Sermon Central
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"Our Determination For Victory!" Series
Contributed by Tony Searles on Nov 25, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: The is the final message from a series I have been preaching in Joshua. The whole crux has been about living in victory, and this wraps it up with making a decision to serve the Lord, and having the devotion to actually do it.
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“Our DETERMINATION for Victory!”
[Our Decision…Our Resolve]
TEXT: Joshua 23:8 & 24:14-18
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Praise the Lord!
We are still on course for VICTORY!?
In fact, VICTORY is ours as we move forward in what God has called us to be and do!
It is a…
NEW DAY WITH NEW DIRECTION!!!
If VICTORY is yours, say AMEN!!!
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Joshua 23:8, “But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.”
PRAYER…
INTRODUCTION:
We have been on a multiple month journey together; going through the Book of Joshua.
-We have seen Joshua, and the Children of Israel, go through a great many things…
And, of all that we have seen God doing here in Joshua’s life…
As well as, all that we have seen the Children of Israel doing, and actually growing into…
The foremost sentiment, and goal for them, is found in Joshua 23:8.
That verse says, “But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.”
The NLT says it like this…”But be faithful to the Lord your God as you have done until now.”
The KJV says to “cleave” to the Lord!
All along, God had desired for Israel…and all of human-kind for that matter…to be FAITHFUL to Him!
-To CLING to Him!
-To CLEAVE to Him and His Word!
-To be LOYAL to Jehovah God!
-To be DETERMINED to SERVE the Lord!!!
Oh, how would our world be different today if human-kind was FAITHFUL to the Lord our God???
How would our lives be different if we were always LOYAL to the Lord???
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Well, in Joshua 23, Joshua has evidently become very old, and knows that his time is drawing towards a close…
To think back on his life is interesting…
Joshua, the son of Nun, had a long and well-spent life.
-Even though it was one that started during the time of his people’s bondage under the hand of the Egyptians…
*We thank God that it did not stop there though!
-Yeah, Joshua’s life was coming to a close, but it was not in the same condition that it started in…
*It was coming to a close while in worship and service within the borders of the Promised Land!!!
-Not only that, but God has used HIM to lead Israel in defeating their enemies…to conquer the land…and to lay claim to their inheritance!!!
*What a way to spend a life!
A real conquer and victor, Joshua was…
Reminds me of what Paul was able to say in II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…”
-That Joshua did!
ILLUSTRATION:
Eric Fromm wrote in his book, Man for Himself, “To die is poignantly bitter, but the idea of having to die without having lived is unbearable.”
Man, did Joshua ever live!
It would have been neat to do, and be what Joshua was…
Neat to have it said of us that we have been FAITHFUL!
To have it truly said that we have, ”…fought the good fight, have finished the course, have kept the faith…”
-Oh, that would be awesome!
But, to do so takes true DETERMINATION! DETERMINATION to serve the Lord with all that is within us…as long as we should live!
However…that is just what Joshua encourages the leaders to do in this farewell address to them…
-Joshua shares with them some words of encouragement, as well as, instruction in Joshua 23...
-All of which can be summed up by one verse in that chapter…
Joshua 23:8, “But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.”
Do you desire a life of impact and victory like Joshua’s?
•Do you aspire to lead of life that inspires others too?
•Do you hope to live a life that has more victories than defeats in it?
•Do you hope to be victorious in the Lord?
Then, do just what Joshua did, and what he encouraged the leaders to do in verse 8, “CLING to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day!”
That is the key, and it is just that simple.
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Now…I know that Joshua actually said a whole litany of things to these leaders, all of which were very important for them to hear and remember…
#1 - To remember what the Lord DID for Israel…
Going way back to God delivering them from Egypt, and even drowning the Egyptian army in the sea.
How God defeated the Amalekites who attacked them soon after their exodus.
Of how the Lord defeated all the enemies that stood in their way as they marched on towards the Promised Land…
Even, of how the Lord gave His people victory over all the nations in the Promised Land.
