CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE
Notes
Transcript
INTRO (Slide)
INTRO (Slide)
Our choices (opciones/elecciones) are maybe the most important things in our lives. It’s your choice that brought you here today, your choice is that capacity we have to select what to do or not, how to treat people, how to become a better person and also how we will relate to our Creator and God.
Our choices (opciones/elecciones) are maybe the most important things in our lives. It’s your choice that brought you here today, your choice is that capacity we have to select what to do or not, how to treat people, how to become a better person and also how we will relate to our Creator and God.
The greatest theological battle revolves around the free will/sovereignty, about the choices of both God and men;
Choices have been given to us by God since the Garden of Eden, and Adam, Eve, Cain - all had choices; and some of those choices changed the history of mankind forever;
The Lord Jesus constantly offered choice to people, He never forced no one into anything, but He always made sure that every choice bears a consequence; Ex.: the parable about the servants who received talents to negotiate;
OUR MAIN TEXT TODAY IS ABOUT A CHOICE, A DECISION WE HAVE TO MAKE:
OUR MAIN TEXT TODAY IS ABOUT A CHOICE, A DECISION WE HAVE TO MAKE:
Si mal os parece servir a Jehová, escogeos hoy a quién sirváis; si a los dioses a quienes sirvieron vuestros padres cuando estuvieron al otro lado del río, o a los dioses de los amorreos en cuya tierra habitáis; pero yo y mi casa serviremos a Jehová.
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
In the text we just read, Joshua - Moses’ successor - is about to die, and the People of Israel had already taken possession of the Promise Land. With Joshua’s death, the elders and future judges of Israel would have to make a decision about their relationship with the Lord...
On that context, a “note of sadness”:
First of all, the simple fact that Joshua had “to plead with them” to choose the Lord was absurd, because of all the miracles and wonders that the Lord had already made to them since Egypt and during 40 years in the desert, and the supernatural victories and conquests already in the Promise Land.
Theme: (SLIDE ALI)
Theme: (SLIDE ALI)
ELIJAN HOY A QUIÉN SERVIRÁN
ELIJAN HOY A QUIÉN SERVIRÁN
TODAY, we live a similar situation, not in the land of the Canaanites, but we also inhabit in a world of idolatry, sin and total separation from what the Creator intended, and our choices will determine how we will live and relate to our God.
TODAY, we live a similar situation, not in the land of the Canaanites, but we also inhabit in a world of idolatry, sin and total separation from what the Creator intended, and our choices will determine how we will live and relate to our God.
But, what can we learn with this verse???
But, what can we learn with this verse???
1. ELECCIONES NO SON OPCIONALES
1. ELECCIONES NO SON OPCIONALES
In life, we can choose one thing or another, but we cannot NOT choose!
Joshua knew that He would not be around much longer, and He wanted to prepare the People of Israel, (the same way Moses did before entering the Land); THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE!
You may be an indecisive person, a postponer, but even that IS A CHOICE! NOT TO SERVE GOD IS A CHOICE!
“When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice.” (William James)
WE MAKE CHOICES EVERYDAY:
I can choose to have an argument with someone who hit my car, or not… I can choose to be mad at the call center girl in India that works for the company that manages the credit card that charged me too much, or not… I can choose to eat the burned pancake that my wife made, or not… I can choose to come to church service even if I had an argument with my husband 30 minutes before, or not… I can choose to watch a silly series on Netflix or go to the church prayer meeting to battle for the Kingdom of God, whether willingly or not, we have make choices every single day of our lives!
Yes, choice is always optional, but not making a choice allows your environment and life to be controlled by someone/something else, because someone will make choices that will affect YOU!
Yes, choice is always optional, but not making a choice allows your environment and life to be controlled by someone/something else, because someone will make choices that will affect YOU!
2. SIEMPRE ESTAREMOS SIRVIENDO A ALGUIEN O ALGUNA COSA
2. SIEMPRE ESTAREMOS SIRVIENDO A ALGUIEN O ALGUNA COSA
The Bible says that we are actually slaves of those we obey:
¿No sabéis que si os sometéis a alguien como esclavos para obedecerlo, sois esclavos de aquel a quien obedecéis, sea del pecado para muerte o sea de la obediencia para justicia?
Some of us serve our jobs, our money, our careers, our family, some may choose a life separated from God, but we all serve something, and wherever our treasure is, there is also our heart.
Some of us serve our jobs, our money, our careers, our family, some may choose a life separated from God, but we all serve something, and wherever our treasure is, there is also our heart.
Joshua warned the People of Israel against false gods, but...
Joshua warned the People of Israel against false gods, but...
Who were the gods of the Canaanites?
Who were the gods of the Canaanites?
Molok - god of fire (children sacrificed);
Baal/Dagon - gods of fertility;
Resheph - god of plague and healing.
These gods demanded sacrifice, self-mutilation and immorality in order to be worshiped.
We as well, sometimes trade the privilege of serving the Living God, the Author of our salvation, the Lord of lords and King of kings, the Creator of the universe and Almighty God, for some weird gods that can only harm us, the gods of rebellion, disobedience, and lack of intimacy with Jesus. And the gods of this generation also are immoral, they demand our time, our efforts and everything we are.
We as well, sometimes trade the privilege of serving the Living God, the Author of our salvation, the Lord of lords and King of kings, the Creator of the universe and Almighty God, for some weird gods that can only harm us, the gods of rebellion, disobedience, and lack of intimacy with Jesus. And the gods of this generation also are immoral, they demand our time, our efforts and everything we are.
In Jesus’ time, the religious leaders did not like the confrontation of the Master that they actually were NOT sons of Abraham, that they were actually slaves of their religiosity and sin, they were servants of the law, and not of God, they chose the tradition of men over the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!
The greatest danger for a human being, is to be dominated by its own will, by the desires of their heart, and above all, the BAD CHOICES THAT THOSE DESIRES BRING.
Instead, Jesus would put every choice He had to make, every single decision, in the hands of the Father, the way He thought in the Lord’s prayer (Thy will be done), He also chose and lived when the time of His death came in the Garden of Gethsemane (“not My will”).
Instead, Jesus would put every choice He had to make, every single decision, in the hands of the Father, the way He thought in the Lord’s prayer (Thy will be done), He also chose and lived when the time of His death came in the Garden of Gethsemane (“not My will”).
Let’s be careful, because WE DO SERVE WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO OBEY!
Let’s be careful, because WE DO SERVE WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO OBEY!
Transition:
But we not only make decisions everyday...
But we not only make decisions everyday...
We not only are servants of what we choose.. but also...
We not only are servants of what we choose.. but also...
3. ¡EL MEJOR MOMENTO PARA ESCOGER SERVIR A DIOS ES AHORA!
3. ¡EL MEJOR MOMENTO PARA ESCOGER SERVIR A DIOS ES AHORA!
Joshua knew how people liked to postpone things, so he urges them saying: “TODAY” - not tomorrow, not in a week, not when you “feel it”...
The writer to the Hebrews expressed the same feeling when wrote:
Por eso, como dice el Espíritu Santo:
«Si oís hoy su voz,
no endurezcáis vuestros corazones
como en la provocación, en el día de la tentación en el desierto,
porque dice:
«En tiempo aceptable te he oído,
y en día de salvación te he socorrido».
Ahora es el tiempo aceptable; ahora es el día de salvación.
The People of Israel needed to make a choice immediately, while new at the land, otherwise, they would be easily taken/overpowered by the recently conquered nations. Important decisions cannot wait, they must be taken promptly;
Every time someone would give an excuse to Jesus He would disapprove it. (Example: “I have to bury my father…”);
People have a tendency to keep “postponing God” (The book of Acts shows 2 classic examples of that:
Paul and the Athenians - (“We will hear you another time”);
Paul and King Agrippa - (“You almost persuaded me to be a Christian...”).
The fact of being prompt to decide does not mean to decide or choose things hastily, it just means not postpone what needs to be done today.
The fact of being prompt to decide does not mean to decide or choose things hastily, it just means not postpone what needs to be done today.
Remember the quote:
“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”
“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”
(Neil Peart)
(Neil Peart)
KNOWING THAT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WAS “A DIFFICULT ONE”, JOSHUA’S ALSO OFFERS THEM A CLOSING ADVICE:
“YO Y MI CASA SERVIREMOS A JEHOVÁ”
“YO Y MI CASA SERVIREMOS A JEHOVÁ”
Joshua’s decision was made DESPITE what they would decide; our responsibility is to serve the Lord, DESPITE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE CHOOSES.
It’s our DUTY as priests of a household to bring our family to God. The Israelites y were used to clans, and the word of the leader of the family would prevail:
porque para vosotros es la promesa, y para vuestros hijos, y para todos los que están lejos; para cuantos el Señor nuestro Dios llame.
Ellos dijeron:
—Cree en el Señor Jesucristo, y serás salvo tú y tu casa.
WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, “BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!”
WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, “BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!”
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
Jesus said that it’s impossible to serve 2 masters - we cannot serve God AND something else; once again, it’s a matter of choosing:
»Ninguno puede servir a dos señores, porque odiará al uno y amará al otro, o estimará al uno y menospreciará al otro. No podéis servir a Dios y a las riquezas.
Two very important questions WE MUST ANSWER TODAY are:
Two very important questions WE MUST ANSWER TODAY are:
What is the God, the Lord, the Master of your life??
Do the choices you have made up to this point in your life have glorify the Lord and prepared you to the encounter one day you will have with Him??
Sadly, today, 3500 years after Israel received this chance, (and we know by History what was their choice even after promising obedience to God) , they pay a very high price for what they chose;
The same proposition is made to you today: Choose whom you will serve!
The same proposition is made to you today: Choose whom you will serve!
Revival preacher Leonard Ravenhill said that “there are only 2 types of men in this world, and it is not black or white, not rich or poor, not well educated or illiterate, but those DEAD IN SIN or DEAD TO SIN. We must choose which one we will be.
Revival preacher Leonard Ravenhill said that “there are only 2 types of men in this world, and it is not black or white, not rich or poor, not well educated or illiterate, but those DEAD IN SIN or DEAD TO SIN. We must choose which one we will be.
because...
One day, we will all be before God Almighty, and then there will be no more chances for choosing anything, we will be judged by the choices we made in this life. Choose right, choose God today!!
One day, we will all be before God Almighty, and then there will be no more chances for choosing anything, we will be judged by the choices we made in this life. Choose right, choose God today!!
A los cielos y a la tierra llamo por testigos hoy contra vosotros, de que os he puesto delante la vida y la muerte, la bendición y la maldición; escoge, pues, la vida, para que vivas tú y tu descendencia,
Let’s pray.
Let’s pray.