Decisions

Riverstone Decisions
Joshua 24:14-15
Sunday, May 7, 2017

Joshua 24:14-15

Fulton Ousler, "In making our decisions, we must use the brains that God has given us but we must also use our hearts, which He has also given us."

The Bible Tells Us Of Some Wonderful Decisions.

Abraham Decided For God And Rejected The World And Sodom
Moses Decided For His Relatives Rather Than The Riches Of Egypt
Jesus Made Marvelous Decisions When He Set His Face Toward Jerusalem In The Garden Of Gethsemane
Luke 9:51

The Bible Also Tells Us Of Some Horrible Decisions.

Adam's Decision Cost Him Eden
Esau's Decision Cost Him His Birthright
Absalom's Decision Cost Him His Father's Throne
Ananias And Sapphira Lied And They Died
Pilate, Agrippa, And Felix Decided Wrong About Who Jesus Is And It Cost Them Immortality.

Joshua Was A Wise Man

Dr. Gene Getz, "Joshua exemplifies for every believer, positive ways to live a victorious Christian life." "He walked through the battlefields of the Old Testament and stayed intact as a godly man." "Joshua stands out on the pages of the Old Testament as one of those rare biblical individuals who exemplified walking in God's will throughout his entire lifetime."

Spiritual Mindedness, Numbers 14:8
Godly Reverence, Joshua 3:5
Courage, Joshua 10:25
Obedience, Joshua 11:15

Joshua Was A Warrior Man

Dr. J. Vernon McGee, "The more I know about Joshua, the better I like him."  "Through the years, he stood in the shadow of Moses so that we think he is a sort of miniature Moses."  "But Joshua is a man of great stature."  "Although Joshua is an average man, his life demonstrates that an average individual dedicated to God can be used in a mighty way."

How Is It That Joshua Was Able To Call Upon The Children Of Israel To Make A Decision?

           Joshua 1:9
           Joshua 1:16-17

Dr. John Phillips, "The book of Joshua occupies a strategic place in the Old Testament." "Like the book of Acts in the New Testament, it is a book of transition."  "Like the book of Ephesians, it portrays the wealth, the walk, and the warfare of God's people on earth."

I.   An Appeal Is Presented (24:14)

      A. Fear The Lord (v.14a.)
           Job 1:1
           Proverbs 1:7
      B. Serve Him In Sincerity And Truth (v. 14b.)
      C. Put Away The False Gods (v.14c.)

II.   An Alternative Is Provided (24:15a.)
           Deuteronomy 30:19

III.  An Affirmation Is Proclaimed (24:15b.)
           Ephesians 6

        A. Joshua Decided For Himself, So Must We (v.15b.)
            a. Decision Means Position Is Professed
            b. Decision Saves Us From Temptation
        B. Joshua Decided For His House, So Must We (v.15b.)

Concluding Notes;

As Individuals, And As A Church, How Are We Going To Make Right Decisions?

Like Joshua, We Must Be With God
Like Joshua, We Must Wait On God
Like Joshua, We Must Have A Word From God
Like Joshua, We Must Know And Do The Will Of God
Like Joshua, We Must Follow The Way Of God