Sermon Notes - Joshua 23 - Littleby Baptist Church - December 7, 2025

1.        When we were last together we saw an early implementation of God’s plan for dealing with conflict among believers.

a.        The Israelite tribes reached out to the 2 ½ tribes to understand what was going on.

b.       They didn’t jump to conclusions.

c.        They asked.

d.       They talked.

e.        And realized that everything was on the up and up.

2.        Too often today when there is conflict it gets ugly.

a.        If we follow God’s plan.

b.       We take the time.

c.        To make sure things are what they seem or find out that they are not.

d.       It is a plan that drives towards understanding and restoration.

e.        Exactly what we would expect from our God.

3.        It was also a good reminder that we need to stay focused on Jesus.

a.        And when people do not, we need to reach out to them.

b.       Ask them what is going on.

c.        As Christ followers, if a brother or sister has drifted away, we need to walk with them a bit.

d.       Help them start back on a path with God.

e.        Help them be restored with their God.

4.        After all, we all need Jesus.

a.        We need to spend time drawing near to Him.

b.       We are called to point new believers to Him.

c.        And help others get back on the right path.

5.        Our God is in the restoration business.

a.        He gave us a plan to follow.

b.       One that helps people return to Him.

6.        As we head into the last couple of chapters, we find Joshua reminding the people to stay true to God.

a.        And warning them about the consequences if they do not.

7.        Let’s take a look at what God has for us today.

8.        Joshua 23:1-2

a.        Roughly 10 years after God had Joshua distribute the land.

b.       Joshua is creeping up on 110 years old.

c.        He called together those who would be leading in his absence.

d.       Those who were to step up and help the people remember to trust God.

e.        Those who were to help them to not lose sight of what God has done.

f.          Knowing that if they held on to God’s Word.

g.        And remember all that He has done.

h.        It will help them stay true to their God.

9.        The more we hold on to, remember, what God has done for us.

a.        The easier it is for us to hold on to those things when life gets rough.

b.       Remembering what God has done is one way our faith grows.

10.   Joshua 23:3

a.        God has been faithful.

b.       He took the land from those who were inhabiting it and gave it to Israel.

c.        God did it.

11.   When we are blessed, we have to remember that it comes from God.

a.        Not our own can-do attitude.

b.       But God’s amazing work in our lives.

c.        It is God that provides.

d.       He gives us the skills we have.

e.        The knowledge we have.

f.          He is the one who opens doors for us.

g.        All that we have is from God.

12.   Joshau 23:4-5

a.        God has delivered the land to His people.

b.       And He will continue to do so.

c.        It is a promise from God.

d.       One that He continued to fulfill.

13.   God keeps His promises.

a.        He was faithful to the people.

b.       And is faithful to those of us who follow Him today.

c.        We need to trust in Him and all that He does.

14.   But the people of Israel needed to do their part.

15.   Joshua 23:6-8

a.        Be strong and courageous.

b.       A message we have seen many times in our time in Joshua.

c.        Obey the Word of God.

d.       Stand strong to the Truth found in the Word of God

e.        Hold on to it.

16.   The more you hold on to the Word of God the easier it is to see God at work around you.

a.        The more time we spend reading and studying our Bibles.

b.       Our faith grows.

c.        As we look at how to live what the Bible teaches.

d.       Our faith grows.

e.        As our faith grows, we are less likely to get discouraged.

f.          Hopefully that will resonate with you.

g.        The more you draw near to God, the more He encourages you.

17.   In verse 1, we saw the other people in the land were referred to as enemies.

a.        Which would help us to understand the not associating with them.

b.       We are not to be unequally yoked.

c.        There are reasons to stay away from others.

d.       To not partner with them.

e.        To not intermarry with them.

f.          It has nothing to do with race.

18.   It has everything to do with the next point…

a.        To not worship their gods.

b.       These other fake gods would lead Israel astray.

c.        Lead them to do things that are repulsive to God.

d.       Which is why they were not to associate with them.

e.        Which is why they are to remain loyal to the One True God.

f.          They must keep their focus on the God who has been faithful to them.

19.   Cling to God.

a.        It is the only way we can remain true to Him.

b.       If we dabble with things of the world.

c.        They will pull us away from our God.

d.       We will end up worshipping things instead of God.

e.        Yet, when we cling to our God.

f.          We are strengthened by Him to resist the temptations around us.

g.        To turn away from the idols in our life and embrace Jesus.

20.   Joshua 23:9-10

a.        God fought battles for them.

b.       Protected them.

c.        These reminders are being shared to help them remain true to God.

21.   If we hold on to what God has done in our lives.

a.        The prayers He has answered.

b.       The sin He has set us free from.

c.        The way He has changed us.

d.       How He uses us.

e.        It will help us to cling to Him.

f.          Instead of turning to the world when trouble comes.

22.   Remember what your God has done in your life.

a.        It will strengthen you in your time of need.

23.   Joshua 23:11

a.        Love God.

b.       Watch yourselves… do not let yourself turn from God.

24.   In other words, it takes effort.

a.        It takes prioritization.

b.       It takes making time for God each day.

c.        If we do not, we can easily be swept away by the sin and troubles of this life.

d.       Make God a priority each and every day.

e.        I cannot emphasize this enough.

f.          You must choose to make God a priority and work at it.

g.        Without prioritizing God, we can easily be swayed by the world.

h.        He must be THE priority.

25.   Joshua 23:12-13

a.        Cling to God and He is with you.

b.       If you turn to the world and turn away from God.

c.        You will get what you are seeking.

d.       Meaning if we turn from God and embrace the sin we are holding on to, God will let us keep our sin.

e.        It was a warning to the people of Israel.

f.          That God will not fight for them if they turn away from Him.

g.        It is a warning to us.

h.        That in order for God to continue to work in us and through us.

i.          We need to remain His.

j.          We need to draw near to Him.

26.   We see this same message from Paul to the Roman church.

27.   Romans 1:28

a.        There is a point where God will let us be trapped by the snare and deal with the pain of rejecting Him.

b.       Not the place we want to find ourselves.

c.        Seek God with all that you are.

d.       Prioritize God each day.

28.   Joshua 23:14-16

a.        God has been faithful.

b.       The good He promised has come to pass.

c.        Which means the bad that He warns about, can also come to pass.

d.       If you turn your back on Him.

e.        It will happen.

f.          We need to stay focused on God.

29.   We have the benefit of Biblical history in the Bible, to see that when the people turned form God, they felt His leaving them.

a.        He stopped fighting for them.

b.       If we honor God.

c.        He will be with us.

d.       If we turn away from God, He will be faithful to what His Word says.

e.        If we embrace the world, we will be left to deal with it on our own.

f.          Don’t take your eyes off of God.

30.   Our God is a faithful God.

a.        He has been faithful to the people of Israel.

b.       He has been and is faithful to us.

c.        He will be faithful to His Word, even if it means leaving us to our own means.

31.   Personally, I would rather be in God’s hands instead of my own.

32.   Make God the priority.

a.        He is more important than the game.

b.       He is more important than our jobs.

c.        He is more important than anything else in this world.

33.   Seek Him fully.

a.        Learn about your God.

b.       Study His Word.

c.        Talk to Him.

d.       Honor Him.

e.        Worship Him.

f.          And prioritize Him.

34.   If you are Christ follower, look at your life and see where you need to make sure God is THE priority.

35.   If you do not know Jesus.

a.        All of this starts with recognizing that Jesus is God.

b.       That He died for your sins.

c.        Is offering you new life.

d.       You need to call out to Jesus.

e.        Believe that He is the Son of God who died for you.

f.          And repent of your sins.

g.        If that is you this morning, I would love to talk with you.