Teacher: Pastor Chet Lowe
Main Scriptures: Joshua 24, Ezekiel 14
- Joshua 24
- Endings of seasons are for encouragements and warnings
- v. 1 Joshua prioritized God’s word and found his identity in God’s word
- v. 2-3 The main point of Joshua’s final message is that if He is the Master, we are the servants (v. 14)
- The word “Lord” appears 21 times in this chapter
- The word “servants” appears 15 times in this chapter
- We have 3 enemies to our service (1 John 2:15-16)
- The flesh tempts us to the “easy” way
- The world tempts us to materialism
- The enemy tempts us to doubt God when life gets hard
- We have 3 enemies to our service (1 John 2:15-16)
- v. 4-13 The Master has poured out His grace upon on us
- He did it all and we have done nothing
- He rescued us from idolatry
- Idol worship steals our time, energy and money (Isaiah 44)
- He delivered us
- From bondage and slavery
- From the enemy’s spiritual attack
- He is fighting battles we don’t even know are occurring
- He is also fighting the battles we know about
- He blessed us
- Supernaturally
- With His love
- With miracles
- He rescued us from idolatry
- He did it all and we have done nothing
- v. 14-15 In response, we get to make a choice to serve the Lord
- We need to be real and genuine in our service to the Lord
- The people had idols in their secret places
- Matthew 6 says we are only to have three secrets
- Our giving
- Our prayer
- Our fasting
- Matthew 6 says we are only to have three secrets
- Whatever is in our secret places multiples
- The people had idols in their secret places
- We need to be real and genuine in our service to the Lord
- We may need to change our perspective about serving the Lord
- The people viewed serving the Lord as harmful, afflicting and hard
- They believed this because serving their idols felt good. They were the gods of pleasure, prosperity and knowledge
- Idols lie to you and and tell you what you want to hear
- But God’s word says “His commandments aren’t burdensome” (1 John 5:3)
- They believed this because serving their idols felt good. They were the gods of pleasure, prosperity and knowledge
- The people viewed serving the Lord as harmful, afflicting and hard
- v. 16-28 Joshua confronts the facts of their idolatry as a good pastor
- They struggled to confess
- But if we confess our sin to God, we are forgiven (1 John 1:9)
- And if we confess our sin to man, we are healed (James 5:16)
- He shows them the way to turn
- Start at the heart level—they still desired their idols in their hearts
- Set up memory stones to remind yourself
- They struggled to confess
- v. 29-33 Joshua left a legacy as a servant—what will our legacy be?
- The generation that listened to and obeyed the Word got to witness the works
- The following generation did whatever they thought was right in their own eyes (Judges)
- The generation that listened to and obeyed the Word got to witness the works