The points and some of the text for this sermon are borrowed from one I ran across on another sermon service.
Text: Joshua 24:15
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Subject: “Eenie, Meanie, Miny, Mo”
My sisters and brothers... in his famous novel titled “A Tale of Two Cities”, author Charles Dickens wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us. . .”
Even though Dickens was writing about the French Revelation, when one looks at the condition – morally and spiritually – in America today . . . it sounds like Dickens was writing about us — for the parallels are unmistakable. Many in our country today can truly say that “It is the best of times, as well as the worst of times.” i.e. Never before has America had so many people living the American Dream of prosperity and never before has America faced the kinds of horrors and heinousness that plaques our streets and neighborhoods.
Rarely a day goes by, these days, when we don’t hear or read about another murder, mugging, rape, or robbery. Even though America is considered to be the richest nation in the world, many people are poor spirit — victims of senseless crimes. But I want you to know that it’s not the first time a nation has been in this condition. And here in Joshua 24, we find this parallel of good times and bad times for the nation of Israel.
Yes... from a historical perspective, 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. But 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 spiritual guard just a little. Yes... these were dangerous times for Israel indeed! And as it was in Joshua’s day, I would just remind you that these are dangerous times for the modern day church — for I’m afraid that we are seeing more and more churches today develop an appearance that is like that of the church in Laodicea. You remember... Laodicea was one of the 7 churches that John wrote to, while under divine influence of the Holy ghost, in the Book of Revelation,
In chapter 3 of Revelation, down at verse 14, John writes: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
John was painting a picture of the Laodicean church, both physically and spiritually. Understand that during the first century, the city of Laodicea was one of the richest and most powerful cities in the land. Located between the Mediterranean region and Persia, Laodicea was a lucrative trade stop known for its soft black wool that was appreciated throughout the Roman world; its healing eye salve; and its banking.
In fact, an ancient writer recorded that the city of approximately 120,000 people refused an emperor’s offer to rebuild following an earthquake. The Laodiceans apparently told the emperor that they were rich and didn’t need his money. But despite its prosperity, Laodicea had a serious problem. Its water, unlike the healing hot springs of Hierapolis or the fresh, cold mountain water of Colosse, was lukewarm and full of minerals that mad the water taste bad. Matter of fact, it tasted so bad that it made people sick! And John likens it’s sickening water condition to it’s sickening spiritual condition. Spiritually... they weren’t hot, nor were they cold... they were lukewarm. So lukewarm, in fact, that they made God sick!
Laodicea was a church that had everything it needed, except for the presence, power and glory of God! And just as the Lord issued a clarion call through John and 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. There are three points I want to share with you from this passage.
First of all, I want you to see that it was:
A TIME OF CONTEMPLATION.
Back up, in the text, to verse 13:
In verse 13, Joshua begins his remarks by calling Israel to remember who they are ,where they came from and what the Lord had done for them. Speaking for God, he says, “And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat.” It would do us good to think back on those things ourselves!
My sisters and brothers... God has given us so much. We need to contemplate God’s Power in our Lives. In the text, Joshua reminded Israel how He redeemed and delivered them from Egypt, and 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.
Not only did Joshua challenge them to ‘contemplate God’s power in their lives,’ but he also challenged them 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.
And then, Joshua urges them 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!
Likewise it is with us: We need to contemplate the fact that we have much this morning that we simply don’t deserve! Think about it! We are saved, secure and headed to a home in Heaven! As blood-washed and born-again believers... we are hell proof and in the body of Christ. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and live in His presence right now! We have more than anyone can understand or imagine! I tell you... God has been so good to us!
Israel was guilty of walking out on God even when He had been so good to them. I wonder if some of us would not have to admit to the same kind of sin? Today... everything under the sun is allowed to come before the Lord in some of our lives.
— Some put their money ahead of God!
— Some put their mates ahead of God!
— Some put their children ahead of God!
— Some put their careers ahead of God!
We need to understand that what ever we put ahead of God becomes our God and this simply is not right!
For Israel ... it was a time of Contemplation.
Secondly, IT WAS A TIME OF CONFRONTATION.
In verse 14, Israel is confronted by a command:
Joshua writes: “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.”
Notice that Joshua’s command to the people was 3-fold.
1. They were commanded to "fear" God
[which means to reverence God]
2. They were to clean up their lives by putting away
their other gods;
and 3. They were to serve the Lord.
This would put them in a position to put God back in the forefront of their lives. This is a command that God’s people need to take heed to today! We need to: Fear the Lord - i.e we need to reverence and honor Him for Who He is. He deserves to be respected and loved by those He has redeemed!
Secondly, we need to put away our other gods! All those things in our lives that come ahead of the Lord need to be put away forever!
And thirdly, we need to serve the Lord with sincerity.
That word "serve" means "to fulfill the role of a slave." We need to understand that we are HIS possessions and should live as such. And then the word "sincerity" means "wholeheartedly, completely, with integrity"
And then, the English word "sincere" comes from two Latin words which mean "without wax". It was used to refer to pottery dealers, who unlike their crooked colleagues refused to sell cracked pottery that had been 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!
— When held up to the light, their deceitfulness
shows!
— When held up to the light, their church playing
shows!
I hear God saying today to those who are playing this thing: “It’s time to get off the fence and make up your mind who’s team you’re on!” 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!
I’m going to leave you alone in a minute, but Joshua confronted them with another challenge: “If it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell.”
In other words, Joshua was saying:
“Listen... if you don’t want to worship the LORD, then choose right now! Will you worship the same idols your ancestors did? Or since you’re living on land that once belonged to the Amorites, maybe you’ll worship their gods.”
Yes... for Israel:
— It was a time of contemplation... and
— It was a time of confrontation...
But for Joshua, and this is my last point:
IT WAS A TIME OF CONSECRATION - for I heard him say: “But as for me and my house... we will serve the Lord!”
In other words... you all do what you want.
— If you want to worship idols... go ahead!
— If you want to put your trust in gods with
the “little g”... go ahead!
— If you want to remain stuck in a heathenistic
condition, go right ahead!
In my sanctified modern mind, I can hear Joshua saying: “Make a decision and make the best decision you can!” Just don’t say “Einie, Meanie, Miny, Mo” because you see, “Einie, Meanie, Miny, Mo” doesn’t care what the decision is.
Some today seem to not care which decision they make. They just pick the one that is the easiest! For some...
— It’s easier to sell drugs than get a job!
— It’s easier to get high then stay sober!
— It’s easier to run away from a problem, rather than
stand still and work it out!
... But Joshua said: “I don’t have to use the “Einie, Meanie, Miny, Mo method” I KNOW what I’m going do, and I know what my family is going to do: “As for me and my family... we will serve the Lord!”
Church ... we need some Joshuas in our day!
— We need some men and women, boys and girls who will
settle it in their hearts that Jesus Christ and His
Word and His Will are going to come before
everything else in life!
— We need more fathers who will set the right
spiritual example in their family!
— We need more mothers who will set the right
spiritual example in their homes!
— We need more church members who will set the example
for others!
— We need more who have a backbone of steel; who would
rather die that let something come ahead of God in
their lives!
Well... as I go to my seat, I told you... when I was a child, and played games with my friends we used to use the “Eenie, Meanie, Miny, Mo” method to make decisions concerning which game to play, or who would be in the game. And at the end of that ryhme we would say, “if he hollers let Him go... eenie, meanie, miny, mo.”
Well... now that I’m grown, physically and spiritually, I realize that Jesus is the best choice for my life! AND CHURCH... I CAN’T LET HIM GO! I’ve made up my mind to be like Jacob, who wrestled with God all night long... I won’t let Him go until He blesses me! And guess what... He doesn’t have to holler... I’ll holler myself!! Somebody said, “When I think of His goodness and all that He’s done for me, my soul has to holler hallelujah, I think Him for saving me!”
— On calvary... He saved me!
— On calvary... He brought me!
— On calvary... He redeemed me!
Somebody snatched a pen and wrote:
“Living He loved me...
Dying He saved me...
Buried He carried my sins all away!
Rising He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming back—O glorious day!”
If you haven’t done so already... 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!
Don’t play games with the Lord. This is not “Einie, Meanie, Miny, Mo”. It’s time to get serious!
