Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.northharris.freechurch.org/sermons/4880/joshuas-final-sermon/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Good evening and a warm welcome to the service again this evening and a special welcome to any who are visiting with us who are here for the first time. The intimation sheet is the sheets in white here and if you haven't received one you can pick one out on the way out of the service tonight. One thing that I didn't see this morning that I'll just highlight this evening is that in addition to all the normal things in the course of the week there's a community lunch from 12 to 2 this Tuesday so those concerned can take a note of that. The other thing to say is that although the school term doesn't start back till tomorrow the YFH people are going to have an informal get together from 7 till 8 tonight so please stay behind at the end of the service. So these I think are all the intimations the rest of these intimations you can read at your own convenience.

[1:07] If you could turn now please in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 24 the last chapter in Joshua and we'll read from verse 1 of Joshua 24.

[1:26] Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel and they presented themselves before God. Joshua said to the people this is what the Lord the God of Israel says. Long ago your forefathers including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor lived beyond the river and worshipped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the river and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the whole country of Seir to Esau but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

[2:09] Then I sent Moses and Aaron and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there and I brought you out. When I brought your fathers out of Egypt you came to the sea and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea but they cried to the Lord for help and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians. He brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians.

[2:36] Then you lived in the desert for a long time. I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them before you and you took possession of their land. When Balak son of Zippor the king of Moab prepared to fight against Israel he sent for Balaam son of Beor and put a curse on you. But I would not listen to Balaam so he blessed you again and again and I delivered you out of his hand. Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites and Hivites and Jebusites. But I gave them into your hands. I sent the hornet ahead of you which drove them out before you. Also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build. And you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant. Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the river and in Egypt and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord. Then the people answered far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods. It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt from that land of slavery and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.

[4:31] And the Lord drove out before us all the nations including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord because he is our God. Joshua said to the people you are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.

[4:51] If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you after he has been good to you. But the people said to Joshua no we will serve the Lord.

[5:06] Then Joshua said you are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord. Yes we are witnesses they replied. Now then said Joshua throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel. And the people said to Joshua we will serve the Lord our God and obey him. On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. And Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law of God.

[5:39] Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the place the holy place of the Lord. See he said to all the people this stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God. Then Joshua sent the people away each to his own inheritance. After these things Joshua son of Nun the servant of the Lord died at the age of 110. And they buried him in the land of his inheritance at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim north of Mount Gash.

[6:20] Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel. Israel and Joseph's bones which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamer the father of Shechem.

[6:42] This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants. And Eliezer son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.

[6:57] Amen and may God bless that reading of his word to us. Let's pray as we come back to God's word. Our Heavenly Father we thank you once more for the fact that we are able to gather around your word and we thank you for this hour that you've given us where we come together and we wait with expectation.

[7:19] Believing that you will be here with us Lord because that's your promise. We're two or three gathering. In the name of Jesus your promise is that you will be here with us and we pray that we would know that.

[7:30] And that we would feel that. That we would experience that. We pray as we stand there that we would be led to the land as we meditate upon the word of God.

[7:42] We ask that this wouldn't just be an exercise of our mind. It wouldn't just be a routine of our week. But we ask that as we think about these things from your word that we would see more clearly Jesus and that we would not stay back from him.

[8:00] But that we would come to Christ and receive forgiveness if we have never done so before. Receive salvation if we are still strangers to God.

[8:11] And Lord if we are those who are your children we pray that as a result of our meditations this evening. That we would be brought into a closer walk with you. So that our lives would be holier lives.

[8:24] That would bear glory to your name. So hear our prayers and help us we ask as we bow in your presence. We think of the congregations around us in the community here.

[8:36] Different denominations. Every place where Christ crucified and risen is preached. We ask Lord that you would add your blessing. We pray that you would be at work through your servants.

[8:46] And that you would build your church and glorify your name. We pray for the congregations that are connected with us. We thank you for those visiting with us this evening. And we pray Lord that where their minds go back to the congregations and the work that is ongoing in these places.

[9:04] That you again would add your blessing Lord. That you would encourage your people. That you would enable your people to reach out there. As we pray that you would enable us here to reach out with the good news about Jesus.

[9:18] We cannot do this Lord in our own strength. Apart from you we can do nothing. Unless the Lord builds the house we labour in vain. But we ask Lord that our labours would not be in vain.

[9:29] But our labours would be such that would bring glory to your name. So hear our prayers. Take away our sin. Empty us of all that would fixate upon ourselves.

[9:40] Fill us with the Holy Spirit. That we may lift up Christ in all that we do and say. And Lord that we may be drawn to him. We ask these things in Jesus name.

[9:51] Amen. If you could turn now please to Joshua 24. It's good to see a few boys and girls here tonight.

[10:04] Younger and older. Put your hand up if you've ever baked a cake. Come on right up. And the older people. Bake the cake. One or two.

[10:17] Younger ones. Can you tell me. If you're baking a cake. Is there a way to do things. Can you do it any old way. Or is there an order to doing things. It's okay.

[10:29] You can speak to me. Lois tell me. There's an order to doing things. If you're going to bake a cake. There's a certain order.

[10:40] There's a way to do things. You get all the dry ingredients. I'm speaking like an expert here. I could be very wrong. You get all the dry ingredients. And you think you put them all in the bowl first.

[10:52] And then if you're adding butter or marge. You're adding that bit by bit. And then the milk goes in bit by bit. See there's an order. And you have to follow the order. If you reverse the order. If you put all the wet stuff in first.

[11:04] And then throw the dry stuff on top. And hope for the best. You're not going to get a cake. You're just going to get a mess. Or think about when you sit on your driving test. For those who are a bit older. I can still hear my old driving instructor saying.

[11:17] Mirror. Signal. Maneuver. Johnny Campbell. You can hear it in my sleep. Mirror. Signal. Maneuver. If you didn't get that order right.

[11:28] You weren't going to pass your test. That was the order. And as we turn to Joshua 24 here. We see an order. In the makeup of this chapter.

[11:39] As to how God works. And if we are to be people who are saved. If we are to be people who are Christians. If we are to be brought into relationship with God.

[11:50] We need to grasp the order. That is noted in this passage here. The first point this evening is. There's an error. That needs to be corrected.

[12:02] There's an error. That needs to be corrected. And this is not so much a point. That you can lift straight from the text. This is more a point that we can observe. Just from the day and age that we live in.

[12:14] If you ask people on the street. If you ask people in your school. How do I get to heaven? How can I become a Christian? How can I be saved?

[12:28] Then many people. Even here. Because I've heard it said. When I've been visiting many times. Many people will say. Well. If you want to be a Christian. You have to try and keep the commandments.

[12:40] As best you can. And you have to try hard to be good. And you have to try double hard not to be bad. And you have to be nice to everybody.

[12:50] And you can't hurt anybody. And if you do more bad things. If you do more good things than bad things. If on balance your life seems to be. More good than bad.

[13:01] Then maybe God will save you. Lots of people think that. Lots of people think. That to become a Christian. It's about what we do.

[13:15] Lots of people think. That if we want to be saved from hell. And taken into heaven. It's about the good works. That we do in this world.

[13:27] It's about the religion. That we follow. It's about the meetings. That we go to. It's about how good. Our lives can be seen to be. It's what people think.

[13:41] But that's not what the Bible says. That's an error. That needs to be corrected. It's an error that's dominant in our nation today.

[13:53] That needs to be corrected. How can I become a Christian? We say. And many people will answer. Try hard. Be nice. You'll be okay in the end. It's all about you.

[14:03] It's wrong. It's an error. That needs to be corrected. And God. Through Joshua. In this final sermon of Joshua.

[14:14] He reorders. Our thinking. And we'll get to the. The substance of the sermon. In just a second. But. I want to. Squeeze in one more point.

[14:25] Before we get to the. The actual sermon. First point. There's an error. That needs to be corrected. Second point. We see here. Extra time.

[14:36] For Joshua. Extra time. For Joshua. If. You. Have been following. Through this. Study. And if you. Can remember.

[14:47] Back two weeks. To Joshua. 23. And even if you can't. Just click back to it. For a moment. And you'll see here. That the. The beginning. Of Joshua.

[14:58] 23. Is very much. Like the beginning. Of Joshua. Chapter 24. In Joshua. 23. Joshua. Is about 90 years old.

[15:09] And he senses. He's coming to the end. Of his life. And so. It tells us. In verse 2. Of Joshua. 23. That. Joshua. He summoned. All the.

[15:21] All Israel. Their elders. Leaders. Judges. And officials. And said to them. I am old. And well advanced. In years. And then Joshua.

[15:33] Having called. All these people together. As an old man. He makes this. Powerful. Speech. To the. The leaders. Of Israel. And he calls them.

[15:46] To trust in God. He. You could see. He pours. Out his heart. To them. Whilst his. Ninety year old. Heart. Heart. Is still beating.

[15:58] But twenty years later. In Joshua. Twenty four. His heart. Is still beating. He's still living.

[16:11] He may have had a sense. In Joshua. Twenty three. That his life. Was coming. Towards an end. But twenty years later. He's still there. And he's still preaching.

[16:22] He's still. Trusting God. He's still. Walking close with God. He's still. Being used by God. You could say.

[16:33] He's an extra time. Those who watch football. And there's a few of them here. We know that. In extra time. Hugely.

[16:44] Significant. Things can happen. You can. Watch a match. For ninety minutes. In the last. Thirty minutes. Of that match. Things can change. Dramatically.

[16:55] In the dying moments. Even. Joshua. And Joshua. Twenty four. You know. It comes with huge weight. And. And gravitas.

[17:05] As Joshua. Who now. Very much. Is at the end of his life. He continues to glorify God. We often. Say to the young people.

[17:17] Make sure you're trusting God. Make sure you're trusting in the Lord. And we should say that. To the young people. But I want to say.

[17:28] Not just to the young people. But to the old people. To the ninety year olds. Like Joshua was. And. And. And rising.

[17:38] And the eighty year olds. And the seventy year olds. And. And those who. Who are maybe coming towards the end. Of life. We don't know how many days we have. But for those. Where the. The years are clocking up.

[17:50] Be encouraged here. As we see the example of Joshua. Keep on trusting the Lord. Keep on running. Keep pressing on.

[18:01] And if you're ninety. And you haven't trusted him yet. Trust him today. Matthew Henry. In applying this. Putsu. Well. He says. Joshua. Thought that he had taken his last farewell.

[18:14] Of Israel. In the solemn charge. He gave them. In. Joshua chapter 23. When he said. I am going the way of all the earth. But God.

[18:24] Graciously. Continuing his life. Longer. Than expected. And renewing his strength. He was desirous. To improve it. For the good. Of Israel. Matthew Henry says.

[18:36] Note. We must never think. Our work for God. Done. Till our life. Is done. And if he lengthen our days.

[18:46] Beyond what we thought. We must conclude. It is because. He has some further service. For us. To do. Why are you.

[18:59] And I still here. This evening. Why are we still living. Why are we still breathing. Well for the unbeliever.

[19:12] This evening. It's because God. In his patience. And his grace. It is given. Yet. An other. Opportunity.

[19:24] For us to come to Christ. To become Christian. And for the believer. Why are we here.

[19:35] This evening. Why are we on this earth. Why do we have energy. Why do we have time. Why are we being given gifts. Why are we. Being given. Resources.

[19:45] For us. But so that we will. Make each day. Our. Each day.

[19:56] Should be a day. That we. Determine. Will be used. To glorify God. And it's only as we glorify him. That we know his joy.

[20:08] Joy. And it's only as we know his joy. That we're given strength to persevere. We're not here for us.

[20:20] We're not here for our glory. For our comfort. For our ambitions. We're here to glorify God.

[20:30] It's your purpose. If you're a believer. Extra time. Third point. God. And this takes us into the.

[20:43] The substance of Joshua's sermon. Extraordinary faithfulness. That's. What Joshua. Is at pains. For the.

[20:54] The people to see. And hear. Through his sermon. He wants them to grasp. The extraordinary. Faithfulness. Of. God. That's the substance.

[21:07] Of all that he's saying here. He wants them to. To see the. Extraordinary. Faithfulness. Of God. He. The foundation of the. The relationship.

[21:18] That God has. With his people. Is down to him. And all that he has done for them. And all that he is doing for them. And all that he promises. He will continue to do for them.

[21:30] And so. If you allow your. Eyes to scan. From verses two. Down to. To verse 13. We hear. Joshua. Retell the old. Old story.

[21:40] Of. Of God's faithfulness. To his people. And just as we read this. One more time. Notice. How many times. God.

[21:51] The great. I am. Reminds them. That it wasn't them. But it was him. Who had saved them. And who had kept them. The extraordinary.

[22:05] Faithfulness. Of God. Let's just read these verses again. And just. Pause. At the. The points. Where we see God. Is pressing upon them. The fact that he did it. Wasn't them.

[22:16] He did it. Verse two. Joshua said to. All the people. This is what the Lord. The God of Israel. Says. Long ago. Your forefathers.

[22:27] Including. Terah. The father. Of Abraham. And Nahar. Lived beyond the river. And worshipped. Other gods. So Abraham. Himself. Although.

[22:38] He was chosen. By God. To know God. It wasn't because of. What was in Abraham. It wasn't because God. Looked into Abraham. And he saw something special.

[22:48] And righteous. In Abraham. And his family. His family. Were worshipping other gods. They were pagans. But God. In his grace. And his mercy.

[22:58] He determined. That he would come to Abraham. Because of. Who. God was. And he says in verse two. I took. Your father Abraham.

[23:09] From the land. Beyond the river. And led them. Throughout Canaan. And gave him many. Descendants. I gave him Isaac. And to Isaac. I gave Jacob.

[23:20] And Esau. I assigned the hill country. To Seah. And Esau. That Jacob. And his sons. Went down to Egypt. Then verse five. I sent Moses. And Abraham. And I afflicted the Egyptians.

[23:31] By what I did there. And I brought you out. Verse six. When I brought your fathers. Out of Egypt. You came. To the sea. And the Egyptians. Pursued them. With chariots. And horsemen.

[23:43] As far as the Red Sea. But they cried out. To the Lord. For help. And he put darkness. Between you. And the Egyptians. He brought the sea. Over them. And covered them. You saw with your own eyes.

[23:53] What I did. To the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert. For a long time. I brought you. To the land. Of the Amorites.

[24:03] Who lived east. Of the Jordan. They fought against you. But I gave them. Into your hands. I destroyed them. From before you. And so it goes on. You can look at it.

[24:15] When you get home. But every verb. Every doing word. In that section. Is attributed to God. In terms of their rescue from Egypt.

[24:28] In terms of their victory over stronger nations. In terms of their deliverance. In terms of their safe passage. Through and into the promised land. In terms of the rest they were now enjoying.

[24:40] God did it. Everything they received. Everything. About their salvation. Was down to.

[24:52] The extraordinary faithfulness. Of God. It wasn't because of their strength. They were just a wee nation. It wasn't because of their wisdom.

[25:06] And strategy. Wisdom comes from heaven. Not from earth. It wasn't because of how good. And obedient. That they were. Because we've already seen in this.

[25:16] But time and time again. They weren't. It was all. Down. To the extraordinary faithfulness. Of God.

[25:30] And for us here this evening. Our salvation. If we are saved people. Our forgiveness. If we have.

[25:42] Had our sins dealt with. Our promise. Of heaven. It's not down to what we have done. It's not down to what we are doing.

[25:54] It's not down to what we hope. We may do in the future. It's all down to the extraordinary faithfulness.

[26:06] Of God. And Joshua. Could look back to. All these events. And their experience. As they've gone through.

[26:17] The journey. The journey. The journey. To the promised land. If we want to see. The extraordinary faithfulness. Of God. We have so much more. To delve into. We've sung.

[26:29] Of the power of the cross. We have sung. Of the one. Who was the greater Joshua. Jesus. The one who lived for us.

[26:40] A life without sin. The one. Who died for us. The death. That we deserve to die. So that we could be forgiven. So that we could be saved.

[26:51] This. The power of the cross. We sang. Christ. Became. Sin for us. Took the blame. Bore the wrath.

[27:06] We stand forgiven. Where? At the cross. We need to see this. It's. It's about God's faithfulness.

[27:19] Not ours. If we are to be saved. That takes us to Joshua's final point. And my final point. Entire.

[27:32] Commitment. There's an error. That has to be corrected. There is the extra time. That Joshua's given. That he uses so wisely. There is the sermon here.

[27:43] Which. Which. Presses upon them. The extraordinary. Faithfulness of God. And then. There's the application. There's the demand. Within that sermon. And there's a call for.

[27:56] Entire commitment. It's the final point. Entire commitment. And Joshua. It's the final point. And Joshua. In so many words. He. He says.

[28:08] To. To God's people here. Because. God. Has been. So faithful. To us. Let us be entirely committed.

[28:18] Not. Not half committed. Not half in. Half out. Half out. Not lukewarm. Not cool. But he says. Let's be entirely committed to him.

[28:30] Why? Because it will save us. No. The gist of the whole last point. It's.

[28:41] God himself. Who saves us. But if we are saved people. If we recognize. All that God has done for us. Then surely. We will want. To entrust.

[28:52] Ourselves. To commit. Ourselves. Entirely to him. That's the application here. So let me ask you the question.

[29:04] As I. I have to ask myself. The question for longer. In preparation. Are you entirely committed. To God? Are you and I seeking.

[29:18] First. His kingdom. Not second. Third. Fourth. Fifth. Last. But are we seeking. First. His kingdom.

[29:30] Can we sing. As we'll be invited. To do at the end. Jesus. All for Jesus. All I am. And have.

[29:41] And ever. Hope. To be. Can we sing that. From our hearts. Are we. Entirely. Committed. To the God. Who has shown us.

[29:53] Such. Extraordinary. Faithfulness. Faithfulness. Faithfulness. You know. That's what he's deserving of. That's what he calls for. He doesn't call for.

[30:06] Abnominal church membership. He doesn't call for us. To carve out. One or two. Hours. Within our week. He calls us. To be entirely.

[30:17] Committed. And faithful. To the one. Who was first. Faithful. And loving to us. Joshua. Serves. To. To the people.

[30:27] In verse 14. Now fear the Lord. And serve him. With all. Faithfulness. The question. I want to ask.

[30:38] Just. In conclusion. Is what does that involve. It's easy for us. To say that. We need to be. Entirely. Committed. To God. It's easy for us.

[30:48] To say. Well. I hope I am. Being entirely. Committed to God. But what does that look like. In your life. And mine. There's four things here. Just as we.

[30:58] Finish. I'll just give you the. Headings really. We have to. First of all. Throw out our idols. We have to. Secondly.

[31:09] Choose. To serve God. Every day. We have to. Thirdly. Know. We can't do it. It's repetition.

[31:21] From the morning. In our own strength. We can't do it. And finally. We have to. Remember the Lord. If we're going to.

[31:32] Be entirely. Entirely. Committed to him. It's what Joshua. Teaches them here. We're to throw out. Their idols. Verse 14. Throw away.

[31:42] The gods. Your forefathers. Worship. Beyond. The river. And in Egypt. And serve the Lord. God. If you and I. Are to be. Entirely.

[31:53] Committed. To God. We need to throw out. Our idols. Calvin says. The human heart. Is a factory. Of idols. So what are your idols?

[32:06] It can be things. Material possessions. It can be people. Relationships. That we put. Before God. It can be our work.

[32:19] It can be our study. It can be. Our leisure. Pursuits. Our hobbies. It can be almost anything. So. Let us.

[32:30] Ask the Holy Spirit. To help us. To see. Our idols. In order. That when we see them.

[32:42] We'll be able. To throw them out. Being entirely committed. To God. Who is jealous. And who calls. For. His place.

[32:53] On the throne. Of our lives. Means. Throwing. Out. The things. That creep up. On to his throne. And you.

[33:04] Alone. As God deals with you. Will know. Your idols. As do I. The second thing here. Is we have to choose.

[33:15] To serve God. Joshua's. Famous. Verses. In verse 15. He says to the people.

[33:26] But if serving the Lord. Seems. Undesirable to you. Then choose for yourselves. This day. Whom you will serve. Whether the gods. Your forefathers. Served beyond the river. Or the gods. Of the Amorites.

[33:37] In whose land you're living. But as for me. Says Joshua. And my household. We will serve the Lord.

[33:49] See Joshua. Was making a conscious choice. To serve the Lord. To serve the Lord. He's 110 years old. And yet on his 110th birthday.

[34:04] He says today. I'm going to serve the Lord. Francis Sheffer. The commentator says. This was the character. Of Joshua.

[34:14] He chose. And he chose. And he chose. And he kept. Right on choosing. To the very end. We sometimes.

[34:25] I think. Put too much emphasis. On the fact. That there was one day. In a stadium. In a. An evangelistic valley. And we made a choice. That may be the day.

[34:37] That we first confessed our sin. And came to the Lord. But every day. That the Lord has given you. And I. We are called to make a choice. To serve him. We are not saved.

[34:48] By our perseverance. But our perseverance. Is evidence of the fact. That we are saved. And Joshua says.

[34:59] Today. I am going to serve. The Lord. Have you chosen. To serve. The Lord. Yet. Joshua was old.

[35:11] His concern. Was. Overwhelmingly. For the generations. That would choose. The Lord. As he had. And the young people here. Especially.

[35:23] All of us. But. Especially the young people. Can ask the boys and girls. Have you. Chosen yet. To serve the Lord. You've chosen.

[35:35] As you sang this morning. To follow Jesus. Your parents. Bring you along. To church. You. But you need to choose. Whether or not.

[35:46] You're going to trust. And follow. Jesus. Cook. The commentator. Says. Why was it so important. For the Israelites. To be reminded. Of their history. And then he answers.

[35:58] Because the people. Of each new generation. Need to see. In a. In a personal way. How God's hand. Has been upon them. Each individual. Must encounter.

[36:09] God's grace. Afresh. Our faith. Is not inherited. Each one of us. Must personally. Choose. To follow.

[36:20] Christ. So to be. Incredibly. Committed to him. Need to throw out. Our idols. We need to choose. Every day. To serve the Lord.

[36:30] We need to know. Thirdly here. We just can't do it. Not in our own strength. And I'm not going to read. The verses. Because time's gone now.

[36:42] But. You can see. Verses 16. To verse 21. And Joshua. He calls the people. To serve the Lord. And the people. Immediately respond. By saying. Yes Joshua.

[36:53] We want to serve the Lord. We're going to serve the Lord. And then Joshua says. You can't serve the Lord. You can't do it. So what's Joshua.

[37:03] Doing there. A woman. Commentators here. Says Joshua. Wanted the people. To understand. What they were agreeing to. In particular. He wanted them. To understand.

[37:14] That without God's grace. And enabling. They would not be able. To keep his covenant. They needed to place. Their confidence. Not in themselves. But in God. Himself.

[37:25] This is an important point. Because it's come up. Twice. In the same day. From different ends. Of scripture. To be entirely. Committed to God. To be. Those who are.

[37:36] Following Jesus. We need to know. We can't do it. They put their hands up. And said. We want to follow. God. We want to serve. God. And Joshua says.

[37:46] You can't do that. Not in your own. Strength and resolve. You need God's help. And it's only. As we come to God. Each day.

[37:56] For help. And for strength. And for grace. That we. We make progress. And we grow. And we persevere. In our commitment. To. In our. Our following.

[38:07] Of God. And the final thing. Here. Is Joshua. Calls them. To. To remember. The Lord. They throw out.

[38:19] Their idols. They choose. Every day. To serve the Lord. They know. They can't do it. In their own strength. So they come. Every day. Asking for strength. And finally. They remember. The Lord. Look at.

[38:29] Verses 22. To verse 27. You can read it. At your own. Convenience. Later on. Tonight. But Joshua. Essentially. Says. Of a paraphrase. Here.

[38:40] He says. To the people. Okay. I've heard. What you're saying. You want. To serve the Lord. You're. You're. Committing. Yourselves. To. To serving. The Lord. And following God. He says. Now. Let's record this.

[38:54] Let's put this. In a covenant. Let's. Record. The fact. That you are. Trusting. The Lord. That you are. Entering. Into this. Covenant. With God. And let's. Put this. Stone.

[39:04] In this. Special. Place. Shekher. Just where God. First. Made that. Promise. To Joshua. To Abraham. Sorry. So Joshua. Says. He says.

[39:15] Let's put this. Monument. Here. That will. Help us. To. To remember. The promises. That we've made. And you and I. Might. Might say.

[39:25] That just seems. A bit strange. Now. Why on earth. Would Joshua. You know. Get a big stone. And put it.

[39:35] In this place. And say. Well. That will. That will help us. To remember. But then. If I was to ask. Some of the. The ladies. I can see. Some of them.

[39:46] Even from here. To put up. Their. Their hands. Now. We look at their hands. And you see a ring. And in the ring. You see a stone.

[40:00] And it's a stone. That sparkles. And it's a stone. That has. Beauty in it. But the real beauty. And significance. Of the stone.

[40:11] Is in the fact. That it's a reminder. Of a promise. That was made. To be. Loving. And to be. Faithful. And we need.

[40:24] These reminders. God knew that. That's why he. Guided Joshua. To do this. We need. These reminders. Of God's promises.

[40:36] Of God's. Faithfulness. To prompt us. In our response. To him. And even today.

[40:47] This is a reminder. It's the Lord's day. Not our day. It's the Lord's day. It's the day.

[40:58] That we remember. That the stone. That sealed. The saviour's tomb. Was rolled away. And as we think about that.

[41:10] Once more. More. We are reminded of the. Extraordinary. Faithfulness. Of. Our risen. God. And prompted. As we remember.

[41:23] To entirely commit. Our lives to. And now. May the grace. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. And the love. Of God the Father. And the fellowship. Of God the Holy Spirit. Be with us all.

[41:34] Both now. And forevermore. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[41:52] Amen. Amen. Amen.

[42:02]  Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.