WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.799 Welcome to DeSoto Hills Baptist Church. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:07.200 Our Sunday morning services are weekly at 9 and 10 30 a.m. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.439 You're listening to an audio recast of this past week's service. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:12.960 We hope you enjoy. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:14.240 God bless. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:19.280 I'm going to do something a little bit different today that I typically don't do. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:22.640 But instead, we're going to leave Acts today. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:27.519 I know we just saw the video from Acts, and I've prepared to teach from preach from Acts. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:32.320 But just from our service today, I want us to look at Joshua chapter 24. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:40.960 If you have your Bible and want to turn there, we we sang and Sid made reference to this passage in the worship service. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:46.320 David talked about Joshua in his challenge to our students today. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:52.399 And just for our short time that we have together today, I want us to look and I'm going to challenge them when they come back. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:56.479 If y'all want to know, we what they do is they have breakfast. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:00.560 If you walked in and smelled bacon this morning, they're going to eat bacon. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:02.399 Sorry, you get me. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:08.959 I told David it is so unfair that I'm going to have to go sit in here for two services and smell bacon the whole time. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:11.359 But that's where we are. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:13.840 But anyway, so they're going up there to have breakfast. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:14.400 They'll be back. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:15.680 So I'll challenge them with this. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:20.959 But this is a challenge really for all of us to see and all of us to understand. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:23.040 And Joshua chapter 24. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:28.159 Understand what's happening at this place in the book of Joshua. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:35.359 Joshua, David referenced the beginning of Joshua's ministry of taking over after Moses left. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:37.359 And you can imagine, like, whew. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:40.719 I mean, that's like following James Lewis at DeSoda Hills. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:43.280 I mean, this is big shoes to feel. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:46.959 This is a big thing that is going on and a big thing that's happening. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:02:00.239 And God, he comes to Joshua several times and he says, Hey Joshua, do not fear, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:07.920 When I was in high school, that was one of my favorite verses when I signed my autograph, because you know I was so famous and everything. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:12.479 Really, when I wrote my name in the bill of my baseball hat is really about all it was. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:15.919 But every time I wrote it, I would write Joshua 1.8. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:22.800 And thinking back to that verse, hey, be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:32.800 And we saw God with Joshua, and Joshua do some, uh not Joshua, we saw God do, God do some amazing things through the life of Joshua. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:43.680 And and he led the Israelites into the promised land and divided the promised land, and all that God intended for Joshua to do happened in his life. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:51.680 But now when we come to the end, when we come to Joshua chapter 24, we're at the end of Joshua's life. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:59.120 We're at the end of his ministry in the promised land, and he knows that his time is coming soon. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:10.000 And here's what else he knows, because he is being like, he he Joshua was with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:11.919 He was with them there. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.759 Sometimes we forget that. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:19.680 Joshua was one of the Israelites that crossed the Red Sea after God parted it. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:26.400 Joshua was at Mount Sinai when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:30.960 Joshua had been there and Joshua had seen these great things that God had done. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:33.360 But you know what else Joshua saw? 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:41.039 He saw the stubbornness of Israel and how quickly they turned away. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:43.520 He saw that too. 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:48.319 He saw Israel for who they were: the good, the bad, the ugly. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:49.360 He saw it all. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:54.719 And here's what he knows: he knows that he is coming to the end of his life. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:04.639 And if you read commentaries on the book of Joshua and things, there's if anybody ever has a complaint about Joshua, this would be one of the things that they complain about. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:09.919 They complain that Joshua didn't set up someone to follow him. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:11.520 Moses did. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:14.000 Moses set up Joshua. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:17.839 And so when Moses died, it was just ready for Joshua to step in. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.240 But Joshua, he really didn't do that. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:25.439 And while that may be a complaint against Joshua, just to be honest with you, I don't see it that way. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:26.720 Here's why. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:32.879 Joshua's going to do this. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:34.959 And God never did that. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:36.560 Maybe I'm wrong in that. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:37.600 Could be. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:38.639 But we know this. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:50.959 At this point, God has not really called anyone up to lead Israel because I think the plan was for Israel to go and in their tribes find leadership within their tribes to lead the people. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:58.000 But Joshua, again, knows what a stubborn and stiff-necked people Israel is. 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:02.879 If you question it, read Judges. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:03.600 Amen. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:08.079 How quickly they turned. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:14.160 But as we come to Joshua 24, Joshua is doing everything he can to challenge this people. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:20.959 So I'm going to ask you if you're able this morning to stand with me as we read from Joshua chapter 24. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.680 I'm going to start reading in verse 14. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.160 It's not going to be on the screen this morning. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:27.519 I surprised them with this. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:29.360 They don't have it. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.439 So unless they do, you got it. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:32.399 Look at you. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:33.600 Thank you, Lee. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.800 I appreciate that. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:38.720 So Joshua 24, verse 14. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:42.800 Now, therefore, fear the Lord. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:46.560 Serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:51.920 Put away the gods that your father served beyond the river and in Egypt and serve the Lord. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:57.439 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:04.879 Whether the gods your father served in the region beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:11.920 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:13.199 Let's pray together. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:14.959 God, thank you. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.279 Thank you for the challenge of your word. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.399 Thank you for revealing yourself through your word. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:23.040 Help us to see you this morning. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.360 Jesus, it's in your name we pray. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:26.319 Amen. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:32.879 So as Joshua is finishing out his ministry here, here's the first thing he does. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:42.319 We didn't read it, but the first thing that he does in chapter 24 is to remind them of Israel of all the things that God has done. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:46.800 He reminds them of how God brought them out of Egypt. 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:53.199 He reminds them of how he defeated the Egyptian army without Israel raising a sword. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.639 He reminds them of how he takes care of them in the wilderness. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:00.079 He reminds them of all the good things that he has done. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.160 Listen, we've done that this morning. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:07.439 We sang about the goodness of God and how all our lives God has been faithful. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:13.439 Listen, it hasn't always been easy and it hasn't always been just walking through tulips, right? 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:23.680 Sometimes life is hard, but even in those hard times, what Joshua reminds the people and what I remind you this morning, God has still been faithful. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:28.000 We need to stop and we need to remember that. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:34.480 Another song that I love that we sing sometimes is a song called We Will Remember. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:41.120 It says, I will remember the day you saved me. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:44.240 The day I heard you call out my name. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:47.519 Because I will never be the same. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:50.879 Listen, church, I'm going to challenge us. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:08:04.079 Sometimes when we are going through it, and life is hard, we need to stop and remember the goodness of God. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:07.279 That's what Joshua is calling the people to do here. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:14.000 Before he challenges them, before he tells them anything else, he reminds them of the goodness of God. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:16.160 And then he comes with the challenge. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:17.360 And here's what he says. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:20.480 Hey, listen, you need to choose. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:23.759 You need to choose whom you're going to serve. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:28.240 You need to choose if you're going to serve God or if you're going to serve other gods. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:32.879 And he even points out, he says, if it is evil for you to choose the Lord, choose this day. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:41.120 Actually, back in 14, he says, put away the gods that your father served beyond the river and in Egypt and serve the Lord. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:52.639 If it is evil for your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your father served beyond in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whom land you were going to dwell. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:57.120 And here's what he says: all around you, you have seen people worship false gods. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:59.440 In Egypt, we saw it happen. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:03.679 We saw the Egyptians worship false gods. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:09.279 And all through the wilderness, every time something came up, he said, Israel, every time something came up, here's what you said. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.240 It would have been better for us to stay in Egypt and die there. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:18.879 Joshua says, if that's it, if that's whom you're gonna serve, serve them. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:22.080 But listen, just remember what he has done. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.879 Joshua says, remember the ten plagues? 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:27.919 The ten plagues, while they are amazing miracles. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:30.480 Do you know what the ten plagues also did? 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:35.360 It broke down every false God that Egypt worshiped. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:41.519 Everyone that they worship was destroyed and obliterated through the plagues. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:45.600 He said, you can worship those if you want to. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:51.759 Joshua says, you're going to go into a land where they are worshiping other gods besides them. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:58.960 And church, let me tell you, we are surrounded by tons of false gods. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.480 We are surrounded. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:12.799 And I'm not just talking about we're surrounded by false religions, of course, and there are people who are worshiping false religions all around us. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:24.159 But listen, more than just false gods, there are things that we do in our lives that place other things on the throne in our lives besides idols. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:38.240 We put extracurricular activities, careers, relationships, all kinds of things in the place of God in our lives. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:45.279 And what Joshua is saying is you're going to be tempted with that when you go into the promised land. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:51.039 And if you choose to worship them, fine, so be it. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:11.759 I get it. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:14.639 You're tired, you're at the end of the year. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:22.639 And sometimes, sometimes, especially in history, we might watch a movie. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:27.279 It's a historical movie, but you might just do it. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:32.159 One of the movies I remember watching was a movie about the Alamo. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:34.879 The old John Wayne movie with the Alamo. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:36.879 You remember John Wayne and all those guys? 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:49.600 And I remember one of those parts in that movie right at the end, and when Santa Anna has the Alamos surrounded, and they know if they stay there, it's not going to end well. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:58.559 The general, he comes and he takes his sword and he draws a line in the sand. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:03.759 And he says, Listen, Santa Anna has given us an opportunity. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.759 If you want to flee, go. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.240 And nobody's going to think less of you. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:09.279 Go. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:15.120 But if you want to stay and fight, step across this line. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:21.440 It's almost like Joshua is drawing a line in the sand here. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:25.919 And saying saying, listen, challenges are going to come. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:33.279 You're going to be berated from all around to worship things other than God. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.440 And to make things in your life more important than God. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:40.399 You are going to be challenged with that all the time. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:46.159 Choose you today who you're going to serve. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:49.919 Choose today whom you're going to serve. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:58.559 Because listen, right here, right now, in this moment, it is easy to say, I'm going to choose God. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:00.000 Actually, that's what Israel did. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.320 Israel said, Hey, no way, Joshua. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.919 We're going to serve God. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.279 We're going to do it. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.360 And Joshua said, Be careful. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.840 Be careful. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:14.159 Because you say that now, but as soon as we get there, I know what you're going to do. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.600 You're going to turn your back on God. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.720 Be careful. 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:22.000 Be careful because choosing in this moment is easy. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:31.919 But when you choose in this easy moment, it helps you later when things get hard to look back and remember, no, I chose to serve the Lord. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.919 I'm going to follow Him. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:43.840 Church, we must, we must draw a line in the sand and choose whom we are going to serve and worship. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:14:01.600 Let me tell you, as for me, my house, and I'm going to lead the church that I lead to serve the Lord. 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:06.480 I want you to come and be a part of that. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.159 And I don't know where you are today. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:16.480 As we draw to a close of this service, let me challenge you with a couple of things. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:30.320 One, listen, if you want to serve the one and true God, because listen, everything else is a false God. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:35.360 Not only is it a false God, it is an unreal God. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:42.080 If you want life, you need to worship the one true God. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:49.919 And the way that that happens, the way he has made for us to worship and serve him, is he knew that we had would sin and fall short. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:53.279 He knew that we too were stubborn and stiff-necked people. 00:14:53.519 --> 00:15:02.399 So he sent his one and only Son to come and live a perfect life and die on a cross and take upon himself the punishment for our sin. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:08.960 Then Jesus arose from the grave, defeating sin, defeating death, and giving us life. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:17.679 And if you have never received life from the one true God by believing in his son, today we're inviting you to come. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:22.159 We're about to sing a hymn of invitation as we sing, we invite you to come. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:25.840 If you have, here's the challenge for you today. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.080 Choose today whom you're going to serve. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:39.200 Tomorrow, you're going to be bombarded with a lot of different things to take the place of God. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:44.320 The next day you're going to be bombarded with a lot of different things. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:47.039 So make up your mind today. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:51.360 Choose today whom you will serve. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:55.120 But DeSota Hills, may we say this. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:03.759 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:05.440 Let's pray together. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:13.360 God, we thank you for today, and we thank you for this opportunity that we have to meet with you. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:20.080 God, I pray for those who are here who have never trusted in you this morning. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:23.840 I pray that today will be the day of salvation for them. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:27.600 I pray for those who have. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:38.000 That God, that even when we've decided to trust you, sometimes we act like Israel did and we are stubborn and stiff-necked. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:50.559 But God, may today be a day of repentance for us where we come and we repent and we decide to serve you no matter the cost, no matter what lies ahead. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.320 God work in our hearts and lives. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:57.120 Jesus is in your name we pray. 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.480 Amen. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:02.080 Thanks for listening to this week's sermon. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:08.079 If you have any questions for our pastor, feel free to reach out at DeSoto Hills.com.