THE COVENANT OF ACCEPTABLE SERVICE UNTO GOD
Text: Joshua 24:1-33.
Even in old age, Joshua was still in control of his family, his mind, his conviction, and the command that the Lord has given that man is the head of the home. “And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.” (Joshua 24:24, 31). When the children of Israel saw the example of Joshua, they made a covenant to also serve the Lord.
1. FRESH RECOLLECTION OF THE HISTORY OF THEIR REDEMPTION
Joshua 24:1-12.
- The Obedience of Faith for Personal Redemption – Joshua 24:1-4; Genesis 12:14; Hebrew 11:8-10; Romans 16:25-26. The age of the leader should not stop the church from doing what God has commanded to be done. As Joshua reminded the people of the history of their fathers and forefathers, he also reminded them of the necessity of the obedience of faith for their personal redemption. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” (Hebrews 11:8). Abraham and other people who have gone before us had the obedience of faith, and the same obedience of faith is demanded of us today. Every message we preach and listen to is for the obedience of faith.
- The Obligation of Forsaking Favours for National Redemption – Joshua 24:58; Hebrews 11:24-27; Luke 14:26-33; Philippians 3:7-10. Moses, who was instrumental in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt and used by God for the redemption of the nation, had the obligation of forsaking favours. If we are going to be used in the mighty hands of the Lord to save nations, continents, and people from all over the world, we must have the obedience of faith and the obligation of forsaking favours. Moses refused the favour of having the opportunity to rule over the nation of Egypt. If we are going to rescue any nation and be used in the redemption of any nation, there are some normal favours that we have to refuse. If we are going to be used by God to bring redemption to a nation, there are things we have to choose though they are not comfortable, easy, or commendable, and though they may bring pain and suffering. Some people chicken out and dodge responsibilities because they fear the wrath of the powers that be, but Moses was able to defy the wrath of the king by faith. When you come into the kingdom to serve the Lord, your love for your family remains, but the love you have for God and for spreading the gospel goes far beyond the love you have for your human relations that they will count as hatred. To hate one’s life is to love the work of God more than personal convenience. Everyone has a cross to bear; this may be a personal challenge or something known to the public. Anyone who does not bear his cross cannot be God’s minister, messenger, or missionary.
- The Occupation of the False and their Perpetual Rejection – Joshua 24:9-12;
Numbers 22:12-13, 18, 34, 37-38; 2 Peter 2:14-17; Revelation 2:14, 20-23. As we go along in the work that God has given us to do, we have God on our side supporting us, and we have Satan on the other side opposing the spread of God; yet we know that our God is not comparable with Satan, and He will bring Satan under your feet shortly. As we have promises that cannot fail, we also have problems; but the problem will not overturn the promise in your life in Jesus Name. As new creatures, we should not entertain any fear of witches, cultists, or terrifying dreams. The new creature is a new creation with new confidence, new faith, and new power; we will overcome everything we feared in the past in Jesus Name.
2. FIRM RECOMMITMENT WITH HEART FOR REVEALED RESPONSIBILITY
Joshua 24:13-24.
- Exemplary Commitment to Serve the LORD in All Sincerity and Truth – Joshua 24:13-15; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Hebrews 12:14,28. If insincerity, hypocrisy, and pretence come into your service, you are no longer serving the Lord. If you want to serve the Lord, it must be in sincerity without stain of pretence or make-believe, in the open and the private. Joshua knew his family and was able to commit them all together to the service of God. Joshua served the Lord in all sincerity, with all his heart, and with all his mind, and he was not tied down by his wife and children. Your consecration should not become less because you are married. The will and assignment of God came before you were married, now that you are married, that marriage should not tie you down and hinder you from going on.
- Entire Consecration to Serve the Lord with Absolute Surrender and Trust – Joshua 24:16-21; Luke 1:73-75; Romans 6:6,22; Colossians 3:14-17, 23-25. The leader and the led, the pioneer and the people, the captain and his family, and the rest of the congregation must all commit themselves to serving the Lord. The fire of consecration, revival, evangelism, and church planting will never stop in our church in Jesus Name. We should not only be talking to the youths about educational success, and natural and physical progress but also evangelism success and spiritual progress. Young people should also be spoken to about the zeal to evangelise, edify the church, and make the gospel reach out to the regions beyond. Both the young and the old should know that the most important thing to do is to preach the gospel and live for God.
- Enduring Condition of Separation unto God with Sanctification and Transparency – Joshua 24:22-24; Hosea 10:2,12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-10; 5:22-24. “And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” (Joshua 24:22-24). Joshua challenged the children of Israel to put away strange gods among them. We need to check up our lives and anything that we hold dearer than the Almighty God needs to be taken away. The children of Israel did not react negatively or rebel in any way, but they obeyed.
3. FINAL REDIRECTION TOWARDS HEAVENLY HOMEGOING FOR REST AND REWARDS
Joshua 24:25-33.
- Readiness for Death and Departure to Heaven – Joshua 24:25-29; Deuteronomy
31:16, 19, 22-26, 28, 30; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; 2 Peter 1:13-15. Even in his old age, Joshua did not delegate the writing of the laws of God to the children of Israel. The concern of Joshua and his preoccupation was that the nation would not deny the Lord their God. Joshua was working, establishing the standard, taking the heavy load of the work till the time of his departure.
- Realization After Death and Departure in the Hereafter – Joshua 24:30-31; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 22:12-20. Joshua was buried, but the word, the standard, the conviction, and all his exhortations were not buried. The service of the Lord, the consecration, the commitment, and the great commission with Joshua. We will serve the Lord till He comes in Jesus Name.
- Remembering the Death and Departure of All Humans – Joshua 24:32-33; Psalm 49:10-12; 90:12; Ecclesiastes 12:1-7,13-14. Not only did Joshua die, but sanctified Joseph also died. Good people, righteous people, and uncompromising people also die, and go to their reward. Those who are serving God with all their heart, all their soul and all their mind eventually depart from the earth and go to the great beyond. When we all finish our race, we will eventually go to our reward and our eternal rest. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalms 90:12). As we number our days, we no longer have the time to do risky things that do not contribute to our calling and ministry. The Lord will give you wisdom to live, serve, preach, pursue, and go to the regions beyond and capture them for Christ our King.