WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:07.900 I told you the last time I spoke in our church, I tend not to sleep very well the night before I preach. 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:10.779 I toss and turn and bits of the sermon go through my head. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:14.939 And the last time I preached at home in Cork Baptist Church on Curtin Street, 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:21.140 the dream I had was that I was really tired and I fell asleep during the service. 00:00:21.859 --> 00:00:27.719 And when I woke up, Pastor Eddie Duaney was preaching because they couldn't wake me up and I didn't preach. 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:37.259 Well, last night my dream was, I was in Cork Baptist Church at 10 to 12 when I suddenly said to Alwyn, 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:40.460 I'm meant to be down in Carragalline preaching this morning. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:46.179 So I don't tend to put too much authority on what I dream as guidance. 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:57.000 Anyway, I know you've been going through Joshua and I'm going to continue, I think, where Johnny left off the last time. 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:05.099 And I'm going to be looking at prayer in Joshua, or not prayer, as we read this morning. 00:01:06.039 --> 00:01:14.739 So I just want to read a few verses to go back a bit and then read some verses from chapter 10, or from chapter 10. 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:20.479 So if you could turn first of all to Joshua chapter 7, this is what you would have done the last time. 00:01:27.219 --> 00:01:34.419 Remember how Achan had sinned and the Lord had sent judgment on the people and had been defeated by the Gibeonites. 00:01:34.420 --> 00:01:44.140 And we read in chapter 7 and verse 6. 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:56.200 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:59.879 The elders of Israel did the same and sprinkled dust on their heads. 00:02:00.740 --> 00:02:01.760 And Joshua said, 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:10.080 Ah, sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? 00:02:10.700 --> 00:02:14.159 If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan. 00:02:14.540 --> 00:02:16.920 Oh Lord, what can I say now? 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:22.780 Now that Israel has been routed by its enemies, the Canaanites and all the other people of the country will hear about this. 00:02:22.780 --> 00:02:27.740 And they will surround us and wipe us out, will wipe out our name from the earth. 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:30.819 What then will you do for your great name? 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:34.219 That was one of his prayers. 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:40.120 And then we read, going to chapter 9, what Ralph just read. 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:46.840 And we read there that they did not inquire of the Lord. 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:50.479 When they didn't pray, Joshua had prayed. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:52.360 You see an example now of him not praying. 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:55.400 I just want to go to chapter 10. 00:02:57.340 --> 00:03:01.000 And verse 12, 14. 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:07.580 They again attack the Amorites in this time that they're successful. 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:09.400 And this is a prayer. 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:15.620 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel, 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:18.599 O sun, stand still over Gibeon. 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:21.060 O moon, over the valley of Ajalon. 00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:27.819 So the sun stood still and the moon stopped till the nation avenged itself and its enemies. 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:31.460 So there are three examples of prayer. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:36.379 And I want to take, what can we learn about prayer from Joshua? 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:43.919 Now, I think, I think, learn at least 13 things. 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:45.780 13 point sermon. 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:47.680 So we should be here till nightfall. 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.379 No, I hope to get through it in 30 minutes. 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:53.359 So Johnny said, you can preach for longer and then they won't think I'm long. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:56.760 There you go. 00:03:57.780 --> 00:04:02.780 So looking at verse 15, they did not inquire of the Lord. 00:04:03.640 --> 00:04:05.280 And why didn't they inquire of the Lord? 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:09.020 Well, because they thought they had got it all covered. 00:04:09.920 --> 00:04:11.000 You know, they had been suspicious. 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:15.200 Maybe these people had come close by so they asked the right kind of questions. 00:04:15.860 --> 00:04:17.040 They'd investigated. 00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:19.500 They were quite thorough about it. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:20.700 They asked lots of questions. 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:24.460 They even went as far as tasting the food to see was it moldy. 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:26.540 They looked at the cracked wineskins. 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:30.140 They looked at their sandals and saw they were all worn out. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:34.240 They had all the angles covered, they thought. 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:36.439 Everything checked out. 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:40.180 So they didn't bother inquiring the Lord. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:44.439 Now I ask the question, is there something that I'm going through? 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:45.759 Is there something you're going through? 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:48.740 Some decision you have to make. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:51.779 And you've weighed up all the pros and cons. 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:53.680 You've got advice. 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:56.500 You've looked at it from all the different angles. 00:04:57.339 --> 00:04:58.959 You've considered the various options. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:03.939 And with everything there, it's all very neat, all very straight. 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:05.519 You've calculated everything. 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:08.500 You think, that's the decision I'm making and I'm going with it. 00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:10.879 You've made up your mind because you're clear about it. 00:05:12.459 --> 00:05:13.600 Have you asked God? 00:05:14.339 --> 00:05:16.079 Even for those straightforward decisions. 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:19.660 They thought they were making a straightforward decision here. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:24.079 They'd forgotten that they should inquire of God. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:34.060 In my preparation for this, it's been funny how many times I've been brought up short by the Lord and said, 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:35.859 Philip, have you prayed about this? 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:38.000 Straightforward, ordinary decisions. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:40.579 Do we bring them to the Lord? 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:43.120 Because if we don't bring them to the Lord, it's a bit like saying, 00:05:43.659 --> 00:05:46.899 you know, I come to you with the big stuff, God, but, you know, these kind of things, 00:05:46.979 --> 00:05:48.839 I can handle them on my own, to be honest with you. 00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:50.699 I actually don't need your help with these. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:52.439 I'm okay with this by myself. 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:57.019 In fact, that's what we're saying if we don't bring these things to the Lord. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:01.920 It smacks, perhaps, of arrogance on our behalf. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:06.160 We shouldn't just ask God when we're in doubt or unsure. 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:11.339 We should constantly be asking God's advice, constantly coming to Him. 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:13.939 I wouldn't want this to paralyze anybody. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:16.379 I'm not saying that we should say, should I clean my teeth? 00:06:16.540 --> 00:06:17.920 How long should I clean my teeth for, Lord? 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:21.800 You know, it should liberate us, bring everything. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:23.079 To the Lord. 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:31.959 James chapter 1 says, in verse 5, if any of you lacks wisdom, ask God, and it will be given to Him. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:41.040 Proverbs chapter 3, in verse 5 and 6 says, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:42.900 That's what the people were doing. 00:06:42.900 --> 00:06:45.400 They were leaning on their own understanding. 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.960 They thought they'd worked it all out. 00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:49.460 I say that to anybody here. 00:06:49.520 --> 00:06:50.280 I say it to myself. 00:06:50.780 --> 00:06:55.860 If you think you've got it all worked out, you're leaning on your own understanding. 00:06:56.320 --> 00:07:01.600 Know in all our ways, we should acknowledge Him, and He will direct our path. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:05.320 We should be praying about everything. 00:07:06.820 --> 00:07:10.740 Colossians 4, verse 2 says, devote yourselves to prayer. 00:07:11.640 --> 00:07:15.540 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 17 says, pray continuously. 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:20.200 Philippians 4, verse 16, bring everything to God in prayer. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:24.279 So, to sum up, point 1 of 13. 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:28.899 Never forget to keep on praying about everything all of the time. 00:07:29.479 --> 00:07:29.979 Point 1. 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:34.740 I'm glad to see that Joshua did learn that he needed to bring everything to God in prayer. 00:07:35.099 --> 00:07:41.199 We see at the end of Joshua, when he was dividing up the land that they had conquered to the different tribes, 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:45.300 he brought that to the Lord and asked God's direction on it. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:49.500 How did Joshua pray? 00:07:49.579 --> 00:07:50.319 What was his attitude? 00:07:50.840 --> 00:07:51.860 What was his demeanor? 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:58.319 In Joshua 7, verse 6, we read, he was face down to the ground. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:03.439 Earlier on in chapter 5, when he realized he was in the presence of the Lord, 00:08:03.580 --> 00:08:07.900 it says, Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence. 00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:11.460 When he prayed, he was very reverent. 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:12.400 He was submissive. 00:08:13.080 --> 00:08:14.240 He came in great humility. 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:20.840 When we pray, we must remember who it is that we're praying to. 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:26.319 He's the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the One who is above all others. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.100 He's the Great I Am. 00:08:28.460 --> 00:08:29.319 He's the Almighty. 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:33.539 Psalm 11, verse 9 says, He is holy and awesome. 00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:39.340 That is the kind of God we're coming to. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.100 I found it very useful looking back at Joshua 5, 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:45.920 when Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence. 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:48.680 And he asked, What message does my Lord have for me? 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:51.879 Now listen to the answer. 00:08:52.920 --> 00:08:56.259 Take off your sandals for the place you are standing. 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:57.720 It's holy. 00:09:00.920 --> 00:09:01.779 Holy ground. 00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:06.299 I know we're always in the Lord's presence. 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:07.419 We must remember that. 00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:15.159 But in prayer, we are coming in a very special way into the very presence of God. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:21.559 We are seeking an audience with the King of the universe, with the Almighty. 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:25.239 We mustn't come flippantly. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:33.019 I hear people talking about God, and they talk about God as the man in the sky, the man up above. 00:09:34.859 --> 00:09:37.879 Almost like he's some sort of buddy of ours. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:40.759 Now God is our friend, absolutely. 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:45.559 But we must come to him with all due reverence. 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:54.059 And it was very helpful to me to consider that I am standing on holy ground, or kneeling on holy ground, or driving on holy ground. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:54.959 That's where I'm praying. 00:09:55.599 --> 00:09:58.559 When we come into God's presence, we are on holy ground. 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:01.739 And we should do it with much dignity. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:12.419 When we consider God's holiness and his awesomeness, and we consider our sins and our frailties, 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:18.980 surely like Joshua, we will feel like we need to bow down with our faces to the ground in reverence. 00:10:20.820 --> 00:10:26.779 But in light of all that I've just said, isn't it amazing and wonderful that we read in Hebrews, 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:30.100 let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence. 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:39.779 Or let us approach the throne of grace boldly, so that we may find, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:43.339 The second point, we need to hold these two things together. 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:48.879 Come to prayer with great reverence, but come to prayer with confidence. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:49.899 Point two. 00:10:50.319 --> 00:10:51.500 Straight on to point three. 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:54.860 We pray to a God who listens. 00:10:54.860 --> 00:11:05.360 When he came in the prayer of chapter 7, he laid out his concerns to God, and then we read, 00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:10.800 and then God said to Joshua, he spoke to him, told him what the problem was. 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:16.840 In chapter 10, when he prayed for the sun to stop, it stopped. 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:20.120 God listens when we pray. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.700 The Bible makes it very clear that God listens to our prayers. 00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:27.279 Psalm 10, verse 17. 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:30.000 You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted. 00:11:30.340 --> 00:11:33.220 You encourage them and listen to their cry. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:35.159 Psalm 116, verse 1. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:38.000 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice. 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:40.100 He heard my cry for mercy. 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:44.659 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on his name as long as I live. 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:49.300 That wonderful verse, Isaiah 65, verse 24. 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:52.259 Before they call, I will answer. 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:55.500 And while they are still speaking, I will hear. 00:11:56.859 --> 00:12:01.879 When we pray, our prayers don't just bounce off the ceiling and come back. 00:12:02.339 --> 00:12:05.259 They go to a God who listens. 00:12:06.859 --> 00:12:11.259 God doesn't just listen and sit there and go, hmm. 00:12:12.859 --> 00:12:13.459 Interesting. 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:19.360 No, God listens. 00:12:20.420 --> 00:12:21.660 But we pray to a God. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.259 Point four. 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:24.600 We pray to a God who responds. 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.840 The sun stood still. 00:12:28.420 --> 00:12:29.360 The moon stopped. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:35.180 In Joshua chapter 7, when he came and said, Lord, why will we be destroyed by the Amorites? 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:35.980 What's happened? 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:36.639 I don't understand. 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:37.720 We're going to be wiped out. 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.100 God listened. 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:45.440 And God responded and said, like you learned last week, this is what you need to do to resolve the problem. 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.159 This is why you were defeated. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.019 God listens. 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:51.800 Point five. 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:53.080 God listens. 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:54.600 God responds. 00:12:55.420 --> 00:12:56.200 We listen. 00:12:56.920 --> 00:12:57.759 We respond. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:01.759 Throughout the book of Joshua so far, we've seen this recurring theme. 00:13:02.439 --> 00:13:07.360 And the Lord said to Joshua, and then Joshua does what the Lord has said. 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:09.279 Think of the Jericho example. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:19.679 You know, when the Lord told Joshua how to defeat Jericho, he didn't say, oh, God, I'm not sure that's such a great idea. 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:22.480 I mean, the way you defeat cities isn't like that. 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.759 I'm a military man. 00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:24.779 I know how to do it. 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:29.379 No, he listened to what God had said. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:34.759 In Joshua 7, the way they had to deal with Achan and his family, I'm sure that was very painful. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:37.579 It was very difficult what had to happen. 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:40.600 And yet he had to do it. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:47.960 If we pray about something and ask God's guidance, he hears and he responds. 00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:48.980 Well, how does he do that? 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.840 Do we hear his voice audibly? 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.379 Perhaps sometimes, yes. 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:57.120 But mostly, he does it through the Holy Spirit as we read his word. 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:02.019 We must listen then to what God leads us to do. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:07.679 We must pray acknowledging that God is sovereign and acknowledging his lordship. 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:13.779 Ultimately and simply, we don't get to tell God what to do. 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:17.559 He lovingly tells us what is best for us. 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:21.199 And we as his children must listen and be obedient. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:29.220 And yet, aren't there times when we feel mystified and confused and full of doubt, 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:33.060 and we don't know why God is doing certain things in our lives. 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:36.120 We come to God. 00:14:36.780 --> 00:14:38.980 We think, you know, you listen. 00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:41.680 You respond. 00:14:42.420 --> 00:14:44.120 But why are you doing this in my life? 00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:45.200 I just don't understand. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:52.980 I want to read Joshua 7, verse 7 to 9 again. 00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:59.379 This is Joshua's experience. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:02.100 He felt this confusion that we sometimes feel. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:04.320 Joshua 7, verses 7 to 9. 00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:07.040 And Joshua said, 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.860 Ah, sovereign Lord, 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:12.580 why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:14.740 to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites, 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.720 to destroy us? 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:19.120 If only we'd been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.139 Oh Lord, what can I say? 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:24.379 What can I say now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:28.320 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:31.360 And they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:33.620 What then will you do for your great name? 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.159 He was saying, 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.879 Look, but you promised. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.440 You promised to be with us. 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:40.720 You promised we were going to defeat the enemies. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.519 You told us the land was going to be ours. 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.639 And now we're defeated. 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:45.419 And people will hear about it. 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.539 They'll gang up on us. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.439 They'll attack us. 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.120 I don't understand. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:52.720 I love the honesty of this prayer. 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:55.500 You know, 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:59.559 don't the Psalms do the same thing an awful lot? 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:00.220 They say, 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:03.120 Lord, I'm trying to live a good life. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.519 I'm trying very hard to follow you. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:07.399 And yet my life is such a mess. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.340 Things don't work out. 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:10.019 I'm disappointed time and time again. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.820 And I look at these people over there. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:12.980 They don't love you. 00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:14.240 They don't care about you. 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:16.539 And their lives are running along really smoothly. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.019 It's not fair, God. 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.879 I don't understand. 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.259 Point six. 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:23.240 Pray honestly. 00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:25.480 Tell him how you feel. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:28.159 Bring your confusion and your doubts to him. 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:30.120 Admit your concerns and your doubts. 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:34.000 And then, like Joshua, 00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:35.700 wait on the Lord. 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:36.960 Listen to him. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:39.220 Acknowledge his sovereignty. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:43.279 Note how Joshua began this prayer. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.500 He was full of doubt. 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.779 He was full of confusion. 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:49.019 And he starts it off by saying, 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:51.120 Ah, sovereign Lord. 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:54.779 So bring your concerns to the Lord. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.519 But remember, point seven. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:00.399 We pray to a God who is sovereign. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.319 We pray to a God who is in control 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:04.779 and will do what is best. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.900 He was confused. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.799 He was mystified. 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.720 He was in great distress. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:11.960 He told the Lord the danger that they were in. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:17.519 And he asked the Lord to glorify his name. 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.240 Verse nine. 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:23.299 Sometimes life is so confusing for us. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.059 Life can be so difficult to us. 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:28.480 Lord, we just have to place ourselves 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:31.159 in the hands of an almighty God 00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:32.720 and say with Joshua, 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:36.779 What will you do now for your own great name? 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:41.639 Lord, may you be glorified in this. 00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:42.839 Point eight. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.539 We should look in our prayers 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:48.259 to the glory and honour of the Lord. 00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.839 Now, that's not easy. 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:52.000 Oh, when we pray. 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:56.079 If you just think about the prayers you pray, 00:17:56.419 --> 00:17:57.039 don't we tend, 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.539 our prayers tend to be taken up with, 00:17:58.899 --> 00:18:02.939 Lord, I want A, B, Z, D, E, F, G, H. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:05.659 And that's what prayer often is, isn't it? 00:18:05.959 --> 00:18:07.679 We present our requests to the Lord. 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.259 We present our needs to the Lord 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:11.259 and we ask him to do things for us. 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.659 And that's good and proper. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.500 But surely above all, 00:18:15.939 --> 00:18:16.899 what our prayer should be, 00:18:16.959 --> 00:18:18.439 and this is a difficult thing for us to learn, 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.920 we need to take our eyes off ourselves 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:22.360 and our needs 00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:24.279 and seek, first of all, 00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:27.460 the glory and honour of the Lord. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:30.340 What then will you do for your great name? 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.900 That was his concern. 00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:35.320 It's not about us. 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.160 It's about God. 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.660 A little aside. 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:44.720 You notice when he prayed, 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:50.740 he didn't pray by himself. 00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:53.900 You see the beginning there. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.460 Then Joshua tore his clothes 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.779 and fell face down to the ground 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.759 before the ark of the Lord, 00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.980 remaining there till evening. 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:05.800 The elders of Israel did the same. 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.800 He wasn't praying by himself. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.460 He was praying with others. 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:11.980 Nine. 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:15.960 It's good to pray together. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.940 It's good to come together 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:19.019 in your home groups, 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.799 your cell groups, 00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:21.079 and pray together. 00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:23.619 It's good to pray with the Lord's people. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.000 It's a huge encouragement. 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:28.180 Don't neglect going to prayer meetings. 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:30.720 It's good to pray together. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.019 Point ten. 00:19:32.419 --> 00:19:33.379 It's good to pray alone. 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:35.539 Joshua also prayed alone. 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.619 We've seen that. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.839 Eleven. 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:56.259 We pray to a God of power. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:02.759 Joshua 10 and verse 13. 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:11.220 So the sun stood still 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:14.000 and the moon stopped. 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:16.420 It's impossible. 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.420 I'm telling you, 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.759 that is impossible. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.200 Like the Jordan River, 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.579 rising up, 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:27.599 it's not possible. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.920 I'm no physicist. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.720 I'm no astrophysicist. 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.779 But I'm telling you, 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.860 that is impossible. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.900 It cannot happen. 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.920 If it did happen, 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:41.019 I don't know what would happen. 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.539 The world would spin off 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.799 and out of control. 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:45.079 The universe would collapse. 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.039 It's not possible. 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:52.559 Is there anything that God cannot do? 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:55.460 It says in Luke 1 verse 37, 00:20:55.940 --> 00:21:00.059 for nothing is impossible with God. 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.279 If God created the universe, 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:04.740 he is the sustainer of the universe. 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:07.460 If God wants to stop the solar system 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.220 and it's tracked 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:10.180 and there not be calamity, 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.799 he can do that. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:14.240 God is a God of power. 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:17.279 We pray to a God of power. 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:19.940 There is nothing too big for him. 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:21.759 There is no problem too big. 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.639 You might say to me, 00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.119 Philip, well, 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.419 it's easy for you to say that. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:27.099 If you knew the problems that I have, 00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.899 if you knew the situation I was in, 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.799 you would say, 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.919 you can't pray like that. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:34.200 We're praying to a God 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:37.259 who can stop the universe. 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:40.080 We're talking to a God 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:43.580 who if he chose to stop the solar system 00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:44.620 in its tracks, 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:47.100 he can do it. 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:49.940 There is no problem too big 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.700 for our God of power. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:56.480 There is no sinner too sinful 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:58.019 that cannot be saved. 00:21:59.080 --> 00:22:01.440 There is no failure in your life, Christian. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.460 That will keep you from the Lord 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.759 if you return to him. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:09.279 He's waiting there to welcome you back. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.920 Whatever your situation, 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:16.160 God is able to handle it. 00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:19.779 But you might say, 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:22.500 Philip, but I've prayed. 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.539 I've prayed to this God of power. 00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:27.700 I believe in this God of power. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:29.060 I've prayed to him. 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:31.360 I've prayed for a job. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.839 And I haven't got it. 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.779 I've prayed for a husband. 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.959 I've prayed for a wife. 00:22:36.219 --> 00:22:37.919 And the Lord hasn't given one to me. 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.559 I've prayed. 00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:43.719 And I've prayed really believing 00:22:43.719 --> 00:22:44.799 and really trusting. 00:22:45.179 --> 00:22:46.299 I've really had faith. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.659 I've prayed for healing. 00:22:48.199 --> 00:22:49.719 And the person died. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:54.920 What are you talking about praying to a God of power for 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:56.660 when he doesn't answer prayers? 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:02.259 I think there's a lot of nonsense and rubbish 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:05.680 doing the rounds about what prayer is about 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.640 and the purpose of prayer at the moment. 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:10.900 You'll hear people say, 00:23:11.020 --> 00:23:12.620 well, if you have enough faith, 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:15.080 God will answer your prayer. 00:23:17.560 --> 00:23:19.340 So the reason you haven't got what you want 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:20.800 is because you didn't pray with enough faith. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.060 Or, 00:23:23.300 --> 00:23:24.759 if you say, 00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:26.140 well, I did pray with huge faith. 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.080 I really expected. 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:29.180 Ah, well, it's because of unconfessed sin then, 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.560 isn't it? 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:32.140 You obviously didn't deal with unconfessed sin. 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.580 If you dealt with your own confessing, 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.980 then God would answer. 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:38.880 Other people would say, 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:41.120 well, it's because you didn't pray it right. 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:43.800 You've got to find the right formula. 00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:45.980 And if you pray in the right way, 00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:49.920 then that's how you get God to give you what you want. 00:23:50.020 --> 00:23:52.100 That's the way you get God to answer your prayers. 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:56.520 A little story that really helps me with this 00:23:56.520 --> 00:23:58.960 is the story of the little boy 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.940 who says to his sister, 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:03.039 go and ask mum, 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:05.539 can we have a bar of chocolate before dinner? 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:09.279 So the little girl goes out to her mum 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.380 and says, 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.000 mum, 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:14.740 can we have a bar of chocolate before dinner? 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.779 And the mum says to her, 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:17.779 no. 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.320 So the little girl comes back 00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:22.880 and the little girl says to her brother, 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.000 oh, 00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:25.840 she didn't answer me. 00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:28.580 Well, she did give an answer, 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.620 but the answer was, 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.700 no. 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:34.100 We read this in the Bible. 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:38.200 We read that Paul had his thorn in the flesh. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.059 He had this problem in his life. 00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:40.920 We're not told what it was, 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.960 but there was some problem. 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:44.840 And he prayed with great earnestness. 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.579 I am sure, 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.740 being the Apostle Paul, 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:49.319 he prayed with great faith 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:52.799 that the Lord would take this out of his life, 00:24:52.959 --> 00:24:53.599 this problem, 00:24:53.699 --> 00:24:54.359 this difficulty. 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:57.119 He prayed three times. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.659 Everything leads us to believe 00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:02.419 he prayed with great passion 00:25:02.419 --> 00:25:05.079 that the Lord would take this difficulty out of his life. 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:07.399 But the Lord said no. 00:25:07.399 --> 00:25:11.359 Our own Saviour, 00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:13.259 Matthew 26, 00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:14.139 verse 39, 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:16.359 he fell with his face to the ground 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:17.139 and prayed, 00:25:17.399 --> 00:25:18.039 my father, 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.619 if it is possible, 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:22.119 may this cup be taken from me. 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:27.879 Did Jesus have unconfessed sin in his life? 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.380 No. 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.420 He had no sin in his life. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.400 If there was a particular formula 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.440 that needed to be prayed, 00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:35.320 if there was a certain way 00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:36.200 that had to be prayed, 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:37.660 surely he would not. 00:25:39.300 --> 00:25:41.020 He prayed with perfect faith. 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:44.839 He fell down with his face to the ground 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.240 and prayed, 00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:45.799 my father, 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.680 if it is possible, 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:49.680 may this cup be taken away from me. 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.720 Yet, 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.920 not as I will, 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:55.980 but as you will. 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.680 Thirteenth point, 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:02.460 pray in the will of God. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:04.700 That's what we should be seeking to do, 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:07.220 to pray in the will of God. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.359 When we're praying, 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:10.839 yes, 00:26:10.979 --> 00:26:11.959 bring our requests, 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:12.819 yes, 00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:13.819 bring our concerns, 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:16.539 but ultimately, 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.439 we should seek at all times 00:26:18.439 --> 00:26:20.199 to allow the Lord to change our hearts. 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:23.659 Not that we would seek to change God. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.959 As I said already, 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.500 we don't get to tell God what to do. 00:26:26.979 --> 00:26:28.599 He gets to tell us what to do. 00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:30.740 And we should be coming to him and saying, 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:32.619 what is your will in this? 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:36.479 And that will change the way we pray. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.160 Yes, 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:40.920 God is a great God of power. 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.380 And yes, 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:43.180 the sun did stand still. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:43.599 Yes, 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.799 the moon did stand still. 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.279 Yes, 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:46.700 Joshua prayed and it happened. 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:48.860 But let's look 00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:51.680 at the context in which this happened. 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.819 Verse 8, 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.880 the Lord said to Joshua, 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.579 do not be afraid of them. 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.400 This is the Amorites 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:01.519 who had already defeated them. 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:03.960 And now God was going to give them the victory. 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.079 The Lord said to Joshua, 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:06.199 do not be afraid of them. 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:08.899 I have given them into your hand. 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:11.019 I have given them into your hand. 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.259 Verse 10, 00:27:14.439 --> 00:27:18.059 the Lord threw them into confusion. 00:27:18.919 --> 00:27:19.720 Verse 11, 00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:24.720 the Lord hurled down large hailstones on them. 00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:28.799 The Lord showed that he was destroying these people, 00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:30.099 not the Israelites. 00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:33.159 He was the one in control. 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:36.000 It says there's more died from the hailstones 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.539 than died by the sword. 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.539 Verse 12, 00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:45.500 on the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel. 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.980 Constantly it's getting us to understand 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:51.000 this is the Lord's work that's being done. 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:53.839 Verse 14, 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:58.059 surely the Lord was fighting for Israel. 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:01.460 The passage is of pains to point out 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:04.700 that what is happening here is God's will. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.400 God is in control. 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:10.240 Joshua didn't just suddenly think out of his own head, 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.960 oh I'm going to pray for the sun to stop 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:13.240 so that we can finish our job. 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:18.319 I'm sure God laid it on his heart to pray this. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:21.440 This was part of God's will. 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:27.579 I'm sure that God directed Joshua to pray such a prayer. 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:31.339 Pray in the will of God. 00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:36.480 Prayer should not be about seeking to force God 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.940 to see things our way 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:40.799 and to do what we want him to do. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:44.200 But we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.759 and by reading his word 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:49.559 and we seek his will and his glory. 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:53.819 Seek in prayer to be in harmony with the Holy Spirit. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.259 And just to finish up, 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:59.740 one thought that I found really helpful 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:01.139 because sometimes I say, 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:04.079 I don't know how to pray in the will of God. 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:06.779 I don't know what God wants me to pray for. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.919 I'm really confused. 00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:10.359 Maybe I'm praying the wrong thing. 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.859 And that would be terrible. 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:17.200 1 John 5 verse 14 and 15 says, 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.359 this is the confidence we have in approaching God. 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:24.259 That if we ask for anything according to his will, 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.299 he hears us. 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:27.859 And if we know that he hears us, 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.200 whatever we ask, 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:31.339 we know that we have what we asked of him. 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.139 So we can come with confidence, 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:36.259 knowing that we can ask for anything. 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:38.140 If it's in his will, 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:39.640 he will give it to us. 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.160 Anything. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:43.119 Imagine that. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.059 Whatever we ask, 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:47.180 if it's in alignment with God's will, 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:48.519 he will do it. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.319 But still we're faced with a problem. 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:55.079 What happens if I'm not praying in his will? 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:56.119 And with this, 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.099 I promise, 00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.279 I'll finish. 00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:00.439 Romans 8, 26. 00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:06.079 In the same way, 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:08.379 the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:11.699 We do not know what we ought to pray for, 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:15.460 but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:17.539 that words cannot express. 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:20.559 And he who searches their hearts 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:22.600 knows the mind of the Spirit 00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:25.460 because the Spirit intercedes for the saints 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:28.440 in accordance with God's will. 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:31.799 So if you come in all honesty before the Lord, 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.140 saying, 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:36.259 and lay out your heart before him, 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.200 we can have great confidence 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:43.620 that the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God, 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.240 knows the will of God, 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:47.380 and prays along with us 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:50.100 and even for us. 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:53.180 So there are at least 13 things 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:55.620 we can learn about prayer in Joshua. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:11.140 pizza, 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:13.000 armour,