Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus

We conclude with Part 8 of our teaching series through the book of Joshua.

Within the story of Joshua we read of the people of God encountering real obstacles to living out their faith in the Lord. Flooded rivers, fortified cities, and giant armies. real things that would cause any normal person to fear.

But what we see is that in the face of these challenges, is the power of God’s presence and his continued faithfulness to his people. That’s the story of Joshua, and that’s our story today.

Real challenges met with the real and true faithfulness of God.

Today we are in Joshua chapter 24 to hear his final call "Choose this day who you will serve"

With everyone leaning in and listening, Joshua gives the people a clear-cut invitation to choose who they will serve.

No coercion, no threats, no manipulation, just a plain and simple choice.

Choose to go and worship other gods, things from the past, or the ways of the world you’re living in now- OR- Go ALL-IN serving the Lord your God.

Today as we conclude our teaching series on the book of Joshua, we will see Joshua’s final act as the leader of Israel is to invite them to be ALL IN in their relationship with the Lord.

Fully committed, totally invested, nothing held back. All in.

The message of Joshua rings loud and clear down through the centuries to us today. We have a choice Go all in, or don’t go at all.

Are you all in?

Joshua begins his farewell address speaking on behalf of the Lord.

Before any specific challenge would come, God wanted to remind his people of all he had done for them in leading them to this point.
ii.He begins all the way back with the story of calling Abraham to follow him, and traces it up to their time in Egypt.

Verses 5-7 recount the stories of Moses and Aaron and how God brought the people out of Egypt.

Verses 8-12 bring the story up to their present day. How the Lord fought for the children of Israel in the promised land.

From the distant past, to their present day, God was at the very center of the story.

He was the one who made this life possible in the promised land.
It wasn’t their efforts, it wasn’t because they deserved it. It was because he gave it to them. It was by God’s grace, motivate by his love for his people.

One way to put it would be that God had gone “all-in” for his people.

In full view of all that God had done for his people, Joshua calls them to respond.

In rapid fire succession, Joshua calls for 4 things from his people in light of all that God has done for them.

Fear the Lord
Serve him with all faithfulness.
Throw away their gods.
Serve the Lord

This is ALL IN for the Lord.

Joshua’s final command to his people was that they had to choose for themselves, who they were going to serve.

They could go ALL IN for the Lord or they could cling to the god’s of their parents and grandparents in Egypt. The way things had always been.

They could turn to the world around them and try it their way.

Joshua has already made his decision-As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Without further coercion, without exaggerated claims, without any sales pitch at all, Joshua lays it out before the people

“Choose this day who you will serve”

Be all in for the Lord or be all in with the other gods- it’s your choice and it's my choice.

Choose this day who you will serve!