FAITHFUL TO THE FINISH LINE
The Book of Joshua #19
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
(Joshua 23:1–3, NLT) “The years passed, and the Lord had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old, called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, “I am now a very old man. You have seen everything the Lord your God has done for you during my lifetime. The Lord your God has fought for you against your enemies.”
Joshua’s last words are about the faithful love of God
What would your last words be?
God buries His workers but His work goes on
(Joshua 23:6, NLT) “So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left.”
Joshua directs the congregation to the Word of God
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. –Statement of Fundamental Truths
“Unless I am refuted and convicted by testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear arguments (since I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils alone; it being evident that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am conquered by the Holy Scriptures quoted by me, and my conscience is bound in the word of God: I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against the conscience.” –Martin Luther, April 17, 1521, his trial at Diet of Worms
(Romans 1:16, NLT) “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.”
(Isaiah 55:11, NLT) “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
LAP – Anchor your faith in God’s Word and not the culture
Joshua, warns against compromise
You have been faithful and obedient to this day
(Joshua 23:7–10, NLT) “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 serve them or worship them. Rather, cling tightly to the Lordyour God as you have done until now. “For the Lord has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you. Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.”
(Joshua 23:11–13, NLT) “So be very careful to love the Lord your God. “But if you turn away from him and cling to the customs of the survivors of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry with them, then know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive them out of your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes, and you will vanish from this good land the Lord your God has given you.”
Three Consequences of Disobedience
- Defeat – God will no longer drive them out of your land
- Discomfort – A whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes
- Disgrace – You will vanish from this good land
God will not give up on the work of transformation in your life
(John 17:15, NLT) “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”
We are separated unto the Lord so that we might be influential in the world
(Joshua 23:14, NLT) “Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!”
God’s promises will never fail you!
(Joshua 23:15–16, NLT) “… you will quickly vanish from the good land he has given you.”
I must make a choice!
(Joshua 24:15, NLT) “Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. … Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River, and they worshiped other gods. But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. … But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
(Joshua 24:3–4, NLT) “But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates … Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, ….”
(Joshua 24:6–7, NLT) “But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea,…”
(Joshua 24:8–14, NLT) “Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. ….”
- Euphrates River – Sumerian Culture with animism and polytheism.
- Red Sea – Egyptian Culture with animism and polytheism.
- Jordan River – Canaanites with animism and polytheism.
(Romans 12:1–2, NIV) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
My faith should affect everyone in life
(Joshua 24:18, NLT) The people replied … So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”
“Why, dear friends, a candle that won’t shine in one room is very unlikely to shine in another. If you don’t shine at home—if your father and mother, your sister and brother, if the very cat and dog in the house are not the better and happier for your being a Christian, it is a question whether you really are one.” –Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China
(Joshua 24:18–20, NLT) “It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.” … If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”
Joshua’s influence lived on after his death
(Joshua 24:29–33, NLT) “After this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. … The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel. The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph. Eleazar son of Aaron also died. He was buried in the hill country of Ephraim, in the town of Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas.”
GROWTHWORK
- Faithfulness to God and one another is a lifetime pursuit
- Serve God alone
- Our families, or co-workers, our community will experience our devotion to the Lord
- The life I live shapes the legacy I leave