Farewell to Israel’s Leaders (Part A)

The Lord your God is he I times I don't got I think God is letting me down. I don't write it out that way you say Lord I don't believe this just loves those who love him. Mistake about that God will not least your love God will not take your love is this not what I wanted to be. See Daniel. That's how man loves me when you love like that then you come see me now is not God. That is Satan.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua.

Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Joshua chapter 23 with a brand-new message called farewell to Israel's leaders. While Israel is resting in this partial piece.

The enemy is fortifying itself and is trying to simply survive and outlast the Jews and then it will turn into out influencing them. Matthew 13 gives a serious warning about this very thing to us today says in verse 24 another parable he put forth to them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field now comes the lesson.

But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares or weeds among the wheat and went his way.

That's the tactic of Satan's while we hope not guarding watching over paying attention, posting guards Satan creeps in and he sows the seeds of discord and goes his way, and he listed natural processes do its thing. This is been from the beginning and we have been warned about this and we can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the enemy by applying ourselves where it says Joshua was old and advanced in years.

These almost 110 years old now. Longevity of those ancient heroes seems to me that this was something God granted to those whom he needed to have around to have a lasting and longer influence than what would be standard Moses talked about life being about 70 years. Moses lived almost Christ. And here is Joshua that 110 we get that from chapter 24 Joshua the man still a victim of time. Time is a force just rolls on. Incidentally, the song you know his truth is marching on, no matter what's going on God's truth. This is going on over the decades of coming to the pulpit.

No matter what's going on in my life there's the word of God. There the lessons it still goes on, and this is the case and look at now in verse two, and Joshua called for all Israel for the elders for their heads for their judges and for their officers said to them, I am old advancing in age.

Well all these men, the elders, the heads, the judges, the officers and their families have problems like everybody else deal with issues just like we do family matters children moods personal matters internal conflicts, you name it God's word marches on. Joshua himself had issues. I don't mean necessarily personal issues. You know it's kooky or anything like that but he had loved ones and I'm sure many of them will some of them at least could be difficult and he still was this legend amongst the people of righteousness, and his heart was very much concerned with the people. Otherwise he would not call the leaders in the newly understood if we have any chance of prolonging righteousness in the land.

We have to have a healthy head because of the head is sick.

Everything is sick and that's why he's calling the leaders to this speech that he is giving them.

So here are the leaders of the people there apparently meeting where Joshua lives.

Tim Tim that and it was his inheritance.

The next speech he gives in chapter 30 chapter 24 will be at Shechem 35 miles to the north there is 110 years old and he still getting around well 35 miles in those days you didn't have traffic lights so probably was a delight almost get out fresh air when he had to say was serious enough to stress in these what we call to chapters, but what the nation received from the hero. It's good to have heroes. It's good to have them in the Scripture.

And it's good to have them in real life it's good to have that you know how King David's out our Samuels Daniels great men. Joseph and them the amongst the apostles, also I just a common unmanned like Ananias who God sends to Paul how did he single him out of so many people on earth. He single him out is this flash to us in a pan, what a flash. It was God doesn't bypass who he needs to use the confined resources amongst us, singled us out.

He sends us and then it's okay for men to have those figures in Scripture that are females that they admire made no not hidden, it might my favorite is Abigail I love her character. What a woman of faith in real life. The heroes that do we have. We can also have unbelievers that we admire.

We don't not in the faith. Of course, but as as people call you could learn so much. Sometimes from just decent people that you otherwise would not pick up just because you become a Christian doesn't mean you get to have class and all the things that make you a fine contributor to your surroundings and I've had quite a few good men in my life that I've learned from. I still remember I had Capt. Christie, one of the captains in the Marines. I just admired him cool as a cucumber as you would say probably listening online right now so it's good for young men and young women to have people they admire. And Joshua was that type of man, and so were these leaders in their little villages. Not everybody could get to see Joshua to hear him speak personally is over 2 million people in the land are all spread out some of them on the other side of the Jordan within those villages were admirable people, just as it is in any good church. I think in this when we got a bunch men and women alike. Deuteronomy 34 verse nine.

Going back to what Josh was stressing now.

Joshua the son of nun, was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the children of Israel heated him and did as Yahweh had commanded Moses to this. This is the figure that's giving going to give this speech.

This is the man who the people love the great void was created. Lord call Joshua home but it's really not mention for us. Verse historically speaking. Verse three you have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you, Yahweh your God is he who has fought for you is a nice he's not saying you because of you. Things are messed is that God loves you is done these things for you.

What Christian would come to the Bible and read that and say well it doesn't count for me that was for the Jews back then my don't think any Christian would do that.

I think we come to God's word to be strengthened and there is there is one example to help take away the initiative of the initiatives of the devil. We gotta know how he fights familiar with his tactics is familiar enough Satan will tell us that the miracles of God were not miracles tried to persuade us to not believe what we know what we've seen with our eyes is a liar from the beginning.

He's trying is going to tell future generations.

You don't know what you know how many times your children go off to universities and come back spiritually spiritual idiots because they listen to people who don't have a clue as to what they're talking about when it comes to Jesus Christ. But they know a lot about the devil's propaganda serious business talking the immature and the weak out of their faith, rendering the witness of God on trustworthy is it will what are you talking about what that's what Josh was talking about this and you have seen all the Lord your God has done. Don't throw that away. Don't count that as nothing or of no value and he's going to remind them throughout this chapter that God fulfilled his promises and you sought and don't for one moment pretend that you did not see it future generations did not see it. Some of them because of unbelief, not being mixed with faith, their lives. Samuel well David, let's take David first just thank you God for the life of David in the Scripture when I was in the first time I really David in-depth personal study to myself on the Bible character other than the Lord was David wrote down the bike and by pen in the composition pad first and second Samuel every word and just try to organize his life as best you could and if they hear that David was hounded by Saul because David was righteous and it Saul hated David's righteousness. It was an irritant to him.

They tried to kill him shamefully and also not just you are just poison me just go away this kilometer.

Everybody would know was going on but anyway David was so worn down after a while, probably went on for almost a decade and his experiences with Saul running part maybe for six years.

David said in his heart. Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines. Saul will despair me to seek me anymore in any part of Israel.

So I shall escape out of his hand. You Lord is this mighty king and is just opening his heart and somebody recorded the days of sick of it. I just can't take it.

I rather go to the enemy than run from this Saul anymore. God, what are you doing your usual anointed I could kill him. I could've killed him twice, but your anointed this in my life. David here is talking to himself.

That's the problem is not talking to God. He had been talking to God.

Didn't get him anywhere to be crying out wings and fly away from this stop.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want in here.

I am wanting so he made the mistake and end up acting like a fool than trying acting like a fool to survive to get out of the tents. It takes Goliaths Lord, probably to offer as a gift to appease his enemy friends look at that you say have I been there in my life right now I shall perish because of some stupid thing in life.

That's where David was. Joshua comes along and he says remember all that God has gone to David was remember the day you were anointed over your brothers in the oil roll down your face in front of everybody.

Saul hated you because he knew it, Jonathan loves you because he knew you'll be all right.

David just ticket sticking their don't give up. They didn't give up just had those moments you recovered effect. David recovered from every mistake he made, he made big ones. He says Joshua does the people because of you. Will the Lord your God is he who has fought for you. I have been at times. I don't feel God fighting from. I think God letting me down. I don't write it out that way. I feel it and I say Lord I don't believe this just feel it. God loves those who love him. Make no mistake about that God will not waste your love God will not take your love is this not what I wanted to be. See Daniel.

That's how man loves me when you love like that then you come see me now is not God.

That is Satan. First Corinthians, Paul tries to stress this, he says, for I delivered to you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Bible that he was buried, that he rose again the third day according to the Bible is he saying God died for you. Like I gave you what I got, Christ died for you. According to the Scriptures.

This was deliberate was thought out. It is older than the universe. It's a been in the heart of God from eternity past you by name by face and all of your faces. From the time you were born to the time you go to your grave love of God is not faith God does not love the infant in the nursery more than the oldest saint in the sanctuary is love does not fade. We do we pull stuff like that. Of course, because of this, acute, and they can slap us and hurt us with the holder points can risk for see, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain to be an inheritance for your tribes from the Jordan with all the nations that I have cut off as far as the great sea westward.

His trust was think I've seen. I left it.

You did to. I'm not letting you forget this. I'm old. I'm about to go home to the Lord.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I've kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which I shall receive, and not me only, but all those who have loved his appearing easy to love God is to be loved by God, you can love God without him.

Loving you first. And so this see I have divided to you by lot. Remember we went to the allotments.

He is yours. You said all I can and cannot glasses make it work. This all just make it work. God has the right to plan and to achieve and he has the right to use us to do it. We have the privilege of being responsive regardless of how clumsy we are. How easily irritated and offended and potentially mean we can be. God still uses us that makes us near invincible from hell's perspective God's prerogative, his prerogative is to judge the nations because he is God.

If he can judge these nations. He can do whatever you wanted to but wants to do and if he says he can love me that was going to stop him. Psalm 44. Psalmists reflecting on these events. Many centuries ladies as we have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us the deed you did in their days and days of all.

Have you ever said you help Daniel out. Why won't you help me get your said in your word that you would never leave or forsake them I can find you and then he goes on the Psalm as you drove out the nations with your hand with them you planted you afflicted the peoples and cast them out, for they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them but it was your right hand your arm the light of your countenance because you favored them see that psalmists knew God's love a look at the Scriptures.

He saw Joshua's record, he saw that God had given them the land. Jesus. He talks about his right to judge the nations. That means to judge the planet because he owns it and he says when the Son of Man comes in his glory. So when they were looking at him when he spoke those words. He was in his humanity. The only time his glory really flashed visibly was at the transfiguration, and then of course at the resurrection. Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him to be crowded, he will sit on the throne of his glory, and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the go. So Joshua, saying the nation state that they have been judged because this is the God that judges them that loves you separates the sheep from the goats. And you have to take it by faith. At many points in your life as a believer. Those are the rules can't change the you have to take what God says, by faith, not by experience. Thus, Job says, though he slay me, I will trust him, who would say such a thing except the man of faith.

Faith is one would never say that faith is one says seeing is believing the faithful see believing is seeing. We have eyes on the back of our head. We have eyes in eternity verse five and Yahweh your God will expel them from before you, and drive them out of your sight so you shall possess the land is Yahweh your God's promised use these buildings hitting these promises.

He sank lads. God is going to fulfill his word be part of it and you say will they never did really lay hold of these promises. What would've been the story had they not gotten gotten so much that they didn't get a been worse reports that after a while they began to think, because Messiah was coming from them. They were exempt from judgment. They were wrong God, so that I can still bring Messiah from you and not wipe you out and make you pay. And that's exactly what happened was Joshua 24 is one of many places in the book of Joshua where he names these people because none of these original people remain in the land. They're all gone. You will not be a greater site and if you do these line the Amorites, the peasant rights to canonize the Hittite security sites invites the Jebusites, but I delivered them into your hand. The gone promise fulfilled. It was this as choreographed as we would like the Bible is not that way we want a clean-cut jagged edges all over the place, but the cuts are made.

Nonetheless, that some big trees a been cutting up in my yard that fell in the storm and some of my cuts did not clean cuts was almost gone and that's the story.

What is the objective to get to heaven and hear him say well done good and faithful servant.

All of us will.

Looking back, of ourselves at least one time we get to heaven when he says that Wendy's is good and faithful, who you talking about. I've heard of this before what he's gotta be talking about somebody else. So you shall possess the land and the Lord your God as Lord your God promised you wickedness was greatly reduced by the efforts this generation. Had they not made such an impact on the land that they did. Looking at the glass half full rather than half empty. If they did not make such an impact in the future generations would've had no chances said there would've been no Sampson and no sham gar wonderful name sounds like a superhero killed 100 with an ox goad sham gar anyway. Psalm 37 verse 11.

But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Wickedness is exalted to a large degree, but is going to end and the meek shall inherit the earth. The ones that put Christ first them. Second, at least in the heart because the flesh of course is just officious savage invasive quickly fine noxious to the core doesn't die a natural death and resurrection daily at the time, it will no longer be there. Verse six 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 is follow the word of God is she going to get out of the lane you go to crash take veer off go somewhere you don't belong you going to trespass stay with the word of God we become Christians we say yes that's what I want to do and there's the fight forces pushing us pulling us away alignment room also subproblems God is this thing I need you to just stick with me were say I need you to take these problems away and will whose will will be done. God is not the same view that we have the talent is more emotional.

Who would want to follow a God that let the Bethlehem children be slaughtered. Those who see beyond the grave that Sue very simple answer. Those children could have been spared more than we would ever know. Tough stuff went nowhere around. If you got a better idea.

I like not here it because I've heard enough of them to know there's no better way. Peter said where else we can call this is it. We heard the Gentiles what they believe. We've heard what the rabbis say we heard you say this is right. Not everybody agreed Peter. Many of them left the couldn't get past that sermon happens often.

I don't whine anymore to God about that pointless anyway. It takes God-given courage to live up to the Christian life is a hard life.

Make no mistake Christian life is not to know what was that song dance walking to the two lips tiny Tim Saul. I'm glad I can remember. Don't say it could tiptoe through the tulips I said it have to cleanse the pulpit tomorrow. It's not the Christian life for anybody else's life. Acts chapter 14 Paul was careful to let his congregation know you going to suffer as Christians it's going to be hard surprised accept 14 and when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to list Reiko Newman Antioch strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. Make a nice bumper sticker understatement from a man who was shipwrecked, beaten, hounded, chased, vilified by those he loved. We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. But we enter in their we inherit the most beautiful things ever. Sometimes in my low points you feel. I feel the devil saying you might preach the gospel to have a Christian life like you have to suffer these cousins worth was an street. Everything one pains, thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia.

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