The Tale of Two Witnesses Part 3

The Witness

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:

What is the Tale of your Testimony?

All that is said in chapter 24 after verse 14 is said, in light of what was said in .

Thus says the Lord God of Israel!

We aren’t going to get into a lot of the details about what God has said, instead, I want to focus on the fact that Joshua was speaking God’s Words, to the people.

The Tale of the testimony resulted from God’s Word being spoken to the people.

When is the last time that you were speaking with someone and you said, “Thus says the Lord God of America.”? Or maybe you would want to leave “of America” out of that sentence.

When was the last time you said to someone, “Thus says the Lord MY God.”?

You may not have worded it exactly like that, but when have you shared a direct message from God’s Word with another person?

When have you encouraged someone by telling them what God has said and done?

Maybe you’re scared to do that. Maybe you think, I don’t have the gift of prophecy or the gift of preaching, or the gift of exhortation.

Or maybe you’re afraid that someone will feel uncomfortable if you quote the Bible, Or someone will think you are a fanatic and begin to bully you, or mock you or shame you, if you talk about God and share His truth. But listen to what Peter told the people of God in during a time and place that people were being persecuted and killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.

1 Peter

1 Peter 3:13–17 ESV

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

What is the Tale of your Testimony?

Joshua tells them throughout the first part of this chapter what God has said.

In Summary, what God said, was a history lesson about His- Story, His-work, His provision, His power, His presence, His-Faithfulness, His-fulfillment of His promises, (this may sound familiar to you, if you been here for the past few weeks). So once again, the Word of the Lord God is spoken, and then Joshua says,

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Fear the Lord

They are told to be in awe of God, to revere him and be afraid of Him, to highly respect Him, to hold Him in honor.

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Serve Him

They are told to serve God, and this isn’t suggesting that they take His order for lunch and deliver a meal to his table when it is ready. Joshua is saying that they rightfully ought to toil for Him, work for Him, enslave themselves to Him. To call Him Lord and Master.

in sincerity (completely, blamelessly, transparently, with integrity, not with merely lip-service, or empty words

in faithfulness (continually, perseveringly, sold out, all in, unswervingly)

Put away other Gods

Joshua says, If that seems evil, undesirable, disagreeable, if you decide that it is a bad thing to serve the Lord, go serve other gods. But remember the Except. . . from last week’s message. He essentially reiterates the same message. If you serve other gods, don’t expect God to bless you further, in fact if you reject the One True God, His wrath will be poured out upon you.

The apostle Paul talks about the fact that we can either be slaves to sin, or slaves to righteousness.

We are sheep, and we are going to follow a shepherd. Whose voice will you follow?

Choose this day whom you will serve!

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

It is one or the other. There is not a third option, there is not a choice available that involves some kind of compromise or rationing or diluted form of worship to one God or the false gods.

They are being called to make a decision, to choose between THE GOD or other gods (the ones the Egyptians served, the ones their forefathers served or the false gods that they had served on the other side of the Jordan.

Let’s go back to the beginning of verse 14 for a few minutes.

Joshua 24:14 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

As we discovered last week in , and here again this week in chapter 24 is the continual proclamation of the work that God has done and the proclamation of His Word.

Joshua’s method

We need to look back at what was just said. Whenever you see the word therefore, you need to ask yourself, what is “therefore” there for?

All that is said in chapter 24 after verse 14 is said, in light of what was said in .

Thus says the Lord God of Israel!

We aren’t going to get into a lot of the details about what God has said, instead, I want to focus on the fact that Joshua was speaking God’s Words, to the people.

The Tale of the testimony resulted from God’s Word being spoken to the people.

When is the last time that you were speaking with someone and you said, “Thus says the Lord God of America.”? Or maybe you would want to leave “of America” out of that sentence.

When was the last time you said to someone, “Thus says the Lord MY God.”?

You may not have worded it exactly like that, but when have you shared a direct message from God’s Word with another person?

When have you encouraged someone by telling them what God has said and done?

Maybe you’re scared to do that. Maybe you think, I don’t have the gift of prophecy or the gift of preaching, or the gift of exhortation.

Or maybe you’re afraid that someone will feel uncomfortable if you quote the Bible, Or someone will think you are a fanatic and begin to bully you, or mock you or shame you, if you talk about God and share His truth. But listen to what Peter told the people of God in during a time and place that people were being persecuted and killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:13–17 ESV

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Joshua’s method of ministry

Speak God’s Word- Share His message and the testimony of what He has done, is doing and will continue to do.

The next thing Joshua does is to Ask for a commitment- So I am going to do that today. I am asking you to make a choice, to decide to Fear the Lord and To serve Him.

Joshua, doesn’t stop with asking them for a commitment, He testified of his commitment.

I will testify, that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

And the people confirm and testify that they will serve the Lord, for He is their God.

But in , Joshua says,

Joshua 24:19 ESV

19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.

What is meant by this verse? Does this mean that all is hopeless. They should not even attempt to worship and serve God?

Does this verse teach that God is an unforgiving God?

It means He is not a God of “cheap grace”. It means he is a jealous God. The comments here are referring to a “gross denial of God” rather than specific faults or individual sins. I believe this warning from Joshua concerning God’s judgement is in reference to continual unrepentant indwelling sin. We see evidence all throughout the Old & New Testaments, that man is unable to perfectly follow God’s law, but God is gracious to forgive, based upon the Righteous and Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, not based upon our ability to tip the scales of Justice in favor of righteousness.

Joshua confirms the people’s commitment to follow the Lord. Look at what he says in verse 22-27.

Joshua 24:22–27 ESV

22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.”

Joshua demonstrated persistence in declaring the Word of Truth, bringing to light the Character of God and the character of man.

Joshua 24:16–28 ESV

16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” 19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” 28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

Joshua 24:16-

We should follow this example. Because of what God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ, we ought to choose to fear the Lord and serve Him, to honor Him with our life. To not settle for the false gods of this world and the culture of sin and foreign gods that surrounds us.

We should not serve the god of greed, the god of lust, the god of material wealth, the god of gluttony, the god of slothfulness, the god of self indulgence, the god of selfishness, the god of pride, the god of anger, the god of science, the god of …

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Instead we should be following Joshua’s example. Proclaiming the Good News of what God has, is and will do for His chosen people. He will be faithful to His own and in return His own out to fear Him, love Him, obey Him and serve Him.

Our job is to proclaim the truth. Some will hear our testimonies and believe, while others will never come to see the healing that is available, the peace that is offered and the joy that is set before us. Listen to what God asked Isaiah the prophet to do.

Isaiah 6:9–13 ESV

9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, 12 and the Lord removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13 And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump.

Thus says, the Lord!

Over and over again in the pages of Scripture, we are encouraged to continually keep before us the Word of God and to declare it. To some it will be a sweet aroma, leading to life, while to others it will be the aroma, which leads to death.

2 Corinthians 2:14–17 ESV

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

,

2 Corinthians 2:15–16 ESV

15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

Will you choose to fear the Lord and Serve Him?

Are you willing to say from this day forward, me and my house will serve the Lord!

What is the tale of your witness?

Choose this day whom you will serve. . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!