Joshua soon because and here’s why [21:01] Joshua had become before he became the leader of Israel [21:05] He had been basically the right-hand man of Moses if you know if you’ve seen the Charlton Heston movie [21:10] You know who Moses is he led the nation of Israel out of Egypt and he led them into the promised land [21:16] He did not come into the promised land [21:18] But Joshua had been side by side with him and Moses was the prophet priest and king
[21:22] Of Israel and as the prophet he received the law and he proclaimed the law to the people and in [21:30] Deuteronomy chapter 10 [21:33] Joshua had heard Moses say this in Deuteronomy 10 behold [21:37] To the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens the earth with all [21:45] That is in it [21:47] So Joshua believes that God can do miracles not because he’s just assuming
[21:54] But because Joshua believes that earth is God’s creation [22:00] He believes that the universe belongs to God more than that it’s not that God just has ownership God just [22:08] spoke and [22:10] It existed the scriptures then tell us and we see we have more revelation than Joshua does in Romans chapter [22:17] 11 the Apostle Paul writes oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God how [22:25] Unsearchable are his judgments how?
[22:28] inscrutable his ways now look at this for who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor or [22:35] Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid for from him and through him and to him are all? [22:42] Things to him be glory forever amen
[22:50] Joshua believes in a God that doesn’t just own everything [22:55] But he holds everything in his hand and everything moves at his will
[23:04] That this is a God that can speak and something that never existed before will just exist out of nothing [23:13] Earth was not a construction project it was a construction project [23:16] There was a spoken word poem exist poof exist poof exist poof
[23:24] There it was
[23:28] This is the God that told Joshua [23:31] Wherever the foot excuse me wherever the tread of your foot touches between this river that river where the sun sets over there [23:38] I’ve given it to you [23:40] There will be no obstacle there will be no barrier [23:44] There will be no stopping you and if anyone stands against you don’t be afraid of them because I’m going to remove them from [23:51] the equation
[23:53] So when Joshua goes into battle he goes into it with a belief and a trust in the promise of God [24:02] audacious faith is [24:05] based on promise and [24:09] purpose
[24:12] We are a silly people and I say that in the most loving way possible we are a people that will sit around
[24:24] And when things go wrong, and I’m not trying to minimize your problems don’t hear that but when things go wrong [24:32] Where are you God?
[24:36] When we lose our job, how dare you God? [24:40] When we get a bad report from the doctor does God exist [24:45] When our girlfriend or boyfriend breaks up with us, you can’t live
[24:54] You say my faith has gotten me nothing
[24:59] It’s probably because you didn’t have any faith to begin with [25:03] I’m sorry to say it like that, but I don’t know how else to say it [25:07] Faith is not something that gets you through a life of your own making [25:15] Faith is not the comfort to go through the life making decisions based on what you want [25:22] how you want life to look and how you think everything should be organized because that type of faith falls apart as [25:30] Soon as you lose any aspect of it. Here’s where faith comes from faith is
[25:37] hearing from God and [25:39] Believing the promises that he makes and a life coming out of that [25:46] That’s lived for the purpose that he has defined
[25:51] Faith is not a token comfort to get you through your day at work [25:57] Faith is believing that God put you in that job [26:01] To fulfill his purposes for that job. So if he takes your job out of the equation, is it gonna hurt? [26:07] Yeah, is it gonna stink? Yeah [26:09] but faith says I [26:12] Trust you God that this is part of your plan and living in light of his promise that he has put you into
[26:19] position for his name and for his renown and the furtherance of his purpose and [26:25] Getting up and walking headlong into a life where you are working and laboring for his purpose above your purpose
[26:34] That is faith
[26:39] And [26:39] So Joshua understand he does not have faith for God to give him a military victory [26:47] That’s not what Joshua’s faith is in if you read a couple of chapters earlier [26:52] Joshua lost a battle
[26:57] So that’s not what his faith is in his faith is in a [27:04] trustworthy God who holds the universe in his hand and then
[27:12] When that God says something
[27:16] Joshua says [27:19] Yes [27:20] That’s why faith is not some illogical leap into nothingness [27:25] It’s like I want to take a leap of faith on this one. No, you’re not [27:28] You’re just jumping into the Grand Canyon and you’re probably gonna die
[27:35] Faith is based on a God that is [27:38] Trustworthy because he is the most powerful being that has ever existed will ever exist and can insert himself into any situation [27:46] And bring about his will however he plans [27:49] Let me give you a little background on this story [27:52] Joshua was leading the nation of Israel and he has made a treaty with a large city and [27:58] Israel has brought the walls of Jericho down
[28:01] They have defeated AI at this point and this city has made a treaty with Israel and word [28:06] Reaches all the other people in the promised land and five other kingdoms joined together [28:13] To come against this city that is on the side of Israel and this city sends word to Joshua [28:19] He saw it in verse 6. Hey Joshua come down. We’re in serious trouble [28:24] So what you’re facing right now is five armies against one and a half armies [28:32] The odds are stacked against Israel, but you do not see Joshua send word I don’t know
[28:41] We’re just gonna have to sit this one out because those armies are too big let’s surrender [28:45] No the scriptures say and Joshua gathered up the army and he marched all night [28:52] To face five armies in battle [28:57] When audacious faith comes out of promises of God it will face any obstacle [29:04] for the purposes of God [29:07] Now I made mention a little bit earlier that this trustworthy God has revealed far more about himself now
[29:13] To us than he even had to Joshua because Joshua lived in light of a promises of what God was going to do [29:22] We do not only live in light of promises that God is going to do [29:28] we live in light of promises that God has made and [29:33] Delivered on time and time again [29:36] We live in light of the fact that God did make the Sun stand still we live in light of the fact that God [29:42] Did part the Red Sea we live in light of the fact that God did
[29:46] Deliver his people into the promised land and give them miracles not only that we live in light of the miracle that God [29:53] sanctified and preserved an entire nation for hundreds of years delivered them into captivity to preserve them [30:01] Judge them because they could not they could not follow his law to show their sin [30:06] And then he preserved them because he had sovereignly chosen that he would make Jesus [30:12] God the Sun and God the Sun would become a man and incarnate and come out of [30:19] Israel to redeem us from our sin to go to the cross take our sin from us
[30:25] Take the penalty for it onto himself and then give us his righteousness which we do not deserve [30:31] But he says if you trust me you’ve got it
[30:36] I’ll redeem you from your sins [30:38] I will make you my child the book of Ephesians the book of Romans and the book of Galatians say that God has [30:45] Adopted those who believe into his family, and he’s called us children of God
[30:53] And then he has said not only that I [30:58] Mean can you believe all that God’s done? He says not only am I gonna redeem you
[31:05] But I’m gonna restore you
[31:09] I’m gonna restore the earth
[31:13] And there’s coming a day when Jesus will return to reclaim his kingdom
[31:22] And he says you want proof I can do it
[31:27] Read all about the other stuff up done
[31:35] Paul says in Corinthians he says every promise [31:41] That God has ever made and will ever make [31:46] Finds its yes
[31:52] It finds its completion [31:54] In Jesus because God says my power is ultimately shown the fact that I can take rebellious [32:03] Sinful people and I can bring them to myself [32:07] through the work of my son and [32:11] I can redeem you and I can restore you and then this is the amazing part that while we’re living in light of [32:18] What God has done and what he will do while we’re living in light of the promises that he has made and the reality of
[32:25] The gospel centered life that we live in we are privileged to look to the future where he will restore his kingdom [32:32] Where we will have faith in the future grace of God and have hope that the problems that we have here is not the end [32:39] The finale nor is it that which defines us? [32:42] Rather what defines us is what God is going to do in the future and we believe it as if it has already happened [32:50] Romans chapter 8 Paul says he says dome those whom God foreknew he also [32:55] Predestined those whom he predestined he’s also justified those whom he’s justified
[33:00] He’s also sanctified and those whom he’s sanctified. He has also
[33:06] glorified and [33:07] That word glorified there’s very important because I don’t know about you [33:11] But I have not been glorified yet and when Paul wrote it he had not been glorified yet [33:15] But he had such certainty he had such finality in this promise from God that he says it’s so sure in the Greek [33:24] It is a complete word [33:26] Where he says it’s so sure I’m banking on it so much that I’m gonna write about it as if it has already happened
[33:35] Life must be lived in light of the promises of God [33:41] Where our purpose for living springs out of the trust in those promises
[33:50] That’s why the child of the King [33:53] Right after Paul writes those verses [33:56] He says what can separate us from the love of God and he gives such an exhaustive list I can sum it up with this [34:03] nothing
[34:06] The beginning of that chapter he calls us more than conquerors
[34:13] Where life because of the reign of sin on this current age will throw us hardship it will throw us [34:20] Trial it will throw us tragedy. Let me tell you I’ve seen tragedy this week [34:25] I’ve seen families in crisis just in this holiday season [34:29] I went to the funeral of a 16 year old the other day
[34:35] But in light of this great tragedy we look to our great God and King who makes the Sun stand still
[34:44] We can say with full faith I’m more than a conqueror I [34:50] Believe that God’s promises are yes
[34:57] But the purpose that we live for creates something
[35:04] It transforms us [35:06] Because if you look at the life of Joshua you look at a guy that just had humble beginnings as a slave in Egypt [35:12] But he was transformed into a faithful conqueror what happened because when you live with audacious [35:18] Faith in the promises of God that align your life with the purposes of God what happens is that you live with [35:22] What happens is audacious faith creates amazing [35:25] And that you begin to live a life of action
[35:33] Where you do not sit [35:35] Where you are not just a cynic where you’re not just a critic [35:40] Where you do not just deride other people and live a life filled with misery and hate [35:46] Where nothing ever happens, but instead [35:49] You live a life of action for the mission of God [35:55] Where you trust in his promises you want to be aligned with his purposes until you look to him you look to his word
[36:01] And what do you say?
[36:05] What do you want to happen to me God what do you want me to do [36:09] Isaiah chapter 6 we see Isaiah a prophet of the Old Testament [36:12] We see him caught up into the heavenly realm [36:16] We see him have this amazing vision of God where he stands before God and he sees the seraphim flying around him and his [36:22] Response is that he’s undone, but then God gives us this amazing picture where he purges Isaiah of his sin [36:29] What is Isaiah’s response to his transformation?
[36:31] Because God looks to him and he says who will go for us who will tell the world who will spread my name? [36:38] My fame my renowned who will tell people of my power and what does Isaiah say in his transformed state here? [36:44] I am send me
[36:48] God laid out his purpose for Isaiah plainly and clearly and Isaiah said I’m all in
[37:01] Because Isaiah [37:03] Saw the power and the immensity of God and he could not help but respond
[37:15] I [37:16] Want you to notice something about Joshua back in chapter 10
[37:23] Right after God looks to him and says Joshua let me remind you of my promise [37:30] What does it say what is Joshua’s response so Joshua came upon them suddenly [37:36] Having marched up all night from Gilgal [37:40] Now
[37:42] Furtick says in his book gotta read it
[37:47] He says if you want the Sun to stand still sometimes you have to march all night
[37:55] Notice that in this story
[37:59] The city sends out the cry
[38:04] And then the scriptures record and it says and he came upon them suddenly
[38:11] That’s interesting when you read it [38:13] The idea that it gives us grammatically in the Hebrew is that he came so quickly into the city that it shocked them [38:21] How fast he made it in other words Joshua heard the revelation of God God says nobody’s gonna stand before you don’t be afraid [38:29] Of these five armies coming against you and Joshua said hey guys. Let’s go and they basically [38:35] sprinted [38:35] To the city to see God
[38:40] Deliver them from these five armies
[38:44] In other words there was no doubt [38:47] If you ever had a moment in your life where you just don’t want to do something [38:52] You just aren’t in the mood for men. It’s like take out the garbage or mow the grass
[38:58] For women it’s laundry [39:00] All right for me is maybe if I can just put up with the stink of my son’s diaper enough my wife will come [39:06] In and she can change that diaper all right [39:09] When you are kind of fearful of things that are much larger than that you delay you delay you delay [39:18] Because you don’t want to do it because it’s gonna be hard
[39:24] Joshua was about to come against five armies. It doesn’t doesn’t get much harder than that and he sprints to come into battle
[39:34] Audacious faith that transforms you for the promises and purposes of God [39:39] Requires action [39:42] If there’s no action in your life for the kingdom of God for the name of God for the gospel of Jesus Christ [39:53] How can you say that you have faith [39:57] How can you [40:01] Let me ask you a question. What are you doing?
[40:06] What are you spending your life on? [40:09] Because what you’re spending your life on reveals what you really have faith in and if it’s not [40:14] Based out of the promises and purposes of God
[40:19] And you have faith in something else [40:23] But Joshua here we get an amazing picture of [40:26] Joshua having faith in the promises and purposes of God and it creates [40:33] Movement Joshua moves with God God says I’m gonna work over here [40:38] Joshua says that I’ve got to get over there as quickly as [40:42] possible so that I can take part in a great move of God
[40:50] Because God is moving on his behalf, so he has the strength and energy to move
[40:56] If you want to see God move you will not see it
[41:04] Inside of your plans [41:07] You will see it inside of God’s plans [41:12] Has God spoken to us and revealed his purpose
[41:20] Absolutely
[41:23] It’s the gospel
[41:27] Joshua didn’t know it [41:29] But God’s purpose for him [41:32] Was the gospel you say well Jesus hadn’t even come yet. No, but he was coming [41:40] And God needed to protect a people to preserve a bloodline for him to come [41:50] And that’s why
[41:54] He protects Joshua and the army because look it’s not easy to start with the Sun stand and still it starts with the nation of Israel [42:01] coming against these five armies so [42:03] Aggressively that they turn and retreat and God says wait a second. You’re not going anywhere hail
[42:12] And it says stones began to fall from heaven and it says the hail [42:17] Killed more people in that army than the army of Joshua [42:22] Did
[42:24] And Joshua in his mind he says they’re getting away we got to get them God says we’re gonna get them [42:30] I mean, he’s enjoying this and I you know I don’t want to get me ethics of enjoying fighting or anything [42:36] But uh Joshua was like this is good. We’re killing him on behalf of God God’s will is happening [42:41] We’re seeing his promise being fulfilled right now [42:43] But it’s getting dark and it’s gonna be hard to see him in the dark son stand still
[42:50] This springs out of a moment of great optimism where he’s seeing God move mightily on his behalf [42:56] So he asks for something absolutely audacious because he’s seeing something absolutely audacious happen [43:02] Have you ever been in a place in your life where you have seen God moving so mightily and so? [43:08] Crazily that you’re saying I’m just gonna ask for something crazy right now
[43:15] Probably not [43:17] Because you’re like a car God’s not Oprah
[43:26] Have you ever been in a place [43:29] Where you’re seeing people come to Jesus
[43:33] You’re seeing people gather in worship you’re seeing God change lives you’re seeing him redeem people all around you [43:42] And you cry out God move heaven and earth so that I can be a part of this if you haven’t
[43:52] That’s what God wants for you
[43:56] God wants to redeem your purposes to become his purposes
[44:02] God wants to redeem you so that you can become [44:06] Someone that sees redemption spring out of you and into others [44:09] Because audacious faith builds [44:14] a missional army [44:16] I want you to understand we read the book of joshua and quite frankly most more often than not what I see inside of [44:23] the book of joshua
[44:25] Is a story of a guy named joshua [44:27] look at joshua [44:30] But what here’s the crazy thing i’m almost done
[44:35] You don’t see this audacious faith just affecting joshua it’s not joshua against five armies [44:43] It’s the army of israel against five armies [44:47] Joshua was not the only one responding to a mighty move of God [44:53] Joshua hears from God and he tells the people and they say we’re in [44:59] And they ran with him they fought beside him [45:02] I mean these people people that we will never know the name of maybe once we get to glory
[45:08] We’ll know them we’ll meet them [45:09] But we do not know their name and we’ll never know them in our lifetime [45:13] They saw hail fall on their behalf [45:15] They saw the sun stand still when joshua prayed it and a missional army [45:21] Went after the purposes of God because they believed the promises of God that had been revealed to them
[45:29] You are not on an individual vision quest in your life [45:34] I just need to get alone [45:36] Just me and Jesus [45:39] That’s not what God wants to do [45:42] Read the scriptures that’s never been how God has worked [45:46] God works through communities of faith not just little bitty people of faith
[45:51] You say well what about moses [45:53] He led the nation out of egypt [45:57] What about Jesus there seemed to be 12 disciples and then a hundred and some odd people on the mountaintop when he ascended up into heaven
[46:07] What about paul never traveled along
[46:12] What about john all right he got me [46:14] He was he’s on the alipad most but it was a prison sentence. It’s an extraordinary thing [46:19] And I don’t think you want to be exiled [46:21] I can try to make that happen if you’d like
[46:29] What are you willing to do [46:30] What are you willing to do [46:35] What are you willing to do [46:36] [46:36] [46:36]
[46:36] What are you willing [46:36] What are you willing [46:36] What are you willing [46:36] [46:36] What are you willing [46:36] What are you willing
[46:36] What are you willing [46:37] What are you willing [46:37] [46:37] What are you willing [46:37] [46:37] What are you willing
[46:37] [46:38] What are you willing [46:39] What are you willing
[46:43] What are you willing [46:44] What are you willing [46:46] What are you willing [46:48] What are you willing [46:49] What are you willing [46:50] What are you willing
[46:51] [46:51] What are you willing [46:51] What are you willing [46:51] What are you willing [46:52] What are you willing [46:52] What are you willing
[46:54] What are you willing [46:55] What are you willing [46:55] say that had to be God. I look at what God has already done and we are not a [47:03] mega church. I look at what God has done in 12 months and I have no explanation [47:11] for why some of you are here. I have no explanation why some of you show up at [47:18] 645 and work until the service starts to set this all up. No human explanation.
[47:31] It is a mighty move of God. The question is, has God done yet? No.
[47:40] Joshua saw God do a miracle of cosmic proportions but I don’t want the focus to be on us [47:45] trying to make the sun stand still. I want it to be on us trusting God.
[47:50] Joshua trusted God’s promises, followed his purposes, heard his voice, and saw the miraculous.
[48:02] This year, how will you put yourself into those positions?
[48:09] How will you put yourself in a position where you even know the promises and purposes of God?
[48:17] How will you? How will you put yourself in the position to move with him and follow him? [48:26] How will you put yourself in the position to hear his voice?
[48:33] Who will you walk with in this missional army this year?
[48:41] Who will you walk with? Where will you be?
[48:47] Do we want God to show himself mightily on behalf of the village church this year? [48:52] Do we? Do we want to see him redeem more people? [48:56] Yes, here is our purpose. To see people redeemed by God and living his mission.
[49:05] Do you want to see it this year?
[49:11] Then start marching.
[49:14] Is it going to be easy? No. [49:18] Is it going to be trying? It probably wasn’t easy to march all night. [49:23] It was probably trying to march all night. [49:26] It took years for them to take the promised land.
[49:32] Do your intentions and actions spring out of a trust in God’s promises?
[49:39] He has promised us reconciliation with God through Jesus. [49:43] But he has also promised that we will become ambassadors of reconciliation. [49:49] That is what we must become to build his church. [49:52] That is what I want to see happen in 2011. [49:56] I don’t want to see us just gather a crowd on Sunday mornings. [50:00] I want to see us living for the redemption of Jesus and replicating our faith in as many people as possible in this year.
[50:08] If you live for any other purpose, you will go into 2012 with nothing but frustration, exhaustion and disbelief in God moving. [50:21] Because you have not been living for his promises and his purposes.
[50:31] Let’s pray. [50:31] Father, we love you. We praise you.
[50:44] God, give us audacious faith.
[50:49] God, that just simply means that we believe that you will deliver on your promises. [50:54] And it transforms our lives completely. [50:58] Lord, you have given us everything through the gospel.
[51:05] Lord, may we live through it and for it.
[51:12] Right now we are going to respond.
[51:16] We are going to worship. [51:18] We are going to proclaim our faith through communion.
[51:27] It represents the body and blood of Christ.
[51:31] It represents him taking our sin and giving us life through his sacrifice and his resurrection.
[51:38] If you are a believer, these tables are open for you. [51:41] But when you come, don’t just simply come out of tradition. [51:45] Come proclaiming that you want to live for the promises and purposes of God in 2011 and that you want to move with him.