Pastor Zach Flaig continues the sermon series called "In Dependence," which teaches that true freedom is found not in self-reliance but in dependence on God and others, built around Jesus' words in John 15:5. Turning to Joshua 9, he traces how the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the Israelites into a covenant by posing as travelers from a distant land, using worn sandals, moldy bread, and cracked wineskins as proof. The Israelites examined the evidence with their own understanding but failed to inquire of the Lord, entering a binding covenant they should never have made. Pastor Zach uses this mistake to teach four tests for discerning God's will: the test of Scripture, the test of time, the test of wise counsel, and the test of peace. He reminds us that even our poor decisions can be redeemed when we put them to work for God's purposes. The sermon closes with a challenge to seek God first together, walking in community with wise, godly people rather than relying on our own judgment alone.

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