The Priorities of Leadership.

Steve Gentry

[0:09] We’ll go ahead and have a seat. [0:10] Welcome to Village Church. This is your first time here. [0:12] My name’s Steve, one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:14] And as always, I am thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you. [0:18] If you have a Bible, go ahead and open it to Joshua 23, [0:21] where we will be for the entire morning pretty much.

[0:25] But last week, we kind of started because I think chapters [0:29] 22, 23 and 24 are all a conclusion to the book of Joshua, [0:33] because over those three chapters, Joshua gives what amounts to three [0:38] addresses to the people of Israel. [0:40] And so last Sunday in Joshua 22, we saw a charge to the two and a half tribes [0:44] that were going to settle on the other side of the Jordan River.

[0:47] And just as they had received the blessing of God [0:50] through a commitment to faithful obedience, Joshua urges them [0:54] to continue down that road, to continue to faithfully [0:58] be obedient by both loving and obeying all that God had called them to be [1:03] and to continue to receive the promises through that. [1:06] But we also saw the struggle with that almost began immediately

[1:09] as compromise begat compromise in the lives of those people. [1:13] And Israel sought to correct the ship and really maintain unity [1:18] around the call of God on their lives, because true unity is only ever [1:23] going to be built on the commands of God for his people, [1:26] that they must submit to the lordship of God in both word and deed, [1:32] because true unity demands the people submit to the call of God.

[1:37] Joshua 23 presents the second of the three final charges [1:40] to the nation of Israel. [1:42] But this time, Joshua is going to focus on the importance of leadership for Israel, [1:47] because the faithfulness of the people of Israel was going to flow [1:50] from the faithfulness of those leaders as they submitted [1:54] to the call of God in their lives and their willingness to faithfully

[1:58] and fearlessly lead the people would lead to a commitment [2:02] from the people of Israel to that call of God. [2:05] And so Joshua reminds them all of is that what God had done [2:09] to bring them into the promised land and all of the faithfulness [2:12] that God had used to bring them to this place was what God was going to require [2:16] for the rest of their lives.

[2:18] And then the decisions that the leaders made about their faithfulness [2:22] would set the stage for either everyone else’s faithfulness [2:25] or their unfaithfulness, because the role of a leader [2:29] is to sacrificially guide the people of God into the promises of God [2:34] with fearless devotion to God, regardless of anything [2:38] that the world has to offer in exchange, because faithful leadership

[2:43] ultimately defines the future of the people of God. [2:47] And so I want to start reading in Joshua 23, one [2:51] a long time afterward, we don’t know how long [2:53] of a time we’re talking about, but chronologically speaking, [2:57] he just makes the statement that a long time after Chapter 22, [3:01] when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies

[3:04] and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, [3:08] Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, [3:12] and said to them, I am now old and well advanced in years. [3:16] And you have seen all that the Lord, your God has done [3:20] to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord, your God, [3:24] who has fought for you.

[3:26] Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes, [3:30] those nations that remain along with all the nations that I have already cut off [3:34] from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the West. [3:37] The Lord, your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. [3:42] And you shall possess their land just as the Lord, your God promised you. [3:47] And so what I want you to see in this text is number one this morning,

[3:50] remember what God has done so you will endure to see what God will do. [3:56] Don’t forget who brought you where you are. [4:00] And I know that this may seem redundant because this is a recurring theme [4:03] throughout the entire book of Joshua. [4:06] Joshua’s addresses always contain a charge [4:09] to continually remember the work that God has done for them.

[4:14] And that’s for two very important reasons that I see. [4:17] First, it’s because of what faith is. [4:20] Faith is built on the record of what God has done. [4:24] It isn’t about you. [4:26] It’s always about God’s missional movement throughout history. [4:29] And because of that, it’s only when we take our eyes off of God

[4:35] and put them on ourselves that we will begin the path to failure [4:40] where the calling of God is concerned in our lives. [4:43] And so the memory of what God has done is vital to staying faithful in the Christian life. [4:49] I’ve seen so many leaders experience great success, some of them very quickly. [4:55] And what I’ve noticed throughout my time is that the quicker [4:57] someone experiences success, the quicker they are to forget who brought them there,

[5:03] the quicker they are to believe their own hype. [5:06] And this is not only true in ministry, this is a precept that is true [5:11] in every facet of life. [5:13] In Deuteronomy, God warned the nation of Israel, specifically in Deuteronomy 8, [5:17] that once they had moved into the promised land, they would be tempted [5:20] to look at all of the blessings that God would give them and take credit for themselves.

[5:27] And he says, this is the beginning of failure in your life. [5:30] Faith is about what God does, not about what you do. [5:35] It’s not about how great you are. [5:37] It’s not about how talented you are. [5:39] It’s not about how hard you work. [5:41] It’s not about how much energy you’ve put in.

[5:43] It’s not about you. [5:46] It is always about the work of God. [5:49] And because of that, the second reason that I think Joshua always puts [5:53] this important of this, he puts an important [5:57] focus on remembering the work of God is because we are quick to forget. [6:03] We are quick to put our faith in other things,

[6:06] namely, we’re quick to put our faith in ourselves. [6:09] As he tells them in Deuteronomy 8, he says, you’re going to move [6:11] into the promised land, you’re going to experience great material gain. [6:14] You’re going to have your crops are going to be plentiful. [6:16] Your cattle are going to be so great. [6:18] You’re going to have much money.

[6:19] You’re going to have much precious metals. [6:21] You’re going to have great houses. [6:23] And he says, and at that moment, there’s going to be a great temptation to say, [6:26] look at what my hands have done. [6:29] I think this is the great temptation that we face in every generation. [6:33] You look at your bank account, look at the money I have saved.

[6:37] You look at getting a promotion at work, look at the great work I have done. [6:40] I deserve this. I’ve earned this. [6:43] And that statement, the problem with it is that it terminates on itself. [6:49] It does not take away from how hard you have worked, [6:54] from how talented you are, from how great things you have accomplished [6:58] to realize that even though it has taken effort on your part,

[7:04] none of it would have come to you if God had not declared it. [7:09] Our God is sovereign, and every blessing you have in your life [7:13] is directly from his hand. [7:16] And the problem comes when you say, well, what about my credit? [7:21] I mean, some of you that inner defense attorney [7:23] that you have right there, you’re looking back on a career

[7:26] that has taken you decades, years to build. [7:29] You’re looking at debt that took you years to get out of. [7:33] You’re looking at all of these things that you’ve done. [7:35] You’re like, well, God shouldn’t have all the credit.

[7:39] That’s the voice of idolatry in your mind.

[7:43] That’s an ideal where you are seeking to take a little piece of God’s glory [7:48] and give it to yourself. [7:50] Nothing can terminate on itself. [7:51] It must go beyond the achievement to the God [7:55] that brought the achievement into your life in the first place. [7:58] The only reason I woke up this morning and was able to take a waking breath

[8:04] is because the hand of our sovereign Lord allowed it.

[8:09] Nothing in this world is ultimately yours. [8:12] It all belongs to God. How do you maintain that?

[8:16] Psalm 37, starting in verse three, the Psalmist writes, he says, [8:20] Trust in the Lord, do good, dwell in the land, befriend faithfulness, [8:25] delight yourself in the Lord. [8:27] He will give you the desires of your heart. [8:29] Commit your way to the Lord. [8:32] Trust in him and he will act.

[8:35] There are four vital principles in verse three. [8:38] First, he says, trust God. [8:40] Then he doubles down on it later in the text. [8:43] He says, do good. [8:44] He says, dwell in the land that God gives. [8:47] But then fourthly, he says, befriend faithfulness.

[8:51] That is the path to remembering God. [8:54] You put an ever present reminder through faith and action, [8:59] seeking to put all of your effort into being faithful to God [9:03] above absolutely everything else. [9:05] And I love the original language of Psalm 37 in verse three, [9:08] where it says befriend faithfulness, that term for befriend

[9:11] is also a term for shepherding. [9:14] In other words, it requires effort. [9:18] You must shepherd your heart as a shepherd moves the sheep. [9:23] But the difference is you move it towards faithfulness to God. [9:27] It will not happen by accident. [9:29] You have to move yourself toward faithfulness

[9:32] or you will forget why you are here in the first place. [9:37] Because once you forget, all sorts of unfaithfulness [9:39] will emerge from your life because you are ultimately then [9:44] shepherding yourself towards unfaithfulness. [9:46] Nobody wants to admit that that’s what they’re doing.

[9:50] But in our contextual language, he uses the term befriend [9:55] instead of shepherding, because befriending is about intimacy. [10:00] It’s about what you want. [10:02] It’s about what you chase after. [10:03] It’s about a relational equity that you are building. [10:06] And he says, you better build that equity with faithfulness

[10:11] or else your heart will wander from the presence of God. [10:16] And you will move away and forget [10:21] because once you begin to forget, I’ve seen it so many times, [10:25] that’s when spiritual amnesia kicks in [10:28] and you will very quickly begin to seek a life of self-sufficiency. [10:33] Self-sufficiency takes you, though, away from God.

[10:38] Godly dependency puts you in the presence of God. [10:42] That’s why Joshua says, remember the work of God, [10:45] because it’s that warning in Deuteronomy 8. [10:47] You will look at your hands and say, look at what my hands have made. [10:50] That is not the posture God wants you to live your life in. [10:54] He wants you to live your life working and achieving and giving into this world.

[10:59] But then at the end of the day, the fruit that you receive in success, [11:02] you look to him and you say, thank you, Lord. [11:05] This is all from you. [11:08] OK, how many blisters are on your hands? [11:11] OK, how smart you think you are? [11:13] OK, how many hours you’ve worked?

[11:15] It is the hand of the Lord that allowed any of it to be fruitful at all. [11:20] And he looks to the leaders of Israel and he says, [11:23] if you’re going to lead God’s people, [11:26] the leader must first lead himself [11:30] through remembering the great works of God, through the great word of God. [11:38] So ultimately, we must find contentment

[11:42] in the mission that God has called us on, [11:45] because he has called us to a singular focus of living [11:49] the mission that God has put down through history. [11:54] First Chronicles 16, [11:57] starting in verse 23 is a great reminder in line with Joshua 23. [12:03] Text says, sing to the Lord all the earth, tell of his salvation from day to day,

[12:07] declare his glory among the nations, [12:10] his marvelous works among all the peoples.

[12:15] There is no greater place to be [12:20] than a mindset that is constantly thankful for the salvation of the Lord. [12:26] Day to day. [12:29] Are you more thankful for your salvation today than you were yesterday? [12:33] Are you more forgetful of your salvation today than you were yesterday? [12:37] I’ve seen so many people

[12:40] their gratitude towards God is not an uphill slope. [12:45] It’s a downhill of forgetfulness. [12:48] The effects of your salvation bring a little less satisfaction today [12:51] than they did yesterday, and tomorrow downgrade even further [12:55] because you aren’t putting the ever present reminder of what you were saved [12:59] from and what you were saved to in front of your face.

[13:03] No, you are distracted by all of the woes and all of the achievements [13:07] that this world has to offer you. [13:09] And that is when you stop finding contentment in the mission that God has given. [13:13] And that is when you begin to focus on yourself [13:16] and the greatness that you think that you have achieved. [13:19] But he says, declare the glory of God among the nations.

[13:23] Who do you think you are?

[13:27] You don’t deserve glory. God does. [13:31] It is his marvelous works that are among all the peoples. [13:34] This is the mission that the people of God were brought into the promised land for. [13:39] And that is the mission that you were redeemed from your sin [13:42] by the work of Jesus towards. [13:46] He died and he rose for that mission

[13:49] so that you could proclaim the salvation that he has accomplished for you and in you. [13:55] Life is about his glory. [13:59] Life is about his marvelous works, [14:02] or you don’t understand the gospel to begin with. [14:07] How quickly do we move away [14:11] when we get accustomed to the blessings of God, we just assume them.

[14:17] Just begin to assume the blessings of God as though we deserve them. [14:21] You look at your life and you say, I’ve earned this, I deserve this. [14:26] My greatness has procured this.

[14:30] And you begin to praise self [14:33] because you’ve sunk into an apathy towards the hand of God in your life. [14:38] How quickly do we look for satisfaction in lesser identities [14:42] and lesser missions when we grow accustomed to the blessings of God in our lives? [14:49] Because when you grow accustomed to them, you get bored with them. [14:54] And it’s when you get bored with the blessings of God in your life

[14:57] that you begin looking elsewhere.

[15:00] Because I’m used to the blessings of God, [15:02] but maybe that will give me the excitement that I’ve been looking for. [15:08] It’s like a marriage. [15:10] You’ve lulled yourself into just this normal everyday life, [15:15] and it’s grown mundane and you think I need to find some excitement. [15:19] And sinfully, you look outside of that relationship

[15:22] for the excitement that your soul is urging you towards. [15:26] Will you do the same thing with your intimacy with God? [15:30] You get accustomed to it, you grow bored with it, and you say, [15:33] maybe that thing or this thing is what’s going to give me the satisfaction [15:37] that I don’t seem to be finding in my relationship with Jesus Christ. [15:40] Friends, how much do we want to show how valuable we are

[15:44] and how much this world can bring us the contentment we desire, [15:49] where God has disappointed us in the contentment that he has to offer?

[15:56] That is why we must always make it a pursuit [16:00] to remember the work of God. [16:03] When you think that you are incapable of forgetting, [16:07] that is why I know you’ve already forgotten.

[16:11] When you look and you say, oh, I already remember. [16:16] That brings me to the presupposition, I’ve been told this before. [16:19] Am I going to eight year old that says, stop reminding me to clean my room? [16:23] You look to the word of God and you say, stop reminding me to love God.

[16:30] That is the moment [16:32] that you will look elsewhere for your satisfaction because you’ve already forgotten. [16:39] And that’s when in our culture, we begin to measure achievement in the wrong ways.

[16:47] Friends, I cannot tell you how important point two is for your life. [16:49] Measure achievement through the lens of God’s word and never look anywhere else. [16:54] Read what verse six says. [16:57] I love how contextual it is. [16:59] There’s nothing new under the sun. [17:01] And even though this is thousands of years ago,

[17:03] he’s speaking to the hearts of human beings. [17:05] And you are no different than Israel. [17:08] He says, therefore, verse six, because everything that I just said [17:11] is what you need to do, be very strong to keep [17:15] and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, [17:18] turning aside from it, neither to the right hand or to the left

[17:23] that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you [17:26] or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them [17:30] or bow down to them. [17:32] But you shall cling to the Lord, your God, [17:35] just as you have done to this day, for the Lord has driven out before you [17:40] great and strong nations.

[17:41] And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. [17:46] One man of you puts to flight a thousand of them, [17:50] since it is the Lord, your God, who fights for you, [17:54] just as he promised you. [17:55] Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord, your God, [17:59] for if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations

[18:02] remaining among you and make marriages with them [18:05] so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain [18:09] that the Lord, your God, will no longer drive these nations before you. [18:15] But they shall be a snare and a trap for you, [18:18] a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes [18:22] until you perish from off this ground.

[18:25] Excuse me, good ground that the Lord, your God has given you. [18:30] Make sure achievement [18:33] and your life is measured through the lens of God’s word, [18:35] because I got to be brutally honest with you, because some of you are living [18:39] in such foolish denial of the temptation that is set before you [18:42] every single day of your life.

[18:45] The temptation to judge yourself [18:49] by worldly standards is real. [18:53] And that is where Satan will get a foothold in your life [18:58] and bring a mountain of temptation before you. [19:03] Joshua is so quick to remind these people of the standard [19:07] by which God says they must judge themselves.

[19:11] And what is that standard? [19:12] He looks to them and he says, you judge your life by the law [19:16] of God that Moses gave you. [19:19] Don’t turn aside to the right hand. [19:22] Don’t turn aside to the left hand. [19:24] You stay where the word of God would have you and be immovable.

[19:30] This is God’s word, he says. [19:34] This is the objective anchor by which you can judge success [19:38] and failure in life. [19:41] It first drives you to faith in Jesus [19:43] because of your inability to perfect it. [19:47] But it also reminds you of the faithfulness

[19:50] that God still desires of your life [19:54] and how you can seek it through faith in his son.

[19:58] Joshua boils it down to two choices. [20:02] And this is where you also overcomplicate your life. [20:05] You are not that complicated. [20:07] Just like Israel was not that complicated. [20:09] He says, you got one of two choices in this life. [20:12] There is no third option.

[20:14] This is not ABCD. [20:16] This is AB, one or the other. [20:18] You don’t get another one. [20:21] And you want to convince yourself every day, [20:22] oh, I have 100 choices that I could do with my life [20:25] and go this way or that way.

[20:27] No, Joshua says you got two. [20:29] The first one is in verse eight. [20:32] He tells them, he says, choose to cling to God. [20:36] He even cheats. [20:38] He says, I’m giving you the right answer. [20:41] He says, the right choice in life is to cling to God,

[20:45] is to hold fast to him, is to grab ahold of God, [20:49] never move from his presence. [20:51] But then in verse 12, [20:53] he warns them against the second option. [20:56] He says in verse 12 that they have the option [20:59] to cling to the nations, the wicked nations of Canaan.

[21:04] He says, you will either cling to God [21:07] or you will fall into sin [21:09] because you’re clinging to wickedness. [21:13] He tells them, he says, don’t cling to those nations. [21:15] He says, continue to drive them out of the land [21:19] because he warns them if they cling

[21:22] to the wicked nations of Canaan, [21:24] they will mix with them in marriage. [21:28] He said, why is that important? [21:30] This is a cultural warning to the nation of Israel. [21:34] He’s telling them, those people, the wicked Canaanites, [21:38] they have built their lives

[21:39] on a foundation of rebellion against God [21:42] by worshiping false gods, by going into wicked lifestyles, [21:47] by doing everything to pursue the opposite [21:50] of what God is calling Israel to cling to. [21:54] And if Israel mixes with them in marriage, [21:57] it is a statement about Israel

[21:59] because it is a statement about what they are attracted to. [22:03] Think about this. [22:05] Parents come to me frequently [22:07] because your child is either dating an unbeliever [22:11] or your child is getting married to an unbeliever. [22:15] And you say, what do I do?

[22:17] And I’m a very simple man, I’m a very blunt man. [22:19] I say, tell them to stop it. [22:22] You stop that right now. [22:23] You have no idea how often that works. [22:27] My children, I tell them to stop it. [22:28] Don’t you, you stop it, don’t you?

[22:30] Because they know what’s gonna happen. [22:32] The trick is, no matter how old they are, [22:35] convince them of the pain, all right?

[22:39] But you ask that question in such a way [22:42] as though the problem just happened. [22:46] See, the problem didn’t happen [22:48] when they chose to mix with an unbeliever. [22:51] The problem was built on whatever you cultivated [22:55] in the atmosphere of their lifestyle

[22:58] that made them attracted to what unbelievers have [23:01] to offer them in their lives. [23:04] You’ve built a foundation and a lifestyle [23:08] by which they look to what an unbeliever loves, [23:14] what an unbeliever chases, what an unbeliever clings to, [23:19] and they have already begun to build a lifestyle

[23:22] where through what they’ve seen you chase, [23:24] what they’ve seen you find your identity in, [23:27] what they’ve seen you pursue, [23:28] and what they know the affection of your heart really wants [23:31] that they say, I want an unbeliever [23:34] because I can continue in the lifestyle

[23:35] without having to repent of any of that.

[23:41] God looks to the nation of Israel and he says, [23:42] don’t mix with the Canaanites in marriage [23:45] because mixing with the Canaanites in marriage [23:47] makes a statement that they want what the Canaanites have. [23:52] He doesn’t say marriage is what’s going to make you [23:54] worship false gods.

[23:55] God brings in at the assumption they’re getting married [23:59] to them because they’re already worshiping the false gods. [24:04] God takes that very seriously because mixing with them [24:08] meant sinning against the only real God [24:13] and they’re chasing after the false versions. [24:15] This is the warning of verse 13.

[24:18] They would lose the ability to drive them out [24:22] if they did this, but it doesn’t just stop there [24:25] in verse 13, he says, no, it’s for certain [24:29] that the Lord your God will no longer drive out [24:31] these nations before you, but note this, [24:34] he says, they shall be a snare and a trap for you.

[24:37] That’s the first level of wickedness [24:41] because it happens before you even know it [24:44] and you don’t even realize it as soon as it happens. [24:47] A snare and a trap are very similar. [24:50] It’s something that grabs ahold of you [24:52] and stops progression.

[24:54] It’s something that keeps you in a state of stagnancy [24:58] so that you can later be killed by whatever predator [25:01] put the trap there in the first place, but he continues it. [25:06] He says, you’re gonna be snared into it, [25:08] but it’s not as if you have no control [25:11] over the choice of the matter.

[25:13] The snare happens because you enjoy it [25:17] because you’ve already forgotten [25:18] that the Lord is the one that brought you here. [25:21] You’ve already developed the spiritual amnesia [25:24] to what God has done in your life [25:25] that you were supposed to worship him.

[25:27] You’re chasing after those false gods. [25:29] You’re finding your identity in things [25:30] that God has not called you to find your identity in [25:33] and you are already trapped as though you cannot move, [25:37] but here’s the problem, it goes to another level. [25:42] Again, in verse 13, it becomes a whip on your sides

[25:47] and thorns in your eyes until you perish [25:52] from off this good ground [25:54] that the Lord your God has given you. [25:56] Note that it doesn’t just stop with you being trapped, [25:59] it ultimately begins to destroy you [26:01] and abuse you and kill you.

[26:04] This is the whip to your sides. [26:06] This is even if you can’t see it, the damage is being done. [26:09] But then he says something that’s very dear to my heart [26:12] because I wear glasses and these are real by the way. [26:15] I wouldn’t wear them if I didn’t need a prescription.

[26:19] But when I go to the eye doctor [26:22] and by God’s grace, technology is developing [26:24] to save me from the torture of the puff. [26:28] If you wear glasses, you know about the puff, all right? [26:30] You go there and you sit and he tells me [26:33] they’re testing for something, I think it’s voodoo.

[26:36] All right, how in the world could puffing air [26:38] in my eyeball tell you anything?

[26:41] So I put my face in the mask thing, [26:44] I’m certain it’s gonna grab ahold of me and kill me [26:46] and then he puffs and I always wait for a second [26:48] because I’m like wincing because I think a dart is coming. [26:51] All right, he’s going to take my eye out [26:54] and then of course they do the thing,

[26:55] this one or this one, this one or this one? [26:57] And it’s like seven different options, I don’t know. [26:59] I’m so terrified of failing the eye exam [27:03] and I won’t realize it until I get home [27:05] and I’m like, I am blind, [27:06] I cannot see through these lenses.

[27:09] Is that just me? [27:10] Maybe I’m just filled with anxiety, I don’t know. [27:14] But when he says it’s a thorn to your eyes, [27:17] it’s a word picture that should drive home [27:20] just how severe this would be, [27:23] a thorn actually being driven into your eye

[27:26] and do you know what that word picture [27:28] is meant to take you to? [27:30] What he’s saying is you will become blind [27:33] to the things of God. [27:36] You’ll be blinded by your own unfaithfulness [27:39] to where you won’t even be able to see

[27:44] the degradation of your life. [27:47] See friends, the reality that you’ve got to deal with [27:50] in your life is that when somebody comes to you [27:53] and confronts you with clear sin, [27:56] and I’ve had this happen, [27:57] they come to you and they say,

[27:59] I’m seeing some unfaithfulness in your life [28:00] and this is gonna destroy you if you’re not careful. [28:03] You’re gonna have an affair if you’re not careful. [28:05] If you don’t flee from temptation, [28:07] you’re gonna have some real serious sin in your life [28:09] and it’s gonna ruin your life.

[28:11] You’ve got to stop being so materialistic [28:14] because before you know it, [28:15] your value is going to be in your bank account [28:17] over the salvation that you’ve got from the Lord [28:20] and you look at people and what happens is you don’t say, [28:23] oh my gosh, thank you so much for the accountability

[28:26] that you’ve brought into my life. [28:27] I need to get right with God. [28:29] I need to repent of this sin. [28:31] No, you very quickly say, [28:32] who do you think you are to judge me?

[28:36] You don’t know me. [28:39] You don’t understand all the reasons that I have [28:41] for the way that I’m being and acting.

[28:45] As soon as the excuses and the reasons are given, [28:49] do you know what I know?

[28:52] I know you’ve already gone so far from the presence of God [28:55] that the thorns are in your eyes [28:57] and you are blind even to the power of the Spirit. [29:03] Where there is no conviction, there is no Spirit.

[29:08] You see, friends, the temptation to disobey God [29:11] is actually one that all of us know well. [29:13] If you don’t think you struggle, you’re already blind. [29:17] If you think that you’re above temptation, you are blind. [29:21] If you’re not struggling with temptation right now, [29:24] guess what, it’s around the corner.

[29:27] It’s going to happen. [29:29] We don’t call it the worship of Baal, though. [29:31] We don’t call it the worship of Molech. [29:33] You know what we call it? [29:33] We call it FOMO.

[29:36] If you don’t know what that cute little acronym is, [29:38] it means fear of missing out. [29:41] See, we give ourselves opioids through acronyms [29:45] that are cute rather than admitting the reality [29:48] that we struggle with temptation to sin. [29:51] But it’s a very uncomfortable thing to say,

[29:53] oh, I’m struggling with temptation to sin. [29:55] Instead, you cute it up and you’re like FOMO.

[29:59] Just got the fear of missing out, aren’t I cute?

[30:03] No, that’s sin, that’s wickedness. [30:05] There’s nothing cute about it. [30:08] Many a sinful and foolish identity has come from FOMO. [30:15] You look to the world around you [30:17] and they seem like they have something [30:19] that you want in your life.

[30:21] No matter what it is, it is not anchored to God. [30:25] So it is what a sinful identity is built on [30:29] because you are chasing after the contentment [30:31] that God says only comes from Him. [30:34] You sit there night after night on social media [30:38] looking at how good you think other people’s lives are,

[30:43] looking at how big you think other people’s houses are. [30:47] No matter how new you think other people’s cars are. [30:51] And you say, if I only had what they have, [30:55] if I could only achieve the status that this person has, [30:58] if I could only have the fame that that guy has, [31:02] every one of us do that at some point with something in life.

[31:05] And if you deny it, friends, you are in it.

[31:10] Israel did this in 1 Samuel 8. [31:13] They gave in to FOMO by wanting a king. [31:16] It isn’t that wanting a king is bad. [31:18] Look at what the text says. [31:19] Then all the elders of Israel gathered together [31:22] and came to Samuel at Rama and said to them,

[31:24] behold, you are old. [31:26] Samuel was the prophet at that point. [31:28] Samuel had been the judge of Israel. [31:30] You are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. [31:33] Now appoint for us a king to judge us like what? [31:37] Like all the nations.

[31:40] But this thing displeased Samuel when they said, [31:42] give us a king to judge us. [31:46] And Samuel prayed to the Lord and the Lord said to Samuel, [31:48] and I don’t know, but this is one of the texts of scripture. [31:53] It makes me emotional.

[31:57] Because of what God says, [31:59] this strikes at the very heart of God. [32:01] He looks to Samuel and he says, [32:02] obey the voice of the people and all that they say to you. [32:05] They have not rejected you.

[32:09] I pray that God never says this about me. [32:15] He says, but they have rejected me [32:21] from being king over them. [32:24] The problem wasn’t that they wanted a king.

[32:27] The problem was they already had one.

[32:31] Problem was that they already had the greatest king [32:35] that they could have, and that was God himself. [32:38] And that is why verse seven is heartbreaking.

[32:43] I mean, imagine God, the creator, the one who saved you through his son, [32:48] looking at the way that you were living your life, [32:51] looking at all of the places that you are putting your affections, [32:54] looking at all of the barren wastelands [32:57] that you are looking for satisfaction and contentment. [33:00] And God looks to the prophet and he says, don’t be offended.

[33:04] They’re not making a statement about you. [33:08] They’ve rejected God.

[33:15] Don’t pass over that too quickly. [33:18] Because the rejection of God [33:21] is what occurs every time you seek to find identity [33:25] and what unbelievers find their identity in, [33:28] because you believe that that is the source of contentment [33:34] more than life in and with God.

[33:39] That’s why Jesus warns us in Luke 12, 15.

[33:44] So we don’t chase bail.

[33:47] Let’s be honest, we don’t chase Moloch. [33:50] If you do, that’s weird and I’d love to talk to you about it.

[33:55] We may not have a share of polls, we have bank accounts.

[34:01] Jesus says in Luke 12, 15, take care, [34:05] be on guard against all covetousness for one’s life [34:08] does not consist of the abundance of his possessions. [34:12] Yet that is the singular temptation that I see so many of you [34:18] either chasing because you want it or holding on to because you have it.

[34:26] And you don’t define success and failure, according to God’s word, [34:30] you define success and failure by your bank account [34:33] or what your bank account can get you or what you want your bank account [34:37] to get you. [34:38] And if you think you aren’t struggling with this sin, [34:41] you are lying to yourself.

[34:45] This is the American God. [34:48] It is a sneaky, false God that quickly consumes your worship, [34:53] but so many of us define our lives by what we have [34:58] or what we want rather than the God that has saved us. [35:05] I don’t care if it’s a house, if it’s a car, if it’s a status, if it’s a club. [35:10] It’s all material and none of it will survive your life.

[35:17] You know, the factories, these things come out of, [35:20] they won’t be around in 100 years.

[35:24] And you bathe this as though you’re some type of philanthropist. [35:28] You’re like, but look at the good that I could do with money [35:30] if I just had it all. [35:33] Friend, that is materialism. [35:35] You’re trying to bathe it in some form of wicked discipleship [35:38] that doesn’t exist.

[35:40] Take inventory of where you find your identity, friend. [35:44] This is what God is warning the nation of Israel against. [35:47] This is the human condition. [35:48] This is the temptation for every Christian. [35:51] I mean, think about this. Think about this. [35:54] You have Christ.

[35:57] You believe the word of God. [36:01] You don’t make it very long here if you don’t. [36:04] Ephesians one even says God has blessed us. [36:08] Consider what it says. [36:10] God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. [36:16] Have you ever considered the ends of what that means?

[36:21] He’s not saying that’s where I’m going. [36:23] He says, I have that. [36:26] I right now have been blessed [36:29] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. [36:35] And if you’re a follower of Jesus, so have you. [36:38] And yet tonight you will be on some form of social media.

[36:44] And you will say, I would be so much happier [36:48] if I just had X [36:51] or if I just looked like X. [36:55] Or if I could just get X. [36:59] Fill X with whatever your false God is. [37:02] But whatever you are pursuing with all of your energy is what is your God.

[37:09] And yet, God says, I’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing [37:13] in the heavenly places. [37:14] I love the fact that I have the word of God and I deny [37:19] the heresy of the prosperity gospel. [37:22] Yet when I’m on my phone, I am the biggest believer [37:25] in the prosperity gospel you have ever met in your life,

[37:29] because I see what my life could be like, materially speaking. [37:33] And I’m tempted to say, God, haven’t I been faithful enough?

[37:39] Haven’t I been good enough to just have a little more? [37:43] And I’m the biggest covetor you’ve ever met in your life. [37:45] Can I just confess a sin right now? [37:47] You know what coveting is? [37:49] Coveting is really just it’s very simple. [37:51] It’s when I see what you have and I say I deserve it more.

[37:56] And I believe I deserve more than every one of you.

[38:01] But here’s the thing. So do you. [38:05] We’re together in this. [38:07] You’re no better than me. [38:09] But you know what’s happening?

[38:13] We don’t realize it. [38:16] But in those moments, we’ve rejected God as our king.

[38:21] We are measuring the worth of our lives [38:25] by the wrong measurement.

[38:28] We’ve moved away from God’s word. [38:32] That is why Jesus warns in Mark 838 [38:35] that we can gain the whole world. [38:39] And yet still forfeit our own souls.

[38:45] Friend, it can consume you the way that Jesus is supposed to consume you. [38:53] That’s why number three failure [38:54] happens when the promises of God cease to be enough.

[38:59] Failure happens when the promises of God cease to be enough. [39:02] Look in verse 14.

[39:05] I love the way that Joshua talks about death. [39:08] It’s way more poetic than I do. [39:10] He says, now I am about to go the way of all the earth. [39:14] And you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, [39:17] that not one word has failed [39:20] of all the good things that the Lord, your God has promised concerning you.

[39:25] All have come to pass for you. [39:27] Not one of them has failed. [39:29] But just as all the good things that the Lord, your God promised [39:32] concerning you have been fulfilled for you. [39:35] So the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things [39:38] until he has destroyed you from off this good land

[39:41] that the Lord, your God has given you. [39:43] If you transgress the covenant of the Lord, your God, [39:46] which he commanded you and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, [39:51] then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you. [39:54] And you shall perish quickly [39:57] from off the good land he has given you.

[40:02] Real success only comes from God.

[40:06] That’s a biblical principle. [40:09] But the question must be asked, how do you define success?

[40:15] Not as though we’re sitting in Sunday school [40:17] and you’re just wanting to give me the Christian Bible answer, [40:19] but rather the truth of what you actually believe is seen [40:22] by what commands your focus and your energy. [40:26] I have a sign at the doorway of my house [40:31] that reads, don’t take life too seriously.

[40:33] No one gets out alive anyway.

[40:37] I think that’s what Joshua is telling the nation right there. [40:41] But he’s just listening. [40:41] He says, I’m going the way of all the earth. [40:44] You know what he means by that? [40:46] He’s I’m about to die. [40:47] But guess who’s following all of you?

[40:51] You’re all going to die.

[40:55] The question is, is anything you’re living for [40:58] going to outlive this physical life and go into eternity?

[41:05] Hebrews 13, five states that the follower of Jesus [41:08] must keep his life from the love of money. [41:11] But it’s fascinating the way that he says it. [41:14] The author of Hebrews says, keep your life free from the love of money. [41:18] Be content with what you have. [41:21] And then he quotes Joshua one five.

[41:25] For he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. [41:29] If you’ve ever wondered where that comes from, it comes from Joshua one five. [41:33] And so the author of Hebrews is making this connection. [41:36] And I think his connection even goes into these farewell [41:40] discourses of Joshua. [41:42] The author of Hebrews looks to the New Testament church

[41:45] and he’s talking about material gain. [41:49] He says, keep your life free from the love of money. [41:51] But here’s the deal. [41:52] He’s not just talking to people who have it. [41:55] He’s even talking to people who and there are many of you in this room. [41:59] You’re like, money is not a problem for me.

[42:00] It would only be a problem if I had any. [42:03] I’m broke, man. Money is not a problem. All right. [42:07] That’s not what he’s talking about, [42:09] because when he says keep your life free from the love of money, [42:11] he then goes on to be content with what you have. [42:15] He’s not saying.

[42:18] Look at what you already have and never pursue anything else. [42:23] Just be happy with what you have. [42:26] Find your identity at the level that you are currently at, [42:30] because that is just as wicked as the pursuit. [42:33] I’ve met so many people struggling in poverty. [42:37] And do you know what their hope is in if I just had money?

[42:43] If I just had money. [42:45] And I’ve seen people with more wealth than I could imagine having. [42:51] I’ve met those people and I’ve sat with those people [42:54] and their lives are defined if I just had a little more.

[42:59] Doesn’t matter what your income level is. [43:01] It’s about where and what you find your identity in [43:05] And what the author of Hebrews is saying is he is saying [43:08] that the only place you will ever find meaningful [43:12] and objectively real contentment is the salvation that comes from God. [43:19] Because it is sure it is unfading.

[43:23] It is eternal. [43:25] Joshua tells the leaders he’s going to die, [43:27] and then he looks at them as if to say, who’s going to lead? [43:32] Because the promises of God have never failed, they will never fail. [43:37] He will never leave them. [43:39] He will never forsake them.

[43:41] But the question was, would they forsake God? [43:46] And the question is, will you?

[43:50] And you can answer that.

[43:54] Just ask yourself the question. [43:57] Where are you headed?

[44:00] What direction?

[44:03] What are you chasing?

[44:06] What are you finding your identity in?

[44:11] I mean, here’s the deal. [44:11] If I lost 50 pounds, I’d be healthier. [44:15] But I can tell you right now, I wouldn’t be happier.

[44:19] But so many of you, that’s what you are consumed with.

[44:25] And I don’t mean this to hurt your feelings. [44:28] I mean, it’s hurt mine.

[44:31] What a pathetic God.

[44:35] What a pathetic identity that would be. [44:38] What are you chasing? [44:40] What are you pursuing? [44:41] What are you chasing for status? [44:44] What is it that defines your life? [44:46] Where is it that if you got brutally honest with yourself,

[44:51] you are finding prestige in and believe that will make your life matter [44:57] more than it matters right now? [45:00] Because I got to be honest with you, your restless soul, and you’ve got it, [45:06] will only ever find rest in God.

[45:10] If the nation of Israel bowed down and served false gods, [45:13] they would provoke the anger of God because God is faithful to his covenants. [45:18] It is always a question of my faithfulness. [45:22] One vital key to the gospel of Jesus Christ is that Jesus absorbed that anger for me. [45:28] I have been unfaithful and through faith, though, I have been restored [45:33] to his covenant and my life has been changed to where I now have the ability

[45:40] to find my contentment in pursuing the things of God. [45:45] That is the evidence for my faith. [45:47] But that is also why in First Timothy six, six, Paul writes to Pastor Timothy [45:51] and he says, godliness with contentment is great gain. [45:58] Because the great question that God poses and supposes throughout all of scripture [46:03] is, will he be enough for you?

[46:09] Because it is only when he is that he is your God.

[46:16] So many of you are restless, you don’t have to tell me, I know.

[46:20] If you were just honest in this moment, friend, you would admit that you are pursuing [46:27] contentment in something other than God.

[46:32] But what I can’t answer for you is the answer of what are you chasing? [46:37] But the warning I’ll give you is that if you chase it too far, [46:43] you will ultimately reveal that you don’t have any real faith in Jesus at all.

[46:50] But the good news is God is calling you. [46:54] He is saying, find contentment in the gospel and anchor yourself to it, [47:01] because that is great gain. [47:06] A few application points this morning. [47:09] First, put reminders of God’s work all around you. [47:14] When you get tired of the reminders, that is where you’re giving into the temptation.

[47:18] Secondly, pursue a mission of God’s glory and salvation, [47:22] because that’s the only one there is. [47:25] Any other mission is going to take you off that path. [47:28] Thirdly, measure achievement through submission to God. [47:32] Are you submitted to him? [47:35] Is that how you’re defining success and failure?

[47:37] And then fourthly, define success through the gospel of Jesus and refuse to move.