Follow The Promises: Idolatry is a Sorry Excuse for Love

Joshua 23 | OneTwo Church | April 19, 2026

BIG IDEA

Idols cannot love you. Only God can.Our role is to walk by faith in what He has already given us.

1. You Already Have the Land

Joshua 23:4–5 | Ephesians 1:3

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Our "promised land" is a life of forgiveness, acceptance, freedom, and love — and it's already ours.

We don't fight to earn it. We walk into it by faith.

2. Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

2 Corinthians 5:7

You can't make God's promises true by trying harder. They already are true.

• God says I'm free — so I walk in freedom.God says I'm loved — so I live like someone who is loved.God says I'm holy — so I step forward in faith to do holy things.

3. Trust God's Word — Not Your Feelings or Your Reasoning

Joshua 23:6

Trust your feelings and drift to the right. Trust your own reasoning and drift to the left. Trust God's Word and go straight toward Jesus.

Satan is fine with either extreme — legalism or licentiousness — as long as we're off course.

4. Idols Cannot Love You

Joshua 23:7–8 | John 15:9

Men always serve something. Either God, or an idol.

• Feelings can be an idol.Politics and philosophy can be idols. • Even control or self can be an idol.