Moving Ahead By Looking Back

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Moving Ahead By Looking Back</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id185.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Developing Loyalty to God"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Joshua 24, Berean Bible Church, April 15, 2001pm, “Moving Ahead By Looking Back”</B></div> <bR> <div>      Generally, we are supposed to look ahead in order to move forward. But depending on what you see, looking back can help you move ahead. If you see only your sin and mistakes, you will not move ahead, but if you see God’s love and loyalty to you, you will be motivated to be loyal to him in the future. In view of your salvation, serve only the Lord faithfully. </div> <div>      This chapter is a formal covenant. In making an treaty between 2 states, the superior king would review the good things he had done for the servant state.  Then the obligations and responsibilities of the subject state to the king were imposed.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I.  The acts of the king (vss. 2-13):</B> <B>God has acted for our benefit by saving us</B>.</div> <div> God’s dealings with Israel in her history:</div> <div> A. The Patriarchs (vss. 2-4).</div> <div> B.  Egypt and Moses (vss. 5-7).</div> <div> C.  East of Jordan (the book of Numbers) (vss. 8-10).</div> <div> D. The Promised Land (beginning of Joshua) (vss. 11-13).</div> <div>      It was not just that God was good to them; he saved them, delivered them, and made them his own.  It would be utterly foolish to worship another god at this point. Later in their history (1 Kings 12.25ff.), Jeroboam set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, and said “<I>here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt</I>.”  Avoiding this is the essence of Joshua’s challenge.</div> <div>      The event we should most reflect on is <I>the cross</I>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II.  The responsibilities of the people (vss. 14-24): We must be faithful to him alone</B>.</div> <div> A. The call to faithfulness (vss. 14-15). <I>Who will stand in loyalty to God in our generation</I>? It was time for them to put away their idols (vss. 14, 23), and live in loyalty to God alone.</div> <div> B. The people agreed (vss. 16-18). They had good intentions, but history shows that they were a bit too optimistic.</div> <div> C. Joshua challenged them further (vss. 19-24). Joshua knew it wasn’t as easy or automatic as they made it sound.</div> <div> D. A reminder was instituted (vss. 25-28). We need ways to remind us of our vows and commitments. It is so easy to forget with the passing of time.</div> <div>      Since we don’t have “idols” proper, how do we apply this idea of faithfulness to God? It involves serving him, pleasing him alone, fearing him, worshiping him, and trusting him. Focus on what he wants us to do, not only on what he wants us to avoid. We <I>obey</I> rather than sin; we <I>exalt him</I> rather than exalting someone or something above God; we <I>share time with him</I> rather than neglecting our relationship with God in pursuit of our own interests; we <I>make the right choices</I> rather than the easy choices.</div> <bR> <div> <B>III.  Conclusion: Three burials (vss. 28-33)</B>.</div> <div>      They were home, their goal was accomplished.  Time for a new generation to carry on the work. Three were buried: Joshua, Joseph (having been hauled around for many years), and Eleazer (son of Aaron). Each new generation needs to experience the goodness of grace for themselves. We cannot live on the spiritual experiences of your parents (vs. 31)!</div> <div>      “But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Sam 12.24).</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>