"Divine Dynasty"
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Back about two years ago I was flipping through the channels on our television and I ran across a program that caught my attention. My wife says I am a channel flipper! Don't know where she gets that Idea. Needless to say I stopped flipping and stayed on the whole program. When I got through I said to myself, "self, this is different, this is something out of the ordinary." It fascinated me and now we know several million other viewers as well and the show has become a national sensation. You can't hardly go anywhere without seeing Willie, Phil, Jase and Uncle Si! Phil Robertson and Miss Kay are the patriarch/matriarch of a large family who are unashamedly and unabashedly Christian. The talk it and from all appearances they walk it. I know they are unconventional but they seem to have something going on that works! The Duck Dynasty is actually a Divine Dynasty! When you hear Phil's' testimony and I've seen and heard it, it is obvious that once Phil started serving the Lord, he began building something special, something we could all learn from. I think the day came when Phil Robertson said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," and the rest is history. We find this statement of faith in the book of Joshua. This servant of the Lord is coming to the end of his journey and thank God for his "dying declaration." Joshua had established a Divine Dynasty. Let's learn from his example.
I. Joshua's Faith
a. The purity of his faith
1. Salvation
It is interesting to note that the name Joshua is the OT equivalent to Jesus and means "Jehovah is salvation." That he remained faithful to Jehovah throughout his life is a testament to his faith.
2. Sanctification
He was born a slave and had witnessed the moral and spiritual degradation and decline of his nation. We also live in a corrupt culture.
There is a battle going on for the hearts of minds of the people of God. Purity is where the battle is being fought.
Bruce Wilkinson, author of Prayer of Jabez, said:
ILL - Sexual immorality is a threshold sin. On one side of the threshold is immorality and on the other is purity. On one side are guilt, lying, deceit, addiction, and shame, an on the other side are freedom, honesty, transparency, liberty, and a clear conscience. Believers who are in bondage to immorality find that unless they experience victory in this area, they cannot grow in holiness or serve the Lord with passion and power..." (Victory Over Temptation).
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
b. His priorities of his faith
Notice that Joshua says that "...we will serve the Lord..." What are your priorities? What occupies first place in your life?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
c. His purpose of his faith
We see in this declaration another fact of Joshua's life and that is seen in the phrase, "...we will serve..."
II. Joshua's Family
a. His love
He loved his family for no man can make this kind of statement with any kind of confidence who does not love his family. Although she is not mentioned, he loved his wife and he loved his children; his "...house..." was the center of his universe.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
b. His leadership
Joshua has been rightly called "The first soldier consecrated by sacred history, a soldier saint, but more important that his leadership on the field of battle was his leadership in the home of his family.
c. His legacy
Joshua wore many hats! He was a son (the son of NUN which means durable), he was a slave and spent years in bondage and no doubt felt the sting of the lash, he was a soldier who was pre-eminent as a military leader and knew how to plan campaigns and discipline his forces. Sir. Henry Havelock said, "He was every inch a soldier and every inch a Christian." He was a servant and for he is unswerving loyalty and devotion he is called "...the servant of Moses..." He was a spy, who along with 11 others spied out the land. He brought back a favorable report which the people rejected and wandered about forty years with the rest but which Joshua profited from. He was a type of savior, Moses representing the Law brought the people to the border of the land but it took Joshua (God's salvation) to take them into the land, he was statesman and became the supreme ruler of Israel, and most important of all he was a saint, and it was this saintliness that marked him as Moses successor.
Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
He was filled with the Spirit of God. Deut. 34:9
He enjoyed the presence of God. Josh. 1:5, 6:27
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
He was indwelt by the word of God Joshua 1:8
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
DOING WHAT FEELS RIGHT
Although most Americans claim to be religious, that is they claim to believe in an absolute God of some kind, most live and believe as practical atheists. A recent survey by George Barna discloses some shocking results. Barna wanted to see how American's opinions had changed after 9/11. He surmised that Americans would finally begin differentiating between right and wrong because the terrorist actions of the preceding months could only be described as evil. Reason no longer works in our culture.
At the start of 2000, almost four out of ten adults (38%) said that there are absolute moral truths that do not change according to the circumstances. When the same question was asked in the just-completed survey, the result was that just two out of ten adults (22%) claimed to believe in the existence of absolute moral truth.
Interestingly, when people were further queried as to the source of the principles or standards on which they base their moral and ethical decisions, the post-attack survey discovered that only one out of eight adults - just 13% - cited the Bible. The most common sources of guidance regarding moral decisions trusted by Americans are feelings (25%) and the lessons and values they remember from their parents (14%).
SOURCE: Matthew Rogers. Citation from "How America's Faith Has Changed Since 9-11." www.barna.org. Used with permission.
He was ever obedient to the will of God Numbers 32:12, Joshua 5:14
Numbers 32:12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
He was deeply mourned and it should be noted that he had a lasting influence for God and for good.
Joshua 24:31 And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
Conclusion: Someone wrote that: Decisions are public displays of our character. Joshua made a decision to serve that Lord which was a "public display of his character." What kind of character is revealed by your decisions?
POLYCARP(2nd Century)
Can you imagine what it was like for the church in Smyrna as they watched their beloved and aged pastor burn at the stake? Polycarp was his name. he was a disciple of Jesus' disciple, the Apostle John. One could tell it immediately because he possessed the same tenderness and compassion as his mentor.
Polycarp was Bishop of the church at Smyrna (present day Turkey). Persecution broke out in Smyrna and many Christians were fed to the wild beasts in the arena. The godless and bloodthirsty crowd called for the carcass of the leader -- Polycarp.
The authorities sent a search party to find him. He had been taken into hiding for some Christians but the Romans tortured two young believers until they finally disclosed his location. When the authorities arrival was announced there was still time to whisk Polycarp away but he refused to go saying, "God's will be done."
In one of the most touching instances of Christian grace imaginable Polycarp welcome his captors as if they were friends. He talked with them and insisted they eat a meal. Ha made only one request before being taken away -- he asked for one hour to pray. The Roman soldiers listened to his prayer. Their hearts melted and they gave him 2 hours to pray. They had second thoughts as well and were overheard asking each other why they were sent to arrest him?
Other authorities also experienced a warmed heart when Polycarp arrived. The Proconsul tried to find a way to release him too. "curse God and I will let you go!" he pleaded.
Polycarp's reply was: "For eighty-six years I have served him. He has never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King was has saved me?"
The Proconsul again looked for a way out. "The do this old man, just swear by the spirit of the emperor and that will be sufficient.'
Polycarp's reply was: "If you imagine for a moment that I would do that, then I think you pretend that you don't know who I am. Hear it plainly. I am a Christian."
More entreaties by the Proconsul
Polycarp stood firm.
The proconsul threatened with the wild beasts.
Polycarp's reply was: "Bring them forth. I would change my mind if it meant going from worst to best, but not to change from right to wrong."
The Proconsul threatened, "I will burn you alive!"
Polycarp's reply was: "You threaten with fire that burns for an hour and is over but the judgment on the ungodly is forever."
The fires engulfed him. The witnesses noticed his faith and joy. He was finished off with a dagger. He was buried for the cause of Christ on February 22, 155 A.D.
It was as much a day of victory as it was a day of tragedy.
Polycarp illustrated the power of knowing Jesus intimately, intimately enough to follow Him into the flames. As Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"
