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Every Single Word: Joshua 10:1-15 — 12/3/2024 10:00 AM

Today's chapel speaker is Dr. Thomas White, President of Cedarville University. Speaking from Joshua 10, Dr. White teaches that our view of God is too small, so we must respond with a passionate pursuit of the Almighty.

Notes

Our View of God Is Too Small: Lessons from Joshua 10

Do you believe in a big God or a small God? Joshua 10 challenges us to examine how we see God and respond to His greatness. Too often, our faith, prayers, and actions reveal that our view of God is far too small. Joshua 10 is a story of mistakes, miracles, and God’s unmatched power. In Joshua 9, Joshua made a mistake: he entered a covenant with the deceptive Gibeonites without seeking God’s counsel. But when the Gibeonites later called for help, Joshua honored his word. Rather than sulking over his mistake, he failed forward. God took Joshua’s error and turned it into an opportunity, bringing multiple enemy nations into a vulnerable position. In the battle, God didn’t just intervene—He overwhelmed. He threw the enemy into confusion, rained hailstones from heaven, and even made the sun stand still at Joshua’s request. This extraordinary miracle was God’s response to an audacious prayer from a leader who believed in a big God.

Key Lessons from Joshua 10

  1. Fail Forward: Mistakes don’t have to define us. When we stumble, we can follow Joshua’s example and move forward in faith. God can redeem our failures for His glory.
  2. God’s Sovereignty Doesn’t Excuse Passivity: Joshua and Israel didn’t sit back and watch. They marched through the night, fought with all their might, and trusted God for victory. God’s sovereignty invites active participation.
  3. Bold Prayers Reflect a Big View of God: Joshua’s request for the sun to stand still wasn’t timid—it was audacious. And God responded. Too often, our prayers are small because we don’t truly grasp the greatness of the One we’re praying to.

Application: Pursuing the Almighty

  1. Reassess Your View of God: Struggling with miracles in Scripture? Questioning God’s ability in your life? Perhaps your view of God is too small.
  2. Pray Bold Prayers: What is your Bold, Audacious Request (BAR) of God? Let your prayers reflect His greatness.
  3. Stay the Course: When you make mistakes, don’t give up. Keep pursuing God with passionate faith, trusting Him to work even through your failures.

Joshua’s story reminds us that God’s greatness is beyond comprehension. Our response to Him reveals the condition of our heart. Will we stay small in faith, or will we passionately pursue the Almighty, believing He can do far more than we imagine? What’s your prayer today? Will you set your BAR high and trust the God who made the sun stand still?

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