Joshua 24:14-15 – Serving God in the Home (We Need a Revival in the Family)

Harvey Smith

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Choices have consequences they affect our famiies for generations. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Choose wisely who you will serve, then serve. Teach your children and live as a family in service of the Lord.

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Joshua 24:14-15 – Serving God in the Home (We Need a Revival in the Family)

The other day I heard Brother Mark Redd make a comment, that is similar to something I have told others in the past. He said, “Every choice you make is a step towards your destiny.” I have in the past said it this way, “the choices you make today, affect the choices you have to make tomorrow.” The intent is the same in either case. You have a choice to make today. That choice determines your future. It also determines the future of your children and our grandchildren, and possibly further.

Choices have consequences

It is no secret that if a man grows up abusing his wife and kids, that his son will likely do the same thing. It is not secret that if mom and dad abuse alcohol or drugs, then their children will do so also. It is also not secret that if a child’s parents do not attend church or do not believe in Christ, then their children will not either. The role of the parents in the family is of vital importance to the direction of the child and whether they will serve the Lord and have a life worth living. Children learn from their parents.

Joshua 24:14-15 says:

14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Here Joshua has made a choice, for himself and for his family. Choices laid before Joshua:

· Serve the gods that people worshiped before the flood.

· Serve the gods of the Egyptians.

· Serve the gods of the Amorites

o The Amorites were the descendants of Emer. Emer was the 4th son of Canaan the son of Ham. Ham was cursed by Noah for sin. After the Fall of the Tower of Babel these descendants resided in the area known as Canaan. Now these were known as strong men, and even spoken of as giants, however; they were terrified of the Lord. Their God’s could not do the things they had heard of the God of Moses and Joshua and that this god was not like theirs. This God was all powerful and had beaten all the gods of Egypt and had dried up the Jordan to give the Hebrews the land of Canaan.

And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. (Joshua 5:1)

· Serve Jehovah (I AM that I AM)

o He could serve the one true God.

o The God who delivered Noah through the flood.

o The God who destroyed the Towel of Babel. The God who delivered the Israel out of bondage.

o The God who delivered on his promise to Abraham, and Isaac.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Joshua may remember the warning that the Lord gave … and it is good that we should remember the warnings that God has given us also.

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 37:6-7)

For Joshua there was only on real choice. So Joshua chose for himself… and he chose for his family… Joshua set an example on how others should chose. But he did not tell them how to choose. Each man, woman, and child must choose to follow Jesus for himself. But Joshua could choose to follow the Lord and he could determine that everyone in his household would also serve the Lord. This meant his wife, children, kindred, and his servants would be required to serve the Lord also.

In the previous verses in this chapter of Joshua, Joshua reminds the Israelites o the generosity of God. It is God who:

· Delivered them through the flood by Noah

· Chose them through Abraham

· Preserved them through Joshua the Prince of Egypt

· Delivered them out of Bondage with Moses

· Destroyed their enemies before them in the Promised Land

They have seen:

· God’s provisions

· God’s judgements

· God’s deliverance

· God’s step-by-step guidance through the wilderness

Sometimes we forget what God has done for us. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the wonderous things that God has done for us.

· Deliverance from drugs, alcohol, disease, sickness

· Guided us in a new life in Jesus Christ

· Given his great mercies in the revelation of the cost that Jesus paid for our sins to be covered and removed.

· Neglect, thirst, hunger, homelessness

· Protection from enemies, legal ramifications of some of our selfishness, the outside elements

· Resorted Relationships of family, friends, and even God himself

Joshua is talking to these Israelites who have come from nothing and are now delivered into a land in which they did not build, of plant in. Yet they have buildings, cities, farms, roads and much more.

How many blessings has God shown you through his grace? How many of us now have food to eat, clothing to wear, warmth in the winter, shelter from the rain? Even more important how many of us now have family in the church? Joshua is telling these families; doesn’t the Lord deserve your faithfulness? Well, doesn’t he?

Colossians tells us that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. In fact it tells us,”In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight” (Colossians 1:22)

So many Christian homes are broken. So many professing Christians living in divorce. So many Christians neglecting their own children. There are many who stand against the God of Heaven by supporting

· abortion,

· homosexual marriage,

· living in hatred,

· choosing to live in service of the gods of this world.

Ignoring the God who delivered them, their hearts have grown cold. They no longer attend Sunday School, regular attendance at church, support missions, nor do they raise their children in the way that they should go.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6)

Many Christians do not take the time to instruct their children in holiness, and then wonder why their children run straight for the gutter when they leave their home.

This word “train” in Hebrew means to discipline or initiate.

The child does not have the freedom to:

· decide to not attend school

· decide not attend Sunday School,

· decide not to attend a particular church,

· decide not to attend Wednesday evening services.

Nor do children have a right to tell you what they will wear, if they are going to get a tattoo, or even who their friends are, what sex they think they are, or how long they will be out tonight.

Children do not know what is best for them. Neither does Hollywood, nor the Government have the authority to indoctrinate your child in the ways of the ungodly. It is your God given responsibility as a parent, grandparent, and great grandparent to raise up your children.

How do we then “train up a child”? The oldest and best way is by example.

· Start while they are young - Proverbs 19:18 - Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

· Let them know of their value to you and the Lord - Psalms 127:3 - Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

· Set the example- Colossians 3:21 - Fathers, provoke not your children [to anger], lest they be discouraged.

· Teach them about the Lord - Isaiah 54:13 - And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children.

· Teach at every opportunity – Deuteronomy 6:-7 - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

· Teach as a community of believers – Deuteronomy 11:20 – And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

· Correct them with love because their life depends on it – Proverbs 23:13-14 - Withhold not correction from the child: for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

· Be consistent - Proverbs 13:24 - He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. Teach consequences

What are you teaching your family?

Now parents… If the preacher were to arrive at your door unannounced to day after church, what would your home say about who you serve?

Ill. Share on process of Flag Orders and border crossings in GDR. *************

What do the books in your library say about how you feed your intellect?

· What do the magazines on the coffee table or in the bathroom say about you?

· What kinds of pictures do you have on your walls?

· Are there open liquor bottles on the counters, cupboards, and such?

If someone were to see your bank account, what would that say about who you serve with your finances?

· Tithes and offerings

· Bills all paid (as best you can)

· Mission support

· Donations to the poor and needy

· What king of organizations do you support?

If someone were to sit at a table near you in a public place what would they hear about who you serve?

· Would they hear about how so and so is doing such and such?

· Would they hear about how much sister so and so hates sister so and so?

· Would they hear foul words or words of blessings?

What does your family life show about who you serve?

· Do you have set, regular family prayer time?

· Do you reach scripture as a family on a regular basis?

· Do you attend services as a family on a regular basis?

· Do you value and encourage your families attendance in Sunday School?

What does your involvement on the local church show about who you serve?

· Do you teach or are you learning to teach?

· Do you share the gospel and encourage others to do so?

· Do you sing in the choir, in the pews, or are a member of the praise team?

· Are you available at every church function that you can attend?

· Do you criticize or speak evil of the Pastor, Deacons, their wives, or any other member of the local congregation?

· Are you unforgiving?

· Do you harbor resentment?

· Are you a source of divisiveness in the membership?

· Do you have to have your own way - all the time?

How can me and my house serve the Lord?

Grow together!

· Speak the same thing (be in agreement before the Lord and man) –

o 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment

· Have family time at the beginning and ending of the day (nurture one another in faith and in the love of Christ)

o Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

· As a family give thanks to God for one another

o Psalms 103:2 - Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

· Read and study as a family (the father is the spiritual head of the house)

o 1 Corinthians 11:3 - But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

o 1 Peter 3:7 - Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

· Make a conscience decision to put the Lord first in all family matters (seek the Lord)

o Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

· Get involved in the church as a family (mission support, worship services, devotional time, Sunday School attendance)

Do you want peace for your family? Do you want peace IN your family? Do you want a legacy of peace with God in your family? Start with Jesus.

(Shar the gospel)

Closing…………………………………………………………………

Come to the altar as a family and pray for one another. Pray for your church. Pray for your country.

James 5:16 - Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.