Passing your faith to the next generation!

 

Joshua 24

 

 

I.                     Remember what God has done in your life. 24:1-13

a.      God had called Abraham from a life of idol worship to serve the living God. 24:2

b.      God gave Abraham his son Isaac and the promise of the land of Canaan 24:3

c.      It was God that sent Moses and Aaron to get them out of Egypt 24:4-7

                                                  i.      They had lived in slavery

                                                ii.      Their children were being killed as babies

                                              iii.      It was God that plagued Egypt

                                               iv.      It was God who killed the Egyptians in the Red Sea

d.      It was God that brought them to the promised land 24:8

e.      It was God that fought for them

                                                  i.      Against the Amorites 24:8

                                                ii.      Against Balak 24:9

                                              iii.      God wouldn’t hear Balaam’s prayers 24:10

f.        God took them over Jordan and fought for them 24:11

g.      God fought for them 24:12

h.      God gave them a land that they had not labored, and cities that they had not built 24:13

i.        The lesson for each of us is realize all that He has done for us in our lives and never forget that it wasn’t us but Him

                                                  i.      Saved us by His grace

                                                ii.      Gave us an abundant life

                                              iii.      Answered our prayers

j.         Notice that He uses the word I 17 times in only 12 verses—it is all Him

k.      The victorious Christian life is lived in the Spirit and not the flesh—it is the power of God not your determination

l.         Learn to walk in the Spirit and not in your own power

 

II.                   Decide 100% to serve God 24:14-15

a.      Fear God Matthew 10:28

b.      Serve God in sincerity and truth Matthew 15:8

c.      Put away the false gods of the world

d.      Lead your family to make this decision 24:15

e.      Don’t forget who brought you this far in your life 24:16-18

f.        Joshua warns them that there are consequences for not serving God

                                                  i.      Though he has done you good He will turn and hurt you 24:20

                                                ii.      He will consume them or destroy them

g.      Joshua warns them that they cannot live the Christian life 24:19

                                                  i.      Learn that you can’t live the Christian life

                                                ii.      You must allow Him to live in and through you

h.      Joshua calls for a rededication 24:23

                                                  i.      Get rid of your strange gods

                                                ii.      Incline your heart

i.        Don’t play with God and His service, if you take it lightly your children may not see the power of God and the importance of serving Him

 

III.                  Passing on your faith and love for God to the next generation 24:31

a.      As long as they had the man of God present they served God

b.      Those who had seen God work served God even though Joshua had died

c.      If you want the gospel to continue to pass to the next generation you must help your children see the power of God at work

d.      Every generation must win their generation to faith in Christ

e.      Every generation must see God work

f.        They must be trained to be people of the book that live its principles

g.      They must be trained to be self feeding Christians

h.      They must get involved in the work of the Lord

i.        You must train them to carry on

j.         By the book of Judges no one is really following God

k.      They needed a man of God to lead them