Joshua: A New Beginning

Scripture: Proverbs 13:22

Today we conclude our series. The Promised Land has been subdued yet a number of enemies remain
in the land. In this lesson we will hear Joshua tell the people how to “choose a legacy upon which to build” their lives and their nation! What he says to them is also true for us as a congregation, as individual families,
and for each one of us personally!

I. Choosing a Legacy upon Which to Build, (Joshua 24)

•  A Focus upon the Lord, (vs. 1-13) The word “Lord” is used twenty-one times

•  (A focus upon the Lord) … in spite of a sinful past , ( v. 2 ).
a. ( Josh. 24:2 ), “And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,“From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.”'”
1) It's a true statement, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
a) It is a good thing for us to acknowledge how far God has brought us!
b) Without God…, ( Phil. 3:4-6 ), “If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness which is in the law, found lameless.”
c) ( Phil. 3:7 ), “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.

d) ( I Tim. 1:15-16 ), “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. And yet for this reason I found mercy, that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
2) Thus, in spite of our past (whether looking at pluses/minuses), it all comes down to a focus on Jesus!

•  (A focus upon the Lord) … by each family , ( vs. 3-4 ).
a. ( vs. 3-4 ), “Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the river, and led him through the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac. And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mt. Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.”
1) A family's identity is an important thing! ILLUST.: “We're the Walkers, we're a neat family!”
2) God's family (Old Testament/New Testament) is chosen by Him to be His very own;
a) ( Jn. 15:16 ), “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, that you should go bear fruit.”
b) ( Eph. 1:4 ), “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him, in love.”
c) ( I Pt. 1:2; 2:9 ), “…who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

… “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

b. Is your family a “God-focused” family?! Do they know it, or has that not yet been passed along to them?!
1) Is the Lord a comfortable companion in your dinner or drive time conversations?
2) Does He figure into ALL your plans, or just your Sunday mornings?!
3) Our kids can continue to build their lives on Jesus only if we have started the work, ( I Cor. 3:11 ), “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

•  (A focus upon the Lord) … because of His deliverance , ( vs. 5-7 ).
a. ( vs. 5-7 ), “Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt by what I did in its midst; and afterward I brought you out. And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. But when they cried out to the Lord, He put darkness between you and the Egyptians; and brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness for a long time.”
1) Joshua is reminding them of the “story” of their deliverance!
2) Your “story” is an important part of your legacy that needs to be passed down to your children.
3) Do your children know your “salvation story”? Do they/others know how grateful you are for what God did?
4) ( Psa. 51:13 ), “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.”

4. (A focus upon the Lord) …for He brought them through many trials, ( vs. 8-13 )
a. (vs. 8, 11 ), “Then I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan [wilderness], and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, And you took possession of their land when I destroyed them before you. … And you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the citizens of Jericho fought against you, and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Girgashite, and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Thus I gave them into your hand.”

1) Has God continued to give you victories since you have been saved?
2) As in many of these battles, scars were received, and friends were lost. But ultimately victory!
3) Have you ultimately been victorious; over alcoholism, drug abuse, pride, jealousy, bitterness, etc.?!
4) This too becomes a legacy upon which to further build your life and the lives of those in your family!!!
5) ( Jms. 1:12 ), “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

•  A Focus on Serving, (vs. 14-15) The word “serve” is used fifteen times from v. 14 to the end of the chapter.

•  (A focus upon serving) …demands they get rid of their idols, ( v. 14 )
a. ( v. 14 ), “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” -
“Anything that comes between us and God…!”
1) It's impossible to serve the Lord while at the same time allowing idols to rule our lives!
2) Jesus warns us about this, ( Matt. 6:24 ), “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
3) Some idols are obviously sinful, ( Col. 3:5 ), “Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”
4) Some slow down our efforts, ( Heb. 12:1-2 ), “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

b. So a focus on serving means getting rid of any/everything that would keep us from serving the Lord!!!

2. A focus on serving the Lord that demands a personal decision, ( v. 15 ).
a. ( v. 15 ), “And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the
river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are now living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

1) Sadly, some people have enough of the church in them to make them miserable in the world, yet they also have enough of the world in them to make them miserable in the church!
2) Therefore, it's time for us to make the decision regarding who/what we want to serve!!!

b. So when is the right time to make this decision?
1) It is never too early. Joshua made it as a very young man when he first began following Moses!
2) Nor is it ever too late. When Caleb was 80 years old and Joshua was parceling out the Promised Land to the people, Caleb said, ( Josh. 14:10-12 ), “‘Now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am 85 years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was
then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim [the giants] were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken.”

CONCLUSIONS:
God is waiting for His people to rise up and once again put Him to the test as we focus our lives on Jesus! Is God waiting for you to make your decision to follow Him with all your heart – member/guest?! ( II Cor. 6:2 ), “ For God says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time;' behold, today is ‘the day of salvation.'”

If you are ready to make a “personal decision,” be sure to make the one God wants you to make,
( Mk. 16:16; “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” Acts 22:16, “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” ).