Rev. David Holwick ZM
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
November 22, 1998
Joshua 23:6-16
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SERMON SUMMARY: Joshua's last words to the Israelite leaders reveal
principles from which all believers can benefit. Special emphasis
is given to the concept of the promises of God.
I. The day is done.
A. Deathbed conversations special.
1) Last words are important. If you were to die in ten minutes,
what would you tell your family?
2) Hospitals and grieving relatives cling to final words.
3) So does Hollywood: "Rosebud." And the Bible...
B. Joshua gives his last advice in this passage.
II. The path is clear.
A. Give God all the credit. 23:3
1) He can give us the victory, even the routing of a thousand.
2) We have a tendency to puff up our own abilities.
B. Immerse yourself in God's Word. 23:6
1) Bible equal to "Dear Abby" or different?
2) Eternally valid principles.
a) Defy them, and you'll eventually lose.
b) Not only moral principles, but spiritual ones.
C. Don't go over to the other side. 23:7
1) Materialism and secularism.
2) Spiritism and superstition. (New Age, astrology)
D. Live a life of separation from the world. 23:12
1) Spiritually mixed marriages.
2) Be committed to Christians.
3) Be committed to Christian values.
a) Campolo on Disney boycott - good to take a stand,
but their use of child labor in third world is
worse than any pro-homosexual policy.
III. The promises are true. 23:14
A. Joshua had never been let down by God.
1) We often are.
a) Christians die in war and famines, despite Psalm 91:7.
b) Have the promises lost their validity?
2) Common responses by believers.
a) The promises don't fail; people do.
b) The promises are "spiritual", not literal.
c) The "promises" are general statements of fact or they
are addressed to others. They are not personal
guarantees to us.
3) True faith relies on God, not formulas.
#1476
B. Context is important.
1) General promises.
a) For all people, of all times.
b) Examples:
1> Salvation of your soul.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
2> Protection from danger and lack.
"And my God will meet all your needs according to
his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
2) Specific promises.
a) "David Holwick will marry a really cool babe."
b) The Holy Spirit impresses them on our hearts.
1> Claim them carefully.
A> Don't read your own wishes into them.
2> Read them rightly.
A> Look at the context.
B> Don't be purely subjective.
C. Note the conditions of the promises.
1) Are we violating any of the commands Joshua gives above?
2) (Thomas Yeakley and two men who both felt God was promising
them the same non-Christian woman.)
3) Be careful not to subjectively make a general promise
into an ironclad one for you personally.
#10001
D. Remember the nature of the Promiser.
1) When God says "no" He has a reason.
a) The prayer of Gethsemane received a "no" answer.
1> Not because Jesus was sinful or request invalid.
b) He let his Son die on the cross for a higher goal.
2) We must submit to a higher will than our own when we pray.
a) "God's will is what you would choose if you knew
everything He knows." Mark 14:36
IV. Your God can do incredible things.
Roger Simms had just left the military and was anxious to take
his uniform off once and for all.
He was hitchhiking home, and his heavy duffel bag made the
trip even more arduous than hitchhiking normally is.
Flashing his thumb to an oncoming car, he had just about given
up hope when he saw the taillights flash on on a shiny, black,
expensive car.
It was so new that it had a temporary license in the back window
... hardly the kind of car that would stop for a hitchhiker.
But to his amazement, the car stopped and the passenger
door opened.
He ran toward the car, placed his duffel carefully in the back,
and slid into the leather-covered front seat.
He was greeted by the friendly smile of a handsome older
gentleman with distinguished gray hair and a deep tan.
"Hello, son. Are you on leave or are you going home for good?"
"I just got out of the army, and I'm going home for the first time
in several years," answered Roger.
"Well, you're in luck in if you're going to Chicago."
"Not quite that far," said Roger, "but my home is on the way.
Do you live there, mister?"
"My name is Hanover. Yes, I have a business there."
And with that, they were on their way.
After giving each other brief life histories, and talking about
everything under the sun, Roger (who was a Christian) felt
a strong compulsion to witness to Mr. Hanover about Christ.
But witnessing to an older, wealthy businessman who obviously
had everything he should ever want was a scary prospect indeed.
Roger kept putting if off, but as he neared his destination, he
realized that it was now or never.
"Mr. Hanover," began Roger, "I would like to talk to you about
something very important."
He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately
asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his
Savior.
To Roger's astonishment, the high car pulled over to the side
of the road -
Roger thought for a moment that Mr. Hanover was about to throw
him out.
Then a strange and wonderful thing happened: the businessman
began to cry while affirming that he did in fact want to
accept Christ into his heart.
He thanked Roger for talking to him, saying that "This is the
greatest thing that has ever happened to me."
He then dropped Roger at his house and traveled on toward
Chicago.
Five years went by, and Roger Simms married, had a child, and
started a business of his own.
One day, while packing for a business trip to Chicago, he came
across a small, gold-embossed business card which Mr. Hanover
had given him years earlier.
When Roger arrived in Chicago, he looked up Hanover Enterprises,
and found it downtown in a very tall and important-looking
building.
The receptionist told him that it would be impossible to see
Mr. Hanover, but that if he was on old friend, he should be
able to see Mrs. Hanover.
A little disappointed, Roger was led into a poshly-decorated
office where an elegant looking woman was sitting at a huge
oak desk.
She extended her hand, "You knew my husband?"
Roger explained how Mr. Hanover had been kind enough to give him
a ride back home.
A look of interest passed across her face.
"Can you tell what date that was?"
"Sure," said Roger, "It was May 7th, five years ago, the day
I was discharged from the army."
"And did anything special happen on your ride...anything unusual?"
Roger hesitated.
Should he mention giving his witness?
Had it been a source of contention between the two, which
resulted in a marital breakup or separation?
But once again, he felt the prompting of the Lord to be truthful.
"Mrs. Hanover, your husband accepted the Lord into his heart
that day.
I explained the gospel message to him, and he pulled to the side
of the road and wept.
And then he prayed a prayer for salvation."
Suddenly she began to sob uncontrollably.
After several minutes, she regained enough control to explain
what had happened:
"I grew up in a Christian home, but my husband did not.
I had prayed for my husband's salvation for many years, and
I believed God would save him.
But just after he let you out of his car, on May 7th, he passed
away in a horrible head-on collision.
He never arrived home.
I thought God had not kept His promise, and I stopped living
for the Lord five years ago because I blamed Him for not
keeping His word.
She accused God of not keeping His promises -- of not being
faithful.
Yet, in the end who proved His faithfulness and who didn't?
#4399
V. The consequences are real.
A. God doesn't just bless people.
B. Disobedience can ruin everything.
C. Which way will we go?
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#1476, "When God Seems To Have Failed You," by Stanley C. Baldwin,
Discipleship Journal #38, March 1987, page 35.
#4399, Sermon by Rev. Michael Jackson, Willmar Assembly of God Church,
at Http://www.willmar.com/~wag/sermons/ga_great.htm
#10001, "Standing On The Promises Without Losing Your Footing," by
Thomas R. Yeakley, Discipleship Journal #103, January 1998,
page 57.
These and 4,300 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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SERMON NOTES:
I. Success in ministry. Rev. Doug Goins
A. Give God all the credit and try to stay out of the way.
B. Obey God's Word completely.
C. Trust God and don't trust any other resources but God.
D. Self-examination: do you love God more than anything?
1) Three negative reasons.
2) One positive reason.
II. Communicator's Commentary. John Huffman
A. Deathbed conversations are cherished.
B. Key points.
1) Give God the credit.
2) Obey the Lord.
3) Live a life of separation from the Lord.
4) Avoid pagan worship. (Don't go over to other side)
C. Negative consequences of unfaithfulness.
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