YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE
JOSH. 24:14-15
1. INTRODUCTION. LIFE DEMANDS THAT WE MAKE CHOICES. WE CAN CHOOSE TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK. WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE LAZY OR ACTIVE. WE CAN CHOOSE TO MARRY OR REMAIN SINGLE. WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE SWEET OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE SOUR. YES, MY BROTHERS AND SISTER, GOD HAS GIVEN US THE FREE WILL TO MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES. BUT I MUST REMIND US THAT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR MAKING THE INCORRECT CHOICE, AND THERE ARE BLESSINGS FOR MAKING THE APPROPRIATE CHOICE. OBEDIENCE TO GOD ALWAYS LEADS TO HIS RICH BLESSINGS, WHILE DISOBEDIENCE ALWAYS PRODUCES THE WRATH AND CHASTISEMENT OF OUR HOLY GOD. THAT’S WHY IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPERATIVE THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE.
2. THE TEXT. CHAPTER 24 PROVIDES A BRIEF NARRATIVE OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD TOWARDS HIS PEOPLE. JOSHUA WHO IS 110 YEARS OLD, MAKES HIS FINAL DECLARATION TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
a) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, EVERY NOW AND THEN, WE SHOULD REFLECT ON HOW GOOD GOD IS TO US.
b) JOSHUA REMINDS THEM THAT IT WAS GOD THAT BROUGHT THEM OUT OF BONDAGE, GIVING THEM LANDS THEY DID NOT WORK FOR, HOUSES THEY DID NOT BUILD. HOW GOD DELIVERED THEM FROM THEIR ENEMIES TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
c) WE WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT IT WAS GOD THAT WOKE US UP THIS MORNING. IT WAS GOD THAT HAS BROUGHT US SAFE THUS FAR.
d) JOSHUA INSTRUCTS THEM THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO SERVE GOD, THEY MUST DO IT WITH SINCERITY AND DILIGENCE.
e) HE REMINDS THEM THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THEY MUST GET RID OF.
f) IF WE ARE GOING TO SERVE GOD WE MUST DO IT WHOLE HEARTILY. SOME STUFF WE NEED TO GET RID OF.
g) THE TEXT ILLUSTRATES, ARTICULATES, DEMONSTRATES, ELUCIDATES, MANDATES, EXPLICATES, AND ILLUMINATES THAT WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL SERVE THE LORD, YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE.
h) I CAN SAY WITH STRONG AND PROFOUND CONVICTION, THAT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
3. SERVICE TO GOD REQUIRES…
a) DELIBERATE DETERMINATION.
b) PUTTING HIM FIRST IN OUR LIVES.
c) PREVAILING PERSISTENCE.
d) A CONSCIOUS COMMITMENT.
e) A GAZE OF GLADNESS, PSALMS 100:2, “SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS.”
f) AN ATTITUDE THAT IS NOT ANTAGONISTIC.
g) OBVIOUS OBEDIENCE.
h) SAINTLY SINCERITY.
i) A POSTURE OF PRAISE.
j) SELFLESS SACRIFICE.
k) MAGNIFICENT MOTIVE
l) TRUE SERVICE GOES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF SUNDAY MORNING.
m) AS HIS PEOPLE OUR TESTIMONY SHOULD BE THAT WHICH IS ECHOED IN MATT. 22:37, “THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND.”
n) SO I MUST ASK THE QUESTION THAT ELIJAH ASKED IN 1 KINGS 18:21, “AND ELIJAH CAME UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, AND SAID, HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM.”
4. REASONS TO SERVE GOD/ POINTS TO PONDER.
a) ONE, BECAUSE WE ARE HIS CREATION. PSALMS 100:3, “KNOW YE THAT THE LORD HE IS GOD: IT IS HE THAT HATH MADE US, AND NOT WE OURSELVES; WE ARE HIS PEOPLE, AND THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE.”
b) TWO, BECAUSE HE LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY. ROM. 5:8, ”BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.”
c) BECAUSE HE HAS REDEEMED US, GAL. 3:13, “CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US.”
d) BECAUSE HE EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO SERVE HIM. ROMANS 12:1 TEACHES THAT IT IS OUR REASONABLE SERVICE.
e) BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN AND IS GOOD TO US
5. CONCLUSION.
a) IF GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO YOU, YOU OUGHT TO SERVE HIM.
b) IF GOD HAS BROUGHT DELIVERANCE INTO YOUR LIFE, YOU OUGHT TO SERVE HIM.
c) IF THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD, YOU OUGHT TO SERVE HIM.
