"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S PROMISE TO HELP HIS PEOPLE HAVE VICTORY"
Joshua 23:5 “And the LORD your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
Joshua 23:6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,
Joshua 23:7 “and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
Joshua 23:8 “but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
Joshua 23:9 “For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.
A few explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:
These were some of Joshua's last words to the children of Israel, and they include promises of what God would do for them, and they include encouragements, and instruction. All of these verses do indeed give sound direction for the Christian today, that when followed help us to live the Victorious Christian life.
1. God promised to expel their enemies, so that the could possess the land God had promised to them.
Joshua 23:5 “And the LORD your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
In applying this to our lives, God promises to keep us from evil, He has provided spiritual armor, and we can possess the blessings of the abundant life He has promised.
2. Notice what God called His people to be. Very courageous, and to keep His Word, to keep them from straying off the path He had for them. The word courageous means to be strong, and the word keep, means to be careful to follow God's instructions.
Joshua 23:6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left.
3. Here God explains that obedience to His Word will keep them from living a compromised life with the pagan peoples around them. They were to live separate from the pagan people around them. That is, not to fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
Joshua 23:7 “and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
Another way of saying this is. Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or worship them. NLT.
4. God calls His people to hold fast to Him. And, He mentions that holding fast to Him, is what they had been doing right up to this moment of Joshua's speech to them. The idea here is that of being faithful to God.
Joshua 23:8 “but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
5. God had done a great work for them, so much so, that no one was able to stand against them. We have this same promise in the NT, that God who is in us, is greater than he who is in the world.
Joshua 23:9 “For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. God had given them victory over their enemies.
6. In summary.
(1) God will expel your enemies, and allow you to enjoy the blessings He has for you.
(2) God call us to be strong and to carefully follow His instructions.
(3) God encourages a fully committed life to Him, and wants us to avoid any compromise. Compromise lead to defeat.
(4) God wants You to hold fast to Him. If you have been, then He wants you to just keep holding fast, If you have lost that hold, then you can regain it today by repenting, and turning to Christ once again, and then Hold fast till He comes for you.
(5) God has done a great work on Your behalf. He is greater than all your enemies. Be encouraged.
A prayer:
Father, thank You for all of Your Word. Both the Old and the New Testaments. The stories in them are true, and filled with teaching about who You are, and Your ways, and how we are to live our lives. Thank You also that You have a blessed life for us to live. Please help us to take heed to ourselves, and to take heed to Your Word. In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
