April 24 | Waking with The Word | Joshua 10: 12-15

Joshua 10:12 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. My studies in the book of Joshua have been with the thought of Conquering our Canaan. With each battle, with each victory, with each defeat I believe there is a lesson to be learned for the christian who has left the wilderness in the past, passed through the death waters of Jordan and has decided that they'll spend their life where God wants them, even if that means a life of fighting. This Book of Joshua is full of miracles from God on the Behalf of his people and so will the Christians life, who has decided to follow Him wholly. This book typifies a victorious christian life, not a perfect christian life, that is reserved only for heaven. In this chapter they are fighting the people and kings of five different cities but Jerusalem(translation: city of peace) being the most well known and noteworthy. This miracle that God performs in our verses today wasn't the only miracle in the chapter: Joshua 10:11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, 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. This was a battle that couldn't afford to be lost. This was the fight of there life and victory was not an option but an absolute necessity, after all it was Jerusalem that lied in the balances. So we find God intervening in miraculous ways on the behalf of His people and His perfect will. There were battles that God allowed temporary defeat and short comings for the sake of teaching them, as well as us, a lesson. This was not that battle. God himself fought for Israel that day. Look to vs. 14 "for the LORD fought for Israel" Now lets put ourselves in their position. If we'll all be honest we have all had AI experiences, when because of sin in our life we become defeated. We've all at some point been deceived by the enemy like Israel was deceived by the Gibeonites in chapter 9. God allows those failures and shortcomings that we can learn from our mistakes and move on. Then there are those battles with the enemy, with self, with sin that we cannot afford to lose. These battles have our peace with God lying in the balance. Every person is different and therefore will battle with different sins, but you know the one that is most threatening the peace that you have with God. So what do we do when we find ourselves in the fight of our lives with the enemy, with self, with sin? Do like Joshua. He didn't want the sun to set until this battle was over. There are things so important that they require our immediate attention. Friend don't let sun set until the victory is won. What sin threatens you? What part of self threatens you? What attack from our adversary threatens you? Now consider what lies in the balance. Is it your family? Is it your testimony? Is it communion with your Lord? These are things that are far to precious to lose.There is victory in Jesus and never let anyone tell you otherwise. You say the battle is to hard and the adversary to strong. Is there anything to hard for God?! Is there a adversary stronger than the Captain of our Salvation? Without the intervention of God Israel would have been defeated. Without the intervention of God in your life you will lose the battle with sin, self and satan. The good news is that just like God intervened in their lives he can and has in ours as well. The Lord himself fought for them, and for us as well. He defeated death, hell and the grave. He was tempted in all points such as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN. God showed his strength for us in the perfect life he lived, the horrible death He suffered and the glorious Resurrection from death. Jesus can help you defeat the sins and temptations that put so much at risk. If experience has taught you think otherwise, consider Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Succour means: to surround,protect or aid. Jesus can aid you, surround you and protect you from sin, self and the enemy because He Himself has fought and won the war with sin. Go to the captain of your salvation. Tell him the sin that doth so easily beset you and He can show you how to be more than a conqueror. Friend don't let the sun set on your battle with sin. Rely on God for the victory. Onward Christians Soldiers!!!