The Call to Covenant Renewal

{Joshua 24:1-24}

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out.

"'Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time. Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand. And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand. And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.'

"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."

[Rev. Paul Kim]

Remembrance

1. Starting Point: Where would you be without Christ today?
2. Salvation: What has God rescued use from?
3. Balaam: Whoa has God used to bless and not curse?
4. Provisions: In what ways have you received cities you did not build and vineyard you did not plant?

Repentance

1. Turn away from the idols in our lives. Those things we cherish above Christ. That which we devote our hearts to. Marriage. Money. Family. Praise of Man.

Resolution & Recommitment

1. Commitment to Biblical Teaching
2. Commitment to Holiness through Commitment to Community
3. Commitment to His Mission
   

"Sent"-ness

{John 20}

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."

[Pastor Steve Huber - Liberti Fishtown]

This is a trinitarian sending. The sending involves Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. This "sent"-ness needs to be refreshed. We are sent as a church. We are sent individually as well. There are people around you who think they hate Christianity... but it is clear that they do not understand the Gospel. We should pray for God to open our eyes to those around us who need to hear the Gospel.

What are we sent to do? What is it we are supposed to do? John 14:12-14 refers to "works." The disciples had watched what Jesus had done. He had raised people and healed people. Jesus said he was going to leave. So does the works of God stop when Jesus leaves? No... Jesus will continue the work through the people...

If you feel like a guy with a Red Ryder BB Gun, you are. But no worries, God has a Howitzer. God can change things and do things that we cannot. This happens when we pray in line with God's will. Not praying for us to be wealthy. Not praying for ourselves. But praying in line with God.

Jesus' presence fights against our selfishness. We often ask ourselves, what do we like. But there is also the question of what would best serve our mission and out community. When we remember Jesus' presence, it helps us to focus less on ourselves. It helps us handle the fear of risk. We are willing to take chances because in Christ, we have all need. His presence reminds us what success means. Not ministry success. Not relationship success. Not financial success. But living your life in the full freedom of Christ. Not shackled by our successes.

Prayer & Challenge...
Your "sent"-ness would be renewed. Sent to do His work. Sent to share the words of life.

Covenant Renewal

[Ephesians 2:19-22]

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

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{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

This passage is directed to the family of God. It is for the church.

Church shows us that Christianity is not just about "Jesus & I". It is about more than just an individual, but the entire family of God. This is the church. It is a family of brothers and sisters in Christ. We are committed not only to God, but also committed to one another.

Christ is committed to the church. He is beautifying her. If we accept God's grace, we should also be committed to the church.

Christ is committed to making the church holy. God is sanctifying the church. We should be continually putting sin to death in our lives. The members of the church grow each other in Christ-likeness. We should be encouraged/rebuked/corrected/served by each other. (Mutual Edification)

Commitment to the Mission of the church... to worshiping and working with the church. Spreading the gospel. Moving with God's charge to the church you are attending. Ask God seriously whether God has prepared you for this work, for this church. If not, then perhaps you should search for where God wants us to be...

A Call for Commitment: Whom will You Serve?

{Rev. Paul Kim}
[Joshua 24:14-24]

1) The call to Covenantal Faithfulness (ver. 14-15)
A call to decide whom we will serve...
2) The People's Response (ver. 16-18)
They say they will serve God...
3) Joshua's Warning (ver. 19-20)
The leader asks again, hesitates because of the possible consequences....
The blessings for obedience & the curses of disobediance...

4) The Agreement (ver. 21-24)

Applications:
A) Throw away other gods.

We probably don't worship the god of Egypt or Canaan. Our modern-day gods are: comfort, convenience, money, possessions, consumerism, popularity, reputation, power, career, marriage, children... What are we concerned about? What do we spend all of our time on?

Consumerism (selfishness) - I don't want to serve. I want to be served. I want relationships, but I don't want to invest time & money. I want to buy stuff. I want to do what I want. What will satisfy me?

This is not just a metaphysical thing. This is a call to action. Joshua is asking people to take the actual physical objects in their tents and throw it out. We are similar called to action. Not just repent, but actually do something. If you cannot picture what it means to throw idols out of your life, you probably not be able to act. You probably have not repented in your heart.

B) Serve YHWH (God) with sincerity and faithfulness.

I give up my pride & reputation. I serve God instead. I take my money & possessions and turn to God and call Him my treasure. I spend money not on myself, but rather on God's purposes. I am to serve, I'm not here to be served. I am not here to be blessed, I wish to bless others.

C) Make a non-contingent commitment.

Joshua indicates he will serve God whether the people decides to or not. His decision is not contingent on others. (It's like going to eat... "Wanna go grab a bite?" "Maybe... who's going?" THAT is a contingent commitment.) You should make decisions on your own.

D) Consider this carefully. Doubt yourself.

Joshua doesn't celebrate when the people respond. He backpedals. He declares the curses that come from disobedience. (It's like a yo-yo dieter. They go on a diet... and cheat. And try again, and cheat again...) We are prone to unfaithfulness. We do not naturally love and serve the LORD.

E) Our hope is in Jesus and the Gospel.

The gospel is "we fail, Jesus succeeds." The gospel does not free us from a covenant. It empowers us to live our a commitment. We cannot give what we do not have. But if God asks us for what we cannot give, He will empower & provide. The promise we make is based on the fact that God can provide what He asks of us.... Our promise is based on His promises...

In View of God's Mercies

{ Rev. Paul Kim }
[Joshua 24:1-14 ; Romans 12:1]

God talks about what He has done for Israel.
1) Patriarchs (ver. 2-4)
2) Exodus (ver. 5-7)
3) Transjordan Victories (ver. 8-10)
4) Promised Land (ver. 13)

This is an account of how God has provided & fought for his people...
God asks the people to choose who they would serve.
The people of Israel reply that they should serve God because of all He has done for them.

The key to covenant (and the Christian life) is to see what God has done for us.

(Figure: Gospel Grid)

How would God's discussion with us look like, if we were Israel?
1) Starting point: Where would you be without Christ today? Where did God find you?
2) Salvation: What has God saved us from, brought us into?
3) Balaam: Who has God used to bless and not curse?
4) Provisions: In what ways have you received cities you did not build and vineyards you did not plant?