Finishing Strong

Introduction: (Defining the Pain)

Next week we celebrate 2 years in this building and 3 1/2 years as a Church. When we opened the doors on March 6, 2016 David and Jessica were on the stage singing and playing.

As they led us in worship we watched them get married and start a life together.

At a critical moment in our churches history they stepped up and filled a gap to lead the Worship band and singers of our church and have done so for these past 2 years. The have spent countless hours doing behind the scenes work to help us pull off Sunday mornings worship.

After much sacrifice, discussion, and prayer David and Jessica have decided to take a break from leadership and just be ministered too for a while. My hope is that they will rest and restore their souls and be ready to minister to us again.

Today I want honor them both and tell them thank you for their service to us and to the Lord. So please join me in honoring David and Jessica Mack.

Let’s Pray.

Serving the Lord is not an easy task. Staying strong in the battles of life requires a stedfastness that can only come from the Lord.

Staying strong in the fight is not an easy task.

How does a person stay strong in the fight? What does it take to maintain strength and courage that only comes from the Lord?

Most people never find the strength of the Lord. They are on a rollercoster of strength that they are try to produce from the flesh. The problem is the flesh gets tired and week. We rest up a bit, lick our wounds and try to get out there again.

What if I told you there is a way to stay strong in the Lord? What if I told you that after 30 years of ministry there is a way to keep your head up and continue to take the land for the Lord?

This formula for finishing strong is outlined for us in .

In the next few moments I want to give you “4 Necessary Thing to maintain the Strength of the Lord” and even pass it on to the next generation.

Let’s set the Scene:

Joshua 23:1–2 ESV

1 A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, 2 Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years.

Josh 23:

The Lord has given rest to Israel.

Joshua is old.

The torch is being passed to the younger generation of leaders.

The fighting is not over there is still much land to take.

They are going to need the strength of the Lord to fight their battles.

Joshua 23:3 ESV

3 And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you.

The fight isn’t over just because the torch is passed.

Joshua 23:3

Joshua 23:4–5 ESV

4 Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. 5 The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you.

The promises of God are just as strong to the new generation as they were to the old.

The requirements of God’s strength are also the same for the new generation.

Scripture: (Defining the Passage)

Joshua 23:6 ESV

6 Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left,

4 necessary things to maintain your strength in the Lord.

5

In each one of these strengths there is a commitment you must make to the Lord.

Strength in Renewed Righteousness

Joshua 23:6 ESV

6 Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left,

Walking in righteousness means your walking in agreement with God.

Righteousness is maintained by keeping God’s Word.

God’s Word renews our minds to focus on the truth.

We learn the personality of God.

We learn the heart of God.

We learn the Spirit of God.

The Word of God makes a straight path to the heart of God.

It’s not ok to turn to the left or the right.

We are so quick to get distracted by the things of the world.

Commitment: Renewed Righteousness is a commitment of repentance toward God.

“We want God to commit his strength to us with no commitment from us, but relationships don’t work that way.”

God must become real to you.

It is easy to sin against an Idol because we don’t believe he is real.

It’s harder to sin against a person and a friend.

Proverbs 18:10 ESV

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Strength in Restored Relationships

“Ministry Runs on the Rails of Relationships.”

Joshua 23:7–8 ESV

7 that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, 8 but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day.

Joshua 23:

Strength in Restored Relationships

Restoration between you and God.

Redeemed by the sacrificial offering of God through Jesus Christ.

Forgiven and freed from the sin that was keeping us from God.

Restoration of your self-esteem.

Forgiving yourself and living in the freedom God has provided.

Fulfilling your God given purpose in the life.

“Hurt people hurt people.”

A pretty vase that falls and brakes has sharp edges that will cut you.

Restoration with Others.

Treating people as image bearers of God.

Expressing the Love of God to those around you.

Commitment: Restored Relationship is a commitment to abide in Christ.

Abiding in Christ is a choice to walk with the Lord.

Only Jesus can heal your brokenness and remove your sharp edges.

Strength in Relentless Faith.

Joshua 23:8 ESV

8 but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day.

Josh

Relentless faith is clinging to the Lord your God.

Relentless faith is living in the security and confidence that God is able and willing to do what He promised.

Joshua 23:9–10 ESV

9 For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10 One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you.

Josh 23:

Relentless Faith moves you forward on the power of God alone.

Relentless Faith means no turning back.

Joshua 23:12 ESV

12 For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,

Josh 23:

Commitment: Relentless Faith is an unwavering commitment to follow after God.

What are you clinging to? The ways of the world or the power of God.

What you cling to will influence what you do.

Strength in Passionate Pursuit of God.

Joshua 23:11 ESV

11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.

Be careful what you “cling” to. (vs. 8, 12)

Joshua 23:12–13 ESV

12 For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, 13 know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.

Joshua 23:12 ESV

12 For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,

Josh

Set your affections on God.

Colossians 3:1–3 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Col 3:

This doesn’t happen naturally. We are naturally pulled away from God.

We must make a conscious effort to passionately pursue God.

James 4:4–5 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

Commitment: Passionate pursuit of God is a commitment to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

It makes perfect since when you are in a love relationship with God.

It makes no since if God is just an idol in your life.

Next Step: (Defining the Process)

Move God from an idol to a person in your life.

Fully commit your heart to God like He fully commits to you.

Walk in the power of God

Trust God as he fulfills his destiny in you.