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
  • 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
  • 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
      • Whatever is in our secret places multiples
  • 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)
  • 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
  • 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)