A NEW PHASE Of LIFE-I—Joshua 24:14-28
Attention:
Graduates of High School, & College.
Need:
If your work continues without serving God, then you’ve chosen your god, & your god is YOU!
Every grade-school graduate has reached a benchmark in their societal expectations.
They have exited the graded public system of required learning.
Today, we are acknowledging those life-preparatory educational accomplishments.
Our graduate is beginning a new phase of life.
She is now ‘thrust out’ into, or ‘released into’, the personal challenges of entering & enabling the ‘Promised Land’ of her adulthood.
Joshua recognized a major benchmark in Israel’s progress toward inheriting the Promised Land.
Graduates have reached a benchmark in their societal expectations toward opening up their future.
But, How do we enter/begin a new phase of life?
4 requirements/determinations for a new phase of life.
If you are going to possess the ‘land’ God wants you to have, you must recognize that...
1—A New Phase of life requires your...
SELF-EXPOSING DECISIONS(:14-16)
Explanation:(:14-16)Choices
:14—“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity & in truth, & put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River & in Egypt. Serve the LORD!”
“Now therefore,...”
Joshua had just reviewed for the people of Israel, God’s history of provision, protection, guidance, etc.(24:2-13).
God’s intention, invitation, & logical conclusion follows in 24:14-28. The ‘elephant-in-the-room’ conclusion is drawn from their personal experience with YaHWeH, thru Joshua.
..."serve Him in sincerity & in truth, & put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River & in Egypt. Serve the LORD!”
As a result of God’s grace & care, those who have been the direct recipients of it, are obligated/indebted to both “fear”(loving respectfulness) Him & “serve” Him.
Ex. 19:4—YHWH God—“‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, & how I bore you on eagles’ wings & brought you to Myself.”
Ps. 63:7—to YHWH God,—“Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.”
•This “fear” & “service” directed toward God, by His people, must be expressed within the confines of “sincerity” & “truth.”
•“Sincerity” has everything to do with totality, completeness, & the involvement of your ‘whole being’ in your “serving” YHWH God.
•“Serving” God “in truth” has everything to do with being honest with yourself, honest with God, & being honest with others.
•That “sincerity” & “truth” of “service” is lived out very practically by the people’s actively & intentionally “putting away” any false “gods” that some/others might acknowledge & “serve.”
•The false “gods” “served” by their “fathers”, consisted of the “gods” of Abraham’s father, Terah, as well as the gods of Terah’s three sons: Abraham, Nahor, & Haran.
They served those false “gods” while living outside(Ur was located in current-day Iraq) of Israel’s new national bounds—between “the River” Euphrates & the Mediterranean Sea. Some of Israel would no doubt later “serve” the Egyptian false “gods.”
The predecessors of Israel, before Israel’s time as slaves in Egypt, largely “served” false “gods”, because their respective & surrounding cultures were built upon “serving” those false “gods.” They were literally raised to know nothing else, thru the pressures of that particular society with it’s secular cultures.
•Some “served” false “gods” in ignorance, readily becoming assimilated to the spiritual dynamics of their societal & cultural dictates, mandates & pressures. No doubt, some of Israel openly & willingly bowed to & aided the societal & cultural climate.
•Some “served” false “gods” only giving pretended obedience, because they had it forced upon them by the surrounding pagan & secular society & it’s culture, where they lived.
*Things haven’t changed for God’s people today.
•They too are surrounded by secular, pagan societies & cultures.
•As in Joshua’s day, we too must choose to “fear the LORD” by “serving” Him “in sincerity & in truth.” And we must also, “put away” our false “gods”!
“Sincerity”—Mymt taw-meem’—Adj. Masc. Sing. Absolute—1) Complete, whole, entire, sound—1a) Complete, whole, entire, 1b) Whole, sound, healthful, 1c) Complete, entire(of time), 1d) Sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity, 1e) What is complete or entirely in accord with truth & fact(neuter adj/subst). Strong—Entire(literally, figuratively or morally); also as noun--Integrity, truth.?From—Mmt taw-mam'—To complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive; a primitive root.
“Truth”—tma eh’-meth—•Noun Fem. - Common Fem. Sing. Absolute—1) Firmness, faithfulness, truth—1a) Sureness, reliability, 1b) Stability, continuance, 1c) Faithfulness, reliableness, 1d) Truth—1d1) As spoken, 1d2) Of testimony & judgment, 1d3) Of divine instruction, 1d4) Truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge, 1d5) True doctrine. Adverb—2) In truth, truly. Strong—figuratively--Certainty, truth, trustworthiness; contracted from Nma[To build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; Render(or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally--To be true or certain]; Stability.
*NIV has “with all faithfulness” combining “sincerity & truth”(Lit.) as an idiomatic statement.
“Put away/Throw away”(See :23)—rwo soor OR--rws soor(Hos. 9:12)—Hiphil(causative) Imperative 2nd Masc. Plural—1) To turn aside, depart—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To turn aside, turn in unto, 1a2) To depart, depart from way, avoid, 1a3) To be removed, 1a4) To come to an end; 1b) (Polel)--To turn aside; 1c) (Hiphil)--1c1)--To cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose, 1c2) To put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish.; 1d) (Hophal)--To be taken away, be removed. Strong—To turn off(literal or figurative); a primitive root.
: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 & my house, we will serve the LORD.”
:15a—“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...”
Joshua laid out a choice before the people.
He gave them room to decide together & individually whether they would serve God or not.
If the people found it “evil” or ‘disagreeable’ to serve this YaHWeH God of Grace, then they were offered the freedom to decide whom they would “serve.”
•However, they WERE given an ‘ultimatum’ to decide NOW(“this day”).
•If they chose to NOT go with God, then they would return to life WITHOUT YaHWeH God’s empowerment!
If they were having difficulty in their decision, Joshua’s reiteration of God’s goodness & grace(24:1-13—READ!) should have been enough to convince them.
“Evil/Disagreeable/Undesirable”(See :20)—eer raw-ah'—•Verb--Qal Perfect OR--Adj.--Masc. Sing. Absolute—1) To be bad, be evil—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To be displeasing, 1a2) To be sad, 1a3) To be injurious, be evil, 1a4) To be wicked, be evil (ethically); 2a) (Qal)--2a1) To break, 2a2) Broken(participle), 2a3) To be broken. Strong—properly--To spoil(literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively--To make(or be) good for nothing, i.e. Bad(physically, socially or morally); a primitive root.
“Choose”(See :22)—rxb baw-khar'—Qal Imperative 2nd Masc. Plural—1) To choose, elect, decide for; 1a) (Qal)--To choose. Strong—properly--To try, i.e. by implication--Select; a primitive root.
:15b—“...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...”
The people had a choice of serving the true & living God of grace OR “the gods” beyond the Promised Land’s boundaries, “on the other side of the River.”
They would have to choose between the living God of grace, OR “the gods of the Amorites”, whom they had just conquered.
•The “Amorites” were powerful enough, in their own strength, to have conquered & extended their control over the kingdom of Moabites to the south & east of the Jordan. We are also told that the “Amorites” lived in the mountains to the west of the Jordan(Num. 13:29), & thus shared boundaries with the Canaanites.
•However, in Israel’s conquering “the Amorites”, Israel now stood poised to keep their enemy’s land as their own, OR to foolishly recognize “the gods of the Amorites” as superior.
:15—“But as for me & my house, we will serve the LORD.”
•Joshua was quick to openly state his personal choice.
•Joshua was the spiritual head of his household.
•Joshua was responsible for making spiritual decisions that effected his entire household, no matter the weight of those decisions, economic, financial, familial, etc.(cf.-1Tim. 3:2-5; Tit. 1:6).
•As far as Joshua’s heart was concerned, he ensured that those of his house, would serve under the guidance of YHWH God.
:16—“So the people answered & said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;””
The people responded positively to Joshua’s invitation & charge.
They made it undeniably plain that they would NOT forsake YaHWeH “to serve other gods.”
“Far be it from us/God forbid”—hlylx khaw-lee'-law —Interjection/Substantive—1) Far be it(from me), God forbid that, let it not be. Strong—literal for--A profaned thing; as an interjection--Far be it! Used 21X.?A directive from—llx—Verb—To Bore, wound, dissolve, profane, break(one's word), begin, play(the flute).
“Forsake”(See :20)—bze aw-zab’—Qal Infinitive Construct—1) To leave, loose, forsake—1a) (Qal)--To leave—1a1) To depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone, 1a2) To leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatize, 1a3) To let loose, set free, let go, free; 2a) (Qal) To repair. Strong—To loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc.; a primitive root.
?What SELF-EXPOSING DECISIONS are required for YOU to enter a New Phase of Life, & live God’s way?
•Everything & everyone around you seems bent on dissuading & discouraging you from serving YHWH God thru Christ Jesus!
Argumentation:
Ps. 81:8-13—of Asaph to the chief musician—““Hear, O My people, & I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, & I will fill it. “But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!”
Rom. 1:18, 20-32—examples of people living out Self-Exposing Decisions—“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness”..... “they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, & their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, & changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--& birds & four-footed animals & creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, & worshiped & served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, & receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
1Kgs. 18:17-21—of Elijah’s challenge to Ahab the King of northern Israel—“Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you & your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD & have followed the Baals. Now therefore, send & gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred & fifty prophets of Baal, & the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, & gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, & 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.”
•Spiritual Vacillation is evidence of your lack of trust in God!
Ezek. 20:39—““As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord GOD: “Go, serve every one of you his idols—& hereafter—if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts & your idols.”
Rev. 3:14-16—““And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful & True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, & neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
*Mat. 6:19-24—““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal; “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one & love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one & despise the other. You cannot serve God & mammon.”
*Php. 1:9-11—“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more & more in knowledge & all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere & without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory & praise of God.”
Illustration:
Graduates face many life-focusing DECISIONS:
?What is my purpose?...
?What has God called me to do?...
?How do my decisions effect & inform my job or career choice?...
?Do I need more formal education?...If so, At which school will I continue my education? A New Phase of life requires your... SELF-EXPOSING DECISIONs.
Unfortunately many kids graduate to adulthood, BUT they leave the faith of their upbringing as if it were inconsequential.
Their SELF-EXPOSING DECISIONs become based on emotion, & feeling, & worldliness which is outside of God’s will.
•Prayerfully, before they begin to raise their own kids, they will realize they have left the most vital part of their life untouched—their relationship with God!
In this, your New Phase of your life, Wherever you go, find a Bible preaching-Teaching-Living Church which will help you grow in Christ!
•You will THEN have no regrets, & you will have great joy in serving the Lord, in whatever work you set your hand to!
A New Phase of life requires...SELF-EXPOSING DECISIONs.
Application:
?Are YOU making Christ-honoring SELF-EXPOSING DECISIONs regarding YOUR New Phase of life?
?Are YOU ready for this New Phase of life?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Graduation from High School is a ‘coming of age’ benchmark for entering & enabling the ‘Promised Land’ of your adulthood.
In all the things that vie for your attention, the most foundational is your relationship with God!
Action:
A New Phase of life requires your...
1. SELF-EXPOSING DECISIONS(:14-16)
Presented 05/26/2024am(Graduate Recognition Day & Memorial Day) to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
