Three Stages of Joshua's Leadership Joshua 24 Dr. Joseph Chang 11/17/2013 BOLGPC

1A prayer of Moses the man of God 1A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. . . . 12Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. . . . 17May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands. (Ps 90:1-2, 12, 17)

29After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 30And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 31Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel. (Josh 24:29-31)

Three Stages of Joshua’s Leadership (1). While he was alive. (2). While his lieutenants were still alive. (3). When the new generation comes, a free fall.

Dr. James Dobson

I. When in time of difficulty, consider God is shaping your character.

I. When in time of difficulty, consider God is shaping your character. California 加州 Texas 德州 155,779 sq miles 261,232 sq miles 38,041,430 people 26,059,203 people GSP: $1.75 trillion $1.21 trillion GSP/capita, $46,029 $46,498 Unemployment, 9.8% 6.1% Golden State Rugged State

I. When in time of difficulty, consider God is shaping your character. Illustrations 2:

II. Do not shield your children away from period of "suffering". Illustration 3

III. Future generations: Relationship with God >> physical enjoyment. 6In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. (Judg 17:6) 1In those days Israel had no king. (Judg 18:1) 1In those days Israel had no king. (Judg 19:1) 25In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. (Judg 21:25)

III. Future generations: Relationship with God >> physical enjoyment. A. Recabites 1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2"Go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD and give them wine to drink." 3So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons--the whole family of the Recabites. (Jer 35:1-3)

III. Future generations: Relationship with God >> physical enjoyment. 4I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the men of the Recabite family and said to them, "Drink some wine." 6But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.(Jer 35:4-6)

III. Future generations: Relationship with God >> physical enjoyment. 7Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.' 8We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us. (Jer 35:7-10)

III. Future generations: Relationship with God >> physical enjoyment. A. Recabites 840-586=254 years

III. Future generations: Relationship with God >> physical enjoyment. B. Amish People 1693

III. Future generations: Relationship with God >> physical enjoyment. B. Amish People 2013-1693 = 320 years.

Conclusion I. I. When in time of difficulty, consider God is shaping your character.   II. Do not shield your children away from period of "suffering". III. For future generations: the relationship with God is far more important than their physical enjoyment.