Every Good Promise

Joshua 23.14-16

The LORD Is Faithful To All His Promises



Famous Farewell Speeches

Lou Gehrig

Martin Luther King's "I've Been ToThe Mountaintop"

Lincoln's
My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

"May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields.  And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand." – Irish Blessing

"Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you."
– Dale Evans

"Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together?  I guess that wouldn't work.  Someone would leave.  Someone always leaves.  Then we would have to say good-bye.  I hate good-byes.  I know what I need.  I need more hellos." –Charles M. Schulz

"Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again." – William Shakespeare

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." – Dr. Seuss

"Saying goodbye doesn't mean anything. It's the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it" – Trey Parker.

"This is not the end. This is not even the beginning of the end. It is, instead, the end of the beginning" – Winston Churchill.

"Never say good-bye because good-bye means going away, and going away means forgetting." – Peter Pan

"Gaze up at the stars knowing that I see the same lsky and wish the same sweet dreams." – Elizabeth Barret Browning

"Think of me fondly when we've said good bye. Remember me, once in a while. Please promise me you'll try. When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free, if you ever find a moment spare a thought pfor me." – Andrew Webber

Look How Joshua bade farewell to Israel:
The LORD is faithful to all His Promises

Farewell speeches are interesting. Joshua was a gifted leader and a great general but he gave the glory to God at the end. The focus on his speech was not himself and "his" accomplishments but on the LORD. The focus was on the LORD's Promises.


1. He has made promises. V.14a
We make them. Try to keep that word "promise"at a bare minimum as you live.
We break them. Keep them even if it hurts. (Psalm 15.4) It is rare.
He keeps them. He is a Promise Keeper.

*Live close to the LORD. V.15-16
Don't see what how far away from Him you can live and still belong to Him. See how close you can get to Him.

*Keep way from evil.  Hebrews 12.1

*Continue to follow the LORD. Hebrews 12.1-3
We are in a marathon, not a sprint. Training is different. The race is different. Cross Country, much of the race is unseen. It requires mental discipline, a predetermination to persevere no matter what.

2. His Promises are Good. - vs. 14,15

*Pleasant The ones which address our difficult times bring those rainbows of His love and peace.
*Beneficial The benefits of God's great love are super satisfying!
*Agreeable they do something deep within us. Food that doesn't agree with me.

God's promises are based upon His holiness and love and aimed at the best for us... To be like Him, to have all surpassing peace. They are for our good. They are to bring Him glory through the way we live.


3. He Keeps His Promises. vs. 14,15

He is not slow.
He is faithful.
Jesus never fails.
We are not deserted.
He is the Truth. It is impossible for God to lie
We will not be cast down!

NOT ONE THING HAS FAILED OF ALL GOD SPOKE.
God's Word is true and is attested all around.
 Here they are in the land.
Their enemies were subdued by God.
 The land is flowing with milk & honey.
All God said, He did.
He will do the same for us today.

He is loving to all He has made.

The greatness of the history of this people was truly His Story, the result of Divine Action. That is true of His Church as well.
It is the LORD!
We ought always to pray and not give up. Luke 18
We are to contend earnestly for the faith. Jude 3
We are to hold fast to the LORD. Deuteronomy 30.19-20


Here we are in America, just prior to a national election. Billy Graham urged his fellow Americans to vote for those who will uphold Biblical Values. This is also the time for us as Christians to call upon the LORD, lean upon His Word and trust the promises He made to all nations in trouble.

As we conclude our Journey through Joshua we look at the Promises of God and the call from the LORD to trust in Him with all heart. We have heard the call to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Let's go on with Him leading us today! If we do that we have His Promises to stand and lean upon.