Joshua | Week 5 | Pastor Mike Stephens

In this inspiring message from Pastor Mike Stephens of Generation Church FL, we are brought to the powerful conclusion of the book of Joshua. As the series wraps up, Pastor Mike challenges us to reflect deeply on the choices we make daily and how those choices shape the legacy we leave behind. Drawing from the final words of Joshua, the faithful leader who guided the Israelites into the Promised Land, this message is a call to live intentionally, ditch idols, stand firm in faith, and lead the homes we live in with purpose.

Introduction: The Power of Final Words

Have you ever considered how significant the last words someone speaks before they die can be? These final statements often carry profound wisdom, perspective, and insight because they come from a life fully lived and reflected upon. Pastor Mike opens by inviting us to imagine ourselves on our deathbed surrounded by loved ones. What would we want to say to them? Would we focus on superficial achievements like social media followers or professional success? Almost certainly not.

Instead, people tend to express what truly matters: love, faith, relationships, and legacy. Pastor Mike highlights famous last words such as Bob Marley’s “Money can’t buy life,” Billie Holiday’s advice to “Don’t be in such a hurry,” and Leonard Nimoy’s poetic Twitter farewell: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved except in memory. Live long and prosper.”

These words embody the clarity that comes with hindsight and reveal what we should prioritise today. Joshua’s final speech to Israel follows this pattern, summarising a life of faith and leadership centered on God’s faithfulness and the legacy of choices made along the way.

The Book of Joshua: A Journey of Faith and Leadership

The message is the culmination of a series exploring the book of Joshua that chronicles the Israelites’ journey into the Promised Land. Over the weeks, the series examined:

• How God prepares us before placing us in our own promised land.
• Possessing and walking into the promises God has for us.
• Living in the land God has given us, including the responsibilities and divisions that come with it.
• Faith that finishes nicely, as Pastor Ben taught in the previous week.

Now, in Joshua’s final moments, we see a leader who has witnessed God’s mighty hand through battles, miracles, and the fulfillment of promises. Instead of focusing on military strategy or his achievements, Joshua recounts God’s faithfulness and calls the people to decide their future.

Remembering God’s Faithfulness

Joshua’s farewell speech begins by taking the Israelites back to their roots. He reminds them of their ancestors, from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to Moses and Aaron, and the mighty acts God performed on their behalf, such as the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. This recounting serves to highlight God’s consistent faithfulness throughout their history.

In Joshua 24:8, Joshua says, “God brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but God gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.” He continues to stress that everything they have, land, cities, vineyards, olive groves, was given by God, not earned by their toil.

This perspective is crucial because it shifts the focus from human effort to divine provision, encouraging trust in God’s ongoing presence and power.

Four Pillars to Build a Legacy of Faith

From Joshua’s speech, Pastor Mike draws four key lessons that help us understand how our choices today determine the legacy we leave tomorrow.

1. We Have to Choose Daily

Joshua’s famous challenge, “Choose this day whom you will serve,” is not just a one-time decision but a daily commitment. Pastor Mike emphasises that legacy is built through millions of small choices made consistently over time.

He uses practical examples to illustrate this point:

• Physical health requires daily choices about diet and exercise; you can’t balance a week of junk food with one healthy meal and expect to be well.
• Marriage requires daily decisions to love and affirm your spouse, not just special occasions like anniversaries.
• Faith in God must be reaffirmed daily, not just on Sundays or memorable moments.

Every morning, you consciously or unconsciously follow God, love your family, and live out your values. These daily decisions accumulate to form your legacy.

2. Ditch the Idols

One of the most challenging calls in Joshua’s speech is to “throw away the gods your ancestors worshipped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” Pastor Mike explains that idols aren’t just wooden statues; they are anything we give more attention to than God.

He paints a vivid picture of worship with open hands ready to receive from God. Still, instead of being fully open, we hold tightly onto schedules, work, family, hobbies, and responsibilities. While good in themselves, these things become idols when they prevent us from fully surrendering to God’s leading.

Pastor Mike encourages us to examine what idols we might be holding onto:

• Habits or routines that distract from spiritual growth.
• Priorities that place career or comfort above faith.
• Relationships that become a source of identity or security over God.
• Even blessings, like children or possessions, can become idols if we worship the gift instead of the Giver.

He candidly addresses the tendency to idolise people, including pastors and leaders, warning against putting flawed humans on pedestals instead of focusing on God, the true Blesser. This idolisation can lead to disillusionment when leaders fail, but faith should rest in God alone.

Ultimately, Pastor Mike calls us to “thank the blesser for the blessing, don’t worship the blessing.”

3. Stand When Others Sit

Joshua’s declaration, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” is a bold stand in a world where compromise is easy and peer pressure is intense. Pastor Mike encourages us to be leaders who draw a line in the sand and choose faithfulness regardless of cultural trends or popular opinion.

He offers practical disciplines to help us stand firm:

• Pray often in your home, beyond just meal-time prayers.
• Be the first to show grace and stop gossip in your workplace or community.
• Set the tone in your environments rather than just reacting to them; be the thermostat, not the thermometer.

Standing alone if necessary, like Joshua, can inspire others to find courage and faith. Leadership often begins with someone willing to stand firm in truth and love.

4. Lead the House You Live In

Getting caught up in judging or focusing on others’ faults is easy, but Pastor Mike challenges us to redirect that energy inward. What if we invested that same time and passion into becoming the person God calls us to be and leading our homes with faith and integrity?

He shares the story of Peter’s restoration in John 21, where Jesus tells Peter to “feed my sheep” and to follow Him, dismissing Peter’s distraction over what others were doing. The message is clear: stay in your lane, focus on your calling, and trust God to work through you.

Pastor Mike warns against the distraction of constantly comparing ourselves to others, especially in the age of social media, and encourages us to lead our households well.

Burning the Ships: A Commitment to Go All In

To close, Pastor Mike shares the story of Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, who, upon reaching the shores of Mexico in 1519, ordered his men to burn the ships that brought them there. This decisive act eliminated any retreat option, forcing them to commit fully to the dangerous mission ahead.

This dramatic moment mirrors Joshua’s call to the Israelites and us to burn the ships of the past, eliminate the option of quitting, and choose wholeheartedly to serve God and live with purpose.

Just as Joshua drew a line in the sand, we are invited to make a clear, defining choice about whom we will serve and what legacy we will leave.

Reflecting on Your Legacy: What Choices Will You Make Today?

Pastor Mike closes with a heartfelt invitation to consider the choices that define our lives:

• What idols do you need to throw out today?
• Where do you need to stand firm in faith, even if it means standing alone?
• How can you lead your home in serving the Lord?
• What daily decisions will you make to build a legacy of faithfulness?

He prays for courage and commitment for everyone listening, reminding us that God is faithful, consistent, and trustworthy no matter our circumstances.

For those who have never fully surrendered to God or strayed from their faith, Pastor Mike offers a moment to make a fresh start, a new beginning with God.

Conclusion: Your Choices Determine Your Legacy

Joshua’s final words remind us that legacy is not left to chance. It results from intentional, daily choices to trust God, reject idols, stand firm in faith, and lead those closest to us well. These principles are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

Pastor Mike’s message encourages us to reflect on our lives and ask, “As for me and my house, whom will I serve?” The answer we give shapes our future and the generations that follow.

May we be inspired by Joshua’s example to live courageously, love deeply, and leave a lasting legacy built on faithfulness to God.