What A Way To Go!

WHAT A WAY TO GO!

Joshua 23.1-16

S: Faithfulness

C: Joshua’s farewell to leaders

Pr: WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO BE FAITHFUL.

?: How?

KW: Challenges

TS: We will find in our study of Joshua 23 five challenges that show us how to be faithful to God.

Type: Propositional

The ____ challenge is…

I. REMEMBER HOW GOD HAS WORKED (1-5)

II. OBEY THE WORD OF GOD (6-7)

III. HOLD FAST TO GOD (8-10)

IV. LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD (11-13)

V. BE PREPARED FOR THE CONSEQUENCES (14-16)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Respond to God’s fulfilled promises with faithfulness.

• Choose God’s goodness over worldly enticements.

Version: ESV

RMBC 15 July 07 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Aging (H)

Two elderly gentlemen were talking together.

"I guess you’re never too old," the first one boasted. "Why, just yesterday a pretty college girl said she’d be interested in dating me. But to be perfectly honest, I don’t quite understand it."

"Well," his friend said, "you have to remember that nowadays women are more aggressive. They don’t mind being the one to ask."

"No, it’s not that ..."

"Oh. Well, maybe you reminded her of her father."

"No, that’s not it either. It’s just that she also mentioned something about carbon 14."

So…

How do you feel about aging?

ILL Aging (H)

Do you know what happens when people of different occupations get old?

• Old chauffeurs never die, they just lose their drive.

• Old chemists never die, they just fail to react.

• Old cleaning people never die, they just kick the bucket.

• Old cooks never die, they just get deranged.

And my father’s favorite…

• Old principals never die, they just lose their faculties

TRANSITION:

As we come to our text today, we find that Joshua is aging.

And now…

1. Joshua is ready for his final words.

He knows he is coming to the end when he says…

“I am now old and well advanced in years.”

He knew he did not have long to live.

So now, the old, godly warrior has one task left.

It is a challenge to the people of Israel.

In this chapter, the challenge is more specific.

It is a challenge to the leaders and elders of the nation.

It would have certainly been a solemn occasion that would include Caleb in his old age, and Phineas the high priest, the grandson of Aaron.

What I want us to specifically note at this junction is that Joshua is concerned about what is coming after him.

In other words…

2. He is being a disciple maker.

It is on his heart that the nation continues in its success.

It has relied on God to get where it has up to this point.

And so, Joshua would have them continue in this direction.

He would have them understand where they are in God’s big picture.

He would have them know God’s purpose for them.

He would have them know God’s heart.

He would have then know what God wants to accomplish in and through them.

He would have them be faithful.

And this is certainly our lesson as well, that is…

3. WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO BE FAITHFUL.

But how is faithfulness accomplished?

Well…

4. We will find in our study of Joshua 23 five challenges that show us how to be faithful to God.

OUR STUDY:

I. The first challenge is REMEMBER HOW GOD HAS WORKED (1-5).

(1) A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, (2) Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years. (3) And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. (4) Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. (5) The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you.”

We are to remember that God keeps His promises.

The Israelites were witnesses to this fact.

They know that God alone is the reason they had possession of Canaan.

And if they had any doubts, all they had to do was recall His great acts of redemption.

Supernaturally, the Egyptian army was drowned.

Supernaturally, the attacking Amalekites were defeated.

Supernaturally, the Israelites were guided across the wilderness by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night.