Sword & Trowel 2019: Issue 1
meaning into focus. The idea is seen in training a plant. If you wanted a climbing plant to run along a fence in a particular direction, or you wanted your vine to take a shape most favourable for catching the sun, you would bend and tie the stems to achieve your end. Our character requires shaping and training also. Habits must be formed for regular devotions. The honouring of personal timetables pro- motes faithfulness to all our duties, obligations and promises. Self-denial in ‘small’ matters, such as unneces- sary eating or minor self-indulgence, makes us strong when destructive temptations are launched at us. Great falls into pride, covetousness or sexual lust occur in stages, start- ing with concessions being made to lesser temptations. ‘He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much,’ said the Lord (Luke 16.10). We read that Hudson Taylor trained himself for missionary hardships by cutting down on food as a young man, and other measures also. Our resolution and pledge as be-
lievers must surely be – I will incline, train, my heart to serve the Lord.
16 OBEY THE LORD Obedience is the resolution en- shrined in Joshua 24.23. As the Lord’s people, saved by grace, the moral law of God is to us the law of liberty, freely and voluntarily obeyed because we love him and are being prepared to be with him. We obey the Ten Commandments, and seek by the help of the Lord to manifest the traits of behaviour and character named as the ‘fruit of the Spirit’. We
obey the voice of conscience when we are convicted of some rising sin, and by putting that word or thought or act to death. We obey the Word of God and all it requires of us in love and good works, and we honour faithfully our calling to serve the Lord in a true, believing congregation. With the Israelites of Joshua’s time we say with all our hearts – ‘His voice will we obey.’
CONCLUSION The Resolutions of Joshua:
1. Have tenacious courage 2. Don’t look 3. Don’t mix 4. Don’t mention 5. Don’t depend on 6. Don’t help wrong 7. Don’t bow down 8. Cling to the Lord 9. Examine yourself 10. Love the Lord 11. Fear the Lord 12. Serve the Lord 13. Be sincere before God 14. Put away wrong 15. Train the heart 16. Obey the Lord
The form and flow of Joshua’s
resolutions are amazing. For compre- hensiveness in short compass they surely have no equal. Every conceiv- able aspect of obedience to God’s standards is covered. If we did not know it already, we would exclaim – this is nothing other than inspired literature!
Based on a Bible study preached at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, 10th April 2019
Joshua’s Sixteen Resolutions page 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
