Choosing Daily to Serve the Lord
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Liberty family! Today, we gathered to reflect on the importance of making life's greatest choices, as inspired by Joshua's farewell address in Joshua 23 and 24. Joshua challenges us to choose whom we will serve, emphasizing that as for him and his house, they will serve the Lord. This call to commitment is not just a one-time decision but a daily choice to live for God.
Life is filled with choices, from mundane decisions like what to wear, to significant ones like career paths and relationships. However, some choices are beyond our control, such as our birth and death. What we can control is how we live our lives. Joshua reminds us to make the right choices every day, starting with the length of our life. He knew his time was near and urged the Israelites to remember God's faithfulness and to live in a way that honors Him.
We also discussed the love of our life, emphasizing the importance of loving God's Word and living by it. This involves not just reading the Bible but letting it guide our lives. We are starting a new series next week called "You Asked For It," where we will explore why the Bible can be trusted.
God fights for us, and when we commit our lives to Him, our problems become His problems. This means He fights for our health, family, and finances. We must remember that God is always on our side, and His promises never fail.
Lastly, we talked about the legacy of our life. Joshua didn't raise a successor, leading to chaos in the book of Judges. We must ensure that our faith and values are passed down to the next generation. This involves practical steps like having a will and making sure our resources are used for God's glory.
In conclusion, the most important choice we can make is to serve the Lord. This decision will have a ripple effect on our families and future generations. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
### Key Takeaways
1. Daily Choices Matter: Every day, we make choices that shape our lives. While we can't control our birth or death, we can choose how we live. Joshua's reminder to the Israelites to make the right choices daily is a call for us to live intentionally, honoring God in all we do. [38:09]
2. Love God's Word: Our love for God should be reflected in our love for His Word. This means not just reading the Bible but letting it guide our lives. We should read the culture through the lens of the Bible, not the other way around. This commitment to God's Word will help us make the right choices. [43:16]
3. God Fights for Us: When we commit our lives to God, He fights for us. This means that our problems become His problems, and He is always on our side. Whether it's our health, family, or finances, God is fighting for us, and His promises never fail. [45:04]
4. Legacy of Faith: Joshua's failure to raise a successor led to chaos in Israel. We must ensure that our faith and values are passed down to the next generation. This involves practical steps like having a will and making sure our resources are used for God's glory. [55:26]
5. Choose to Serve the Lord: The most important choice we can make is to serve the Lord. This decision will have a ripple effect on our families and future generations. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. This choice is urgent and should not be delayed. [01:04:13]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:47] - 21 Days of Prayer
[37:11] - Joshua's Farewell Address
[38:09] - Life's Greatest Choices
[39:32] - The Length of Your Life
[43:16] - The Love of Your Life
[45:04] - God Fights for Us
[55:26] - The Legacy of Your Life
[01:04:13] - Choose to Serve the Lord
[01:07:48] - Call to Commitment
[01:09:06] - Next Steps and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 24:15 - "Choose for yourselves today which will you worship... As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
2. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
3. 2 Corinthians 1:20 - "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God."
### Observation Questions
1. What significant choice does Joshua present to the Israelites in Joshua 24:15?
2. According to John 10:10, what are the contrasting purposes of the thief and Jesus?
3. How does 2 Corinthians 1:20 describe the reliability of God's promises?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the choice to serve the Lord described as the most important decision one can make? ([01:04:13])
2. How does the concept of God fighting for us change our perspective on personal struggles and challenges? ([45:04])
3. What does it mean to love God's Word and let it guide our lives, as discussed in the sermon? ([43:16])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily choices. How can you ensure that each decision you make honors God? ([38:09])
2. In what ways can you deepen your love for God's Word and allow it to guide your life more effectively? ([43:16])
3. Think of a current problem you are facing. How can you trust God to fight for you in this situation? ([45:04])
4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your faith and values are passed down to the next generation? ([55:26])
5. How can you and your household make a renewed commitment to serve the Lord? What changes might this require in your daily life? ([01:04:13])
6. Identify one area of your life where you need to make a significant choice. How can you seek God's guidance in making the right decision? ([38:37])
7. Consider your legacy. What steps can you take now to ensure that your faith and values are remembered and honored by future generations? ([01:01:11])
Devotional
### Day 1: Intentional Daily Choices
Description:
Every day, we are faced with numerous decisions that shape the course of our lives. While some choices may seem insignificant, they collectively contribute to the person we become and the life we lead. Joshua's reminder to the Israelites to make the right choices daily is a call for us to live intentionally, honoring God in all we do. This means being mindful of our actions, words, and thoughts, ensuring they align with God's will. By doing so, we can live a life that reflects our commitment to Him and His teachings. [38:09]
Bible Passage:
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it." (Deuteronomy 30:15-16, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one specific choice you can make today that will honor God and reflect your commitment to Him?
### Day 2: Loving God's Word
Description:
Our love for God should be evident in our love for His Word. This involves more than just reading the Bible; it means allowing it to guide our lives and influence our decisions. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we can better understand God's will and apply His teachings to our daily lives. This commitment to God's Word will help us navigate the complexities of life and make choices that honor Him. As we start the new series "You Asked For It," we will explore why the Bible can be trusted and how it can be a reliable guide in our lives. [43:16]
Bible Passage:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules." (Psalm 119:105-106, ESV)
Reflection:
How can you incorporate more time for reading and meditating on God's Word in your daily routine this week?
### Day 3: Trusting God to Fight for Us
Description:
When we commit our lives to God, we can trust that He will fight for us. This means that our problems become His problems, and He is always on our side. Whether it's our health, family, or finances, God is actively working on our behalf. His promises never fail, and we can find comfort in knowing that He is always with us, guiding and protecting us through life's challenges. By placing our trust in Him, we can experience His peace and assurance, even in difficult times. [45:04]
Bible Passage:
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." (Exodus 14:14, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more fully to fight for you? How can you surrender this area to Him today?
### Day 4: Building a Legacy of Faith
Description:
Joshua's failure to raise a successor led to chaos in Israel, highlighting the importance of passing down our faith and values to the next generation. We must be intentional about ensuring that our legacy of faith continues beyond our lifetime. This involves practical steps like having a will and making sure our resources are used for God's glory. More importantly, it means living out our faith in a way that inspires and guides those who come after us. By doing so, we can leave a lasting impact that honors God and benefits future generations. [55:26]
Bible Passage:
"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children." (Deuteronomy 4:9, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one practical step you can take this week to ensure your faith and values are passed down to the next generation?
### Day 5: Choosing to Serve the Lord
Description:
The most important choice we can make is to serve the Lord. This decision will have a ripple effect on our families and future generations. By choosing to serve God, we set a powerful example for those around us and create a legacy of faith that can endure for years to come. This choice is urgent and should not be delayed, as it impacts not only our lives but also the lives of those we influence. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, committing ourselves to His service and living in a way that honors Him. [01:04:13]
Bible Passage:
"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, ESV)
Reflection:
What steps can you take today to ensure that you and your household are committed to serving the Lord? How can you make this commitment visible in your daily life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Life is filled with choices. You had to make them this morning. What time you were going to get up. What you were going to wear today. What you're going to eat today. But then there's some bigger larger choices in life. Like what are you going to do after you graduate? Are you going to college? Are you going to vo-tech school? Are you going right into the workforce? Career, what kind of career are you going to pursue? Are you going to be single? Are you going to be married? Are you going to have kids? On and on I could go. Life is filled with choices." [38:09] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "John 10 10 says the thief comes but to steal kill and destroy. You know what that means? The devil wants to steal your understanding. If he can get you to think wrong, he can get you to do wrong. He wants to kill your joy. Oh, you just don't enjoy life. You don't want to get up. You don't want to go to work. You don't want to go to school. You don't enjoy being married. You don't enjoy your kids. You don't enjoy reading your Bible and praying. And if the devil can ever kill your joy, he can get you to throw in the towel and quit." [41:55] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If God be for you, who can be against you? God is fighting for you. I'm just saying when God fights for you, the odds are in your favor. Amen. The king of the universe has holy angels he'll dispatch. And they that be with us are more than they that be with them. Let's say this: And God not only can send holy angels, he can control the weather. Did you know a lot of battles in history, the outcome was determined because of the weather? Because of snow? Because of fog?" [45:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Your life will be so much better if you will trust God, follow Jesus. That doesn't mean you're not going to have any problems. It just means you're going to have someone who's bigger than your problems. Can I have an amen? And so choose every day to live and make every day count." [42:45] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you love me, you keep my commandments. You better keep my commandments. You better love me. Love me. Now that's the way I heard it growing up. That's not what the verse says. The verse says, if you love me, that's really all that matters. Because then you're going to keep my commandments. If you don't love him, you're not keeping his commandments." [53:29] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Make the right choices about how to live every day. First of all, make the right choice when it comes to the length of your life. The length of your life. Look at chapter 23. And we're going to go back and forth from 23 and 24 as he's going through this speech, his last will and testament here to the people of Israel. A long time after the Lord had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, Joshua was old and advanced in age." [39:03] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We do not read this book through the lens of the culture. We read the culture through the lens of this book. And I want to drive home to you how important it is that you love the word of God. And next Sunday, we start a brand new series called You Asked For It. And it literally is from the Christmas and Easter survey what you have asked that we preach on. And next week, because you asked for it, we're preaching a message on, are you ready? Evidence for the Bible. Why I know the Bible can be trusted. Why I know the Bible is true." [43:44] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you belong to him, it means that you can leave church today and say, as for me and my house, we're going to serve the Lord. And when you make that choice, I'm telling you, God is fighting for your marriage. He's fighting for your children. He's fighting for your family. He's fighting for your business. He's fighting for your very life. Your very life." [46:15] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Remember the faithfulness of God. He is saying, remember where God brought you from. There's not a self-made individual or person in this world. Whatever you have and wherever you are, it's only by the grace of God. You see a turtle on a fence post, remember, it didn't get there by itself. We're all standing on the shoulders of those who prayed and those who sacrificed and those who came before us." [55:56] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Joshua said, as for me and my house, you can only answer for you. It's a personal decision. Can't make it for your spouse. Parents can't make it for the children. Children can't make it for their parents. As for me, my house, it's going to have a ripple effect. Whatever you decide on your children and your children's children. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. You got to choose. You got to choose. It's a choice that's unavoidable." [01:07:21] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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