Who will you serve?

Introduction

Well we are finally completing our series on 6 Dangerous Questions. Thes questions were meant to challenge you and help grow you in your personal discipleship . These questions also serve as a base a platform from which your fundamental beliefs rest. The way you answer these questions will give you baseline on what you believe and how it lines up to what the bible teaches. Also as a bible believing church it should let you know what the church you attend believes so there is no shock. We believe in Jesus, He is God in flesh who came to be our propitiation and only by Grace through faith in Him can we receive salvation. We believe in heaven God’s residence as our hope and peace when we die. We will be with God in heaven until He creates a new heaven and a new earth. We believe in Hell a place of eternal punishment for those who reject God’s salvation. We believe that all humanity is destined to hell unless God intervenes, which He did by offering salvation through Jesus Christ, and that only by believing in the Lord Jesus and repenting of our sins that we will avoid hell. We believe in the Church the local body of believers that come together and as a community become a picture an illustration of Jesus to the world around us. We as a church are to be His hands, feet, heart, and mouth to the lost around us. We are also to live together as the family of God, helping one another and equipping one another to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe that each of us no matter how flawed we are used by God to accomplish the Great commission. Even though we acknowledge our weakness, we know we serve a Mighty God who is mighty to save, mighty to transform, and mighty to use each of us.

So do you believe these things? I mean do you really believe them? if you do your life will begin to change you will start reading the bible and realizing hey this stuff is not so far fetched, this is not just some myth or legend its now the same things that took place 2000 years ago are still taking place right here right now. People are getting saved, churches are working together, missions work taking place, lives being transformed and changed… is the you reason you don’t see it is because you don’t want to.

That leads us to the next and final (well almost final question we may have 1 more next week for good measure) but for this series the final question… Whose agenda will I live by? or more plainly Who will you serve?

You see you have a choice you can live by what the world tries to sell to you, you can also live by your own rules… both of which will lead to destruction. Or you can choose to live by God’s standards. And I don’t mean what you think or try to rationalize what God’s standard is, I mean Live by God’s standard what is recorded in The Scriptures? Everyday you have a choice to make, every Sunday as well you have a chance to come down this aisle during the closing hymn to ask what must I do to be saved, or boldly proclaim I believe in Jesus and will live my life in such a way. This week is no different. This question asks the who will you serve?

Our text today is taken from Joshua 24:14- 15

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

“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. 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.”

The last question presented today really strikes at the Lordship of Jesus in your lives. If I proclaim that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I do not give Him Lordship over my Life than I am a liar and living a lie. If His is my Lord than my actions and behaviors will reflect that in my life. There will be no question that I am a christian. Am I seeking first the kingdom of God in everything ? Am I being light and salt in the world, am I walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, living without fear, living in Peace with God. so many times we dont realize that the life we live is the life we choose.

Joshua made some clear declarations

I. Fear the Lord and serve Him with sincerity and faithfulness - Josh 24:14 ““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.”

We have discussed what the Fear of the Lord is… It is a respect for His Glory and supremacy in so much that I will follow His commands, precepts, and teachings, striving for a life of Holiness. What would be the purpose of calling Jesus your lord if you don’t act like He is your Lord. Luke 6:46-48 ““Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”

also 1 Cor6:20 “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

A. Respect God for who He Is, Fear the Lord - Phil 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Ps 119:120 “My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.” Matt 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

B. If you proclaim Jesus as King then obey the King - One of the hallmarks of respect is listening and doing what the master is telling you. As a disciple it means that we willfully submit to our teacher.

C. Sincerity and faithfulness - There really is no such thing as a miserable christian. Oh I know folks who are miserable and call themselves Christians, but listen to what I said there is no such thing as a miserable Christian. We dont serve God kicking and screaming, saying “I hate this” if that describes you remember the words of Jesus Matt 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

II. Put away Idols from your life - Josh 24:14 ““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.” What is an idol? We it is an image that you worship, and honor. In the days that they were in Egypt they literally worshipped false images, that is how they knew to fashion a golden calf. Even today there is idol worship. The Catholics do it when they pray to their icons and saints, or when they revere their rosary and cross. Its just not Catholics there a church in our town that worship the bible, well actually a version of the bible its called kjvonlyism it is idol worship. I love the KJV but we are not called to worship a version of the bible but rather the God of the bible. Oh there are ton of idol worship, freemasonry and some other “civic” clubs. The american flag has become an idol to some, politics, and social agendas have become idols. There is one God and He demands loyalty and devotion, He does not share in worship. Why?

A. Because they are fake - Isa 44:9-14 “All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together. The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.” “All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?”

B. They bring bad things - Ps 16:4 “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” Not only do they disappoint, they lead to wrong places where God wont be, and they are used by demons

C. They lead to hell - Gal 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Cor 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Col 3:5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Jonah 2:8 “Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.” 1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

Lot of things can be idols, an image, a tree, a person, your spouse, your children, your pain, your drama, your booze, your needle, your pill, your phone, your well being, your job, yourself... keep from idols

III. Choose this day whom you will serve - Josh 24:14-15 ““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. 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.”” You have a choice to make… and it is this day. Not yesterday or tomorrow it is this day. Are you going to stand up and say this who I will serve it is God and Him alone! today is the day day we must make this declaration. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. Today if you hear the Lord’s voice do not harden your heart. Today is the day of salvation.

A. Joshua gave them a choice - If you are to continue with us know this is what we demand. Me as leader will serve the Lord and Him only anyone who will follow will do the same. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

B. This was also a declaration to Joshua’s household. You who are under my roof will follow me as I serve the Lord. This is a picture of a real man taking his role of head of house seriously. Men you need to step up as men. either you choose to serve the Lord or go serve the world, your kids need you to make a decision a your wives need you to make a decision your church needs you to make a decision. Leaders make decisions lead your family today!. 1 Cor 16:13 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

C. Our decision is not a private one - We are not to be quiet in who we serve and follow. Our lives are lived out loud not ostentatiously or flamboyantly but not silent either. We dont need to announce it to every one me meet but for sure when I family looks at us, our co workers, friends, see us they can say that Man right there he is a christian, or that woman she is a woman of God...

Application

If Jesus is my king my Lord and Savior

1. I release my rights to Him Lk 22:42 “saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”” Rom 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2. I release my expectations - MT 19:16-22 “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

3. I release my future to Him - Esther 4:14-16 “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.””

Now is the time, today is the day to declare who you will serve. You cannot serve the world and God, you cannot serve yourself and God remember you cannot serve two masters… So the question is for us today

WHO WILL YOU SERVE?