Joshua, the brave warrior who was the appointed successor to Moses and who led the people in the conquest of Canaan, knew he was about to pass on to glory. In the last moments of his life, Joshua’s dying words were to bring to people’s remembrance the goodness of God.
Joshua 23:14 (NKJV) ‘Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed’.
God promised the people of Israel that He would bring them into the land that flowed with milk and honey. The spies sent for the reconnaissance mission came back overwhelmed because they saw the giants. But not Caleb and Joshua. They saw the giants, but they saw beyond that to the victory that God was sure to bring to honour His promise. There is a parallel between the conquest of the promised land then and the abundant life that belongs to us now. There were giants in the land for the Israelites to conquer then and there are tribulations in our lives that we need to overcome now. They had to fully rely on God to defeat each group of people occupying the land. God’s instruction was to be strong and courageous. At the end of Joshua’s life, he spoke to his people and he testified once more that none of what God had spoken or promised to them had failed. God did not fail to honour His word to them! This was a comforting thought to them then, and to us now.
Psalms 89:34-35 (NKJV) My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. 35 Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David.
‘I swear on my mother’s life’. ‘I swear it’s the truth and my principal can vouch for me’. When we swear, we swear by something/someone we hold dear, or something/someone greater than us. God swore on His holiness. Why is that? Because there is nothing and no one else greater than God. He is the Beginning and the End. He is above all. So, when He swore by His holiness, it was an unbreakable oath.
He keeps His promises. We can depend on that. He’s a promise keeper.
Sermon Series: The Dependability of God
信守承诺者
约书亚，这位勇敢的战士，被任命为摩西的继任者，并带领人民征服了迦南，他知道自己即将离世归主。 在生命的最后时刻，约书亚的临终遗言是要让人们记住上帝的良善。
约书亚记23:14我现在要走世人必走的路，你们是一心一意的，知道耶和华你们神所应许赐福与你们的话、没有一句落空，都应验在你们身上了。
神应许以色列人将带他们进入那流着奶与蜜之地。被打发去窥探迦南地的探子们回来时都吓昏了，因为他们看见了巨人。十二个探子中只有迦勒和约书亚不为所动。他们虽看见巨人，但他们更看见上帝必将以胜利荣耀祂的应许。彼时的征服应许之地与现在属于我们的丰盛生命之间存在着相似之处。彼时的应许之地有巨人需要以色列人去征服，而如今在我们的生命中则有患难等着我们去克服。他们必须全然依靠神来击败盘踞在那地上的各个部族。神要他们刚强壮胆。在即将离世之际，约书亚对他的百姓说话，再一次见证上帝对他们说过的话和作出的应许无一落空。神从没有违背过对他们的诺言 ！这种想法既安慰了彼时的他们，也温暖了今日的我们。
诗篇89:34-35我必不背弃我的约，也不改变我口中所出的。我一次指着自己的圣洁起誓．我决不向大卫说谎。
“我以我母亲的生命发誓”。 “我发誓这是真的，我的校长可以为我担保”。 当我们发誓时，我们会指着我们所珍视的,或者是比我们更伟大的物或人来发誓。 上帝指着祂的圣洁起誓。 这是为什么？ 因为没有任何人、事、物比上帝更伟大。祂是起初的，也是末了的。 祂高于一切。 所以，当上帝指着祂的圣洁起誓时，这是一个牢不可破的誓言。
祂信守诺言。 我们可以依靠这一点。 祂是信守承诺者。
讲章系列：神的可靠性
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