We also A thousand tons to see. Mm-hmm. Great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his race. This is James Kennedy, inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. Is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father there is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest of thy compassions and forever will be great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, for in my new mercies I see all thy. Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me Summer and winter and springtime and harness Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in many home witness to thy great faithfulness mercy and love great is thy faithfulness great is thy faithfulness Borning by morning, new mercies I see all that roll thy death, great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me pardon for sin and peace and endure by only presence through Shir and through God straight for today and right hope for tomorrow blessings of love. With ten thousand beside great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness born in my morning new mercies I see all I have made thy hand have brought thy land great is thy faithfulness lift me up above the shadows like my feet on higher ground Lift me up above the clouds on where the pure sunshine is found lift me up above my weakness lift me up into thy strength lift me up above the shadows till I stand with thee and wake lift me up the shadows lift me up and let me stand on the mountain tops of holy tops of mountain let me dwell Lift me up above the shadows for the storms are raging high Lift me up my blessed Savior Let me to thy bosom fly Where no evil thing can touch me over on the shining side Lift me up above the shadows Let me evermore abide Lift me up Lift me up and let me stand on the mountain tops of floating tops of Lift me up above the shadows, out of sorrow into joy. Lift me up above my grief, Lord, give me go for my alloy. Then, when death must claim my spirit, and the storms of life are past, lift me up above the shadows, till in heaven I stand at last.
Lift me up above the shadows, and they shadows. Lift me up, and let me stand. On the mountaintops of glory, tops of glory, let me dwell, and let me dwell in you on the Baptist Bible Hour program today. La Serre Bradley Jr. continues with the second portion of a message titled Joshua's Call to Perseverance from Joshua chapter 23.
Mm. In the first part we reflected on Joshua's final exhortation to remember God's faithfulness and to remain devoted to Him. In the concluding portion of this message we consider the importance of finishing well, holding fast to God's covenant promises, and faithfully serving Him throughout the remainder of our lives. With the concluding portion of Joshua's Call to Perseverance, here is LeSerre Bradley, junior And then to give thanks for what he does for us on a daily basis. Paul said, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Do you truly give thanks for every Bless you. That you enjoy. on a daily basis. Do you think when you wake up in the morning, Lord, thank you. for another night's rest.
On some nights you rest better than others, but the fact you've awakened in the morning and you've got another day ahead of you. Thank you, Lord, for the breakfast I was able to eat, and the lunch and the supper. Thank you. that I had a roof over my head. Thank you.
for the clothes I wear. Thank you. for every detail of life. My God shall supply all your needs. You know, when we have a deep sense of our own unworthiness, And we think about how marvelous his blessings are.
Those things that we sometimes have taken for granted and overlooked become more meaningful. And we go to the Lord. Thanking him for it. And so, first, we find that Joshua is reminding the people of what God has already done for them, and that's. certainly important for us.
Never to forget, the Lord has done great things for us. And then he goes on to bring a message for the present. The first thing he says is to do all that is written, once more, referring them. to the word of God. They had been successful because they were obedient to God's Word.
Now we go back to Joshua chapter 1. Verse 6. Here we find the message was right on this target from the beginning: Be strong and of a good courage, for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I swear unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou doest.
This was the message that was given in the beginning. And Joshua is reviewing it once more.
Now, courage is sometimes thought of as doing something daring. doing something that others might not be willing to do. But courage in the context here is the manifestation of the strength that one receives because of adherence to God's law. Here's courage. I'm doing what God commanded.
and therefore courageously. moving forward in his service. Joshua. Was a faithful servant. He obeyed the commands of the Lord.
He believed God's promises. And God worked on his behalf.
Now some of the promises that God gives us are unconditional. but some are conditional. Last week when we talked about the promises of God, we focused mostly on unconditional promises. Promises that you can absolutely rely on because God cannot lie, and He says, This is what I will do, and you can count on it. But in some cases He made promises.
that were conditional. In fact, they did to Israel. He made a covenant with them, and they agreed to it at Mount Sinai. They said, Yes, we agree. We enter into this covenant with God.
We understand that when we enter the land, obedience is necessary. And if there is not obedience, There's going to be a problem.
So their enjoyment of the land It was bad. decree. by God's covenant with Abraham, that they entered the land. That was unconditional as far as their effort, but To enjoy the land, to stay in the land, was a conditional promise.
So in verse 7, Specific instructions are given. for the present time, that ye come not among these nations. These Canaanites that are still in the land, come not among them. 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.
You see Satan entices people little by little. Let's make a compromise here. May make make a little change in my direction there. And before long, you've made a lot of changes.
So the order is don't even make mention of the gods of these Canaanites. Don't even talk about them. The more you talk about evil and error, the more likely that you would be influenced by it. Don't serve them. Don't bow yourselves under them.
Idolatry is a very good thing. is a great sin. And it doesn't mean just bowing down to an idol that's made out of wood or stone. The idols of the heart. When you begin to desire The things of the world, and your focus is on worldly things.
It is idolatry. John concluded his first epistle in chapter 5, verse 21, by saying, Little children, Keep yourselves from idols. Oh, how vital. that we continue to search our hearts. to be sure that we are not guilty.
of idolatry. that we haven't put our own comfort Our own desire. for wealth or prestige or whatever it might be. ahead of loving the Lord our God with all our mind, heart, soul, and strength.
So the first part of this message As to what Joshua wanted the people to consider after they had looked back to see what God had done for them.
Now, at the present time, here's the message: do all that is written. All that's written. You can't be selective. You can't say, well. I don't I totally agree with this.
I don't think this is practical for the present time. This must have been met for another day. No, all that is written, all that's for us in God's Word is to be believed from a doctrinal standpoint. and practice. from a standpoint of our daily living.
Second thing, he says, is to cleave Unto the Lord. Rather than being influence, by the pagans around you. Cleave to the Lord. Verse 8. But cleave to the Lord your God.
as ye have done unto this day. You've done that, now I want you to continue. For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong. But as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand.
For the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you as he hath promised. What a promise. One shall chase a thousand.
Now that Josh was going to be off the scene. The man who had led the army so successfully.
Somebody might be concerned, well, what are we going to do if there is something of an uprising of some of these Canaanites that are still living in the land? God's going to fight for you. He says, one man will chase a thousand. You don't have to be concerned about having a big army. One man can accomplish a lot.
when God is with him. And let's not forget that. We sometimes may be concerned about the lack of numerical strength. But if one person is walking by faith, obeying God, great and mighty things can be done through them.
So he says, seeing that the Lord has blessed you, cleave to him. Cleaving to the Lord is more than lip service. It's more than just saying, well, yes, I love the Lord. I believe God. But cleaving to him indicates a close walk with God.
Communion with God. Daily fellowship with God. Total dependence upon God. Do you recognize your constant need of him? Is it?
Always uppermost in your mind. I am weak. I am subject to faltering and failing. I need the Lord. We sing the hymn, I need thee every hour.
And how true it is. Do you commune with him? on a daily basis. One way that we cleave to him is by delighting in his word. Joshua made frequent reference to obeying God's law.
That was a key to his success. He respected God's law. He obeyed God's law. He loved God's law. Psalm 119, verse 11 says, Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
How do you do that? To hide the word in your heart is more than just a casual reading. More than reading rapidly and trying to keep up with some kind of a plan to get through the Bible in a short period of time. Hiding the word in your heart means that you read it, you meditate on it. You pray over it.
You pray that the Lord will bless by His Holy Spirit for it to be a part of you. Verse 24 says, Thy testimonies are my delight. and my counselors. Where do you go? For counsel.
Where do where do you go? to be able to cope. with all the Speculations, all of the false teaching that's out there. All of the air that surrounds us in this ungodly world. Thy testimonies are my delight.
I don't just go there because I feel like I've got this obligation. I need to read it every day, and once I've hurried through it, I feel like, well, I've got that accomplished. I delight in it. I go to thy testimonies because I read of the greatness of God. It stirs my heart with greater love for Him.
I see the truth about myself. I'm encouraged. I find blessing and peace in it, but I'm also warned. and rebuked.
So It's not enough just to know the word. We need to know the God of the Word. A person could study the Bible. Be very knowledgeable of a lot of the details of the things that are in it. But still, not know much about God.
You want to know the word. You want to hide it in your heart. But you want to spend time with the God of the Word. Verse 11 says, Take good heed, therefore, unto yourselves. that ye love the Lord your God.
He said, well, that seems to be quite similar.
Well, certainly there's a close connection. His first Telling them that they are to cleave to the Lord, and now increases that admonition by saying. Love the Lord your God. Verse 11, take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Our human nature is weak.
We can make all kinds of professions about what we love and how we want to serve God and how we want to honor him. But if we know ourselves, We know we're weak and we're subject. to being influenced. and led astray. And so we're ready to hear the warnings.
Paul said in Romans 7, 18, For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. Do you know that? Do you know that your flesh is weak? He went on to say in verse 24: O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? It's hard to imagine the Apostle Paul having that kind of struggle, isn't it?
We think of him as a man of strength and great leadership, but he was still a human being, he still had the old flesh to deal with. And how often you may have cried as he did, Oh, wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? And then Hebrews 3.13. Gives us an admonition, take heed, brethren.
Lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. I wouldn't say that to people who profess to love God. Say that to Christians. Because it's possible. for one who is a child of God.
To temporarily depart, go down the wrong path. Take heed, be careful, be alert. that you Do not go in the wrong direction because of an evil heart. of unbelief. And then Joshua goes on in verse 12 to say, Else, if ye do in any wise go back and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you know of a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you, but they shall be snares.
Now, get this: if you fail to do what I'm telling you, the Lord will no more drive out these nations, they will be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. Oh, you see, that's that's a dark picture, isn't it? I'd hope to get some encouragement here today.
Well, the encouragement is that you love the Lord and that you cleave to Him, and this kind of disaster is not going to occur. But he said if you fail Then I'm going to drive you from the land. And these heathen will be traps and snares and scourges and thorns in your eyes. Painful situation described, is it not? Very much again.
Like the words of Peter, 1 Peter 2.11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. All kinds of lusts, all kinds of sinful desires, war against the soul. And if you allow them to Build up in your mind. You can be telling yourself What I'm thinking isn't harmful as long as I don't Go down that path.
But if you began to think on that which is evil. Before long, you may be pursuing it.
So he says, abstain from fleshly lusts. which war against the soul. And then There was concern for the future. After talking about the past, admonishing them concerning the present, concern for the future, Joshua gives a solemn warning. Verse 14, And behold, this day I'm going the way of all the earth.
And ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing hath failed of 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. Isn't that marvelous? Everything that God promised, He's done.
So you ought to be encouraged and stirred to want to follow and serve him.
So he emphasizes the faithfulness of God as being a strong motivation. for service, and that ought to be a strong motivation for us. When you see how faithful God has been in spite of some of our stumbling and faltering. He's been faithful. Psalm 36 verse 5 says, Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Are you glad to know? That God's faithfulness It is Beyond description. Verse 15, Therefore it shall come to pass that as all good things are come upon you, which the Lord your God promised, so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land, which the Lord your God hath given you. Verse 16. when ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God.
which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourself to them, then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which He hath given unto you. What a vivid contrast. Because of God's faithfulness and blessing. You have come to possess the land. But when you rebel, when you disobey, when you worship false gods, when you're guilty of idolatry, I'm going to drive you from the land.
And there are warnings for us. This isn't just talking to a people of olden times. The same principle is for us. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 31 says, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God. God will chastise his people severely, not because he hates them, but because he loves them, because his purpose is to transform them and change them.
So The greatest call to perseverance. in serving God. is to consider. Tears. faithfulness.
His faithfulness to us. That should stir our love for him. Remember, the Lord has done great things for us. and that we should continually give thanks.
So think about Joshua's message. Three things are vital. Keep God's word. Cleave to the Lord, love the Lord. Pretty basic, isn't it?
Somebody says, oh, well, I'd like to delve into some of the deeper things of Scripture. This is this is pretty deep when you try to apply it. Going to keep God's word. That's not trivial. That's not something just easily done.
It requires. the enabling grace of God. His blessing and help every day. It requires cleaving to the Lord and loving the Lord. This is Joshua's call for perseverance.
He knew he was. at the end of his journey. But he wanted to know that this nation would continue on course. And he first calls the leaders, and then when we get to the next chapter, we'll say he called the rest of the people. And he's speaking to them.
I'm soon going to depart. But I want you to remember. these vital truths which are so necessary. for your future good. Here in the land.
Oh, may we receive. these admonitions. and apply them. in our own life that we may Persevere. to the glory.
of his name. Day by day And with each passing moment. Uh straight. I find to meet my trials here, trusting in my Father's wise bestowan. I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kindly above all measure, gives unto each save what he deems best. Lovingly is part of gain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest. Joshua's Call to Perseverance. That's been the title of the message today from Liser Bradley Jr. on the Baptist Bible Hour.
As we've heard today, God's faithfulness never fails, and His promises are always sure. He calls his people to love him, obey his word, and persevere in faith until the end. May God give us grace to remain steadfast in every season of life, trusting His promises, walking in His ways, and finishing our course with joy and confidence in our faithful Savior. Thank you so much for listening, and until next time, may the Lord richly bless you all. Mm-hmm.
As I did. Thy strength shall be in measure. This are blessed to me. Help me then in every tribulation.
So do trust thy promises, O Lord. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217. That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45217. Holy word, help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, and to take us from a Father's hand one by one the days of moments meeting, till I reach the promised land.
