LESSON 19

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LESSON #19
THE CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

• Memory verses: Joshua 23:10-11
• At the end of his life and ministry, Joshua is 110 years old. He has some final concerns for his people that include important warnings.
• JOSHUA 23
• Read Joshua 23:1-16
• What are Joshua’s last commands given in Joshua 23?
• Be courageous (6).
• This command is given 4 times in chapter 1.
• It is repeated here for the next generation after Joshua.
• Be obedient (6).
• Don’t compromise yourself with heathen nations (7). This admonition they did not keep.
• Don’t serve other gods or worship them. Neither did the Israelites keep this admonition. In fact, it was their greatest downfall.
• Cleave to the Lord (8).
• “cleave” is a word meaning to stick like glue.
• This is what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ in that you have a constant awareness of the Lord’s interactive presence in your life.
• It is a determination not to permit the adverse circumstances of life, persuade you away from following the Lord.
• It is a determination not to fall into the trap of worldly compromise.
• Love the Lord (11).
• What would cause the Israelites to lose the land? (15-16)
• If they transgressed the covenant
• They did not keep the covenant that God made with Moses.
• This is exemplified by the fact that they did not keep the Sabbath year. They were supposed to cease planting crops in every seventh year.
• Because they did not do this, God sent them into the Babylonian captivity for 70 years, one year for every year they did not give the land rest. (Lev 26:33-35 2Chr 36:21)
• If they served other gods.
• The Israelites not only served other gods, but they put these idols in the holy temple of God.
• In order to cleanse the land and the temple, God sent the Babylonians to destroy the temple, Jerusalem, and the land.
• JOSHUA 24
• Read Joshua 24:1-13 This is a review of Israel’s history.
• Read Joshua 24:14-28
• What further commands are given in Joshua 24:14-28?
• Fear the Lord. (14)
• Serve Him sincerely in truth. (14)
• Put away other gods. (14)
• Choose who you will serve. (15)
• The memorial at Shechem (shoulder):
• Remember that this is the first place of worship after they came into the Promised Land, Moses told Joshua to take the people to this place. We discussed the difference between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim. (Lesson #9 Joshua 8). Now at the end of the book we see them RETURN to this important place.
• Shechem is the place of decision between two choices, following God or following your own way.
• Shechem’s many events in scripture:
• Jacob after 3 experiences with God finally chooses God as his Lord. (Gen 33:18-20)
• Mt. Ebal (the mountain of cursing) –
• Jacob’s well was there (Jos 8:30-35)
• Joshua renewed the covenant here.
• Joshua says to “choose” the Lord. (Jos 24)
• The decision was made to split the kingdom here. (1Kin 12:25)
• The northern kingdom established their capital here.
• They also established a temple for worship here.
• The chief city of the Samaritans who built their temple on Mt. Gerizim and worshiped there.
• Sychar in John 4:5 is Shechem.
• This is where Jesus met the woman at the Well. He gave her the choice to follow God.
• The seventh memorial at Shechem (shoulder) (25-27)
• Of what significance is the seventh memorial at Shechem?
• Mark the place where you choose to make Jesus your Lord remembering that God is faithful and so should you be.
• This is the place in your life where you realize that Christ is more than your savior. He is also your Lord.
• The choice: Choose between the living God, Jehovah, and the gods of the Canaanites around them.
• Joshua begged the people to serve God, they said they agreed, and he said, “you can’t serve God” (19) What do you think he means?
• Choosing God is no light shallow promise.
• We can’t serve a holy God in our own strength or our own works.
• Serving God is only possible through obedience to the Holy Spirit.
• Discussion

: Is there a difference between belief and conviction?

• Yes, there is a difference.
• Belief involves mental agreement, while conviction involves total action to the point of personal sacrifice.
• Joshua asks them to choose between 3 sets of gods (Jos 24:2-8)
• =1= On the other side of the Euphrates River, there were the gods of the Sumerian and Babylonian cultures.
• =2= On the other side of the Red Sea, there were the gods of Egypt and the god of worldliness.
• =3= Across the Jordan, there were the gods of the Amorites.
• “Choose” in Hebrew expresses a continuous action based on conviction.
• The aspect of time:
• It includes the past tense.
• It includes the present tense.
• It also encompasses the future.. (Judges 2:7,10)
• Don’t let your choices be made lightly.
• To be an overcomer involves wise choices.
• Review these choices in the book of Joshua:
• =1= The choice of a new leader after Moses (Jos 1)
• =2= The choice of Rahab (Jos 2)
• =3= The choice between entering the Promised Land or not. (Jos 3)
• =4= The choice to believe God’s promises or not. (Jos 4-6)
• =5= Achan’s choice of disobedience. (Jos 7)
• =6= The choice between worship on Mt. Ebal or Mt. Gerisim. (Jos 8)
• =7= The choice of the Gibeonites to become servants of God. (Jos 9-10)
• =8= The choice of the 2 ½ tribes to live in God’s permissive will on the east side of the Jordan. (Jos 13)
• =9= Caleb’s choice of inheritance and determination to possess all of it. (Jos 14)
• =10= God’s choice of inheritance given to the 12 tribes. (Jos 15-21)
• =11= Joshua and his house choose God. (Jos 24)

• A REVIEW OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA:

• A Review of the 7 memorials in Joshua:
• =1= Gilgal (Jos 4:1-3) Mark the place of your new birth experience!
• =2= In the Jordan River (Jos 4:9) Mark the place of being buried with him in the waters of baptism.
• =3= Valley of Achor (Jos 7:24-26) Mark the place where you learned about the seriousness of sin..
• =4= Ai (Jos 8:28-29) Mark the place where God’s mercy and faithfulness restored victory after repented sin.
• =5= Cave of Makkedah (Jos 10:25-27) Mark the place where God gave victory for going to battle for another.
• =6= The Jordan border between the tribes (Jos 22:26-29) Mark the place where your identity with Christ was such that unity of the body of Christ was preserved.
• =7= Shechem (Jos 24:23-27) Mark the place where commitment to God’s word kept you from idolatry.
• Review of the principles on how to be an overcomer :
• =1= Overcome through obedience to God’s call (Jos 1) Meditate on the word because the word makes one an overcomer.
• =2= Overcome through the blood of Christ (Jos 2)
• =3= Overcome through the presence of God (Jos 3)
• =4= Overcome by marking God’s milestones in your life (Jos 4) Give praise and thanksgiving for what God has done.
• =5= Overcome by taking advantage of God’s rest (Jos 5)
• =6= Overcome by doing things God’s way…by faith (Jos 6)
• =7= Overcome by not robbing God (Jos 7)
• =8= Overcome through faithful perseverance (Jos 8)
• =9= Overcome by keeping your word and your commitments (Jos 9)
• =10= Overcome by not leaving any enemy behind to haunt you (Jos 10)
• =11= Overcome through spiritual warfare in prayer (Jos 11)
• =12= Overcome by knowing your inheritance (Jos 14)
• =13= Overcome through Christ, your refuge (Jos 20)
• =14= Overcome by maintaining a clear conscience (Jos 22)
• =15= Overcome through personal conviction (Jos 24)
• A Review of Possessing Your Possessions:
• =1= Know what your possessions are by knowing God’s promises to you.
• =2= Know that these possessions belong to you because of your position in Jesus Christ.
• =3= Know you have a legal right to these possessions if you do battle for them against the enemy, Satan.
• =4= Possess your possessions by the confession of faith.
• =5= Agree with God that they are yours.
• =6= Believe God putting your whole weight/wait on God,
• =7= Confess the Word of God.
• Read Jos 24:29-33

The end……God bless you!