Dr Tom Hover
July 17, 2022
Joshua 24:14-23 / Exodus 31:1-11
ACHIEVING A LIFE OF VICTORY / FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE
ACHIEVING A LIFE OF VICTORY
Joshua 24:14-23
Introduction: In this 24th Chapter of Joshua, outlines for us how to Achieve a Life of Victory! Joshua 24:15 “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua was a man of decision: “As for me and my house, we will.” He was a man of devotion: “We will serve the LORD.” He was a man of determination: “We will serve the LORD.” What Joshua had to say to these people so long ago in this farewell address fits so clearly with our lives today. There are four things that I want to lay on your heart from Joshua 24 if you want to Achieve a Life of Victory.
I. LIVE LIFE WITH A CAREFUL REVERENCE
Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore fear the Lord,”
Psalm 25:14, Psalm 31:19, Psalm 33:18, Psalm 115:13, Psalm 147:11 The fear of God is love on its knees.
II. LIVE LIFE WITH A COURAGEOUS RESOLVE
Joshua 24:15 “...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The word serve literally means “to homage, to worship.” It doesn’t just mean going around doing things for God; it means to worship Him, to love Him, to bow before Him with all of your heart. And what is that worship to be?
A. WE MUST HAVE SINCERE WORSHIP Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity.” The word sincere means “without blemish.” It was used of animals for sacrifice that were to be whole and complete, lacking nothing. What does that tell me? I’m to present my body “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” (Romans 12:1)
B. WE MUST HAVE SCRIPTURAL WORSHIP
It’s to be a scriptural worship. Look at it again: “Serve him in sincerity and in truth”— “and in truth.” (Joshua 24:14) Now, sincerity is no substitute for truth, and truth is no substitute for sincerity. If you worship the Lord in sincerity without truth, you’ll be a fanatic. If you worship the Lord in truth and not in sincerity, you’ll be a legalist. But if you worship the Lord and serve the Lord in sincerity and truth, you’ll be a beautiful Christian.
C. WE MUST HAVE STEADFAST WORSHIP
A sincere worship. A scriptural worship—I mean, in truth. And steadfast worship. Joshua said, “We will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) Joshua 24:14-15
do, but I can control what I will do.”
III. LIVE LIFE WITH A CONTINUAL REPENTANCE
Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. Now, this is strange. He’s saying, “Put away the gods of Egypt,” and they had been out of Egypt for forty years. But, you see, there are always the weeds of the old life that want to sprout again.
IV. LIVE LIFE WITH A COMPLETE RELIANCE
Joshua tells them what to do, and the people very glibly say, “Okay, we’ll do it. We’ve got it in our notebook, preacher.” Joshua 24:16-18. But they didn’t fool old Joshua: Joshua 24:19 —Joshua read them like a book. He said, “All of that is pious blather, and you’re not ready. You’re too confident. You’re too cocky. You’re too careless. Joshua 24:20-24 Example: Peter (Luke 22:33) In the truest sense of the word, victory is not your responsibility; it is your response to His ability.
Conclusion: Can you remember those four things?
Can you remember them? Reverence, Resolve, Repentance, and Reliance.
PM SERVICE
FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE
Text: Exodus 31:1-11
I. GOD KNOWS YOU PERSONALLY
Exodus 31:1-2
II. GOD CALLS YOU SPECIFICALLY
Exodus 31:2, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Ephesians 2:8-10, Acts 13:2, Acts 9:6
III. GOD EQUIPS YOU UNIQUELY
Exodus 31:3-5, Colossians 3:22-24
IV. GOD EMPOWERS YOU FULLY
Exodus 31:3 "I have filled him with the spirit of God"
Ephesians 5:18
V.GOD PLACES YOU STRATEGICALLY
Exodus 31:6, Jeremiah 29:7, Philippians 4:3
Conclusion
Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21, Matthew 16:24-26
Sunday July 31 will be our 5th Sunday Lunch, bring along your favorite covered dish and join us.
