Message from the Pulpit- Daylight Savings Time
In the USA, the daylight savings time is observed. In March, the clock is sprung forward an hour and in November, it is rolled back an hour. One of the few reasons this is done is for economic purpose. I'm sure there are many other reasons, but that is not the focus here.
The focus of the message from the pastor was centered around Joshua 10: 12-14. It was that time when the sun stood still. Joshua asked the Lord for the sun to stand still and the Lord commanded the sun to stand in its place and it did. Technically, it was the earth that stopped rotating on its axis, but I won't get into all that scientific stuff here.
A little backdrop to the story would be beneficial don't? Ok, so Moses had died and the baton was passed to "Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant" Joshua 1:1 NKJV to lead the Israelites out of the wilderness into the Promised Land. The Lord anointed Joshua for this all important mission. Joshua was fearful but as with all other things, The Lord has reassured us that He will always be there for us. Joshua was given that same assurance. The Lord spoke to him saying, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so will I be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you" Joshua 1:5 NKJV. And that is just what happened. Joshua and the Israelites slew all their enemies as soon as they rose up against them. Others became fearful; one in particular were the Gibeonites (read Joshua 9). As a result, they in their fearfulness, decided to become woodcutters and water carriers for the Israelites Joshua 9:21 NKJV. The other kings would soon hear about the treaty/contract that was signed between the people of Gibeon and the Israelites. The other kings planned to attack the Gibeonites. Word went up from their camp to Joshua and his army about the impending war. Joshua, now has to make a decision, will he return to help his friends or will he advance without them? That my friends is the climax of the story. Joshua made a treaty with the Gibeonites, one that he knew he had to honor.
Most of us as Christians are fortunate to be called out of our situations and for some, we find our way into the safe arms of the Almighty. But, you see the big mistake some of us make is this, when we are back into His loving arms, we leave our friends and relatives behind. The truth is, for most of us may have never even shared a scripture or even a testimony with them. We have to try to be good witnesses at home before we can go out in the missionary field. Are we really honoring our contracts with The Lord when we do that? Remember, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" Romans 13:9 NKJV.
Joshua asked the Lord to let the sun stand still so that he could have some more daylight saving time to defeat the enemies who had escaped from him. Had it gotten dark, they would have escaped and live to fight another day. Saints, we do have some time (though brief it may be) to share the gospel with our neighbors before probation closes. We owe this to our Gibeonites, just as how Joshua pledge his loyalty to them. We owe it to them, to ourselves and to God. The gospel needs to be preached with urgency. We all have been given a commission and that is to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you... Matthew 28: 19-20 NKJV.
The focus of the message from the pastor was centered around Joshua 10: 12-14. It was that time when the sun stood still. Joshua asked the Lord for the sun to stand still and the Lord commanded the sun to stand in its place and it did. Technically, it was the earth that stopped rotating on its axis, but I won't get into all that scientific stuff here.
A little backdrop to the story would be beneficial don't? Ok, so Moses had died and the baton was passed to "Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant" Joshua 1:1 NKJV to lead the Israelites out of the wilderness into the Promised Land. The Lord anointed Joshua for this all important mission. Joshua was fearful but as with all other things, The Lord has reassured us that He will always be there for us. Joshua was given that same assurance. The Lord spoke to him saying, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so will I be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you" Joshua 1:5 NKJV. And that is just what happened. Joshua and the Israelites slew all their enemies as soon as they rose up against them. Others became fearful; one in particular were the Gibeonites (read Joshua 9). As a result, they in their fearfulness, decided to become woodcutters and water carriers for the Israelites Joshua 9:21 NKJV. The other kings would soon hear about the treaty/contract that was signed between the people of Gibeon and the Israelites. The other kings planned to attack the Gibeonites. Word went up from their camp to Joshua and his army about the impending war. Joshua, now has to make a decision, will he return to help his friends or will he advance without them? That my friends is the climax of the story. Joshua made a treaty with the Gibeonites, one that he knew he had to honor.
Most of us as Christians are fortunate to be called out of our situations and for some, we find our way into the safe arms of the Almighty. But, you see the big mistake some of us make is this, when we are back into His loving arms, we leave our friends and relatives behind. The truth is, for most of us may have never even shared a scripture or even a testimony with them. We have to try to be good witnesses at home before we can go out in the missionary field. Are we really honoring our contracts with The Lord when we do that? Remember, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" Romans 13:9 NKJV.
Joshua asked the Lord to let the sun stand still so that he could have some more daylight saving time to defeat the enemies who had escaped from him. Had it gotten dark, they would have escaped and live to fight another day. Saints, we do have some time (though brief it may be) to share the gospel with our neighbors before probation closes. We owe this to our Gibeonites, just as how Joshua pledge his loyalty to them. We owe it to them, to ourselves and to God. The gospel needs to be preached with urgency. We all have been given a commission and that is to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you... Matthew 28: 19-20 NKJV.
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