https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-call-to-courage

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-call-to-courage

Joshua 24 Finished but not done…

(2) "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,  “ (3) … I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, …(I) multiplied his descendants and (I) gave him Isaac. (4) To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau….. (5) I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, …Afterward I brought you out…... (8) And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, … But I gave them into your hand... and I destroyed them from before you…. (13) I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build…

Brought out & brought in 6  'I brought your fathers out of Egypt… 8  'Then I brought you into the land …

Brought out & brought in Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized … Gal 3:27  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

The principle of replacement “If you uproot the idol and fail to plant the love of Christ in its place, the idol will grow back.” ― Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Joshua 24:14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  15  "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  15  "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

exclusive Deu 6:13  "You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.

Joshua 24:14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  15  "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

exclusive Mat 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"

Serving god Act 17:25  nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

Serving god 1Pe 4:11  Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Serving god Deu 28:47  "Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things;

Serving god Deu 10:12  "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Joshua 24:14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  15  "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Understanding idolatry Col 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Idolatry “Every man becomes the image of the God he adores. He whose worship is directed to a dead thing becomes dead. He who loves corruption rots. He who loves a shadow becomes, himself, a shadow. He who loves things that must perish lives in dread of their perishing.” ― Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island

Idolatry “When human beings give their heartfelt allegiance to and worship that which is not God, they progressively cease to reflect the image of God. One of the primary laws of human life is that you become like what you worship; what’s more, you reflect what you worship not only to the object itself but also outward to the world around.

Those who worship money increasingly define themselves in terms of it and increasingly treat other people as creditors, debtors, partners, or customers rather than as human beings. Those who worship sex define themselves in terms of it (their preferences, their practices, their past histories) and increasingly treat other people as actual or potential sex objects. Those who worship power define themselves in terms of it and treat other people as either collaborators, competitors, or pawns.

These and many other forms of idolatry combine in a thousand ways, all of them damaging to the image-bearing quality of the people concerned and of those whose lives they touch.”― N.T. Wright

A heart divided in idolatry Hate/love Devoted/despise Mat 6:24  "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Joshua 24:14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  15  "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

As for me, and my house “Men, even if we fail to claim the right we still own the responsibility”

The people’s response 16  The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;   19  Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins.  

A jealous god Exo 34:14 —for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—

A jealous god Divine jealousy is thus a zeal to protect a love relationship or to avenge it when it is broken. Jealousy in God is that passionate energy by which He is provoked and stirred and moved to take action against whatever or whoever stands in the way of His enjoyment of what He loves and desires. The intensity if God’s anger at threats to this relationship is directly proportionate to the depths of His love… Jealousy in God is not a “green-eyed monster” but a “red-faced lover” who will brook no rivals in His relationship with His people. —Sam Storms

  21  The people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD."   24  The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice."  

Say what you mean Mean what you say Ecc 5:4-5 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

"A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still "A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.” —Benjamin Franklin—

 25  So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.   31  Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the LORD which He had done for Israel.