We all at some time in life face Moments OF CRISIS, CHANGE or TEMPATION in these moments we have a decision, sometimes they require a spilt or a pondered decision. For those who follow Jesus the Choice at those moments of decision is always the same, do God’s Will, apply God’s Word and live according to God’s Ways OR the second option for the Christian is to compromise with the WORLD, fit in with the ungodly.
ILL "When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song," tenor Luciano Pavarotti relates. "He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, 'Shall I be a teacher or a singer?'
"'Luciano,' my father replied, 'if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.'
"I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it's laying bricks, writing a book--whatever we choose--we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that's the key. Choose one chair."
Joshua 24:14-15 "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. 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."
Joshua spoke to a group of people who had experienced in their own lives, seen with their own eyes, felt in their own bodies the Power of Almighty God.
God deliver them from Slavery, destroy their enemy, they received Water from Stone, they Crossed rivers, they seen Giants Killed.
A people who knew the promise of God Fulfilled A chosen people, Protection/Provision of God
I am sure may of you her today can tell stories of what God has done…healing, salvation, answered prayer, provision, protection.
At this moment when they were spreading out to Possess the Land, Inheritance, Blessing, this was it what dreamed about what they talked about it was all there before them, they Faced a CHOICE choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.
As we stand on the brink/verge of something new, receiving the promise, new level, change, crisis, we face the choice, who will you serve?
Reasoned Choice, if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, if any thing better/appealing, then God has not got your heart. God does not want robotic Christians, people who can’t think.” Isa 1:18 come let us reason”
God wants his Word, Will and Ways to be first in our lives.
Take our plans/desires/will/dreams/ along side God’s and decide for yourself which is best.
Prov 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
2. If going to choose God it requires a relinquishing of any thing that takes you away from God, “Throw away the gods” carried idols, superstitions from ancestors that had no place in a home/heart child of God.
Sure you have no statue idols you bow down to, however, if any thing takes precedence in our lives we are in danger of worshiping it.
Walking under a ladder is not bad luck, black cat crosses your path it’s bad luck for the cat if your going at 30 miles an hour, He that is in you greater than He that is in the World, Lets have more faith in the power of God to Keep. God would have us live in faith in Him not Fear of powers
Q what are carrying in heart that needs throwing away so that you may serve? Anger/resentment, Dream/Ambition Wrong Priorities, God must be First
Responsible Choice, God is watching, yes be yes, Ill peter “I’ll die for you Lord”
Don’t change you commitment to God, God won’t change his Commitment to you, but you’ll miss what he has in store.
ILL Esau’s moment of instant pleasure
If we as a fellowship/believers are going to move on with God we are must choose God when we come to these moments of crisis, change, temptation, blessing chose God
Ruth 1:15-16 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
John 6:67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
The Kind of People who choice have a different spirit, “All Faithfulness” Whole Hearted
Has God got it all. Can God have it all
