Who Will Serve the Lord?

Joshua 24:14-24

INTRODUCTION: It is my responsibility as a leader to call you to a choice concerning your allegiance in Christian service. This is exactly what Joshua did before the children of Israel. Both then and now, many give lip-service, but few actually desire to serve God.

I. THE IMPORT DISCUSSED

A. Joshua’s Age (Joshua 23:2)

1. I am old.
2. I am stricken in age.

B. Joshua’s Expectation (Joshua 23:14)

1. This day
2. I am going the way of all the earth.

C. Joshua’s Death (Joshua 24:29-31)

1. After these things (Joshua 24:29)
2. Joshua died, being 110 years old (Joshua 24:29)
3. Joshua was buried in his inheritance (Joshua 24:30)
4. Joshua’s impact (Joshua 24:31)

II. THE CONTEXT DISCUSSED (Joshua 23:1-16; Joshua 24:1-13)

A. After the Battles (Joshua 23:1-5)

1. Israel enjoyed rest (Joshua 23:1).
2. The Lord fought for them (Joshua 23:3).
3. The Lord divided the nations’ inheritance (Joshua 23:4-5).

B. After the Admonition (Joshua 23:6-13)

1. For courage (Joshua 23:6)
2. For separation (Joshua 23:7-8)
3. For continued victory (Joshua 23:9-10)
4. For love (Joshua 23:11-13)

C. After the Assurance (Joshua 23:14-16)

1. God’s faithfulness in the past (Joshua 23:14)
2. God’s faithfulness in the good (Joshua 23:15)
3. God’s faithfulness in the bad (Joshua 23:15-16)

D. After the Reminder (Joshua 24:1-13)

1. Israel’s presentation (Joshua 24:1)
2. Israel’s history (Joshua 24:2-12)
3. Israel’s inheritance (Joshua 24:13)

III. THE DECISION DISCUSSED (Joshua 24:14-28)

A. The Call (Joshua 24:14-18)

1. The admonition (Joshua 24:14-15)
a. The options (Joshua 24:14-15)
1.) The Lord (Joshua 24:14)
2.) The gods (Joshua 24:15)
b. The incompatibility (Joshua 24:14)
1.) Fear and serve
2.) Put away
c. The personal choice (Joshua 24:14-15)
1.) YOU fear the Lord (Joshua 24:14)
2.) YOU serve Him (Joshua 24:14)
3.) YOU put away the gods (Joshua 24:14)
4.) YOU choose (Joshua 24:15)
5.) As for me (Joshua 24:15); Note: He died shortly after stating this and he knew it!
2. The response (Joshua 24:16-18)
a. Their resolve (Joshua 24:16)
b. Their remembrance (Joshua 24:17-18)
c. Their resolve (Joshua 24:18)

B. The Warning (Joshua 24:19-21)

1. The admonition (Joshua 24:19-20)
a. Ye cannot serve the LORD (Joshua 24:19)
1.) He is an holy God
2.) He is a jealous God
3.) He will not forgive
b. If ye forsake the LORD and serve strange gods (Joshua 24:20)
1.) He will turn and do you hurt
2.) He will consume you
2. The response (Joshua 24:21)
a. Nay
b. We will serve the LORD

C. The Resolution (Joshua 24:22-24)

1. The admonition (Joshua 24:22-23)
a. Ye are witnesses against yourselves (Joshua 24:22)
b. Put away the strange gods (Joshua 24:23)
c. Incline your heart unto the LORD (Joshua 24:23)
2. The response (Joshua 24:24)
a. The LORD our God will we serve
b. His voice will we obey

D. The Accountability (Joshua 24:25-28)

CONCLUSION: I am not going to try to talk you into serving the Lord. In fact, the best thing that could be accomplished is to show you that you really do not want to serve the Lord at present. Truth be known, men may not see through your lip-service, but God does. It will all show up at the Judgment Seat of Christ.