Final Words - Joshua 23

Now, I would have posted on this message yesterday, but unfortunately I ran out of "Daylight". Not really, I could've posted this, but I think I was to lazy yesterday to get around to doing it. You have probably already started school, as have I. Actually, we started full force on Monday, but we started several weeks ago; doing one subject a day, and that was pretty easy. Well, you may want your Bibles handy. As you may know, I "Used" to put the scripture up where it is needed, but I haven't been doing that lately, for the fear of writing a too long post. You'll want to grab your bibles and read Joshua 23: 1-3, please. Okay, so, here's the position: Joshua is "Well advanced in years and is about to die". He's now talking to Isreal, and there are also concepts in here that you need to hear, which brings us to our first point:


I. How God's Grace Works

So Joshua reminds them that it is by God's grace and power that they have had all of these victories. It was the Lord's battle, and he gave them victory. Isn't that so gracious of him? Yes, it VERY much is. This is what I grab from verse 3: In the same way, the Lord provides for you, it is HIS power that saves and comforts you. Really, the definition of Grace = It is what our God does for us, and I believe his GRACE is good. So God will give you victory, BUT that does NOT mean you get to sit back and relax, which drives us to our SECOND point:

II. How Obedience Works

Obedience = To keep and to do ALL the LORD commands. Not what other people or gods command, but what the one TRUE GOD commands. So, look at verse 6 through, hmm, let's see...13. So read verses 6-13. Now Joshua is talking a lot about one thing: What will happen if you disobey God. If WE do not OBEY the Lord our God, and turn to other false gods and idols, We will have DEFEAT INSTEAD OF VICTORY! I want you to get and ponder that real hard. You will only have Victory if you obey God. Now I want you to read verse 14 through the end of the chapter, which ends at verse 16. That's pretty heavy. So, what does Obedience to God exactly look like? Well, look at the text. I know you're thinking Joshua doesn't really say this up front. However, if you DON'T go off and serve other gods and things, and you put all your trust and hope in God, What is that? Well, that's obedience, right? Si, it most certainly is. Si=Yes in spanish, if you don't know. Yes, that is obedience. That brings us to point three in this chapter:

III. How God's Covenant Works

So, there is definitely something wonderful in verse 14. But, there's also trouble in v. 16. Look, ALL GOD'S promises COME TO PASS. Remember though, he keeps his promise, but our promise is Full Obedience. Do we always keep our promises? No, not most of the time. Haven't you heard that the Old Testament is not the same as the New Testament, and how the testaments have different beliefs? A really interesting fact here: In the Heart of Joshua 23, He is foreshowing the Gospel. OUR HOPE IS IN JESUS CHRIST!

B.L.S. Out.
(Yes, I changed my name once again.)