Watchnight Sermon: Joshua 24:15 Choose This Day

Lose weight; get fit; eat more healthily; save money/spend less; get a new job; spend more time with people who matter; try new experiences; get out of a rut; visit a country you’ve never been to before; read more. These were the top ten resolutions in the UK last year. I wonder if you’re making any resolutions?

As we come to the end of the old year, and begin a new one, it’s a great opportunity to think again about the choices we make. You could start a new fitness regime any time of the year, but there seems to be something about the change of date that provides a fresh start, a clean break, a new choice.

In our reading tonight, we hear of a watershed moment in the history of the people of Israel. It’s the end of an era, and a new period is beginning. Joshua has been leading the people of Israel since they moved into the promised land. Moses had brought the people out of Egypt and right to the borders, but Joshua had led the people in.

But now Joshua is old, he’s about to die (at the age of 110), and so he gathers the people together at Shechem. There, he speaks to them on behalf of God, reminding them of their recent history - from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, down to Moses and the people standing there. It’s a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness to them, in giving them a land which wasn’t theirs, and a prosperous inheritance which they didn’t have to work for.

The LORD, the covenant God has done all this for them, and yet - here’s the surprise - Joshua says to them in verse 14: ‘Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness’ - so far, so good - keep on serving God as you have done; worship him, give him the reverence and respect he deserves... but look at what comes next:

‘Put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.’

They have received so much blessing from the LORD; they’re enjoying the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob; they’ve seen God do all this, and yet they’re still clinging to other gods! It’s not so much that they’ve turned their back entirely on the LORD, as that they’re trying to serve God AND gods.

After all, this talk of exclusive worship of God is a bit excessive, surely? Why not keep a multitude of gods happy, just in case you need them in the future. Surely the LORD doesn’t mind if we hold on to the odd idol?

Probably just as much as a husband or wife would mind if their spouse kept meeting up with their old boyfriends or girlfriends... Just as we pledge marital faithfulness to the exclusion of all others, so the LORD calls on the people to choose who their husband is - the LORD, or these other gods?

It’s unthinkable that they even need to make the choice, isn’t it? After all, what have these other gods done for them? Absolutely nothing! But we’ve heard the litany of the LORD’s loving provision, calling their ancestors, rescuing them from Egypt, giving them the land...

Yet here and now, they have to make a choice: ‘Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living...’ What’s it going to be?

Joshua is speaking to the people of God, who have been rescued, who have received so many blessings, and yet are wavering. They still hold to idols and false gods. Is there a possibility that we are the same?

We’re glad to have the promise of sins forgiven and the hope of heaven, but are we content to cling to our own idols - I’m going to heaven, but I’ll hold on to my pride; or my money; or God, you can have 95% of me, but leave that alone (whatever that is)...

Joshua lays the choice before the people, but he boldly declares his own decision: ‘choose this day... but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’

As we begin this new year, may we too devote ourselves to the Lord, the one who has given us his blessings and faithfulness in the Lord Jesus, who promises that he will be with us. No excuses, no delays, no idols. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

This sermon was preached at the Watchnight Service on New Year's Eve, 31st December 2012 in Aghavea Parish Church.

The Way of the Cross (10)

The children of Israel have finally made it to the land of promise. They're about to cross the Jordan under their new leader, Joshua, and try to conquer the first city on their way - Jericho. Two spies are sent into Jericho, coming to the home of Rahab, a prostitute who lived in the city walls.

Despite being a foreigner, and one who would very quickly be conquered, Rahab knows which side she should be on, and so hides the spies from the city authorities. Why?

"I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house." (Joshua 2:9-12)

This foreigner has come to trust in the LORD, knowing the consequences of remaining one of God's enemies. She lets the spies down the wall of the city out of her window by means of a rope - a scarlet cord - which will also symbolise and secure her salvation:

Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. (Joshua 2:18-19)

As with the blood of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12, the scarlet cord (the colour of blood) is the sign of salvation, the protection afforded to those within. The remarkable thing, though, is that those being saved by the 'blood' aren't Israelites this time, but Gentiles, foreigners, being gathered into God's people through faith in Israel's God, the God of the heavens and earth.

Rahab the prostitute is highlighted as an example of faith in Hebrews 11 ('By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.'), as one whose faith expressed itself in works by James ('And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?'). However, the most remarkable thing about Rahab is her other New Testament appearance - one of the few women in the genealogy Matthew begins his gospel with - Rahab became the wife of Salmon, the father of Boaz, so she was David's great-great-granny!

Still today, people of all tribes and nations and tongues are being grafted into God's people through faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus, and the story continues to be told.

To All Generations

How does God view older people? It's an interesting question to ask, especially when thinking about evangelising and ministering to seniors. If society thinks that older people are retired and redundant, what is God's opinion?

Just think of Abraham. He was 75 when God called him to leave his country and family and father's house to go and follow the Lord. (Genesis 12) It took another 25 years before the son of promise, Isaac was born. While 75 was probably younger in those days, seeing as Abraham lived to the grand old age of 175, it was still 75 years of life. Look around at our congregations today. How many of us (or them!) would be willing to start out on a journey into the unknown?

Or look at Moses. At the age of 40, he tries to fulfill his life's mission to be the leader and rescuer of his people by murdering the Egyptian slave-driver. Life begins at forty (so we're told), yet Moses flees from the wrath of Pharaoh and hides in the Midianite wilderness herding sheep. (Exodus 2) It's only forty years later, when Moses has celebrated his 80th birthday that he encounters the burning bush and is on the high road back to Egypt to lead his people into freedom.

Caleb was another mighty man of God, one of the elect elderly, if you'll permit the term. At the age of 85 or so, he comes to Joshua asking for his inheritance (Joshua 14:10). He's ready to engage in some Anakim bashing, as strong as he was when Moses had sent him out as one of the spies forty-five years before.

To come into the New Testament, look in Luke 2 at Simeon and Anna. We're told that Anna was either 84, or had lived as a widow for 84 years (depending on whether you read the text or the footnote). Either way, she was in the seniors bracket. Her life was one of prayer and worship, and she witnessed to Jesus the Christ that day. While we're not told how old Simeon was, the impression we get is of an older man, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Lord's Christ.

Or in a more general sense, we can see that God has plans for our seniors. Think of Paul writing to Titus, advising him on what to teach and how to apply it. As well as addressing specific application to the young men and the young women, he also highlights the older men, and the older women.

Hopefully, as we've surveyed some of the evidence, we can see that God is not ageist - that He calls men and women of all ages. No one is too old for God to call, save, bless and use.

Normally, we apply this by looking towards the young, but it also applies to the older generations too:

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

Sermon: Titus 1: 1-4 Introducing Titus

Imagine that you’ve been travelling with the apostle Paul. Together, you’ve been preaching the gospel, and people have believed in God. You’re now on the island of Crete, but Paul moves on towards Ephesus, and leaves you behind to continue the work. What do you do? How do you do it?

Tonight we’re beginning a new series in the letter to Titus. As you will see, it’s quite a short book in the Bible – 3 chapters, 46 verses. And yet it’s an important book as we seek to live as Christians in God’s world. Paul writes to Titus with some instructions for himself and the church on Crete, which are also helpful for us.

As we launch into the letter tonight, we’re just going to look at one sentence. Not much, you might think, but in that one sentence, there is much treasure. The theme for tonight is ‘Introducing Titus’, but as you’ll see, we get a good bargain tonight, with three introductions for the price of one. First, Paul introduces himself, then he introduces God, then he introduces Titus.

First up, then, the introduction of Paul. Unlike modern letters, where the name of the person writing comes at the very end – yours sincerely, Gary – here, we find that the writer identifies himself straight away. The first word of the letter is Paul. So how does Paul introduce himself?

‘Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.’ What an introduction! The first sets out that he is God’s servant, entirely occupied at serving and pleasing God. It’s an Old Testament title, used of Moses (Joshua 1:2), Joshua (Joshua 24:29), and the prophets (Jeremiah 7:25), as well as the suffering servant (Isaiah 52:13). But don’t think this is a place of weakness. The next title shows that Paul has authority – as ‘an apostle of Jesus Christ.’

The letter isn’t just a social letter, bringing Titus up to date with what Paul has been doing. Rather, it is a letter which has authority – the authority of the apostle of Jesus Christ – to command Titus in his role, and also for the churches to obey.

It’s like receiving a letter from Revenue and Customs, or a summons to go to court. The letter commands us to do something because it is rooted in the authority of the letter-writer – who represents the Queen. Here, then, Paul, as an apostle, is writing to Titus, his colleague, with the authority of Jesus Christ.

If we look at the rest of verse 1, we see why Paul has authority. Or if you like, why he is an apostle. ‘For the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life.’ These four major factors are seen throughout the rest of the letter – faith, knowledge of truth, godliness and hope, but the two key features, indeed, the very theme of the entire letter, are the two middle ones. Our knowledge of the truth and our godliness.

As we’ll see in the coming weeks, it’s vital to hold both together – truth and godliness. Or to put it another way, how sound doctrine must lead to sound living. You see, we’re in trouble if we only have one and not the other. To have good works, without a knowledge of the truth may be an attempt to serve God without knowing God. Good works won’t save us – we simply can’t earn God’s favour in this way.

But the equal danger is to have a knowledge of the truth without godliness. To believe the right things but then do nothing about it – to go on living how we please. There’s a word for people like that – hypocrites! At the end of chapter 1, Paul says of the false teachers, ‘They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.’ (1:16)

As Paul sets out for Titus, and also for us, what we believe about God must make an impact on how we live. Otherwise, those around us may well wonder what the gospel is really all about. What about you?

As well as introducing himself, Paul also introduces God in the letter. Already we’ve seen mention of Him, as Paul is God’s servant, and also in the mention of God’s elect – those whom God has chosen to be part of his family, from all tribes and tongues and nations. But here, Paul gives a glimpse behind the scenes, at the character and purposes of God.

Paul’s writing about the faith, truth, godliness, and especially the hope of eternal life. It is this hope that God has promised, for his chosen people. Do you notice the startling description of God there? ‘God, who never lies.’ This is in contrast to the character of the Cretans (not the cretins!)(1:12), who ‘are always liars.’ So while these residents of Crete may not be able to trust what their neighbours say, they can be confident in God keeping His word.

But more than that, not only does God not lie, He has also promised the hope of eternal life ‘before the ages began.’ Before the creation existed, before God said ‘Let there be light’, God had purposed and promised the hope of eternal life for his people. How is this possible, especially since God, who knew us, also knew that we would mess things up? Well, because God is also ‘our Saviour.’ God is the one who has taken the initiative, in sending Jesus to die for us; and in sending the apostles to spread the good news through their preaching.

Finally, we come to Titus himself. Now, obviously within the letter, Titus didn’t need introduced to himself, but here we can see how Paul regards Titus. It is, if you will, Paul introducing Titus to us. So how does Paul describe Titus? ‘My true child in a common faith.’

The letter to Titus is one of several letters in the New Testament called the Pastoral Epistles. Rather than being written to churches as such, they are written to Paul’s colleagues in ministry, Timothy and Titus. In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul also calls Timothy ‘my true child in the faith.’ Titus and Timothy are therefore younger men, also engaged in the preaching of the gospel, and the letters written to them are to encourage them in the places where Paul has sent them, and to remind them of what to teach. The letters would then have been read when the church gathered together.

Titus is found in Galatians 2:3. He was a Greek Christian – a Gentile, yet wasn’t circumcised. ‘But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.’ (Gal 2:3)

Titus seems to have been Paul’s ‘troubleshooter’ – the person who goes in when things are difficult and sorts it out, like the people in the banks who are trying to turn things around. Earlier, he had been in Corinth several times: (‘But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.’ 2 Corinthians 8:16-17) (2 Corinthians 8:23), which wasn’t an easy place to be, and later he is found in Dalmatia (Yugoslavia, 2 Timothy 4:10). But here, Titus is left behind on the island of Crete, with the task of getting things into order after Paul’s initial gospel work.

And what is the pressing need? As we’ll see next week, church leaders who both hold on to the trustworthy word – the knowledge of the truth – as well as living lives of godliness.

As we begin to read Paul’s letter with Titus, then a number of challenges immediately confront us. Are we trusting in the Lord – do we stand in the faith? Is our knowledge of the truth growing? And linked to that – does what we believe really impact on how we live?

This sermon was preached in St Elizabeth's Halls on Sunday 8th March 2009.

Redding Out

The word in the title may not be a proper word, but it's a phrase you would hear about home. We're just going to redd out the cupboard, meaning to clear it out, or gut it. Or at the end of a work shift, you would redd up. Not sure if it should be spelt read (as in I read a book last week, past tense).

By and however, I've been redding out my college room this evening. Just two evenings left in Dublin now, and I'll be doing exams the next two afternoons, and then the farewell Communion service and dinner. So any spare moment is gladly snatched to do some clearing. Cupboards that have been ignored all year are opened to see what they contain, and papers I won't need are set aside for recycling.

The joy of such task is that you never know what you might find. For me, the greatest joy wasn't in finding some money in an envelope (no, not a brown envelope...), but rather in coming across the cards, letters and notes that I received in my first term here three years ago. Reading again the warm wishes and prayerful words was truly a serendipity - I wasn't expecting to see them this evening, but I'm glad I have. So while other things are left behind or chucked out, these cards and letters will go with me to pastures new, reminders of where I have come from, and how God has led me on.

In moving on, it's important to not forget how God has been gracious and faithful in the past. After all, it's one of the lessons we see in the Old Testament, as the children of Israel come out of Egypt and move into the promised land (eventually).

It's what is happening in Joshua 4, when the twelve stones are set up on the bank of the Jordan. 'When your children ask in time to come, "What do these stones mean to you?" then you shall tell them that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So there stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial for ever.' (Josh 4:6-7)

Or think of Ebenezer. No, not Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. In 1 Samuel 7:12, Samuel takes up a stone as a memorial of victory in battle against the Philistines. Its name was Ebenezer, because it means 'Thus far has the Lord helped us.'

As I prepare to finish in Dublin, I can declare Ebenezer - Thus far has the LORD helped us.' And so he will continue, for He is a faithful God.

The generation of Caleb

I don't know if you've ever seen the episode of Father Ted in which our hero encounters a priest who delights in telling him that "I'm ninety-three" in a broad, high-pitched Irish brogue.

That's the image that came to my mind as I heard one of the lectionary readings from tonight - Joshua 14:6-14. It is the story of Caleb, as he comes to Joshua to claim his own inheritance, promised to him 45 years early by Moses. Caleb, you may or may not know, was one of the heroes of the Sunday School song 'Twelve men went to spy in Canaan, ten were bad, two were good'. In fact, we have both the good spies in the story, because Joshua was the other one.

Caleb and Joshua and the other ten went into the land to spy it out - just as they had come out of Egypt and received the Law on Mount Sinai. The other spies were afraid, but the two were bold and strong in the Lord and wanted to go in and take the land (Numbers 13). The end result was that Israel was condemned to walk in the wilderness for forty years, until the rebellious generation were all dead, and their children would move into the land. Moses was also dead (Josh 1:1), which means that not only were the two heroes of faith together, they were also the two oldest men in the land, by a margin of forty years!

Notice Caleb's words: 'Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.' And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day... It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.'

What a witness to the faithfulness of God, and the vindication of those who trust in him! Forty-five years earlier, Joshua and Caleb had trusted in God, and they were vindicated by moving into the land (all in God's timing). And there he was, Caleb, at 85 ready for battle, strong in the Lord!

Lord God, I want to serve you, and be strong in faith not just now, in my twenties, but for all of my life. Strengthen me for your service, and increase in me your grace and faith. Help me to be like Caleb, strong in your might, even into his eighties! Amen

Commitment: A Sermon preached in Dollingstown & Magheralin churches on Sunday 20th November 2005. Readings: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, Philippians 3:10-21

Every day, we have lots of choices to make. Can anyone think of some of the things you have to decide on? Maybe we have to choose which breakfast cereal we're going to have, or what to wear. All of us have choices to make.

This morning we're going to learn about a big choice that a group of people had to make many years ago, and see how we have that choice to make as well.

Joshua had been leading the Israelites after Moses died. In that time, he had brought them into Canaan, the land that God had promised to them. They had defeated the inhabitants of the land and were now established in their new country. But Joshua was coming to the end of his life so he called them all to come together in one place to make sure that they would continue to live according to God's way.

He was speaking to them, and told them to make a choice. Were they going to serve God, or would they choose to serve some other gods? It was almost like an election, who would they pick?

And yet, the decision was actually quite straight forward. Because why would they choose to serve some foreign god, when they could serve the true God? Joshua gave them some reasons from their history why they should serve God. It was God who had called Abraham, in the first place, which led to the nation of Israel being established; it was God who had cared for them and brought them out of the land of Egypt, where they had been slaves; and it was God who had given them the land they now lived in, where they could enjoy the fruits and all the good things the land produced.

Whereas, on the other hand, the other candidates were false gods, they were just idols, statues of wood or stone or gold, that couldn't really do anything, and shouldn't be worshipped.

Joshua was a brave leader, and said that even if everyone else would choose to serve the false gods, he would still serve the true God.

So who would they choose? God, or the false idols?

The people decided that they would serve the Lord, the true God. Yet Joshua wanted to make sure that they were genuine, that they meant what they were saying, so he challenged them, and tested them three times. So they committed themselves three times to worship God, and live for him. And they made a covenant – an agreement with God that they would serve him.

So what has this story got to teach us, who live in the 21st century? Is there anything we can learn from Joshua and the people of Israel?

Well, we all have a choice to make – who are we going to serve? What are we going to put first in our lives?

What sort of things are there that people can worship? Any ideas? Some people worship popstars, or footballers, and want to be like them, and think about them a lot. Other people worship money, and put it first in their life, by working long hours to get as much as they can.

But, just as Joshua called on the people to worship God, the true God, so I call on you today, and encourage you to serve God. Why would we want to do that?

Well, just as Joshua could give a series of reasons why the Israelites would worship God, so there are also reasons why we should put God first in our lives. The first is because God has created each of us, and knows us better than we know ourselves, and so he is worthy to be worshipped. Further, God has provided salvation for us, by sending Jesus to die for us on the cross, to pay for our sins, and to bring us to heaven with him. And just as Joshua looked back on how God had provided in the past, we can see how God has been faithful in the past. He has given us faithful Christians who have taught us about God, [D: and provided us with a growing church, as we look forward to a new building for meeting in] [M: and provided us with these organisations where we can learn about God while having fun with our friends].

[M: Today, as you are enrolled in the Boys Brigade and the Girls Friendly Society, you will make some promises. You will make a commitment to attend each week, and to be a good member by doing your best, in the activities.]

But the choice remains for each one of us today – choose this day who you will serve! If you have never made the decision to follow Jesus, never made a commitment to him, then make it today! Maybe you have been coming to church all your life, and have always heard about Jesus. Maybe you know all about him, but you don't know him. That was me – I grew up through church, and was in the Boys Brigade and most times won the Scripture Exam, because I knew a good bit of the Bible. I knew about Jesus, but I didn't know him.

And thirteen years ago this month, I came to know Jesus, and made a commitment to him, to follow him, and to come to know him more through reading my Bible and praying to him. And, do you know what? It was the best decision I ever made! I have never looked back!

But the decision isn't just a one-off – something you make once and that's it finished with. Following Jesus is a life-long commitment. It is a commitment to serve God for the rest of your life. And it isn't just for the boys and girls, it is for every person in church. You have to keep going, because while things aren't always easy, it is the best way.

In our Second Reading today, we heard from the apostle Paul, who was writing to the church in Philippi. In the reading we discover how we should be committed, and the reason for that commitment. He says that the reason for being committed to God is that we're looking forward into the future, towards 'the prize for which God has called' us. There is the reward waiting for us, if we're faithful.

So how should we be committed? How should we live? 'Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the prize'. All your thoughts, words and actions should be lived out looking forward to the last times, and the reward waiting for us. So when you have a decision to make, make it remembering forward to the reward. As the bracelets that some of the young people might be wearing say: WWJD – What Would Jesus Do?

So what can we learn today; what can you take away with you? How will you respond to the challenge that Joshua first put to God's people all those years ago: 'Choose this day who you will serve.'

Make that commitment today, come to Jesus, and continue in it, as you grow and develop.