CHOOSE THIS DAY
We are excited to begin our new preaching series, to hear what God is saying to us and to respond to Him in faithful obedience. Our new series is titled, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. We will be looking into the books of Joshua and Judges.
Joshua shows how revival is entered. Judges shows how revival is lost. The key question Joshua asks of the nation is from Joshua 24:15, “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Every generation must choose if they will follow after God and take ahold of His promises. We love to see revival but how does revival die? The book of Judges will help us see how. When Israel enters the promised land in Joshua, the generation that followed inherited victories they did not win. They failed to finish what God had called them to do. Instead of wholehearted obedience, they settled for partial obedience. What began as compromise eventually became spiritual drift.
This series isn’t asking, “What happened to Israel?” It’s asking, “What is happening in us?” Revival is entered through wholehearted devotion. But revival is lost through gradual drift. In Joshua we see faith-filled obedience. God promised the land but Israel still had to enter it. God’s promises never remove our responsibility. But then drift came with small compromises. Judges 2:10 says, “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.”
VIDEOS AND LIFE GROUP RESOURCES:
INTRO: "STAY FAITHFUL"
Life Groups for this week
This weekend we began our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:10
Stay Faithful
Please note that this introduction to our new series was preached across our sites on 26 July. So this email is to be covered in life groups first. The previous email sent covers the preach for 2 August.
We are excited to begin our new preaching series, to hear what God is saying to us and to respond to Him in faithful obedience. Our new series is titled, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. We will be looking into the books of Joshua and Judges.
Joshua shows how revival is entered. Judges shows how revival is lost. The key question Joshua asks of the nation is from Joshua 24:15, “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Every generation must choose if they will follow after God and take ahold of His promises. We love to see revival but how does revival die? The book of Judges will help us see how. When Israel enters the promised land in Joshua, the generation that followed inherited victories they did not win. They failed to finish what God had called them to do. Instead of wholehearted obedience, they settled for partial obedience. What began as compromise eventually became spiritual drift.
This series isn’t asking, “What happened to Israel?” It’s asking, “What is happening in us?” Revival is entered through wholehearted devotion. But revival is lost through gradual drift. In Joshua we see faith-filled obedience. God promised the land but Israel still had to enter it. God’s promises never remove our responsibility. But then drift came with small compromises. Judges 2:10 says, “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.”
Drift is rarely dramatic – it begins quietly. Prayer becomes inconsistent. The Word becomes optional. Gathering becomes occasional. Sin becomes tolerated. Conviction becomes weaker. Judges then ends with this one devastating sentence. “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Revival is never sustained where self remains on the throne. Instead, we need another to rule in our lives: Jesus. Jesus is the better Joshua. Joshua teaches us how revival begins. Judges warns us how revival is lost. Hebrews tells us how revival is sustained. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
So we will continually ask of ourselves this day, and the generations to come too: whom will you choose? Let our answer now and forever be Jesus. Let us journey with the next generation to know Jesus and follow whole-heartedly after Him. We will seek after Him through this series, check our hearts, and our prayer church, is let us choose Jesus, today and forevermore.
1. Can you identify any ways or areas where drifting away from Jesus is happening in your life?
2. What should our response be to not drift away from Jesus or to fight for the next generation to know Him?
3. Jesus wants to rule in your life. Having some self-inspection, would you be happy for Him to, or are your wrestling with Him at times to try and keep self-rule?
Week 1: "COURAGE AND OBEDIENCE"
Life Groups for this week
This weekend we began our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Courage and Obedience
We hope that you had a good, restful holiday period. As we kick off our next term, we continue to be excited and inspired by what God is saying to us. The fruit of God’s Word, His work and move across our sites, rippling into the city, nation and nations has been encouraging. We are excited to begin our new preaching series, to hear what God is saying to us and to respond to Him in faithful obedience. We will be looking into the books of Joshua and Judges.
Joshua shows how revival is entered. Judges shows how revival is lost. The key question Joshua asks of the nation is from Joshua 24:15, “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We want to be a people who passionately and in absolute devotion follow after God, and live lives of intimacy and obedience. We want to see how we can have this now, and how we can ensure the generations to come continue is such devotion an intimacy towards God.
In Joshua 1 we see the call to be strong and courageous. The promises from God require a courageous obedience. There are a few truths for us to take ahold of.
1. Promises do not remove responsibility. God promised the land to Israel but they still had to enter it and take ahold of it. Faith is not passive but requires us to respond, to act. There are things God is asking us to do as a response of faith. We want to obediently do that which God is asking of us.
2. Courage is not the absence of fear. Joshua undoubtedly felt overwhelmed as the tasks that lay ahead would have been beyond his strength and physical ability. Courage is obedience despite uncertainty. We need to hear what God is saying, trust Him, and then respond in courage.
3. God’s presence produces confidence. God’s repeated promise is “I will be with you.” The confidence of God’s people has never been their own strength but rather it has always been His presence. God desires to be known, to be sought after, to be found. We can be with God in such intimate ways. His presence gives us absolute confidence.
Jesus is asking us to believe every promise that He has spoken, to believe in His faithfulness to us, to believe that His presence is enough in what He is calling us to. Knowing this about Him, ask yourself, what is the next step He is asking you to take, and how can you then take it. This is obedience. Take the step He is asking, over and over again. Be strong and courageous.
1. Are there promises that you have heard God speak to you? What has become of them?
2. What is the next step you feel God is asking you to take? What do you have to do to take it?
3. How is your relationship with God? If there is a need for greater intimacy and devotion, what can you do as a constant response to God’s invitation to you?
Week 2: "CONSECRATE YOURSELVES"
Life Groups for this weekThis weekend we continued our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group. “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5 Consecrate YourselvesBefore Israel crossed the Jordan, God didn’t first give them strategy, battle plans, or territory. Rather, He called them to consecration. Consecration is our active pursuit of being sanctified, living in the holiness and purity that we have in Jesus Christ and thus separating ourselves from things that can cause sin and disobedience towards God. “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). Before God does something through us, He wants to do something in us. Before God changes circumstances, He changes people. We believe that God has many breakthroughs for us individually and as His church. But, consecration precedes breakthrough. God is more concerned with who we are becoming than what we are doing. So we need to partake in this work of consecration within us. We need to follow devotedly after God. The presence of God leads His people and revival begins with surrender. What does this mean for us? God works in hearts that are prepared to be given to Him, to be consecrated. God cares about who we are and who we are becoming. He is desiring to consecrate us. Revival begins with surrender. This is us being available to God, setting ourselves apart for Him. Consecration is not perfection but rather us passionately seeking God and His will. Consecration creates capacity. Before God trusts you with His works, He calls us to come deeper in our relationship with Him. This involves change, and pruning and surrender. It is not punishment but preparation. We then learn how to hear God and follow after God, letting Him lead the way, like the Ark went before Israel. Jesus is our perfect example of consecration. He lived completely set apart for the Father’s will. His surrender in Gethsemane opened the way for our salvation. Now He calls His disciples to live the same surrendered life. Before God changes the world through His Church, He transforms His Church into the likeness of Christ. Jesus is asking us to believe Him and obey Him. Believe that God is preparing you, He is positioning you, His presence is enough. Obey by surrendering to God, remove distractions, choose continual consecration, and follow His presence before pursuing His promises. 1. What distractions can you identify that need to be removed? 2. Where is God preparing you before moving you? 3. What in your life needs to be set apart to Him again? |
Week 3: "REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE"
Life Groups for this week
This weekend we continued our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
Joshua 4:6-7
Remember what God has done
If we reflect on our lives, our past, we can all recall numerous times that God has done remarkable things. He has saved us graciously, He has provided for us continually, He has been present constantly, He has been faithful always. He is faithful to us and calls on us to be faithful and trusting in Him in return. However, forgetfulness is one of the greatest enemies of faithfulness.
God knows that we forget. Too often we forget the testimonies of God’s faithfulness and goodness in our past, in the midst of our current circumstances and feelings. We too easily forget what God has done. Testimonies, therefore, build future faith. Every generation needs stories of God’s faithfulness. We carry this privileged responsibility to remind ourselves and the generations to come of God’s faithfulness, so that we never forget. Remembering the testimonies of what God has done builds our faith for the current season and future and it also produces gratitude in us towards God. Gratitude protects devotion.
When God commanded Joshua and the Israelites to create two memorials with stones, the memorial stones were not for God. They were for the people. They were a reminder for the generations to come what God did in saving His people. Communion is the New Testament memorial for all of us. Jesus knew we would forget. In our busyness, in our desire to do works, in our pursuit to be better people, we could easily forget Jesus saving us on the cross. So He gave us bread and wine and said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Every time we remember the cross, our hearts are drawn back to the Gospel. We don’t simply remember what Jesus did. We remember who He is. Remembering Him and all that He has done for us will build up faith again and again, and lead us to gratitude again and again.
So Jesus is inviting us to believe that the same God who has been faithful in the past will be faithful again, believe that your testimony has power to strengthen someone else’s faith and believe that gratitude guards your heart from drift. And then respond. Take time to remember and thank God for His faithfulness. Tell your stories of God’s goodness to your family, friends and church. Create rhythms of remembrance through testimony, communion and gratitude. Refuse to let familiarity rob you of wonder.
1. Share some testimonies of what God has done for you in your past. You can prep the group ahead of time to prepare a couple of testimonies each, prepare them to share for 2-3 minutes and hear the testimonies around the room.
2. Break bread together as a life group, thanking God for His faithfulness, remembering Jesus for saving us.
Week 4: "HIDDEN COMPROMISE"
Life Groups for this week
This weekend we continued our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
Israel has sinned…
Joshua 7:11
Hidden Compromise
In Colossians 1:13-14, we are told that, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The moment we are saved by Jesus, we are taken out of the kingdom of darkness. This means we are freed from the power and rule of sin, free from condemnation, free from punishment, free from being separated from God. We are free but then transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus. We are with God, made righteous, made pure and holy, belonging to a Kingdom that can never be shaken. This is such a wonderful truth we must believe and live in.
But in our salvation, we still find that we have to deal with sin. We still have to overcome temptations and opposition. It is so important for us to bring these sins and battles before God so that He can lead us to overcome, so that we can be forgiven and so that we keep growing from glory to glory. We must be serious then when it comes to sin, and not allow any compromise towards sin to dwell in us.
Sin is never merely personal. Sin is against God and God hates sin. Sin impacts the people around us. We cannot compromise sin. Hidden compromise weakens spiritual authority. Private compromise has public consequences. The body is affected when a part is hurting, falling, disobeying. Small sins become large problems. We cannot tolerate sin of any kind. We cannot treat sin as simply being mischievous or playful. Sin is deadly. God says he disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). God wants us to deal with our sin, to bring it before Him, ask for repentance and action the life He gives us to overcome. Repentance restores what compromise destroys.
To address personal sin can be difficult and uncomfortable. You may feel convicted as you identify or are made aware of sin that you are tolerating. The goal of conviction is not condemnation but the goal is repentance and restoration. God desires to forgive us, set us free and help us overcome sinful ways in our life. God exposes what He intends to heal. As challenging as it is, be grateful that God is pointing out things in your life He wants to deal with. He is a good Father, who wants to protect us and see us live in the freedom we have in Jesus.
When alone, confess your sin to God and trust Him that He will forgive you (1 John 1:9). If you feel it helpful, chat to your life group leader about some of the things you are dealing with, repenting of, or even needing accountable help with. Let us not tolerate sin. Let us not forfeit the promises God has for us because we choose to make compromises. We are free from the kingdom of darkness. Let us live freely in the Kingdom of Jesus.
1. Have you ever thought less of sin than the severity that it should be addressed?
2. What have you tolerated that God is confronting?
3. Do you believe the salvation promises that you are free from bondage to sin and that God forgives you when you repent?
Week 5: "Wholehearted Faith"
Life Groups for this week
This weekend we continued our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.
Joshua 14:14
Wholehearted Faith
We see throughout scripture and throughout history that God is faithful. God is true to His word, true to His plan and He can be trusted always. This is important to know because just like with Israel traveling through the wilderness towards the Promised Land, we will be checked to see whether we do trust God in all circumstances. Israel doubted, they grumbled, they forgot God’s faithfulness and this led to them being unfaithful to God. Sadly, we can do the same. We too easily forget God’s faithfulness and respond by lacking faith towards Him.
Caleb was different. Caleb was one of the spies who saw what was in Canaan. He too saw the giants, saw the opposition, saw the enemy, but he also remembered what God said and He trusted God. He said that Israel should trust God and go into the Promised Land for God would give it to them. He had faith in God and thus showed faithfulness. However, the people disagreed and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.
45 years later, at the age of 85, Caleb took possession of his inheritance. He remained faithful and thus God rewarded Caleb with him being able to enter into the land and then take possession of Hebron, a promise made 45 years earlier. What can we learn from Caleb?
It is mentioned 3 times in Joshua 14 that he wholly followed after the Lord. He also had a different spirit to the others. Caleb did not rely on personal strength or giftedness. He relied on God. He saw things differently simply by trusting God more than the circumstances or doubts. He was active in serving God. While waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled, he remained active serving God and being faithful. Caleb lived a life of devotion to God and surrender to him. He followed God with his whole heart and trusted God. God rewarded this with giving Caleb the promises He made to him.
We are to learn a lot from Caleb. We too are to live with a wholehearted faith. We too must trust in God’s faithfulness and remain faithful to God. God is still making promises over us, He is still leading us, He is still faithful every day. We need to respond as Caleb did: Let us trust God always; let us see things by believing in what God says and not by what we see; let us remain faithful to God, even in the waiting.
1. Have you ever questioned God’s faithfulness, whether you can trust Him, follow after Him? If yes, how do we come to trust Him?
2. How can we follow after God wholeheartedly?
3. Has comfort or doubt affected your faith? How do we return to being faithful people living in faith?
Week 5: "Choose this day"
This weekend we continued our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
“…choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
Choose this day
We come to the moment when Joshua calls for a decision: “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). We have read through the journey that God will lead us through. God makes promises to us, God works in us to work through us, God desires us to faithfully surrender to Him. So then comes the call: whom will you follow, whom will you serve? Our absolute response needs to be God. We need to follow Him wholeheartedly.
Neutrality is not an option. Everyone serves something. Our devotion will be pursued by many things in our life. The enemy, this world, our selfish desires all demand our devotion. We cannot find ourselves sharing our devotion with God and another. God is a jealous God and God does not desire us to be lukewarm. So we must choose. Choose God, and have faith in Him and faith from Him.
Faith must be continually renewed. Yesterday’s obedience cannot sustain today’s relationship with God. We cannot live in the legacy of our past. We cannot live in the faith of those before us. Every generation must choose again. We must choose today for ourselves.
Finishing well matters. Joshua’s final concern was not conquest. It was faithfulness.
Entering the land was only the beginning. A life of continual faithfulness was needed. This still applies to us. We are God’s people. We are part of His Kingdom. We are to live our lives each day for His Kingdom to come, His will to be done. So church, let us each address for ourselves the question of whom we will serve. And if we have learnt anything, we see that following after God and serving Him is the greatest life we can ever live. So let us live our lives for Him.
1. Who or what is competing for your loyalty?
2. Have you become familiar with God instead of devoted to Him?
3. What decision do you need to make today?