1. The Theme of Joshua is: “What God did.”
JOS 24:11 ” `Then you crossed the Jordan and came to
Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites,
but I gave them into your hands.
2. They Got what they didn’t deserve – they got blessed.13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’
3. What is your reaction?JOS 24:14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in
Egypt, and serve the LORD.
4. You choose how you respond to God.15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
5. Are you sure? Can you do it?JOS 24:19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.” JOS 24:21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the LORD.” JOS 24:22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied. JOS 24:23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of
Israel.”
Being a christian is not a light hearted commitment like a supporting a footy team. It’s about a life commitment.Some people actually believe it is not possible to live a good enough life for God. Here’s the cool thing – God doesn’t expect you to. He will never put you outside of your capacity to cope.2 Cor 2:1313 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear
Oh how cool, God loves us so much he won’t let us get out of our depth. But that does put the responsibility on us. You see, we can handle it, so it comes down to our choice to do right.
Yep, we go back to – You choose how you respond to God.I can’t do it for you. You notice that there was action in their obedience.JOS 24:25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD.Now I am not going to put a stone in the church car park to remind you but I would like you to take the piece of paper / card and pen. And sign it, place it in your wallet or purse to remind you that if you want to serve the Lord – here is your stone.
6. As for me and my household – we will serve the Lord.
I pray that my example is as Joshua’s was – a firm commitment to serve God
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