Joshua the leader of God's people, the man who under the direction of God lead Israel to many great victories, is about to die. Not many people have the opportunity that Joshua had by giving a farewell message. Many die so unexpectedly or are unconscious before they die. When we think of death there are not many good ways to die, but this would be one of those rare occasions, to be able to call your family in, and leave them with some last instructions. In Joshua’s final message he calls the people too:

A. COURAGE: Joshua 23:6 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 there from to the right hand or to the left;

B. CONSECRATION: Joshua 23:7-8

A final reminder to stay dedicated to God.

C. CONSIDERATION: Joshua 24

1. Consider your PAST history. Vss.1-5

2. Consider your PRESENT idolatry. v.23

3. Consider your PLANNED destiny. v.28

It's time for the Church to consider some things, for to long we have not been what God would have us be:

1. It's time for the Church to WAKE UP.
2. It's time for the Church to CLEAN UP.
3. It’s time for the Church to LOOK UP.

The final message of Joshua was not some elaborate speech that everyone there enjoyed, but rather he calls them to remembrance.

I. REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM: Joshua 24:2
* We do well when we remember where God brought us from:

A. REMEMBER WHERE YOU USED TO BE:
Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

B. REMEMBER WHAT YOU USED TO BE:
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;

C. REMEMBER WHY YOU WERE THERE:
Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

II. REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE:

In the Promised Land, not by accident.

A. BY THE GRACE OF GOD:

1. Saving Grace.
2. Serving Grace.
3. Suffering Grace.
4. Sailing Grace.

B. BY THE GUIDANCE OF GOD: The Bible

We ought to:
1. Love the Bible.
2. Learn the Bible.
3. Be Loyal to the Bible.

C. BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD:

III. REMEMBER HOW WE GOT THERE:

In the first 13 verses of Chapter 24 we find 18 personal pronouns used where God has done a work.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

A. GOT THERE BY GOD'S PROVIDENCE:
B. GOT THERE BY GOD'S POWER:
C. GOT THERE BY GOD'S PROTECTION:

IV. REALIZE HOW TO STAY THERE: Chapter 24

A. BY REVERENCING THE LORD: v.14a
Fear - to be afraid, to reverence, to respect.

1. We Reverence the Lord with SERVICE:
{ It is clear evidence that people no longer fear the Lord when they quit }

2. We Reverence the Lord with SINCERITY:
Sincerity - not fake, not just Sunday morning Christian's

B. BY RECOGNIZING OUR LOOSENESS: v.15a
Can you imagine anyone who thinks it evil to serve the Lord.

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
These people were not doing wrong in their eyes but right. This is why we hear people say, " I don't see anything wrong with it."

C. BY REVEALING OUR LOYALTY: v.15

1. There is a DELIBERATE CHOICE: Choose you
2. There is a DECLARED VOICE: v.22; 27
No matter the choice you make, one way or the other, it will testify either for you or against you.

Pastor Bobby Helton
Morristown, TN