WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:04.160 Well, can we turn back to our reading in Joshua chapter 23. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:11.779 Looking at this chapter this evening, we're going to think of the theme of how God keeps 00:00:11.779 --> 00:00:17.900 his promises and how we see that with Joshua here in this chapter. 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:24.660 When you read through the scriptures, you constantly encounter the promises of God. 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:32.520 And if you were to have a wee challenge this evening, how many of the promises of God can 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:34.539 you think of in scripture? 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:40.100 If you were to start writing them down, you would probably come across a number of ones 00:00:40.100 --> 00:00:41.740 that just spring to mind instantly. 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:46.039 But the more you go on and the more you go through scripture, the more you begin to see 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:49.159 just how many promises there are. 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:54.400 You think of the promises that maybe stand out in the early parts of the scriptures, the 00:00:54.399 --> 00:01:00.399 covenant with Abraham, how God promised that he would have descendants as numerous as the 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.619 stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:11.239 You have God's promise to Noah after the flood when he gave the sign of the rainbow, how never 00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:15.099 again he would destroy the world in that way. 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:22.579 You have promises that a word of God to many of his people down through the generations promises 00:01:22.579 --> 00:01:26.159 that he says, I will never leave you or forsake you. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:28.700 Promise he gave to Joshua, as we'll see. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:31.819 He promises to lead his people. 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:33.500 He promises us a savior. 00:01:34.039 --> 00:01:37.019 He promises us the day of the resurrection. 00:01:37.259 --> 00:01:41.400 He promises us that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again. 00:01:42.019 --> 00:01:43.000 And it goes on. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.379 So you start listing the promises of God and you see just how many they are. 00:01:49.019 --> 00:01:55.219 And people have estimated by looking at scripture just how many thousands of promises they have. 00:01:55.219 --> 00:01:59.280 If you start writing them on a little bit of paper, you would soon run out. 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:05.260 Even if you had an A4 jotter, you would run out of paper when you start noting down just 00:02:05.260 --> 00:02:07.599 how many promises there are. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:13.599 So we're constantly hearing the promises of God as we are reading through the scriptures. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:23.939 And in 2 Corinthians 1, verse 20, we are told this, all the promises of God find their yes in him. 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:27.280 That is, in Christ Jesus. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.900 All the promises of God find their yes in him. 00:02:31.979 --> 00:02:34.419 They're all fulfilled in him. 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:40.299 So when you think of the promises of God and how many they are, it's good to remind ourselves 00:02:40.299 --> 00:02:45.219 of how faithful God is to us through all of his promises. 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:52.279 And it's good to remind ourselves, whether it's in our own experiences of how we have known God's 00:02:52.279 --> 00:02:59.179 promises to us, or in the experiences of others, how we hear or see of God's promises, 00:02:59.579 --> 00:03:04.219 helping and keeping people through so many different situations. 00:03:04.419 --> 00:03:10.379 We think of even congregational fellowships like we have, and times when we meet together, 00:03:10.459 --> 00:03:16.560 we speak together of the things of God and what he has done for us, and how encouraged we are to hear 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:24.079 of God's promises shown to others and then remind ourselves he's been faithful to us too. 00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:29.439 But in some ways, here we are meeting with Joshua in this chapter. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:35.800 And here he is, and he's speaking to the people of Israel, especially speaking to the leaders of Israel 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:39.479 at this point, but a message that would go out to all the people. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:44.199 And it's a message of God's faithfulness to him. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:51.579 And how, as he is looking back, he is able to see every promise of God has been kept. 00:03:51.580 --> 00:03:55.540 Never has the Lord failed him. 00:03:56.040 --> 00:04:00.880 We see it here in verse 14, where it says there, 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:27.920 God keeps his promises. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:32.800 And some of the promises he has given have been already fulfilled. 00:04:33.520 --> 00:04:39.699 Some of his promises are still ongoing, and some of his promises are still to come. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:49.240 But whether it takes a short time or a long time, God keeps every one of the promises he makes. 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:54.519 And we see here Joshua is speaking as an old man. 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:58.620 His time on earth is coming to a conclusion. 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:06.180 But having led the children of Israel through so much, having brought them in to the promised land, 00:05:06.280 --> 00:05:10.280 having seen the rewards of coming into the promised land, 00:05:10.780 --> 00:05:16.460 his longing now, as he looks at the people around him, is that they will go on in the faith, 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:21.379 go on leaning and looking to the promises of God. 00:05:21.859 --> 00:05:25.779 And that's his concern, as we see in this chapter. 00:05:26.239 --> 00:05:31.659 He is speaking to the people here, warning them against complacency. 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:36.539 He's saying, don't forget the promises of God. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:40.019 Don't forget how faithful God has been. 00:05:40.159 --> 00:05:43.399 Don't forget what he has said in his word. 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:47.779 Neither forget the blessings that he has spoken about, 00:05:48.419 --> 00:05:53.079 and neither forget the judgments which he has spoken about as well. 00:05:53.339 --> 00:05:57.620 Because all of these things, they put demands on you. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.699 And so it is with ourselves today as well. 00:06:01.359 --> 00:06:06.379 That as we hear the promises of God, we have the promises of his blessings, 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:13.279 but the warning too of the promise of his judgment when we disobey his word. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:16.860 Fear the Lord, he's saying. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:19.379 Keep looking to him. 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:23.959 But if you turn away, you will suffer the consequences. 00:06:25.100 --> 00:06:30.519 We often speak today in terms of a generation lost to the church. 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:34.199 And there is truth in that statement. 00:06:34.919 --> 00:06:38.620 We look around and what we see around ourselves is there are people, 00:06:38.719 --> 00:06:40.519 and especially maybe we see it in a certain generation, 00:06:41.419 --> 00:06:43.819 are people who do not fear the Lord, 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:48.259 who have been turned away or who have turned away from God 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:50.939 through the appeal of this world. 00:06:50.979 --> 00:06:54.899 And we think to ourselves how quickly things change. 00:06:54.899 --> 00:06:59.919 And when you look at the experience of Joshua, 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:02.879 there's a reminder to us of this very thing. 00:07:03.579 --> 00:07:05.579 Because as we're reading here, 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:09.620 we're reading of a generation who were trusting the Lord 00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:14.859 and who were committed and looking to him and leaning on him. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.579 And here as Joshua speaks, he is speaking into that situation. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:24.819 But all you have to do is turn forward into the book of Judges, 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:26.139 in chapter 2. 00:07:26.179 --> 00:07:28.539 We're going to read some verses from there. 00:07:28.859 --> 00:07:32.699 Just the next book, the book of Judges, chapter 2. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.620 And you read there of the death of Joshua at verse 6. 00:07:37.659 --> 00:07:38.739 And listen to what it says. 00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:42.359 When Joshua dismissed the people, 00:07:42.679 --> 00:07:45.279 the people of Israel went each to his inheritance 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.659 to take possession of the land. 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:51.479 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua 00:07:51.479 --> 00:07:54.719 and all the days of the elders who outlived. 00:07:54.899 --> 00:07:59.259 Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:03.159 And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:05.959 died at the age of 110 years. 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:11.919 And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-Heres, 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:16.500 in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gash. 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:21.540 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:25.819 And there arose another generation after them, 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:31.519 who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:35.480 You see just how quickly it changed. 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:39.240 Joshua there in chapter 23, 00:08:39.819 --> 00:08:43.079 speaking to a people who were trusting in the Lord. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:45.199 And then another generation, 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:47.740 and they arise, 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:52.139 and they've got no word for what the Lord has done for them. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:56.120 And in such a short space of time, 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:58.580 you see how quickly it changed. 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:00.580 When we look in our own history, 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:02.340 and we see our own nation, 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:03.259 even our own islands, 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:04.480 and we think of it like that, 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:07.360 how quickly things have changed. 00:09:08.439 --> 00:09:09.699 And in many ways, 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:11.759 that can leave us feeling dismayed. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:16.379 But it should also leave us feeling a bit of hope. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.899 That just as things can change so quickly downwards, 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:23.600 so the Lord can so quickly change things 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.960 in the opposite direction as well. 00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:30.659 And that is what Joshua is getting at here in this chapter. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.759 Even as he's warning them of what is to come, 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:38.080 he is warning them to keep their focus on the Lord. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:41.740 And so I want us to take these two things from this passage 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:42.399 this evening. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:47.060 That the way that we see how God keeps his promises, 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:51.039 it's to think of keeping looking to God 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:54.379 and keeping leaning on God. 00:09:54.940 --> 00:09:56.940 So looking to God first. 00:09:58.060 --> 00:10:00.019 What was the situation at the time 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:02.779 that Joshua speaks to the people here? 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:06.399 Well, verse one makes it clear for us 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:08.100 the kind of situation it was. 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:10.000 A long time afterwards, 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:11.680 when the Lord had given rest, 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:15.100 to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, 00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:18.580 they had been given rest. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:21.299 God had given them rest. 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.700 It was a time of peace. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:27.680 Joshua and the children of Israel 00:10:27.680 --> 00:10:30.720 here were enjoying a time of peace. 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.200 God had given them rest 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:35.460 from all the enemies around them. 00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:38.980 And they had come in to the promised land. 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:43.620 They were enjoying all that this land had to offer them. 00:10:44.160 --> 00:10:49.759 They had been blessed in seeing God's promise of this land fulfilled. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:57.319 But is this a good thing when it comes to going on in faith? 00:10:57.320 --> 00:11:01.940 Is the best environment to grow in your faith? 00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:04.440 Is the best environment to grow in your faith days of peace? 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.680 In some ways, we would say yes. 00:11:07.680 --> 00:11:12.000 Because here we see they're enjoying this peace. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:15.240 They're enjoying the promises of God, 00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:17.700 reward of this land to them. 00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:21.320 But there's also a danger. 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:26.520 And that is what Joshua is seeing here in his old age. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.360 You read that just as he was rest in the land, 00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:34.360 Joshua was old and well advanced in years. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:38.160 Joshua had seen so much to this point. 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.400 He had seen so much through his life. 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:45.840 And now he's looking around and he's seeing the people around him. 00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:50.120 And there's a sense here that he's sensing the danger 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:54.600 of what is beginning to happen in their lives. 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:58.639 He sees some things beginning to happen in their lives 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.620 and he doesn't like it. 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:05.220 So like a good leader, he sees and he feels his duty 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:09.100 as a leader of the people to point this out to them. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:14.279 He's warning the leaders of Israel here to be on their guard for this 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:18.960 so they can warn the people who they are in charge of. 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:22.460 And this is him before he departs. 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:27.940 He wants to make sure that he leaves them on a good footing. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:31.680 And what is the danger that he sees? 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:35.940 Well, as they have come in to the promised land, 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:40.080 there is still the remnant of nations around them. 00:12:40.900 --> 00:12:43.520 Nations who have their people there 00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:46.540 and nations who have their gods there. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.780 And the danger that Joshua is seeing 00:12:49.780 --> 00:12:52.460 is that the people are starting to look. 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:55.720 They are starting to look at what is around them. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:00.420 It's so similar to the Garden of Eden once again almost. 00:13:00.540 --> 00:13:01.900 They're in the promised land. 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:06.799 They've been given everything they need for provided by God. 00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:08.699 Everything they need is there. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:11.480 But they look beyond that. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.379 And they look to what God has told them not to do. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:19.159 Not to go and mix with the other nations. 00:13:19.459 --> 00:13:22.120 Not to marry into the other nations 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:26.179 because this is going to bring a judgment on you. 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:29.039 But they begin to look. 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:32.099 It's in our nature, through our fallen nature, 00:13:32.239 --> 00:13:33.019 through our sin, 00:13:33.459 --> 00:13:36.039 to start looking at what we can't have 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.339 or what we shouldn't have. 00:13:37.739 --> 00:13:41.000 A danger that still exists to this day. 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:43.500 So Joshua is afraid the people 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:46.299 are maybe taking God's word for granted. 00:13:46.819 --> 00:13:48.699 Taking his blessings for granted. 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:51.219 And they're beginning to let their eyes wander 00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:53.179 in different directions. 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:58.039 And they're becoming this kind of complacent people. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.859 A little like what we looked at last week 00:13:59.859 --> 00:14:01.759 with the church in Laodicea. 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.479 They were lukewarm. 00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:05.199 They weren't hot. 00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:06.339 They weren't cold. 00:14:06.739 --> 00:14:07.679 They were lukewarm. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.639 They're just stale. 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:10.879 And it's in that kind of situation 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.579 that things begin to go wrong. 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:15.559 So here are the people of Joshua's day. 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:17.279 They're becoming lukewarm. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:20.139 They're starting to look elsewhere. 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:25.480 And this time of peace is not being good to them. 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:28.019 They're losing their edge. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.199 You think of it in this way. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:33.460 What happens to an army in a time of peace? 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:39.139 They can become fat and lazy, ill-equipped. 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:41.000 They lose their edge. 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:43.720 They're not ready for when a conflict, 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.980 for when a war arises, 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.680 unless they've kept themselves in shape, 00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:53.560 unless they've kept themselves constantly in training. 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:56.320 And think of it in a Christian perspective. 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:59.759 How do we use our times of peace 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.240 that we have enjoyed 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.159 or maybe even are enjoying just now in some ways? 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.240 Do we become lacy? 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:08.220 Do we become lukewarm? 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:10.139 Do we lose our edge? 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:12.279 Do we lose our focus 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:14.720 and start looking in the wrong places 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:18.500 instead of looking to and trusting in God? 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:21.420 Well, Joshua here is warning the people 00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:24.040 to keep themselves in training, 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:26.879 to keep themselves in shape, 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.440 looking to God and his promises 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:32.200 and trusting in him. 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.860 He says in verse six, 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:37.300 be very strong to keep and to do 00:15:37.300 --> 00:15:40.159 all that is written in the book of Moses, 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:40.899 or the law of Moses, 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.100 turning aside from it, 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:45.320 neither to the right hand nor to the left. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:48.800 Don't start looking in different directions. 00:15:48.800 --> 00:15:52.460 He's saying, keep your focus on God. 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:54.860 How often in the Bible 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:57.139 do you read a verse that says, 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.399 blessed are you in peace 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:01.680 for your faith will grow. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:04.519 Can you find that verse 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:06.599 in the Bible that says that? 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:09.579 It's the opposite, isn't it? 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.279 It's the very opposite 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.599 that's true in the scriptures. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.819 It's not blessed are you 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:15.219 in times of peace 00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:16.219 for your faith grows, 00:16:16.599 --> 00:16:17.859 but blessed are you 00:16:17.859 --> 00:16:19.359 in times of persecution. 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:21.559 Blessed are you in adversity, 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.819 then your faith grows. 00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:26.159 Matthew 5, verse 11, 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.740 blessed are you 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.779 when others revile you 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.919 and persecute you. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:32.079 And other all kinds of evil 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:34.019 against you falsely on my account. 00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:35.679 Rejoice and be glad 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.959 for your reward is great in heaven. 00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.879 Blessed are you 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:41.399 when you're persecuted. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.899 James 1, verse 2, 00:16:44.459 --> 00:16:45.959 counted all joy, my brothers, 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.979 when you meet trials 00:16:46.979 --> 00:16:48.179 of various kinds. 00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.799 For you know that the testing 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:50.479 of your faith 00:16:50.479 --> 00:16:52.139 produces steadfastness. 00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:54.819 Again, it's not in peace, 00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:56.579 it's in trials. 00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:58.039 1 Peter 1, 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:59.620 which we've been looking at recently, 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.799 says there, 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.759 in this you rejoice, 00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:03.939 though now for a little while, 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.599 if necessary, 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.599 you have been grieved 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.000 by various trials. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.200 So the tested genuineness 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.079 of your faith. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.500 So it goes on, 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.000 more precious than gold. 00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:14.579 It's in the testing 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.500 of your faith. 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:17.460 That's what keeps us 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:19.440 looking to Jesus. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.380 So a time of peace 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:22.019 is a time 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.740 to keep ourselves 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.019 well trained, 00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:26.480 on our guard, 00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:27.820 not complacent, 00:17:28.340 --> 00:17:28.840 and making sure 00:17:28.840 --> 00:17:30.059 we're not looking beyond 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.480 what we should be, 00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:33.100 but looking always 00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:34.340 to the Lord. 00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:36.200 We do this by looking 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.759 to the promises 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.720 of God, 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.440 to his word, 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.980 and how he faithfully 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.680 keeps, 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:44.539 and will keep each one, 00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:45.840 the blessings 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.819 and the curses. 00:17:48.419 --> 00:17:49.679 We should be standing 00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:50.500 convinced 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:52.319 and challenged 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:53.179 by them. 00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:53.799 So we look 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.539 to God. 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:57.079 The next thing we see, 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.019 the second thing we see here 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.059 is this leaning 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.459 on God. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.039 So you think 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.839 of the situation 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.779 here of Joshua 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.399 when the people there 00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:06.299 have been devoted 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.699 to God. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.179 Well, think 00:18:09.179 --> 00:18:10.259 of our own islands 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.919 here. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.359 If everyone 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.599 in our islands 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.899 became a Christian, 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:16.820 the work 00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:17.680 of the church 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:19.040 is done, 00:18:20.280 --> 00:18:21.320 would there still 00:18:21.320 --> 00:18:22.780 be a need 00:18:22.780 --> 00:18:23.660 for the church? 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.780 I don't mean 00:18:25.780 --> 00:18:26.380 in the sense 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:27.440 of the church 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.519 as the people 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.100 or the bride 00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:29.700 of Christ, 00:18:29.820 --> 00:18:30.759 but the church 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.420 in the sense 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:33.080 as it functions. 00:18:33.800 --> 00:18:34.580 Would we still 00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:36.200 need the church? 00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.620 Can we not just 00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:40.000 close the doors 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.420 of our churches? 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.860 If everyone's 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:44.619 a Christian, 00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:46.119 why do we need it? 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:47.819 Well, if we think 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.919 the sole purpose 00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:49.659 of the church 00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:51.179 is evangelism 00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:52.000 or reaching out 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.819 to the lost, 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.219 then we would say, 00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:55.679 yes, that could be true. 00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.599 But we would be wrong 00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:01.319 because that is not 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.000 the case. 00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:04.219 Part of our work 00:19:04.219 --> 00:19:05.859 is reaching out 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.519 to the lost. 00:19:07.199 --> 00:19:08.099 In many ways, 00:19:08.139 --> 00:19:09.439 it's not the main part 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.460 because the main 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:13.160 part of the church 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.360 is to worship 00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.120 God 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.759 and to praise 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.880 his name. 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.279 When you look 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.039 at verse 1 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:21.160 to verse 5 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:21.580 here, 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:23.200 Joshua speaks 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.200 of the peace 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:24.940 they have 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:26.600 and the blessings 00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:27.360 that God 00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:28.200 has given them 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.620 and the protection 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:31.539 he will show them. 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.840 But he doesn't say 00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:35.279 job done. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:37.460 He doesn't say 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.319 that's it. 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.720 We're complete. 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.079 We're finished. 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.379 What he says 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.980 in verse 6, 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.039 therefore, 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:47.059 be very strong 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:47.740 to keep 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.200 and do 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.480 all that is written 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:49.940 in the book 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.480 of the law 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.139 of Moses. 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.720 The people 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.859 are still 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.660 leaning 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.940 upon God. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.399 The main purpose 00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:58.059 of the church, 00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.139 the people of God, 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.519 is to be together 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.899 worshipping him, 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:03.460 acknowledging 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.500 our dependence 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:06.040 upon him. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:07.280 Just like 00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:07.759 the shorter 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.820 catechism says, 00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:10.820 man's chief end, 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.500 our first 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.820 great end, 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.920 is to glorify 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.620 God 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:16.060 and to enjoy 00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:16.580 him 00:20:16.580 --> 00:20:17.680 forever. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.660 Joshua could have 00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:20.400 looked around 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.660 and seen a people 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.280 who had peace 00:20:22.280 --> 00:20:22.920 and were enjoying 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:23.480 the blessings 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.120 of God 00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:25.440 and may be happy 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.720 to leave it at that. 00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:28.400 But he sees 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.420 coming to faith 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:31.460 is not the end point. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.059 It's just 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.759 the beginning. 00:20:33.840 --> 00:20:34.740 We need to go on 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.740 in the strength 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.240 of the Lord. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:36.960 And as Joshua 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:38.059 looks around, 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.079 he's concerned 00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:40.000 that people 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.480 are starting 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.539 to lose sight 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.799 of this. 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.799 No faith 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.740 can be strong 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.779 if it's not 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.259 growing. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.600 Just as Jesus 00:20:49.600 --> 00:20:50.340 makes clear 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:50.799 for us 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.920 in John 15, 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.220 he says, 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.140 I am the vine, 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.039 you are the branches. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.500 We only bear 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.059 fruit 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.960 through him. 00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.140 So we are 00:20:59.140 --> 00:20:59.700 starting to 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.539 come away 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.180 from him 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.180 we will 00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:02.779 fade. 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.440 We will 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:03.940 lose 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.920 our fruit 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.259 bearing 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.039 capacity. 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:07.259 We are 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:07.900 always 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.920 leaning 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.840 on him. 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:11.759 So Joshua 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.340 here 00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:13.460 is speaking 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.240 through 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.620 experience. 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.060 And once 00:21:17.060 --> 00:21:17.860 again you see 00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:18.480 in the history 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.080 of the nation 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.680 of Israel 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.759 that Joshua 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.580 was right 00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:22.759 to be concerned. 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.120 And you see 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:24.620 that they didn't 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:26.019 heed the warnings. 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:28.019 They drifted 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.880 away 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.860 from God. 00:21:30.800 --> 00:21:31.440 And is that 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.080 a concern 00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:33.200 for the church 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.700 today? 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.020 Of course 00:21:35.020 --> 00:21:35.600 it is. 00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:36.940 And it 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.860 always has 00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.340 to be a 00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:38.840 concern. 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.060 We always 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.860 have to ask 00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:41.220 is our 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.700 commitment 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.760 what it 00:21:42.760 --> 00:21:43.400 should be? 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.340 And what 00:21:44.340 --> 00:21:44.720 does our 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.260 commitment 00:21:45.260 --> 00:21:46.280 look like 00:21:46.280 --> 00:21:47.200 in the light 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.820 of God's 00:21:47.820 --> 00:21:48.300 promises? 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.420 The promises 00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.200 of blessing 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:50.960 and the promises 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.800 of judgment. 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:51.940 commitment. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:53.759 Well what 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:53.980 does the 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.559 idea of 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.720 commitment 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.480 look like 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.019 to the 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.599 Lord Jesus 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:57.980 Christ? 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.399 How does 00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.220 he describe 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.299 how our 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:00.759 commitment 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.639 should be? 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.000 Again there's 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.460 maybe many 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.079 places we 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.480 could look 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.220 but in 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.919 Matthew 10 00:22:05.919 --> 00:22:06.859 verse 37 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.460 he says 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.180 whoever 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.180 loves father 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.659 or mother 00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.099 more than 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.700 me is not 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.319 worthy of 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.500 me. 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.339 And whoever 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.440 loves son 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:13.940 or daughter 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.440 more than 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.399 me is not 00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:16.039 worthy of 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.220 me. 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:17.240 And whoever 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.819 does not 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.399 take his 00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.079 cross and 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.700 follow me 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.740 is not 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.220 worthy. 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.279 of me. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:23.740 What kind 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.319 of commitment 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.180 is the 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.799 Lord looking 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.319 for there? 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:26.859 He's telling 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.440 us so 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.659 clearly that 00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:29.079 if he's 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.159 not our 00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:31.539 main purpose 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.259 in life is 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.839 to worship 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:34.159 him then we 00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:34.759 are losing 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.619 focus. 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.180 We are not 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.200 leaning on 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.339 him. 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:37.819 We are not 00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:39.319 worthy of 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.639 him. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.059 He speaks 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.940 of the 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.220 ultimate 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.039 expression of 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.480 love and 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.579 his willingness 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:46.539 to bear 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.980 his cross 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:49.059 and he 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.799 asks of 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.680 us to 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.180 take up 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.180 our cross 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.360 and follow 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:53.759 him. 00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:55.320 Again it 00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:55.960 speaks of 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:57.620 this burden 00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:58.560 this weight 00:22:58.560 --> 00:22:59.779 this persecution 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.500 this suffering 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.120 whatever it 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:02.340 is but that 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.640 we are to 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.460 take it up 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.560 and follow 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:04.920 him. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.940 So how do 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.660 we describe 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.900 our commitment 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.680 to him? 00:23:10.820 --> 00:23:11.480 Are we all 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:11.720 in? 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:12.820 Is our 00:23:12.820 --> 00:23:13.580 heart fully 00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:14.660 committed to 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:14.940 him? 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:16.940 What does 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:18.600 Joshua leave 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.220 them with as 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.819 he is about 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:20.720 to depart? 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:21.980 While he 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.600 leaves with 00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:22.920 them the 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.640 very thing 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.460 that has 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.400 kept them 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:25.839 going. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.220 He has 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.559 known every 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.940 promise of 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:31.559 God fulfilled. 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.120 Verse 14 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.640 that's what he 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.019 is saying. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.000 And now I 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.579 am about to 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.039 go the way 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.740 of all the 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.079 earth and 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.660 you know in 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.200 your hearts 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:38.880 and souls 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:40.140 all of you 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.400 that not one 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.079 word has 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.000 failed of all 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.420 the good 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.559 things that 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.240 the Lord your 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.220 God promised 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.400 concerning 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.400 you. 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.380 Not one 00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.680 thing of 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.819 God has 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.339 failed. 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:54.860 Isn't it 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.519 encouraging to 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.880 hear Joshua 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.039 speak in this 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.360 way? 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.420 It's like we're 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.259 entering into 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.539 him sharing a 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:01.940 word of 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.579 testimony, a 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:02.900 word of 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:04.380 encouragement to 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:05.440 us as God's 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:05.980 people. 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.740 And he's 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.579 encouraging just 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.339 as he was the 00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:08.980 people then 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.319 ourselves today 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.059 to remind 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.559 ourselves again 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.819 and again that 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.039 every promise 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:16.539 of God is 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.759 yes in 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.779 Christ Jesus. 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.220 And to keep 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.299 our focus on 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.279 leaning on 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.259 these promises. 00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:25.099 Verse 6 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:26.500 sums up the 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.619 way he has 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.279 lived his 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.599 life. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.299 Therefore be 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.159 very strong 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:31.299 to keep and 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.039 do all that 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:32.639 is written in 00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.099 the book of 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.159 the law of 00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:34.619 Moses. 00:24:35.899 --> 00:24:36.439 Where have 00:24:36.439 --> 00:24:36.960 you heard 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.879 this before? 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.879 At the very 00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:41.399 outset of 00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:42.619 Joshua in 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.500 chapter 1 when 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.200 Joshua was 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.400 called to 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:45.960 lead the 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.559 children of 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:46.940 Israel. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:47.980 What was he 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.480 told? 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.200 In chapter 1 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.099 verse 7 it 00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:52.480 says only be 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.220 strong and 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.079 very courageous 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:55.319 being careful 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.240 to do according 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.000 to all that 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.559 all the law 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.420 that Moses my 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:00.559 servant commanded 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:00.900 you. 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.960 Do not turn 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.819 from it to the 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.980 right hand or 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.759 to the left 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.680 that you may 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.119 have good 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:07.779 success wherever 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:09.019 you go. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:12.140 His experience 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.620 means at the 00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:14.280 start that he 00:25:14.280 --> 00:25:14.880 has enjoyed 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.540 through all 00:25:15.540 --> 00:25:16.300 his years. 00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:17.220 It's a very 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.080 testimony that 00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:18.660 he is giving 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.620 to his people 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.820 as his time 00:25:20.820 --> 00:25:21.200 on earth 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.259 comes to 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.640 an end. 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.340 The words 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.640 are almost 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.560 identical. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.200 And we can 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.540 take these 00:25:28.540 --> 00:25:29.240 words for 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.259 ourselves today 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:30.800 as well. 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.300 Joshua is 00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:33.300 saying I 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:33.900 am about to 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:35.600 go but what 00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.580 he says is 00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.800 not one word 00:25:37.800 --> 00:25:38.680 has failed 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.820 of all the 00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:40.500 good things 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:40.799 that the 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.279 Lord your 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.320 God has 00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:43.920 promised 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.340 concerning 00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.380 you. 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.500 Therefore 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.259 he says 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.440 in verse 6 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:51.000 be very 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.420 strong to 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.240 keep and 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.320 do all 00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:54.680 that is 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.100 written in 00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:55.380 the book 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:55.700 of the 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.220 law of 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:56.539 Moses 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.480 turning aside 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.880 from it 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:59.039 neither to 00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.519 the right 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.860 hand nor 00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.320 to the 00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:01.700 left. 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.820 Don't stop 00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:05.340 looking to 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.679 God and 00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.559 don't stop 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:09.240 leaning on 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.659 God. 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.319 So that is 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:11.779 what he is 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:13.000 saying to 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.819 us too. 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.179 To look at 00:26:15.179 --> 00:26:15.879 the promises 00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:16.659 of God. 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:17.980 To see how 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.779 faithful he 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.699 is in 00:26:19.699 --> 00:26:20.480 having kept 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.659 them, keeping 00:26:21.659 --> 00:26:22.879 them and he 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:24.139 will keep 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:24.439 them. 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.399 They bring 00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:28.000 us protection. 00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:29.439 They bring 00:26:29.439 --> 00:26:30.539 us closer 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.279 to him 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.500 because they 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:32.939 are all 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:34.759 secure in 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.299 Christ. 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.519 Joshua 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.359 speaks as 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:37.859 one who 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.379 has known 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.379 it throughout 00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:40.279 all his 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.980 days and 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.599 may we be 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.900 enabled to 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.799 hold fast 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.640 to the same 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:47.259 promises with 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.900 that same 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:48.900 attitude, being 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:50.559 strong, keeping 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.619 all that the 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.539 word of God 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.299 has commanded, 00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:54.660 not turning 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.940 to the left 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:57.539 nor to 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.140 the right, 00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.779 looking to 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.879 and leaning 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:02.279 upon our 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.079 Lord Jesus 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:03.700 Christ. 00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.220 May God 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.339 bless these 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.039 thoughts to 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.299 us. 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.120 We're going 00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:09.039 to conclude 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.700 by singing 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:13.840 theppone.