Joshua 24:1-28
IT'S TIME TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND
Intro: These were exciting times for the people of Israel. They had defeated
their enemies and claimed the promised land. Each of the tribes had
received their inheritance and now they could settle down and enjoy life a
little. It was a time of hope, prosperity and blessings.
It was also a very dangerous time for these people! There was the
danger that they would forget where they came from, how they had gotten
to where they were and what the Lord had done for them. There was the
danger that they would begin to adopt the idolatrous religion of the
Canaanites who still lived around them. There was the danger that they
would fall into a state of complacency. A state in which they might feel that
they could let down their guard just a little. These were dangerous times for
Israel indeed!
In the midst of this situation, Joshua stands up to deliver to the people
a challenge from the Lord. God wants them to dedicate themselves to Him
and to His work. He does not want them trying to live for Him on the one
hand and the gods of Canaan on the other. He wants wholehearted
dedication or nothing! That is the clear message of this passage.
I would just remind you that these are dangerous times for the church
as well. We are seeing the church develop an appearance that is more and
more like that of the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22. A church
that has everything it needs, except for the presence, power and glory of
God. Just as the Lord issued a call through Joshua, all those centuries ago,
for His people to make of their minds as to whom they would serve, so He
issues the same call to His people on this day. Let's take some time this
morning to look into these verses and hear the call God is giving to us this
morning. I want to preach for a few minutes on the thought, It's Time To
Make Up Your Mind! And, it is! You will have an opportunity today to
decide who will have your worship, your love and your obedience: God
almighty, or you and all the things that want to capture your minds.
I. V. 1-13 A TIME OF CONTEMPLATION
(Ill. Joshua begins his remarks by calling them 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. V. 1-12 To Contemplate God's Power In Their Lives - 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. (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.)
B. V. 1-12 To Contemplate God's Presence In Their Lives - Israel is
reminded that God has ever 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 had He forsaken us, as He said, Heb.
13:5; Matt. 28:20. Remember His presence in your life.)
C. V. 13 To Contemplate God's Provisions In Their Lives - 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
prove and in the body of Christ. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit
and live in the presence 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! 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.)
II. V. 14-15 A TIME OF CONFRONTATION
A. V. 14 Confronted By A Command - 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, 1 Cor.
6:19-20. 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!
B. V. 15a Confronted By A Choice - Joshua challenged the people to
choose who they would serve and to get about it! (Note: The same
choice stands before us this morning! It's about time people got off
the fence and made up their minds who's team they are on. Ill. 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!) (Note: The question that comes to my mind is this: "Why
would anyone think it evil to serve the Lord?")
C. V. 15b Confronted By A Challenge - 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 that 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!)
III. V. 16-28 A TIME OF CONSECRATION
A. V. 16-18 The Resolve Of The People - The people consider all that
the Lord has done for them and they declare their allegiance to Him
alone! They seem almost incredulous when offered the opportunity
to serve other gods. (Note: Is the Lord your choice this morning?
If He has to compete for your time, your attention, your money and
your love, it calls your whole profession into question! If you had to
rank God on a list of priorities in your life, where would He end up?)
B. V. 19-23 A Reminder To The People - Joshua takes the opportunity
to remind them that God is holy and righteous. If they serve Him, He
will bless them, but if they renege on their end of the agreement,
there will be a high price to pay. (Note: God's people need to
remember that while God is a God of love, grace and mercy; He is
also still a holy and righteous God. He will not tolerate sin in the
lives of His children! Friends, there is a terribly high price to pay for
disobedience, Heb. 12:6-12. Sadly, many people pay the price for
their sins in their children, their health and in their homes. You
better understand today that you will reap exactly what you sow, Gal. 6:7.)
C. V. 24-28 The Reaction Of The People - The people respond by
setting about the business of serving the Lord. They and Joshua set
up a memorial, a record if you will of their decision. There was a
record of their decision and it would be used to hold them
accountable. Sadly, Israel did not keep their vows to the Lord and
they paid a terribly high price. Just read Judges, Samuel, Kings and
Chronicles. (Note: God keeps good records! He will hold us to the
vows we have made, Eccl. 5:1-7. He wants us to serve Him, love
Him and honor Him. When we do that, He will bless our lives. When
we choose to walk in a way that does not please Him, then we can
expect Him to chastize us, if we are truly His children.)
Conc: Don't you think that it's time to make up your mind? If the Lord be
God then serve Him. If He isn't, then go ahead and serve whatever has your
heart. Whatever you do, stop trying to have the best of both worlds! A
Christian that refuses to live for the Lord is a poor advertisement for the Lord
Jesus Christ! While a life lived in His power and victory is a powerful
advertisement indeed! Which are you?
Perhaps you aren't even saved. You know that if you were, your life
would be vastly different than it is. Today would be a great day to come to
Jesus. Others may want to come before the Lord and just let Him do a
spiritual checkup on your heart. Let's get it right so that the church can grow
and go for the glory of the Lord!
