Speaker : Ps. Gideon Lee

Joshua 9

vs 1
Joshua & the people of Israel cross over Jordan River, to the promised land and conquered Jericho.

-Joshua and the peopl of Israel dedicated their first food and offering to the Lord.
-Whatever found in Jericho to be dedicated to the Lord.

vs 14
- Israelites did not inquire from the Lord.

ponder :
- Do we ask the Lord to help us and show us the way? the right way?
- Have we made God our very FIRST priority?
- Do we inquire from the Lord if we make any decisions?

consequences of not doing so :
we will fall into the trap if we do not inquire from the Lord.

vs 16
-if they have waited upon God, they will not fall.

vs 17
- they could not attack their enemies because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.
- they decided to keep their promise but the Gibeonites (enemy) will be wood cutters and water carriers to God.

Question :
- Have we made promise to God but did not keep them?
- Honour the promise and keep the word?

SHOUT! God's fame

How?
- to be a testimony wherever we go

Dont make a move without inquiring from our Father in heaven.
Whatever you have promised in God's name, keep it and God will make the enemies be a servant in His house.

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links :
KEEP your word.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23

21 If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it for you, and you will be guilty of sin.

22 But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin.

23 You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

Some years ago I met a man who was a very gifted and persuasive talker. As the old line goes, "He could sell ice to Eskimos." He made great impressions and pulled people in with his communication abilities. But do you know what? He was unable to deliver. He had a habit of making promises that he didnt keep. Eventually, he lost credibility and people stopped taking him seriously.

Your ability to do what you say speaks volumes about your character. Over time, people will put your gifts and public abilities in perspective, and they will see what you really do. What you do tells the truth about who you really are. If you make promises, keep them.

Sometimes when we have a desire to please someone or to get off the hot seat, or impress someone, -our mouths will write a check we cant cash. But, like my dad often said to me as I was growing up, "At the end of the day, all you have is what you say."

In Deuteronomy 23:21-23, God says much the same thing. There are several observations to learn from this text.

1. What we promise to God, we MUST do.
2. It's better not to make promises than to break them. That doesnt mean we should never make promises, but we just need to know that a promise is a SERIOUS thing.
3. Credibility and character are tied to the words we speak.
Remember, promises are important.

Let's follow through on what we promise to do -especially in our commitments to God.

- Crawford W. Loritts, Our Journey