WEBVTT 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:47.280 Let's say it was worth it today. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:15.599 Amazing grace. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:20.400 Amazing grace. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:29.840 How sweet and saved like me. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:44.879 But no sea. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:54.480 See, there's no change on me. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:58.959 Thank you, Jesus. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.239 You have set me free. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:03.840 You will call me in. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:05.840 Call me by name. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:07.519 I was dead in my sin. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:10.240 I'm dancing on that way. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:03:02.159 And grace my feet really singing all a there's no change on me. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:06.479 Thank you, Jesus. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.759 You have set me free. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:11.360 You won't call me it. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.360 Call me by name. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:15.199 I was dead in my sin. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.000 I was dancing all that grace. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.520 It really is amazing, grace. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.479 I testify of what he did. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:38.639 He gave me life. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:40.400 I'm born again. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:42.319 Martin's free. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:44.159 My soul is safe. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:51.520 I testify of what he did. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.599 He gave me life. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:55.360 I'm born again. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:57.280 Martin's free. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:03:59.039 My soul is safe. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.479 It really is. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:06.319 It really is. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:10.400 It really is amazing, Chris. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:11.840 It really is. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:13.919 It really is. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:16.160 See it all. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:20.800 Hallelujah. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.639 There's no change on me. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:28.800 Thank you, Jesus. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:32.160 Should I set me free? 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:33.519 You will call me. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:35.839 Call me by name. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:37.519 I will stand in my sin. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.480 I will dance in all that break. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:48.000 Is it really is amazing, Grace? 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.360 Oh, yes. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:55.439 Is it really is amazing, Grace? 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:56.720 It really is. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:58.720 It really is. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:03.040 Is it really it's amazing, Grace? 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.319 Well, good morning. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.480 My goodness, I went up north for two weeks, and then we moved buildings. 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:08.319 We would love to get to know who you are and give you a chance to get to know who we are. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:17.360 Also, for every connect card that's filled out, we donate an additional$25 to one of our mission partners. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:22.720 And this month it is Restoration Community Development Corporation. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.959 So help us help others. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.759 Over the next hour or so, we are going to sing some songs. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:31.120 We're going to hear a message. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.079 We're going to have a chance to respond to what we've heard. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:41.759 And today is an especially special Sunday because we get to celebrate new life with baptisms at the end of the service. 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:43.199 So we are excited for that. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:44.160 Yeah, let's cheer. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:45.519 We're excited for that. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:51.439 Let's continue in worship with a word of prayer. 00:06:52.399 --> 00:07:01.120 God, we are grateful for who you are and we are thankful for the amazing grace that you have shown each of us. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:16.160 Lord, I pray that no matter what is going on outside of these doors for each person in here, God, I pray that they would take this next hour to experience your peace and experience the rest that you give us. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:22.879 God, I pray that we would bring you a sacrifice of worship this morning. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:24.240 In your name we pray. 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:25.439 Amen. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:38.559 Born and raised back to life. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:43.279 I was a bave more. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:54.960 So why would I make dead in my shame with a fountain of grace? 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:58.720 I know why. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:02.559 I was bave. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:44.320 I have a future, and it's worth living. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:52.320 I was made to be tended a grave. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:59.759 I was caught by day born and raised back to life again. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:14.879 I was made for more So why would I make better my shame with the fountain of break? 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:37.600 You call out my name, so I'll sing out your praise. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:47.200 So I'm not going back. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:58.000 You call out my name, so I'll sing out your prayers. 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:22.559 Born and I raised back to life again, singing. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:39.600 With a fountain of grace is running my way. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.480 I know I am yours. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:59.200 So I'm not gonna be You caught up my name, so I sing out shop. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:34.639 So it's made squat on me. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:20.879 Oh, your mercy never fails me. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:41.440 All my days I've been held in your hands that awake until I lay my head, I will sing of the goodness. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:51.440 Oh my life you have been faithful. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:15:13.440 Oh my life you have been so so good with every breath that I am evil, I will sing of the goodness of God. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.840 I love your voice. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:30.480 You have led me through the fire in darkest nights, you are close like no other. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:39.440 I've known you as a friend. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:19:07.680 I have lived in the goodness, all my life you have been faint all my life you have been so so good with every birth that I am I will see that the goodness Come on your goodness is running at running dead to me your goodness is running at It's running dead to me My life lay down and surrender now I give you everything It's your goodness is running at It's running dead to me Signa game It's your goodness is running dead It's running dead to me Your goodness is running dead It's running out to me While I play down surveying now I give you everything Your goodness is running out It's running out to me Oh my life you have been faith Oh my life you have been so so good every breath that I am in the same of the goodness All my life you have been faith All my life you have been so so clear every birthday I am evil Oh I will sing of the good day to God I will sing of the good day to God Father God we come to you now and we ask you to please be near to us Lord as your word is preached and proclaimed God that it would search the depths of our hearts that Lord you would work in us and among us as a people of God as a people that gather together to do the good work that you've laid before us to lift your name enthroned on our hearts, God. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:14.240 We pray that you receive all of our glory and we love you and in your name. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:20.799 Today I'm reading from Joshua chapter 23, starting in verse 1. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:41.440 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, Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, and the judges and officers, and said to them, I am now old and well advanced in years, and you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations over your day. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:44.319 For it is the Lord your God who is not over you. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:20:06.960 Therefore be very strong and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it, neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not make with these nations remaining among you, or make a mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or deserve them, or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God, and just of you that you have done to this day. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:12.240 Now therefore, fear the Lord and deserve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:17.359 Put away the gods that your father deserve beyond the river, and in Egypt and deserve the Lord. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:21.599 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, it is a day whom you will serve. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:26.880 Whether the God of your father deserved in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Airmond. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.880 Joshua chapter twenty-three. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.200 Lots of kids. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:55.599 I know we have a number of guests, and just a special welcome to you. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:02.240 I hope you feel what we all know that this is a great place with lots of love and good people. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:15.680 A couple of things I want to tell you about before I get into my message, and that is there's two things going on today and right now that can help you take a step into the life of the church. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:19.920 And the first one is a workshop that we have right after this service. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.160 It's about 75 minutes, something like that. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.680 We're gonna provide lunch for you. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:25.359 It's called Discover Near Town. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:27.759 So that's how you take a step in the life of the church. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:36.240 This is for people that have been coming for a little bit and go, you know what, I want to hear more about this church, and I want to consider the possibility of like making a commitment to the church. 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:42.160 And you'll hear also what commitment we would make to you if you become what we call is a mission partner. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:48.079 And so it's very clear, but you know, certainly we're going to challenge you to make a commitment. 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.039 That's good for you. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:56.559 And we care a lot about uh meaningful church membership, and so I want to invite all those of you, even if you did not register, you can attend. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.599 We have extra lunches. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.759 Also, if this is your church. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:08.319 You want to take a step in the life of the church, we have midweek coed small groups called loop groups, and now's the time to be signing up for them. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:13.920 And so you can sign up by the code that is supposed to be on the screen. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:22.559 I'm not seeing it, but it's where just figure it out. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.680 Okay, that's how we're gonna do this. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.640 That's how we're gonna do this. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.759 All right, here we go. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:29.359 So Joshua chapter 23 and 24 is where we are this morning. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.160 I want to begin by asking you a question. 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.839 Oh, there we go. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:37.680 All right, go ahead and scan that if you want to. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.079 All right, not not a good start so far. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.519 Okay, here we go. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:47.039 I want to ask you a question. 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:52.079 When do you think you're the most spiritually vulnerable? 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.960 When do you think you're the most spiritually vulnerable? 00:22:57.680 --> 00:23:06.079 Most of us would say, probably, when life is difficult or when life is falling apart, when we're hurting or disappointed or afraid. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:15.359 But what we're gonna see in the passage today is we're gonna see Joshua, we're gonna hear Joshua say something that might make you think differently. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:18.240 But just think about when you as a human being are most vulnerable. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:23.359 So in our home, it is uh football season, and so two of my boys play football. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:28.720 And if you've been a part of this church for any length of time, you know that I never hesitate to brag on my sons. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.079 My son Price is right down here. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.799 He's a senior St. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.519 Thomas High School. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.880 Eagle fight never dies. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:40.000 He's the rover back, and they won 75 to 47, and we let him have a few. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:43.279 You know, we didn't want to send him all the way back to the woodlands crying. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:48.079 But one thing about football is interesting on in the game Friday night. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:50.240 Uh we scored right away, our offense did very well. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:56.799 We scored right away, and then on the kickoff, they ran it back and scored a touchdown, which I wasn't bothered by. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.319 I mean, everybody's kind of panicking. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.200 I wasn't bothered by. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.640 Here's why I know. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:06.160 When you think things are going to be easy, you relax. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:14.799 And you you maybe in the game of football, you can fail to execute, fail to remain disciplined, fail to remain focused. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.640 When do you think you're most vulnerable in your life? 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:23.599 Oftentimes it is when your life is at ease. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:26.400 When you think things are going really, really well. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:28.960 So all summer we've been in the book of Joshua. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:36.640 This is actually the twelfth message in this series, and the story that we find in Joshua is that God is leading his people. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:39.200 It happens in about 1406 BC. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:45.839 God is leading his people called the Israelites through or into a promised land. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:25:02.319 And in these stories that we've talked about, we have watched walls fall, we've seen battles won, we've seen sins exposed, failures redeemed, promises fulfilled, and an inheritance of the promised land received. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:15.119 And beneath it all, God has been teaching his people one central truth that the greatest gift of the promised life is God's presence among his people. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.880 And here we are at the end of the book. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:24.079 Not only at the end of the book of Joshua, but at the near the end of Joshua's life. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:29.440 And what Joshua's going to do is he's going to give two speeches in chapter 23 and chapter 24. 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:36.640 The 23rd chapter is a speech to Israel's leaders, and chapter 24 is a speech to all of Israel. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.920 Now think about it. 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:41.200 What would you expect this speech to be like? 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:54.400 I mean, I'd expect like a farewell address, maybe a list of all the victories that he's seen in these 25 years, but this is not at all what happens at the end. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:26:07.759 In these two chapters, what Joshua does is he calls them once again to think about and to renew their lives before the Lord, renew their commitment to the Lord. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:20.000 And if you're reading this, this call by Joshua here at the end, it's a little bit jarring because by every visible measure, Israel has never been better off. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.519 I mean, things are going quite well. 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:27.359 It seems like they're just like totally synced up with the Lord and enjoying the inheritance that they've received. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:31.839 I mean, they have houses and land and vineyards and cities and they're experiencing rest. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:42.720 The battles to get here are over, the difficulty of getting there is over, and this is precisely where a different kind of danger has begun for them. 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:49.839 The ease of their lives is softening the intensity of their devotion. 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:51.839 They are vulnerable. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:59.680 And the idols of the surrounding nations, as we'll see, may already be creeping into their worship. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.960 And what's happening here with Israel during this time period, it's not unique to them. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:06.799 It can also apply to us. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:11.359 Don't you know that difficulty reveals our dependence? 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:15.839 Like we're very aware of our dependence on God when life is difficult. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:20.079 But ease can test our allegiance to God. 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:30.880 Like when the money is there, our relationships are enjoyable, and nothing feels urgent, we can become spiritually soft or unfocused, lazy. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:39.920 And we may not be deliberately rejecting God, but we can slowly allow these competing allegiances into our heart. 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:53.359 And all this leads me to what is the main idea from my message today, which is this God's faithfulness to us deserves our allegiance in every season. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:58.079 God's faithfulness to us deserves our allegiance in every season. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:05.680 But how do we develop this kind of wholehearted allegiance that remains steady in both difficulty and ease? 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:15.359 I mean, some of you are here because you're in a difficult season of your life, and you know that, hey, I gotta go and like hear from God and take my concern before God. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:22.000 But others of you are here, if you were just to assess your own life, you might think, well, you know, I'm kind of like in a season of ease. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.119 Both are dangerous. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:32.160 And what Joshua's gonna speak to is for those of us that are in either situation, but especially those that are in seasons where it's like life is, you know, kind of okay. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:42.720 Three practices that must continually shape our hearts for us to be fully committed, wholeheartedly committed to God in every season. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:51.440 First one is this we remember God's faithfulness, then we recognize the rival gods competing for our allegiance, and then we renew our commitment to serve Him. 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.720 So let's look at this first one. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:57.519 Remember God's faithfulness. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:06.000 So Joshua begins his speech in chapter 23 by deflecting any attention that he might be getting from himself, deflecting it to God. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:10.000 Look with me at verse 3 of chapter 23, and I'm just gonna be able to read a few verses. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:14.000 That's a lot in these two chapters, but just start with verse three. 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:20.720 Joshua says, And you have seen all that the Lord the God has done to you, has done to all these nations for your sake. 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:23.519 For it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.160 This is important. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.000 Then in verse 14, it's not gonna be on the screen. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.519 I hope you're looking at your Bible. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:37.359 It says, You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the thing, of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:41.440 All have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed. 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:50.880 So Joshua is saying, like, you saw it, you experienced it, you know it in your heart and souls, like God has not failed you. 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.319 He's telling Israel this. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:30:04.000 He's at the end of his life giving his speech, getting them to think back over the course of the last 25 years, you saw it, you experienced it, you know in your hearts and souls that God has not failed you. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:09.359 These victories were not ultimately the result of Israel's strength or Joshua's leadership. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.319 It's all about God. 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.440 The Lord fought for them. 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:13.599 The land was not their achievement. 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:21.440 Like they didn't receive this land, this promised inheritance representing the promised life for them because of their efforts. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.279 It was a gift from God. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:28.880 Every good promise that God made, God kept. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:38.640 And in chapter 24, as Joshua begins recounting this history to all the people of Israel, God begins to be the subject of nearly every sentence. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:41.119 I don't have time to read chapter 24, 2 through 13. 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:44.480 You can read it later, but here's a quick glimpse of what it says. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:59.359 God is saying, I took your father Abraham, I, this is God speaking, I gave him Isaac, I sent Moses and Aaron, I brought your fathers out of Egypt, I brought you to the land, I delivered you, I gave you a land on which you have not labored and cities that you've not built. 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:06.240 So eight times 18 times in chapter 24, in this section where God is speaking, God speaks in the first person. 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:10.559 I took, I gave, I sent, I brought, I delivered. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:21.920 Israel's story and the story in Joshua is not primarily about what the people do for God, it is the story of what God has done for people. 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:29.519 Now, listen, today, in this moment, God has done something for you. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:32.240 He created you. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.240 He pursued you. 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:37.680 He loved you while you were still a sinner. 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:41.920 Like if I were to go around the room and just kind of survey, like, why are you here? 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:48.240 There are a few of you that would say something like, I I just felt like I should come. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:50.160 I felt like I should be here. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:55.440 That is God's Spirit working to draw you to Himself. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.720 He did it. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:01.680 He created you, He pursued you, He loved you while you're still a sinner. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:08.400 And then the gospel, the message of Christianity is that He sent His Son Jesus for you. 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:12.240 And Jesus lived a life that you cannot live. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.839 He died a death that you deserved. 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:20.000 And then he was raised from the dead to offer the forgiveness of new life. 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.599 Forgiveness of new life. 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:26.640 God was faithful to you before you ever felt your need for him. 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:36.880 If you reject this message or you forget it, you will flirt with other other idols of this world in search of hope. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:44.240 And this is especially true in seasons where lives feel relative your life feels relatively easy. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:51.920 You see, God's past faithfulness gives us confidence to trust Him with our future. 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:54.799 This is what we're doing here in this part of the passage. 00:32:54.880 --> 00:33:10.880 And this isn't the first time that we've heard Joshua speak in such a way that it makes us aware of how the lives that we're called to live, it what an important part of it is for us to remember regularly how good God has been to us. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:13.279 Like, what has God done for us in the past? 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:21.119 The last time in Joshua, when I was preaching a few weeks ago, I preached Joshua 14, and one of the takeaways was to remember what God has done. 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.799 Think about what God has done. 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:29.920 One of the families that was here went home and they took a piece of butcher paper and they wrote in the middle of it something like, Remember what God has done. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:39.359 And then they just wrote all around it the things that God has done for them as a reminder that God is faithful, God is working, God is doing something. 00:33:39.599 --> 00:33:49.200 We are as a people in our day so focused on our own lives that sometimes we can forget, you know, God is doing something in the world. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:51.440 God is doing something in you. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:57.519 God has done things in the world, God has done something in us. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.240 We need to remember this. 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:02.160 Like we remember God's faithfulness. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:11.199 How do we remain fully, wholeheartedly devoted to God in seasons that are at ease and difficult seasons? 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:24.239 It is critical that we're regularly replaying in our minds the things that God has done in us and for us, not the least of which is provide a way of salvation through Christ. 00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:38.079 So maybe that's something you can do actionably even this afternoon, is like go home and just take a piece of paper and say, God has been faithful and just list out all the ways that God has been faithful to you in recent memory. 00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:54.159 So we remember God's faithfulness, but we have the question still on the table like, how do we stay locked in to this lifestyle of allegiance in seasons that are difficult, in seasons that we would consider at ease? 00:34:54.800 --> 00:35:03.760 We certainly cannot forget God's past faithfulness as we think about the future, but we must also, point number two, is recognize rival gods. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:08.559 And so we get into verse six here of chapter 23. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:14.639 Joshua speaking, he says, This, therefore, be strong and to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses. 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:21.840 And he's this is for those of you that have been around the whole series, you might remember that this is what was written about in chapter one. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.599 Similar. 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:29.920 Be strong to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it, neither to the right or to the left. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:38.880 And what Joshua is doing here is, and we've seen this throughout the book of Joshua, is like there's a warning not to mix with the gods of surrounding nations. 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:44.639 They're not to invoke the names of their gods or to serve them or bow down to them. 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:46.000 Like this is very serious. 00:35:46.079 --> 00:36:02.639 I mean, if these people of God are going to become his as his chosen people, fully devoted to him, like set apart for him, they cannot allow the worship of rival gods to enter into the way that they think about worship. 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:04.480 Look at verse 8. 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:09.440 He says, You shall cling to the Lord your God just as if you have done to this day. 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:18.000 This is describing the kind of relationship that and tenacity that they're to have in their relationship with Almighty God, and certainly it applies to us also. 00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:22.880 This word cling here is translated from the Hebrew. 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:28.320 It describes much more than just like an add-on kind of idea with God. 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:47.760 I mean, when we think about our relationship with God and wholehearted allegiance to Almighty God, if you think of it as like an add-on to your life, like it's one of the things that you have in your life that's going to kind of help you get through the life and make the most of your days, then you then that's not what he's talking about here. 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:55.760 Like this idea of clinging is more than just believing in God or occasionally turning to him for help. 00:36:56.079 --> 00:37:02.559 It's this language of an enduring relational attachment and covenant loyalty. 00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:11.039 It's the same word used in Genesis chapter 2, verse 24, which says, A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife. 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:16.480 I mean, it's it's the language here is like marriage covenant, like commitment. 00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:25.440 He's using this word cling to give us the intensity of the idea of what he's calling Israel to and their allegiance. 00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:44.719 They're not just supposed to obey God, like follow this list of rules, but they're to be in an intimate personal relationship with Almighty God, remaining faithful, joining him in this exclusive covenant love. 00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:50.800 And this is all made more rich by verse 11. 00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:54.079 Be careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. 00:37:54.480 --> 00:38:06.320 So, this relationship that we're talking about, when we're thinking about what it means to give our total allegiance to God, it's not some cold, distant sort of following of a list of rules. 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:12.719 It is this relationship with God that's deep and intimate and ever-growing. 00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:16.320 God wants Israel's loyal love. 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:18.880 God wants yours and mine also. 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:26.320 And what these rival gods do is they always come in and seek to undermine the depth of this love. 00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:38.800 For Israel, these surrounding nations are very dangerous because their gods offer this alternate love, this alternate way of worshiping. 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:49.039 And and like all of us, Israel would be tempted to like keep some of these rival gods as backup or side pieces. 00:38:52.239 --> 00:38:56.159 But but Joshua's saying, no, it cannot be like that at all. 00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:59.280 This is not what God has for you. 00:38:59.760 --> 00:39:12.079 And for Israel, what they could do if they chose to allow these rival gods to be a part of the way that they live and worship, I mean, they they could, in theory, turn to one God for rain and another for fertility. 00:39:12.239 --> 00:39:15.679 These are the point of these rival gods in that day. 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:18.559 They might turn to another for military protection. 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:24.800 And they could maybe still claim that they are the people of God worshiping Almighty God Yahweh. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:30.960 But but God is saying, and Joshua's saying, like, this is not the way you're allowed to do it. 00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:32.239 Why? 00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:37.440 Because the Lord has done for Israel what no other God can do. 00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:45.039 Those other gods had not rescued Israel from slavery, had they had not, he had not opened the sea, they had not opened the sea. 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:52.239 The other gods had not fed Israel in the wilderness or parted the Jordan or given them the land. 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:56.239 God had given them all that they needed. 00:39:57.280 --> 00:40:05.199 An undivided covenant love, a promise to them that he fulfilled, as evidenced by the land that they now possess. 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:10.800 He deserved their undivided allegiance. 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:13.519 The same is true of us. 00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:23.360 God loves us too much to allow us to casually share our hearts with the things that will ultimately destroy us. 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:27.519 Now, as I mentioned, there were two speeches here. 00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:33.920 From chapter 23 to 24, in chapter 24, the speech kind of intensifies. 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:44.880 I mean, chapter 23 is a bit more of an approach of like warning Israel's leaders of what can happen to them if they accommodate the nations around them in the worship of these other gods, these rival gods. 00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:52.800 But in chapter 24, when Joshua gathers the entire nation, his language becomes more urgent. 00:40:53.440 --> 00:41:03.360 And the reason for this is because it seems as if the worship of these rival gods has already begun to enter the people of Israel. 00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:11.679 What was a danger in theory is becoming a problem in reality already for Israel. 00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:15.920 And this is why he says in chapter 24, verse 14, these words. 00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:20.159 Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. 00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:25.840 Put away the gods that your fathers serve beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:32.880 And then later in verse 23, he says, put away the foreign gods that are among you, incline your heart to the Lord, a God of Israel. 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:36.960 Notice these phrases, like among you. 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:44.239 These rival gods have already begun to seep into the lives of the people that are the nation of Israel. 00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:55.199 Again, their lives, they were experiencing relative ease, and they probably just kind of let down a little bit, got unfocused. 00:41:55.519 --> 00:42:03.119 I mean, they're experiencing the spoils of war, this land that God had given them, and they just relaxed. 00:42:03.840 --> 00:42:11.039 And maybe it wasn't as big of a deal to do all that God had commanded them to do in terms of exposing and eradicating the rival gods. 00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:15.199 And so they kind of were just allowing these things to creep into their lives. 00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:21.199 I want you to know that I am concerned for the people of God today. 00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:29.039 Rival gods are wooing our hearts, and the reality is we are vulnerable. 00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:50.960 Rarely do these rival gods march through the front door, but instead they they like slip in through the windows that we choose to leave open through the friendships we allow to shape us, the media that forms our desires. 00:42:53.280 --> 00:43:03.840 They slip in when we kind of are experiencing relative ease in our life, and so we begin to neglect a daily reading of scripture or prayer or gathering with the church. 00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:19.280 And here's the thing about rival gods they're wooing us, but they rarely demand that we reject God, like publicly reject God. 00:43:20.079 --> 00:43:24.320 Instead, they simply ask us to divide our allegiance. 00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:38.559 You see, when Joshua is calling these people to a commitment, calling them to think about what's already among them, he knows that if they he was to survey Israel and say, Who do you worship? 00:43:38.639 --> 00:43:40.159 They would say, We worship Yahweh. 00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:44.239 We worship the God of the Bible, the God who's been faithful to us. 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:47.920 And at the same time, we have backups. 00:43:49.360 --> 00:43:54.800 So the big question for us in this moment is like, how do we identify rival gods? 00:43:55.760 --> 00:43:58.960 Well, I've got a suggestion on how you might do that. 00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:02.000 Ask yourself this. 00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:08.159 What or who do I first turn turn to when I'm stressed or afraid? 00:44:09.679 --> 00:44:18.719 When I am stressed or afraid, what is the first thing that I turn to that could be a rival God that you've allowed to slip into your life? 00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:22.000 Another question. 00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:27.760 What do I believe I need more of in order to be at peace or finally happy? 00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:36.000 Like, do you think if I had more money, I would finally be at peace or finally or happy? 00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:40.000 Could be rival God or whatever it might be. 00:44:41.920 --> 00:44:48.239 Like ask yourself the question: what do I think about when my mind is free? 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:58.320 Where do I turn to when I'm angry or lonely or tired? 00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:07.119 These are questions that can get us thinking about rival gods that have snuck into our lives. 00:45:08.880 --> 00:45:16.320 You see, God's faithfulness to us deserves our allegiance in every season. 00:45:17.519 --> 00:45:20.159 Let me illustrate this with a contrasting idea. 00:45:20.719 --> 00:45:23.599 I want you to think about your financial investments. 00:45:24.719 --> 00:45:33.519 So in investing, we we would all understand the wisdom of diversification of your investments. 00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:38.639 So an advisor might tell you something like, Don't put all of your money in one investment. 00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:39.039 Why? 00:45:39.199 --> 00:45:39.840 Why is this? 00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:42.400 Like, why would you want to spread it out? 00:45:42.800 --> 00:45:47.920 It's because if one thing fails, you have something else to depend on, right? 00:45:48.320 --> 00:45:50.079 And that's that's wise. 00:45:50.800 --> 00:45:54.559 That is wise financially, but it's disastrous spiritually. 00:45:55.920 --> 00:45:59.360 But but that's how some of us treat our treat our relationship with God. 00:45:59.519 --> 00:46:13.360 Like, God, I'm investing in you, but I have these other investments out here, these other rival gods I'm gonna run to, I'm gonna turn to, I'm gonna rely on in the moments of my greatest need, or to get direction for my life. 00:46:15.199 --> 00:46:20.800 Because really what we're saying is, God, I don't know that I can really trust you. 00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:28.159 It's wise financially, but it's disastrous spiritually to think of it in this way. 00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:37.760 Like, I trust God for heaven, but I trust money for security and achievement for significance and relationships for worth and politics for hope. 00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:40.960 So that would be a diversification of our spiritual lives. 00:46:42.239 --> 00:46:46.320 And we're not like out and out rejecting God, we're just diversifying. 00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:48.800 We have backups. 00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:54.559 What Joshua is saying is that you cannot divide your allegiance. 00:46:55.280 --> 00:47:01.920 God, God doesn't want one portion of your heart's portfolio. 00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:04.800 It's a little cheesy, but just go with it with me, all right? 00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:07.679 He wants your whole heart. 00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:22.480 And Joshua is not saying, hey, hey, y'all, Israel, like be careful because there's these rival idols that are a part of the people that are not the people of God that have seeped into the nation of Israel. 00:47:22.639 --> 00:47:26.000 Like, be careful and just make sure you're managing that wisely. 00:47:26.320 --> 00:47:27.519 No, what does he say? 00:47:27.840 --> 00:47:33.280 Put them away and incline your heart to the Lord. 00:47:33.920 --> 00:47:40.000 We're to remove the external rival and redirect the internal affection. 00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:49.119 Because the greatest threat to the promised life, which has been the offer to you all summer, how can you experience the promised life? 00:47:49.679 --> 00:48:00.400 The greatest threat to the promised life is not always something attacking you from the outside, it may be something competing for your allegiance on the inside. 00:48:01.679 --> 00:48:05.679 A divided heart cannot produce a wholehearted life. 00:48:07.199 --> 00:48:10.559 But how do we develop this kind of wholehearted allegiance? 00:48:10.719 --> 00:48:12.480 This is the question on the table. 00:48:12.639 --> 00:48:25.119 We remember God's faithfulness, we recognize rival gods, but there's one more thing that we see here in the passage, and that is that we choose to renew our commitment, and I'm going to say daily. 00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:37.199 Joshua chapter 24, when he's before the nation of Israel again with this speech, says these words, therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness. 00:48:37.360 --> 00:48:43.119 Put away the gods that your fathers serve beyond the river and in Egypt and serve the Lord. 00:48:43.760 --> 00:48:55.599 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. 00:48:55.840 --> 00:49:05.760 So what he's saying here is he is saying, Hey, if you want to serve these rival gods, make a choice. 00:49:06.400 --> 00:49:11.039 I had a hard conversation with a person that's been a part of our church recently. 00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:24.159 And this person essentially, who had been coming very faithful in discipleship, essentially said to me, I'm just not so sure that I want to do this relationship with God thing anymore. 00:49:25.360 --> 00:49:33.360 And every part of me wanted to beg and plead and weep and just go and chase after him. 00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:36.880 But I essentially said this I said, choose today who you're gonna serve. 00:49:36.960 --> 00:49:38.639 I mean, you get to choose the life. 00:49:38.719 --> 00:49:40.719 And this is what Joshua is doing. 00:49:42.719 --> 00:49:47.519 Like he's saying, like, hey, there are a lot of gods that you think are very attractive to you. 00:49:47.679 --> 00:49:51.039 There are a lot of God, rival gods that this world offers. 00:49:51.280 --> 00:49:55.679 And if you want to serve one of those, go serve him and see how where that takes you. 00:49:57.440 --> 00:50:03.280 But what's available to you in Christ is the promised life. 00:50:04.800 --> 00:50:10.960 And what Joshua does is he stands up and says, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:50:12.079 --> 00:50:26.400 And I love this passage on today because two of the three people being baptized today are kids of two faithful sets of parents that are in this church, who have said many years ago, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:50:26.480 --> 00:50:31.360 And now they're getting to kind of witness the evidence of the beauty of that. 00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:38.559 And Joshua brings them to this final decision, the second part of verse 15. 00:50:38.960 --> 00:50:41.519 Choose this day who you'll serve. 00:50:41.760 --> 00:50:44.159 This is an interesting part of the passage. 00:50:44.320 --> 00:50:45.760 Choose this day who you'll serve. 00:50:45.840 --> 00:50:52.159 And what the people do in response right away is they they say, Hey, we'll do it. 00:50:53.840 --> 00:50:54.400