STORY OF FAITHFULNESS (HUDSON TAYLOR)

CONT.

It was a stormy night in Birmingham, England, and Hudson Taylor was to speak at a meeting at a schoolroom. His hostess assured him that nobody would attend on such a stormy night, but

Taylor insisted on going. "I must go even if there is no one but the doorkeeper." Less than a dozen people showed up, but the meeting was marked with unusual spiritual power. Half of those

present either became missionaries or gave their children as missionaries; and the rest were faithful supporters of the China Inland Mission for years to come.

JOSHUA 24: 28-33, NIV

“ Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance. After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 30 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. Israel 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.”

CONT.

“And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants. And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.”

WHEN LOOKING AT THIS STORY WE DON’T JUST SEE AN OBITUARY, BUT WE SEE A PICTURE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US ALL

When we look at this obituary listed in Joshua ,there is more going on then just a listing of the names of people being buried. When we look at this piece of history , what we see is a picture of God’s faithfulness.

Many times we say what we are thankful for, but we also need to be showing God, through our actions and the way we live, how thankful we are.

This is the challenge that is before us.

CONT.

If you are thankful for all the God has done for you and for Jesus Christ, then what does that look like when people take a closer look at your life?

When the book of Joshua comes to an end, it ends with a picture of God’s faithfulness to the people of Israel, but it’s also a picture of Israel’s faithfulness to God, during the generation of Joshua. It also confirms that God keep his promise of bringing these people into the Promised Land.

TWO MAIN POINTS BEING MADE:

1. God’s Faithfulness Promised

2. Our Faithfulness Expected

CONT.

When we look at this last section of Joshua we see these 2 main points being made.

Can we still claim the promise of God’s faithfulness?

Are we still expected to be faithful to God?

God doesn’t change, but we do, but that doesn’t change the God’s faithfulness promised is not our faithfulness expected.

We’ll get back to this line of thought later.

THESE MAIN CHARACTERS ARE BEING USED TO SHOW GOD’S FAITHFULNESS PROMISED AND OUR FAITHFULNESS EXPECTED

1. Joshua

2. Joseph

3. Eleazar

CONT.

Although Joseph died long before Joshua and Eleazar did, there is a specific reason why his name is included in this list of names.

We’ll get to that shortly.

JOSHUA WAS A REMINDER OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE

GOD’S DELIVERANCE When we look at Joshua we see him taking over

what Moses started, and it was his generation that is being celebrated in this obituary.

When we look at our own lives, do we see a generation that is being faithful to God. Are we taking over what has been passed onto us from other generations?

When you die, will people be able to say that he or she belonged to a faithful generation of believers?

Will people be able to say that you, as an individual, were faithful?

GOD’S DELIVERANCE

Aside from just showing up to church on Sundays, is there anything that you’ve done in the last few weeks, or months that can be classified as faithful?

When someone you knew was hungry did you feed them?

When someone you knew needed cloths did you feed them?

When someone you knew was afraid did you comfort them?

JUDGES 2: 6-7

“After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to their own inheritance. The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.”

YOUR RESPONSE

Are you taking possession of what God has in store?

Have you seen the great things of God in your life, and if you have ---what are doing with all that faithfulness you received?

JOSEPH WAS A REMINDER OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY Joseph was sold into slavery by his own flesh and

blood. His brothers! Yet God used this horrible act of jealousy and brought glory to himself through all the wonderful

things Joseph did for Egypt and the surrounding area.

Yet, before Joseph died he asked for his bones to be buried in the promised land and that is why his name is mentioned at the end of Joshua.

When they saw Joseph’s bones being buried, it was a celebration of what God had promised and what they had promised to do with those bones.

GENESIS 50:24

“The Joseph said to his brother’s. “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.””

HEBREWS 11:22

“ By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.”

NO ORDINARY REQUEST

This request was no ordinary request. When this request was fulfilled it was all part of confirming God’s faithfulness. God was faithful to Joseph, Joseph asked the people

of Israel to be faithful in burying his bones, and all the glory went to God.

ELEAZAR WAS A REMINDER OF GOD’S HOLINESS

GOD’S HOLINESS

Aaron was Moses brother and Aaron’s son was Eleazar. Eleazar was in charge of taking care of God’s sanctuary.

Are we taking care of God’s church and being faithful with it? Do we treat the things of God with reverence?

NUMBERS 3:32

“The chief priest of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.”

TAKING CARE OF GOD’S CHURCH

Eleazar made sure the things of God in the sanctuary were keep in order.

Are we taking care of God in the church? Many churches have watered down the gospel and they are becoming unrecognizable.

We must keep the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and godly counsel the center of our churches.

Eleazar being buried-- reminded the Israelites of how God used the faithful servants of Joshua’s generation.

God’s holiness is vital in the times we are living.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS GOD HAS REMINDED YOU OF HIS FAITHFULNESS AND PROMISES?

When looking at Joshua : Has God delivered you? If so, how has he delivered you?

When looking at Joseph: Has God been sovereign in your life?. If so, how has he been sovereign?

When looking at Eleazar : Has God proven his holiness in your life? If so, how has he shown his holiness?

HOW ARE YOU BEING FAITHFUL TO GOD-- IN RESPONSE TO HIS

FAITHFULNESS TO YOU?

OUR FAITHFULNESS

The people of Israel were faithful during Joshua’s generation. Are we being faithful during our generation?

Do we believe that living for God is two way street?

When people look at your life; will it be a picture of not only God being faithful to you, but will it also be a beautiful picture of your faithfulness to God.

BACK TO OUR STORY OF HUDSON TAYLOR AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

CONT.

Hudson Taylor was faithful to God on that stormy night and as a result many people went into missions or supported missionaries.

When we look at God’s faithfulness at the end of the book Joshua we also see God working with regards to deliverance, sovereignty, and holiness.

How are you being faithful to God; especially when you look at everything God has done for you and how faithful he’s been to you?

This is the challenge before you.