LIVING GODLY
Bible Text: Joshua 24:26-31
Subject: Spirituality
Title: Living Godly Means Having Your Own Spirituality
INTRODUCTION
Biblical Orientation:
This is our final sermon in our series titled “Living Godly,” it is the 50th sermon. To be honest, we have not even begun to scratch the surface of what the Bible teaches about living in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord and in obedience to His ways
The prayer is that during this series, God has touched your heart and convicted you of things that need to be changed or be added to your life. If there is one thing that we all need, it is a level of personal spirituality that will carry us through when it is just God and you
We have studied the lives of Joseph, Moses, and Joshua. All three were very godly men and their lives reveal a growing and building relationship until they died. May you have their desire to live for God more each day
Sermon Orientation:
To finish the series, we will study the last days of Joshua and what came next. Learning from him will help you to determine what comes next in your own spiritual life
EXPOSITION/MAIN TEXT
I. ONE MORE MEMORIAL V 26-28
A. A Great Stone And An Oak Tree
1. We have studied twice in this series about setting up great land marks in our lives
a. Landmarks serve as indicators of direction
b. Each of us needs to have the landmarks of the faith in our lives
i. We must personally know Jesus Christ as our Savior
ii. We must read, study, and memorize God’s Word
iii. We must pray and attend God’s church
iv. We must endeavor with all we have to live godly
c. In times of need, we should look at those landmarks for spiritual direction
2. Joshua uses items that are inanimate to tell the story; they have no life
a. Yet, the Bible teaches that such items have the ability to do much
i. Psalm 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof
ii. Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out
b. As with all landmarks, they are obviously placed there for a reason
i. The children may ask
ii. The next generation may ask
B. A Landmark With A Story To Tell
1. The rock and the tree were witnesses of the fact that the people had made a great oath
a. They had promised God to be sincere in their relationship with Him, to serve Him, and to surrender their lives to Him
b. It was a solemn oath
c. God takes oaths seriously
ü Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth
d. When you told God you had chosen to live godly: He listened
2. If they ever got to the place where they denied God, the rock and the oak would be a landmark of witness against them
a. Sometimes God sends a prophet or a preacher to remind us of the promises we make
b. Sometimes as we read the Word of God or pray, the Holy Spirit convicts us
c. However, do not be surprised if the rocks and the trees say, “hey, don’t you remember your promise to the Lord”
3. We ought to be people of our word
a. First to the Lord
b. Second to those around us
c. It can be hard when you are reminded that you have failed to perform a promise
II. THE GREAT SERVANT DIES V 29-30
A. Joshua Dies
1. He lives to the ripe old age of 110
2. More important, the Bible records him as being “the servant of the LORD”
B. Joshua Is Buried In The Land Of His Inheritance
1. This signifies great blessing
a. Many generations had died without having this privilege
b. He was able to be buried in the place that God had promised to him
2. Timnathserah was approximately 20 miles southwest of Shiloh where he would have given this final final speech
III. HOW LONG A PERSON WILL SERVE V 31
A. The Sources Behind A Person’s Spirituality
1. Spirituality because of a strong leader
a. As we have studied Joshua it is evident that he was a man of God
i. He was a spiritual man for many years
ii. He was spiritual in the times of trial
iii. Joshua sought God and His wisdom for all the situations he faced
b. When a nation, a church, or a family has a strong spiritual leader it is a wonderful thing
i. It is easy to live and serve the Lord when you have this blessing
ii. Whenever there is a question or need: go to the strong spiritual leader
iii. If there is a problem, the strong spiritual leader will know what to do
c. The strong spiritual leader is often placed by God for the times of great trial and need
2. Spirituality in the generation of the strong leader
a. The strong spiritual leader will often have a group surrounding him that learn to be strong also
b. They watch him day after day and learn directly from him how he is godly and how he leads
c. They can glean from him
d. It is his responsibility to teach them
ü As Paul said to Timothy, And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also 2 Timothy 2:2
B. The Reason For Most People’s Spirituality
1. The elders which served with Joshua and out lived Joshua had known the works of the LORD
a. They had eaten manna in the desert
b. They had seen the great crossing over the river Jordan
c. They watched the walls of Jericho fall
d. They had seen God give miraculous victories in overcoming the inhabitants of the land
2. These men had seen firsthand the work of the Lord and they knew it was true
3. When Joshua died, the elders continued where Joshua left off
a. They led the children of Israel in godliness
b. They sought the face of the Lord for the wisdom needed to rule the land
c. They told others what they knew and how they knew it
LESSONS IN LIVING GODLY
However, notice there is a small feeling here that something is wrong and their godliness did not continue. This was very specifically worded, their godliness only lasted for all the days of the elders that lived during the time of Joshua and until they died off the scene. TT Judges 2:10
In Order To Live Godly You Must Teach The Next Generation To Live Truly By Faith, Because They May Not See God At Work As You Have Seen
1. From Malachi to Matthew, there were four hundred years in which there was absolutely no revelation from God
a. It was a time of incredible spiritual dearth
b. It is highly possible that our world may experience another dearth as the return of the Lord nears
2. In such times, faith becomes the only method of holding to the service of God
a. John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed
b. Thomas is like many of us; unless we see, we will not believe
3. We must teach the next generation to be a generation that lives by faith
Living Godly Can Only Be Done Because Of Your Personal Relationship With The Lord, You Cannot Live Off Another Person’s Spirituality
1. It is great to have strong spiritual leaders in your life: it is a blessing from God
2. There may be times there is no strong spiritual leader, unless it is you
3. Therefore, do not rely upon the spirituality of others
a. There are many blessings from being around such people
b. They can teach you much
c. Make sure you use that time to develop and grow your spiritual life
i. A good teacher is wonderful, God sends them with a purpose: to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith 1 Thessalonians 3:2
ii. Make sure it is you who is established!
4. If you fail to establish personal spirituality, you will not be able to stand on your own at the right times
a. You will not stand for God when your spiritual leader is gone
b. You will not stand for God when you face the trials alone
5. Look at the spiritual depravity our nation: it is a desperate time
a. We need people who live godly
b. We need to be strong spiritually
CONCLUSION
