The cover of this book comes with the byline: “What Happens When You Dare To Ask God For The Impossible”.
Pastor Furtick’s writing style may not come across as pleasant particularly for readers who belong to Gen X or earlier. Nonetheless, SUN STAND STILL comes packed and loaded with a battery of truths to re-awaken our ho-hum Christian mind.
Here is a sample for the uninitiated reader: “I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years. In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.”
The chapters of this book are as follows:
1. Welcome to Audacious Faith
2. Prayer That Stops the Sun
3. Page 23 Vision
4. The Sun Stand Still Lexicon
5. Ignite the Ordinary
6. Wave Jumper
7. Tiny Babies, Giant Faith
8. The Surcharge of Sacrifice
9. The Simplest Systematic Theology Ever
10. Hear. Speak. Do.
11. The Solid Ground of Audacious Faith
12. Mistake into Miracle
13. When the Sun Goes Down
14. Pray Like a Juggernaut
15. Permission to Pray Practically
16. Sweet Southern Audacity
17. Push While You Pray
18. From the Promise to the Payoff
19. Ten Dimensions of a Sun Stand Still Prayer
20. In the Middle of a Move of God
The theme of this book is presented seamlessly from start to finish and pivots around Joshua’s Sun Stand Still prayer and the Page 23 vision from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (written by Pastor Jim Cymbala).
Along the way through this book, the author managed to sneak-in theology in his characteristic lingo. So, just when you thought that Christian literature has peaked, Pastor Furtick is pushing the limits and expanding the boundaries of writings in Christendom.
Here are just some examples of the theology-simplified:
• Hearing the Word initiates faith. Speaking the Word activates faith. Doing the Word demonstrates faith.
• Twelve Audacious Faith Confessions:
1. I am full forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation.
(Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 1:7-8; 1 John 1:9).
2. I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation.
(Joshua 10:12-14; John 14:12).
3. I have no fear of anxiety; I trust in the LORD with all my heart.
(Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7).
• Prayer is the arena where our faith meets God’s abilities. …
Two of my favourite excerpts are as follows:-
“How did God choose to accomplish the redemption of the world? By His grace – and through the willingness of Jesus to sacrifice His life. How will God accomplish the impossible vision He has planted in your heart? By His grace – and through your willingness to sacrifice your life for the sake of Jesus. I’m not suggesting that you’ve got to work really, really hard for God to work in you. That’s heresy. Grace is something God works in you. And by that grace, He works faith out of you.”
“Your vision should never be limited to who you are or what you think you can do. The size of your vision isn’t even determined by who God is. The scope and impact of your vision will be determined by who you believe God is – and whether you have the courage to respond accordingly. If you’re going to have a Page 23 vision and Sun Stand Still prayers, you’ve got to have the right idea about who God is to you and what He wants to do through you.”
Read this book and feel the excitement of living in the Kingdom of God as Pastor Furtick narrates his real life encounters and firm grasp of theology in his down-to-earth let’s-get-going style. Blessed reading!
STEVEN FURTICK is the founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, named by Outreach magazine as one of the top ten fastest growing chruches in the nation.
Learn more about the Sun Stand Still Movement at www.sunstandstill.org
Please feel free to check out 2 of my favourite Christian bookstore and resource locations:
• The Ink Room
• SKS Book Warehouse
On 28 December 2012 morning, while commuting to work, the following Bible verse from Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV) popped up on my mobile phone:-
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
Having read and reflected on it, I left it at that and immersed myself with activities for the day. After work, I would take the train and alight at an interchange station and changeover to another train for my final stop. That evening though at the interchange, I had a clear and deep impression to board the next train towards its centre segment although I would usually get in at the front segment to my right.
I felt good and at peace to follow the prompting although I do not understand what this could mean. No big deal, I thought to myself. If that's what the Holy Spirit is directing, then that's what I need to do. Well, from the little experiences that I had had before on other circumstances, I have found that God already know in advance that which has not unfolded in the realm of time.
It was a humdrum ride and I alighted coolly at my final stop. As I proceeded to the exit, lo and behold, I saw one of my cell group member, Charles Cheong, seated on a bench waiting for the train which will be coming on the adjacent platform and heading to the opposite direction. Man, was I glad to bump into him. I felt like I had not seen him for the longest time (we were together in cell group meeting two Fridays ago). We talked and fellowshipped for a while before I went on my way.
Then, I knew what God was setting me up for. This is but a small glimpse of divine connection. It's like what Pastor Steven Furtick says in his book "Greater" that while we dream big dreams, we start smaller -- a whole lot smaller. In this connection, he also recalled that the German-born evangelist Reinhard Bonke had preached before that "Peter didn't actually walk on the water. He went walking on the word. He stepped out onto c-o-m-e." (page 45, Greater, by Steven Furtick).
Dear friends, the issue for us today is not whether God is still speaking. The truth is God is always speaking to us. Consider, Hebrews 1:1~2 (NIV):-
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe
As we spend time with God and study His word, we will hear His Voice. Get hold of Bible study resources in print or on the internet (e.g., www.biblegateway.com), and let the Holy Spirit teach us: What does the Word say?; What does it mean?; and How does it apply to me?.
Truly and verily, Jesus says to us in John 10:27 (NKJV) and Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) as follows, respectively,:-
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
God loves us and knows everything about us-- our hope, aspirations, dreams, shortcomings, shame, and what-nots. But, hey, God is speaking to us through Jesus today. And, eventhough, Jesus has ascended to heaven and seated at God's right hand, He has not left us as orphans by sending the Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us in the way that we ought to proceed for His glory.
The crux of the matter is: What is our response to the voice of God? Will we come to Him when He says, "Come!" Will we go to all the worlds, when He says, "Go!"
There is no other way to be happy IN JESUS, but to Trust & Obey. After all, Almighty God Himself has this to say concerning His only begotten Son:-
Matthew 17:5 (NKJV)
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Mark 9:7 (NKJV)
And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Luke 9:35 (NKJV)
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
As we raise our flutes to greet the New Year 2013, let's toast it with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- Who is THE SUPREMO WHO'S WHO of our life.
