“STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD” “THE POWER OF CHOICE”

Services

Sunday
10:30 AM Worship Service

Wednesday
6:30 PM Bible Study

Nov. 06, 2022

“STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD”

“THE POWER OF CHOICE”

JOSHUA 24:14-28


Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”


Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”


What things are hurting you and keeping you from having that inner peace?


Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!”


He encourages them to: “fear the Lord” vs.14


“Sincerity”-means to serve Him in purity, with integrity, without pretense, without reservation.


Serving Him in “truth” vs.14


God wants your heart- sincerity

God wants your mind- to serve Him in truth.


John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”


vs.14 “and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!”


What are the false gods in your life?

What do you wrestle with? Be honest about these things!


Joshua began his public service career by making the right choice and here Joshua makes another one:


Joshua 24:15 “…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”


Two Major Choices That People Make In Their Lives According To The Bible:


  1.   To Become A Believer And Follower Of Jesus Christ


2.   To Surrender Complete Control Over To God


We have that same decision to make, will we follow God completely?


Romans 12:1


Man that is radical, no! Paul says that is reasonable or normal.


Whatever choice you make, it will affect the ones you love the most.


Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of 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.”


Indecision is an impossibility in response to God. We cannot postpone or ignore what God asks.


Elijah:


1 Kings 18:21 “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”


Jesus says no man can serve two masters, neutrality is not an option, not choosing is a decision.


You can’t plead the fifth:


Joshua 24:21-23


God does hear us and He will keep us accountable for the decisions we make.


Ecclesiastes 5:4-5


Commitments don’t mean much today. But God holds us accountable for all the decisions we make, and He always will.


Joshua 24:16-19


Joshua 24:22-23 “So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses!”23“Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.”


Is church important? Reading you Bible? Prayer? Following His Commandments?


Until the way you live matches your words, you are a witness against yourself.


Joshua 24:26-29


The rock has heard all you have said and it will be set up by the oak as a “witness to all.”


This is the seventh time a rock is used as a witness. The rock symbolizes God’s message to other generations.


Genesis 28- Jacob running from God


Exodus 17:6- Moses got water out of rock.


1 Corinthians 10:4 “And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”


Rock- is a symbol of Jesus Christ.


Matthew 16- Peter is a little stone or a rock, built church upon the Rock and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.


Jesus is called the Word of God John 1:1


Read the Book, it is a living Book, it is alive, it remembers all the responses we have.


  1.   Have you made the choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior? If not do it today.
  2. Have you made the choice to go all the way, to give God everything, all of you?


“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”