YOU GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY (2)

INTRODUCTION

Who do you serve?

The climate of this contemporary culture is far from the days when people were committed to their belief in God. Due to the fall of so many religious leaders, a dark shadow has not only been cast upon the church, but also upon the integrity of God. Even those who once espoused faith in God have joined the crowd of those who have decided that they will no longer serve Him or anyone else ever again.

God has a word for those who have taken up this position: It is impossible for you to serve nobody.

Who are you serving?

Not to serve God is to serve Satan.

Charles Hodge (American Presbyterian Theologian)

Context of the Text

As the book of Joshua comes to an end, we observe that Joshua has convened the tribes at Shechem to renew their oath of covenant loyalty. He rehearses the history of the LORD’s dealing with the children of Isreal and insists that “Now” is the time for Contemplation, Confrontation, and Consecration. They can no longer vacillate in indecision. They must make up their minds about who they will serve.

CENTRAL IDEA

We, like Joshua, must make our position on the matter of allegience clear:

See Joshua 24:15

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

15 But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In this message today we want to look at Joshua’s resolve to understand why he chose to serve the Lord and insist that we do the same.

CONTEMPLATION

The Sermon Notebook: Old Testament (It’s Time to Make up Your Mind (Joshua 24:1–28))

I. V. 1–13 A TIME OF CONTEMPLATION Joshua begins his remarks by calling the people to a time of contemplation. He wants them to remember who they are, where they came from and what the Lord has done for them. It would do us good to think back on those things ourselves!)

A. Contemplate God’s Power In Your Lives - (V1-12)

They are reminded about God’s choice and call of Israel. How He redeemed them and delivered them from Egypt. How He manifested His power and glory on their behalf time and time again. They are reminded of the victories they have enjoyed and the blessings that have been theirs because of the Lord’s work in their lives.

In Christianity Today, Philip Yancey writes: I remember my first visit to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Rings of Japanese and German tourists surrounded the geyser, their video cameras trained like weapons on the famous hole in the ground. A large, digital clock stood beside the spot, predicting 24 minutes until the next eruption. My wife and I passed the countdown in the dining room of Old Faithful Inn overlooking the geyser. When the digital clock reached one minute, we, along with every other diner, left our seats and rushed to the windows to see the big, wet event. I noticed that immediately, as if on signal, a crew of busboys and waiters descended on the tables to refill water glasses and clear away dirty dishes. When the geyser went off, we tourists oohed and aahed and clicked our cameras; a few spontaneously applauded. But, glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that not a single waiter or busboy—not even those who had finished their chores—looked out the huge windows. Old Faithful, grown entirely too familiar, had lost its power to impress them. Few things are more quickly taken for granted than God’s faithfulness. But few things are more important. God’s faithfulness deserves our untiring praise and wonder.

Larson, Craig Brian. 2002. 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Note: We need to contemplate all the Lord has done for us! Remember where He found you. What He did for you. How He has blessed you. How He has worked on your behalf time and again. How He has answered prayer and met needs. Remember His power in your life.

True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace.

Thomas Merton (Trappist Monk and Writer)

B. Contemplate God’s Presence In Your Lives (V. 1-12)

Israel is reminded that God has always been with them. In everything they faced, He was there to help them and to see them through.

Note:

We need to remember that since the day we were saved by grace, God has never left us nor has He forsaken us, as He said, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20. Remember His presence in your life.

Hebrews 13:5 NASB 2020

5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,”

Matthew 28:20 NASB 2020

20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

C. Contemplate God’s Provisions In Your Lives (V. 13)

Now they are reminded of how they enjoy blessings that they do not deserve. They are clearly partakers of grace and have more then they could have ever imagined!

Note:

We need to contemplate the fact that we have much this morning that we simply do not deserve! Think of it! We are saved, secure and headed to a home in Heaven! We are hell proof and in the body of Christ. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and live in the presence of God all the time. We have more than anyone can understand or imagine! God has been so good to us!

Note:

In light of these truths, I wonder why so many of God’s children seem to have a hard time just simply loving and serving Him as they should. Of course, this is nothing new! Israel was guilty of walking out on God even when He had been so good to them, Jer. 2:5-19!

Jeremiah 2:5–19 NASB 2020

5 This is what the Lord says: “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me, And walked after emptiness and became empty? 6 “They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no person lived?’ 7 “I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And you made My inheritance an abomination. 8 “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the Law did not know Me; The rulers also revolted against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that were of no benefit. 9 “Therefore I will still contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And I will contend with your sons’ sons. 10 “For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely, And see if there has been anything like this! 11 “Has a nation changed gods, When they were not gods? But My people have exchanged their glory For that which is of no benefit. 12 “Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord. 13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, The fountain of living waters, To carve out for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That do not hold water. 14 “Is Israel a slave? Or is he a servant born in the home? Why has he become plunder? 15 “The young lions have roared at him, They have roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant. 16 “Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved your head. 17 “Have you not done this to yourself By your abandoning the Lord your God When He led you in the way? 18 “But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt, Except to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, Except to drink the waters of the Euphrates River? 19 “Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to abandon the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord God of armies.

I wonder if we would not have to admit to the same kind of sin? Everything under the sun is allowed to come before the Lord in our lives. This simply is not right! Perhaps we need to contemplate what the Lord has done for us once again. Remember where He found you and all that He has done for you.

CONFRONTATION

The Sermon Notebook: Old Testament It’s Time to Make up Your Mind (Joshua 24:1–28)

A TIME OF CONFRONTATION

Truth carries with it confrontation. Truth demands confrontation; loving confrontation, but confrontation nevertheless. If our reflex action is always accommodation regardless of the centrality of the truth involved, there is something wrong.

Francis August Schaeffer (Evangelical Missionary)

Confronted By A Command (v.14)

Joshua’s command to the people was three-fold. They were commanded to“fear” God; clean up their lives by putting away their other gods; and they were to serve the Lord.

This would put them in a position to put God back in the forefront of their lives.

Note:

This is a command that God’s people need to take heed to today!

We need to

1.) Fear the Lord—That is, we need to reverence and honor Him for Who He is. He deserves to be respected and loved by those He has redeemed! 2.) Put away our other gods! All those things in our lives that come ahead of the Lord need to be put away forever!

3.) Serve the Lord with sincerity. The word “serve” means “to fulfill the role of a slave.” We are His possessions and should live as such (See 1 Cor. 6:19–20.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NASB 2020

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

The word “sincerity” means “wholeheartedly, completely, with integrity.” The English word “sincere” comes from two Latin words which mean “without wax”. It was used to refer to scrupulous pottery dealers who sold first class pottery that did not have cracks patched with wax. When patched pottery was held up to the light, the wax patch was easy to spot. So it is with people who live insincere lives. When they are held up to the light, their hypocrisy shows! The implication for us is that God does not want His people to live lives of hypocrisy! He wants us to be what we claim to be!

Confronted By A Choice (v 15a)

The question that comes to my mind is this: “Why would anyone think it evil to serve the Lord?

Joshua challenged the people to choose who they would serve and to get about it!

Note:

The same choice stands before us today! It’s about time people got off the fence and made up their minds who’s team they are on.

The people Elijah confronted on Mt. Carmel—1 Kings 18:21. Friend, you cannot have both God and the world! You cannot have Him and all your distractions. Either He is in first place, or you have a different god!

Confronted By A Challenge (V. 15b)

Joshua set the example and laid down the gauntlet for the rest of the people by stating his clear intention to serve God.

Note:

We need some Joshuas in our day! We need some men and women who will settle it in their hearts that Jesus Christ and His Word and will are going to come before everything else in life! We need some who will set the example for others. We have too many who, by their lives, give justification for slackness in life. We need some who have a backbone of steel and who would rather die than let something come ahead of God in their lives.

(Ill. Daniel—Dan. 1:8–19; The 3 Hebrews—Dan. 3:1–30; Daniel—Dan. 6:1–28; Ruth—Ruth 1:16–17.)) Note:

does your life stand as a challenge to godly living, or as an encouragement to godless living? It is one or the other!

CONSCERATION

Whose servant are you?

Sin: Romans 6:14

Romans 6:14 NASB 2020

14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.

Righteousness: Romans 6:17-18

Romans 6:17–18 NASB 2020

17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness.

MOVEMENT FOUR

My Mind is Made Up!

They said the same thing when it came down to it:

Joshua: As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

Jesus: Matthew 4:8-10

Matthew 4:8–10 NASB 2020

8 Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ”