Me and my house … WE WILL … Serve the Lord

October 2, 2016
Erlo Stegen
born again, Faith, God's plan, Grace, Jesus, light, Love, Marriage, obedience, Repentance, Salvation, Sanctification
Isaiah, Joshua

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Sunday service, Erlo Stegen, 02 Oct 2016

Wedding of Andre and Andrea (some photos below)

Joshua 25:15
As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

This was also the wedding text of Andre’s parents.

I am over 80 today. And I asked myself, what have you done all these years and what has God done for you? And I realised and marveled at all God had done for us and I could only thank Him. He deserves to be loved and respected by those He has redeemed. And put away other gods. Serve the Lord with sincerity.

We are His possession and should live as such. Sincerity means wholeheartedly, completely, with integrity. The word sincere comes from two Latin words, “without wax”. It was used by people who sold pottery. Sometimes the pottery had cracks and they patched the cracks with wax. But if you held the pottery up to the light the waxed pottery was easy to spot. So too with people who live insincere lives. When held to the light it’s easily spotted. God doesn’t want us to live lives of hypocrisy. We need some Joshua’s in our day. We need men and women who will settle it in their heart that God and His word will be first in their lives. We need people who will set the example for others. Those who would rather die before something comes between them and God, like Daniel, the friends of Daniel, Ruth and the other heroes in the Bible. Joshua takes the opportunity to remind the people that God is righteous. If they follow Him wholeheartedly He will bless them but if they forsake Him, He will forsake them.

Is 35:8
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

This was a highway reserved for the king and not to be used by common people. If there’s ever a generation that must understand this, it’s our generation. If you look at the marvelous highways built around the world, where valleys are filled and mountains cut through and you drive on there without even realizing all the work that went into making your drive so smooth.

But this highway was built for the king to travel quickly on and no one knew when he would come.

When you were saved from your sin you were placed on the highway of salvation. And only those who know the King can walk on it. Are you on this highway, this way of holiness? This way is a clean way, a holy way. Blessed are those redeemed and delivered from their sins. It’s a way for those who have been made new creatures in Jesus. We’re living in a day where people who claim to be Christians play with sin and uncleanness. The Lord expects His people to refrain even from the appearance of evil. Those who refuse to live a life of holiness will not be allowed to go on this highway of holiness.

We are wayfaring men, pilgrims in this world. But if we walk in His way we will not err. If you walk in His will you will never stumble. Don’t forget where you come from and what the Lord has done for you.

Joshua said, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

If you fear God you will have respect for God and His word and a desire to do His will. A good child doesn’t want to hurt his patents. He wants to respect them. People who do not walk in line with God’s word do not fear the Lord.

The remarkable thing about godly fear is that if you fear God you don’t fear anything else but if you don’t fear God you fear everything else. These verses tell us that the fear of the Lord promotes godly living. Such a person respects the Lord and do not want to bring heartache to the Lord.

Sermon audio in other languages:
German