Apostle Allison Smith-Conliff centers on the biblical theme of faithfulness as illustrated through the instructions of Joshua. The Apostle emphasizes that God’s promises are reliable, recounting both scriptural victories and modern-day stories of healing and resilience to inspire the congregation. Listeners are urged to guard their souls against distractions and avoid adopting foreign beliefs or sinful behaviors that could jeopardize their spiritual inheritance. By drawing parallels to marriage, the message highlights that loyalty and commitment are the foundations for receiving divine rest and blessings. Ultimately, the message serves as a call to unwavering devotion, reminding believers that their strength comes from staying anchored in God’s truth.

Key Points:

Joshua’s biblical counsel, primarily found in Joshua 23, emphasizes that faithfulness is a "two-way street" requiring constant vigilance, courage, and a total surrender to one's commitments. In the context of modern relationships and marriage, this counsel applies through several key principles:

While a legal contract might provide certain entitlements, a faithful covenant relationship grants a spouse full access to everything the other person has, creating a bond that goes beyond mere legal requirements. A covenant is not just between two people but is taken with God, meaning that regardless of external "voices" or temptations, the individual must remember the sacred promise they made.

Joshua’s counsel to "keep and to do" what is written is translated to modern relationships as duties, responsibility, and accountability. The Apostle conveys that true faithfulness involves:

• Giving up personal rights: Sometimes a partner must be still, quiet, or yield their own desires for the sake of the relationship.
• Rejecting "Hollywood" expectations: Modern relationships often suffer from unrealistic expectations. Real marriage involves practical, often unglamorous service, such as dealing with an "empty kitchen" or doing chores without complaint.
• Intentionality: Couples must "have time for each other" because distractions are constant and can lead one away from their marriage if they are not careful.

Remaining faithful is described as a "price" that must be paid, often involving prayer, patience, and emotional effort (referred to as "crying in your closet"). It requires courage to maintain one's promises. The sources emphasize that an individual’s body is a "temple of the living God," which serves as a motivation to keep oneself pure and faithful regardless of whether the other person is behaving correctly.

Joshua warned the Israelites that "wandering off" or mixing with those who do not share their values would create "snares and traps". In modern terms, this applies to:

• Guarding the "First Love": One must be vigilant and alert to prevent their love from becoming "cold" or being distracted by a "different kind of love".
• Avoiding "Deputies": You cannot have a primary commitment and a "deputy" (an outside romantic interest); faithfulness must be 100%.
• Spiritual Alignment: Choosing a spouse who does not share one's core values or faith can lead to "thorns in your eyes" and "scourges in your side," eventually causing the relationship to perish.

Just as Joshua reminded the people that "not one thing have failed" of God's good promises, consistent faithfulness leads to unique blessings that cannot be achieved through personal strength or finances alone. When a person remains loyal to God and their spouse, they experience a "victory" and peace that protects their "house" and their future.

Rec. Date: 11th June, 2023