Joshua's Farewell at Gilgal

TEXTJosh. 23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      JOSHUA - A GREAT LEADER - CONQUEST - MOSES( 24:31 ).

B.      LAST SPEECH, IMPORTANT MESSAGE.

I.      JEHOVAH GOES BEFORE YOU!( 1-13 )

A. WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR THEM?( vs. 3-5; 9, 10 ).

1.       A great victory for God's people.

2.       A great victory for us.

a.       War! ( Eph. 6:12;  2 Cor. 10:3-6 ).

b.       Victory! ( 1 Cor. 15:55-57;  Rom. 8:31f. )

c.       through faith( 1 John 5:1-5 ).

B. CONDITIONED ON OUR DISPOSITION TOWARD GOD.

1.       Courage( vs. 6 )Being a Christian demands it( 2 Tim.3:12;  Heb.13:5-6 ).

2.       Obedient( vs. 6 )

a.       Salvation is for the obedient( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

b.       "neither to the right or left" - Strict, no deviation.  ( Gal. 1:6-9;  2 John 9;  Heb. 8:5 )Nadab, Abihu - Uzzah -Saul.

3.       The enemies of God?( vs. 7-8 ).

a.       No fraternizing( vs. 7;  1Cor. 15:33;  Eph. 5:11 ).

b.       Destroy their gods( vs. 7;  Rom. 12:2;  Eph. 4:17-19 ).

c.       No mixed marriages( vs. 12-13 ).

4.       Love( vs. 11 )Cleave( vs. 8 )Appreciate, Gratitude( vs. 9 ).

C. CONSEQUENCE OF EVIL( vs. 13 ).

1.       No more drive them out( 1 Pet. 5:8 ).

2.       A snare and a trap( Col. 2:8 ).

3.       The will perish off the land( Deut. 28;  Mat. 21:33-46 ).

4.       Consequences for us( Eph. 5:3;  2 Pet. 2:20-22 ).

II.     JEHOVAH IS TRUE!( vs. 14-16 ).

A. ALL HAS COME TO PASS.

1.       The Promise to Abraham( Gen. 15:18 ).

2.       Repeated to Joshua( Joshua 1:1-6 ).

3.       Affirmation( Josh 21:43-45;  23:14;  Neh. 9:7-8 ).

B. CAN WE TRUST GOD?

1.       Promised deliverance( 2 Cor. 1:9-10;   2:144:13-14 ).

2.       He will deliver!( Heb. 6:13-19;  2 Tim. 2:11-13 ).

3.       Rom. 8:31!

C. CONSEQUENCE IS SURE( vs. 16 ).

1.       For them( Judges 2:1-3 ).

2.       For us( Gal. 6:7;  Heb. 4:12-13 ).

CONCLUSION:

A. WHAT BLESSED ASSURANCE THE OBEDIENT BELIEVER HAS!

1.       Let's be of good courage!

2.       Let's obey!

3.       Let's gratefully appreciate His love.

4.       And He will never forsake.

B. WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?