Week Six Monday October 15, 2018

Courageously Obey the Lord

Joshua 23:4-6

James, inspired by the Holy Spirit, challenges us to be doers of the Word

and not hearers only (See James 1:22). It is not enough to just hear or

remember. We must keep and do what is written. Joshua in our text

challenges the people to live courageously keeping the Law.

Joshua divided the land

Joshua as we have seen in chapters 13-22 had divided the land to each

tribe and family. Joshua reminds them …

“Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that

remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes…” (Joshua 23:4)

Lord promised the land

The Lord promised the land to the people. He would expel their enemies

from the land. God would drive the inhabitants out, if His people would

only obey See Joshua 23:5).

Courageously Obey the Lord

“Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and do all that is

written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside

therefrom to the right hand or to the left;” (Joshua 23:6)

Joshua challenged the people, to be very courageous and to keep and do

all that was written in the Book of the Law. They were to courageously

obey the Lord.

Joshua told them to be very courageous. He probably remembered

when he started his ministry (See Joshua chapter 1) that God encouraged

him and challenged him to be courageous.

He also encouraged them to keep and do all the Law commanded.

They were not to turn from the left or right. The idiom “turn from the

left or right” is like saying walk a straight line or plow a straight row. To

do that you have to keep your eyes focused on the mark set before you.

We are to go forth and live straight lives courageously obeying the

Word of God. If we want to have a full and abundant life as God has

intended, we must courageously obey the Lord.

Help in becoming a Christian is found on the Home Page.

Week Six Tuesday October 16, 2018

Serve Only the Lord God!

Joshua 23:7-11

God is a jealous God. He wants us to serve and worship only Him.

Israel was judged because they did not make the Lord first in their lives.

If we put anything or anyone, even ourselves in first place in our lives,

we are bowing down and serving another god. When we do this we

place ourselves under God’s judgment.

Serve no other gods

“That ye come not among these nations, these that remain

among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor

cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves

unto them.” (Joshua 23:7)

Joshua warned the people that if they did not drive the inhabitants out as

God commanded and if they lived among the people of the land, they

would be tempted to turn from the Lord God and serve other gods.

We know, from the book of Judges, the people did not drive the

Canaanites out; they lived among them and they bowed down and served

the Baals, the god of the Canaanite people. This ultimately caused them

to be destroyed and carried off in captivity (723 BC for the Northern

Kingdom and 622 BC for the Southern Kingdom).

Hold fast to Lord your God

Joshua charged the people to hold fast to the Lord your God for God had

done great and mighty things for them. He would fight for them (See

Joshua 23:8-10).

Love the Lord your God

“Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord

your God.” (Joshua 23:11)

He also called them to take heed that they love the Lord their God Jesus

makes it clear, when asked what is the greatest commandment, that to

love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is the first and

greatest commandment (See Matthew 22:34-37). We should love Him

supremely for He loved us first and gave His only begotten Son for us.

Do you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? Are

you holding fast to Him and serving only Him?

Help in becoming a Christian is found on the Home Page.

Week Six Wednesday October 17, 2018

Sanctified Life

Joshua 23:12-13

The next two challenges in chapter 23 charge us to live a sanctified life.

Sanctified Marriage

“Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant

of these nations, even these that remain among you, and you

shall marry with them, and go in unto theme, and they to you.”

(Joshua 23:12)

Joshua warned the people what would happen if they did not love God

supremely. When they turned away from the Lord they would marry

with the pagan Canaanites. This would in turn cause them to worship

and serve their pagan gods. We know from the Book of Judges this is

what happened.

It is essential we teach our children, especially our youth that

dating the wrong person can cause one to marry the wrong person.

Dating is a time for young people to look for the mate God has chosen

for them. Christians must not date non-Christians for that will lead to

marrying non-Christians, which the Bible commands we are not to do. 2

Corinthians 6:14-18 says: “Do not be unequally yoked together with

unbelievers (don’t be married to an unbeliever). For what fellowship has

righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with

darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a

believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God

with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said; ‘I

will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God and they

shall be My people.’ Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be

separate says the Lord and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you

and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’”

Sanctified Lifestyle

If the Canaanites were not removed from the land they would be snares

and traps to the people. They would be scourges on their sides and

thorns in their eyes. This would be the situation until Israel no longer

lived in the land (See Joshua 23:13). Joshua spoke as a prophet. He

knew what would happen if the people did not love and serve only the

Lord God. If they continued to associate with the Canaanites they would

turn from the Lord and the sanctified lifestyle He required.

We need to be wise. We should understand and recognize the

dangers of continuing to associate with those who live immoral lives. If

we continue to listen to, stay around, and put into our minds things that

are immoral, it will not be long before we start practicing what we are

around. If we put garbage in garbage is what will come out. This is one

of the reasons church and Christian fellowship is so vital to the life of

the Christian.

Determine to live a sanctified life! If you are single, only date

Christians, so you will marry a Christian.

Live a lifestyle that honors our Lord Jesus Christ. Separate

yourself from the immoral crowd and fellowship with fellow Christians,

who are committed to living a clean and holy life.

Help in becoming a Christian is found on the Home Page.

Week Six Thursday October 18, 2018

God’s Judgment is Sure!

Joshua 23:14-16

The last challenge Joshua makes in chapter 23 is for the people to

understand that God’s judgment is sure. The wise man knows

disobedience brings destruction. Disobedience in Israel’s life brought

destruction and exile, just as Moses had taught them before they entered

the Promise Land. Disobedience to God’s Word will bring destruction to

our lives and to our nation. Don’t be deceived God’s judgment is sure.

He always judges disobedience.

God not failed

“And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye

know in all your hearts and in all your souls. That not one this

hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake

concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing

hath failed thereof.” (Joshua 23:14)

Joshua reminded the people God had not failed to do all He had

promised. It is not God who fails; we do. We turn from follow God and

His Word.

God’s judgment will come

When we disobey God’s judgment will come. Just as good had come to

the lives of Israel, so would harm if they turned from God and disobeyed

His Commands. All the harmful things Moses and Joshua had warned

about would come if the people were unfaithful. Unfaithfulness would

bring disaster and final destruction (See Joshua 23:15). This is what

eventually happened to Israel, for they turned from the Lord and turned

to the Baals, the pagan gods of the Canaanites.

Joshua warned them that when they transgressed the covenant of

the Lord He would burn with anger and they would perish quickly (See

Joshua 23:16). It was clear to Israel the consequences of transgressing

the covenant. This is still the consequence of turning from God and

living a life without Him.

Turn from your wicked ways and give your life to Christ. Jesus

paid for your sin and He can give you a life of victory and joy. The

consequence of turning away from God is Hell for all eternity. Come to

Christ and be saved today!

Week Six Friday October 19, 2018

Fear the Lord!

Joshua 24:1-14

Joshua in chapter 24 is coming to the close of his ministry and life. He

gathers all the people at Shechem . Joshua speaks as a prophet saying:

“Thus says the Lord God…” The Lord reminded them of His dealings

with Israel from the time Abraham to the present day (See Joshua 24:1-

13).

“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.”

(Joshua 24:14)

In verse 14 the Lord charged the people to fear Him and serve Him.

Today we focus on the first charge to fear God.

Fear the Lord

Joshua told Israel to fear the Lord. To fear Him is to have a holy

reverence for God. To treat Him as a person with great worth. When we

neglect our families we are saying to them you are not important to me. I

see no value in your personhood. This is true for God also. When we

neglect God we are saying we see no worth or value in His person. But

when we fear God we see great value and worth in Him and want to

spend time with Him.

We are to give our Lord reverence for He is God. He is worthy of

our praise and worship. We should make Him the most important person

in our life. When we fear Him we do just that!

Put away gods our fathers served

Joshua commanded the Israelites to put away the gods their fathers had

served. This would include the calf at Mt. Sinai and the other idols they

could have brought out of Egypt. It also included Baal, for they had

bowed down to him at Peor and the Lord killed thousands of Israelites in

judgment of their idolatry (See Numbers 25:9).

The gods of our fathers would include money, success,

materialism, and self. These four idols seem to be the most prominent in

our culture. Like Israel we are called to put them away and serve only

the Lord.

Help in becoming a Christian is found on the Home Page.

Week Six Saturday October 20, 2018

Serve the Lord!

Joshua 24:15

We are to serve God in sincerity and in truth. Joshua charges Israel to

serve the Lord in sincerity and in truth. Jesus taught the woman at the

well that God wanted all to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John

4:24). This is done when we are without hypocrisy and the Spirit of the

Lord is allowed to move freely. We worship in truth by coming to the

truth, Jesus God’s Word. We hear and do the truth as true worshippers.

How are we doing in serving God in sincerity and in truth?

In verses 15 Joshua challenges the people to choose whom they

were going to serve, but as for he and his family they would serve the

Lord.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this

day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers

served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the

Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house,

we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Choose for yourselves whom to serve

Joshua told the people to choose for themselves whom they were going

to serve. This is the most important decision or choice any of us will

make. You must choose sides. “Neutral you cannot be.” Jesus said: “He

who is not with me is against me” (See Matthew 12:30).

As for me and my family we will serve the Lord

Joshua set the ideal example. He makes the ideal choice. He and his

house would serve the Lord. I pray all of us will make that same choice.

Have you chosen the Lord?

The people of Israel declared their allegiance to the Lord (See

Joshua 24:16-24). But their pledge seemed hollow for history shows that

in just a few years the people turned to the Baals and turned away from

God.

On this day we need to choose the Lord, make a true commitment

to the Lord Jesus and live a life that honors Him. Let’s choose Him!

Help in becoming a Christian is found on the Home Page.

This concludes our study of the Book of Joshua.

Week Six Sunday October 21, 2018

Joyful Worship

Psalm 100

We should give joyful worship unto our Lord.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord

with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know ye

that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we

ourselves; we are his people, and he sheep of his pasture. Enter

into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good;

his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all

generations.” (Psalm 100)

In this psalm David calls for us to eight actions toward God and sets

forth seven truths about God.

Eight Actions Toward God

1. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Some translations say to make a joyful shout unto the Lord. This is a

charge for us to come in joyful worship.

2. Serve the Lord

We are serve the Lord, not ourselves. He is God and Master.

3. Come before His presence with singing

Singing is a major part of joyful worship.

4. Know that the Lord he is God

The Lord (this is the title the Hebrews used in place of God’s name for

the so reverenced the name of God they did not speak it) He is God. He

is the one and only true living God.

5. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving

Here David would be speaking of the gates that one would go through to

enter the worship area and eventually the Temple.

6. Enter into His courts with praise

The courts were the different areas of the Temple that the Men (court of

Israel), Women, and Gentiles (the outer courts). When we come to the

place of worship we should be filled with thanksgiving and praise for

our God.

7. Be thankful unto Him

David repeats our need to be thankful to the Lord.

8. Bless His name

Bless His name not only with our lips but also with all our lives.

Seven Truths About God

1. The Lord he is God.

2. He is our Creator.

3. We are His people.

All who have come into a relationship with God through faith in God’s

Son, Jesus Christ are God’s children, or people.

4. We are the sheep of His pasture.

This was another way to speak of our being His people.

5. Lord is good.

6. His mercy is everlasting.

His mercy is His withholding from us what we deserve. When we

receive Jesus He withholds His judgment against us, for Jesus accepted

that judgment on our behalf at the cross.

7. His truth endures to all generations.

His Word never fails.

Have you received Jesus as your Lord and God? Help in becoming

a Christian is found on the Home page.

Introduction to New Study

Each year we examine the January Bible Study Book or Material. This

year Lifeway has chosen Revelation chapters 1 – 3 (The Letters to the

Seven Churches). The focus of the material is on what Jesus calls His

churches to be and to do. John Stott entitled his book that deals with

these chapters “What Christ Thinks About the Church?” I think that is a

good thematic sentence for our study. The only things I would change is

“Christ” to “Jesus Christ” and “the Church” to “His Church.” So I have

entitled this study:

What Jesus Christ Thinks About His Church?

(A Study of Revelation 1-3)

Week One Monday October 22, 2018

Jesus’ Revelation

Revelation 1:1-6

Revelation of Jesus Christ (not John’s) (1:1-2)

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew

unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he

sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare

record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and

of all things that he saw.” (Revelation 1:1-2)

In these first two verses Jesus makes clear five things.

1. The Source of Revelation

God gave this Revelation unto Christ Jesus to share with the church (his

servants).

2. The Recipients

The recipients of this Revelation is the church. He speaks of them in

verse one as his servants.

3. The Content

God shows to us the things that must shortly come to pass.

4. The Means

The means by which this Revelation was signified was by his angel (his

heavenly messenger).

5. The Specific Person through whom He bare the record

John is the specific person through whom Jesus bare this record.

a. Bare record of the word of God

b. Bare record of the testimony of Jesus Christ

c. Bare record of all things that he saw.

Blessing (1:3)

A blessing is given to all that reads, hears, and keeps the Revelation.

Blessed is he that reads the Revelation. Blessed is he that hears the word

of this prophecy. And blessed is he that keeps those things which are

written therein.

The Reason for this blessing is: the time is at hand.

Writer (1:4)

John the Apostle is the Secretary, not the author. Jesus is the Author of

this Revelation.

Recipients (1:4)

The Seven churches of Asia is the recipients of this Revelation.

However, it has great value for all churches, even our modern churches.

Salutation (1:4-6)

Grace and Peace

Grace be unto you and peace, from him which is, which was, and which

is to come. This three-fold title speaks of God’s eternal nature.

Grace and peace is also from the seven Spirits, which are before

the throne. The seven Spirits refers to the Holy Spirit (the number seven

is God’s perfect number).

And finally grace and peace is from Jesus Christ, who is the

faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead (speaking of His

resurrection), and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Praise

Praise is offered unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in

his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his

Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (So Be It).

Help in becoming a Christian is found on the Home Page.