Can Success Be Experienced?

Can Success Be Experienced?

Text: Joshua 23

Introduction

During his one hundred and ten years, Joshua had spoken many words, but not all were treated as being of equal value. For many of those years, Joshua was Moses’ second lieutenant. His words had no ultimate authority. Then when Moses passed on the mantle of leadership and gave his own final words to the people before his death on Mount Nebo, Joshua was ready to take over. Now he too had come to the end of life. Many years had gone by, and the major part of the conquest was long behind him and the people of Israel. Unembarrassed by his elder years, Joshua called the entire leadership of Israel together. Instead of apologizing for his old age, he took advantage of it and spoke with the perspective of the long haul, that steady understanding that comes through long years of accumulated wisdom. His were not casual remarks. When he spoke, he meant business. So now when Joshua spoke, the people listened. We, too, have the privilege of listening to his every word. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 236–238.

Joshua’s final words reduce themselves to these two combined phrases: “For the Lord your God is He who has fought for you. … you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day” (vv. 3, 8). We are privileged to hold onto these final words of this elder leader. His admonition is serious, for he understands the covenant. He understands what God has offered us and what it is for us to keep our part of the covenant. Joshua understands that the covenant is always at risk, not because of God, but because of you and me. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 238.

Joshua is dealing here with the theme of faithfulness. First emphasizing God’s faithfulness, he then notes the importance of our remaining faithful in the face of so many other pressures to be unfaithful. Joshua speaks with the authority of years as he gives both his positive challenge to faithfulness and his warning of the consequences of unfaithfulness. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 239.

1) God’s Faithfulness (vv1-13)

A. Joshua shares with them a positive promise of faithfulness.

Years had gone by since the major part of Joshua’s conquest had been completed. Some land had been allocated to the twelve tribes. This didn’t guarantee that the struggle was over. Each of the tribes had to consolidate its own position in the land. I know Christians who do not like the idea that life lived in relationship with Jesus Christ has its incomplete dimension. They would like to come to faith in Jesus and receive life as a neatly wrapped package. The business of living one day at a time, in which we grow toward wholeness in Christ, frustrates them. They want quick, easy answers, a life free of problems, and instant success. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 240.

God always makes good on His promises! (vv2-5)

Paul makes reference to God beginning a good work:

Philippians 1:3-6 “3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

This is what we call the Christian life.

Whether then (Joshua’s life) or now, success is happening to God’s people through God’s continual working out His covenant to us.

Paul encourages Timothy about this DAY-IN and DAY-OUT dynamic of God’s ongoing covenant.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 “6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

QUESTION — How many of you would say that you know someone you would consider as being successful? Successful based on who’s standard?

This is the problem with the perspective of success. It is based upon human perception.

They may seem very successful on the outside, but their spiritual lives may be in disarray.

Who believes the Apostle Paul was successful?

So, you are saying someone who spent most of the ministry in prison was successful?

Success is determined on how GOD SEE YOU, not how YOU or OTHERS see you.

We must all be certain that SUCCESS is a success defined by God.

2) God’s terms for spiritual success

Joshua 23:3 “3 And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you.”

QUESTION — Have you ever heard the saying, “Hindsight is 20/20?”

The most important area of your life that this is vitally important is in your spiritual fellowship with God.

We depend on God in the moment of struggle, then we pat ourselves on the back for handling it well.

Every ounce of grace it took for you to come out on the other side well CAME FROM GOD!!!

In the account we have been reading, God was in charge, not the arrogant Jewish leadership. There would have been no conquest of the land without God. There would be no viable, lasting success in our lives without the grace of the Lord. Moses discovered this fact when he was utterly defeated and humbled at those moments in his life when he struck out in his own power and success. It was when he was faithful to the covenant that he experienced true victory. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 242.

Joshua 23:6 “6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to 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;”

Let this be an encouragement to you: You may not understand every part of scripture, but that doesn’t mean you shelf it’s importance in your daily life.

LISTEN — I do not claim to have mastered the application of scripture or the understanding of it all. However, I do know the impact it has on me when I include it or exclude it from my daily life.

There are A LOT of ethics and philosophies out in the world competing for your heart.

To be captured by them is to be a prisoner of false promises.

You will always be the loser when led away from obedience to God’s Word.

Quote: If we want to experience true success, we need to open our Bible, read it daily, learn its teachings, and obey the Lord. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 243.

Joshua 23:7 “7 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:”

It is of no strange truth to you that you as God’s child are citizens of TWO WORLDS.

This is a balance we must be constantly aware of for both PERSONAL and CONGREGATIONAL.

You need to KNOW what those distinctions are from believer and non-believer.

Is your Christian identification summed up in the bumpersticker on your car or the decal on your shirt?

The distinction must be seen through one’s LIFESTYLE.

Illustration — The Christian must walk the tightrope of authentic Christianity and being genuine friends with unbelievers.

Joshua 23:7 “7 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:”

It is probably pretty safe to say that none of us are practising idol worship in this context.

Don’t miss the application!

Joshua said success comes to those who don’t even SPEAK THE NAMES of their idols.

In other words…don’t even given them an inch of your life.

There is no doubt that we are guilty of participating in what would be considered as the beginnings of pagan worship:

Church culture — traditions

Good works — salvation

Our worship — marriage, kids, job

Conclusion

Read verses 14-16

Disobedience to God is a quick way to lose out on God’s help and gain His anger.

Is there something in your life that has been motivating you to shift your priorities aways from Christ-centeredness?