Joshua 24:15
The sermon emphasizes the importance of making a choice to serve God, highlighting the capacity of choice given to man by God and the consequences of not choosing to serve the true and living God.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of choice in the life of a believer, highlighting that God has given humanity the capacity to choose between serving Him or other influences. He explains that this choice is a profound responsibility, as it determines one's destiny and is influenced by both God and Satan. Smith urges listeners to recognize that everyone serves something, whether it be the true God or other 'gods' of pleasure and power. He concludes with a powerful declaration of commitment, encouraging families to serve the Lord together, emphasizing the father's role in guiding his household in faith.
Text
"THE CHOICE"
I. MAN HAS THE CAPACITY OF CHOICE.
A. It is a God-given capacity.
1. Man was created in the image of God.
a. God is a self-determinate being.
b. He created man a self-determinate being.
2. This was necessary if God was to receive meaningful love and worship
from man.
a. The kisses of the kissy doll are meaningless.
1. You know they are mechanical.
2. They lack soul.
b. I can choose to love God or not.
c. I can choose to serve God or not.
d. "Choose you this day."
B. It is an awesome responsibility.
1. God honors the choice I make.
a. Otherwise the power of choice would be meaning-less.
2. I have the power to determine my destiny.
a. No one can force you to believe in God.
b. No one can force you to serve God.
c. No one can force you to go to heaven.
d. These are all choices you must make for yourself.
3. There are two powerful forces seeking to influence your choice: Satan
and God.
a. Satan appeals to your body appetites and pride. He uses fear.
1. These are strong motivational forces.
2. He also uses lies and deceit.
a. Happiness is free sex.
b. Happiness is booze.
c. Happiness is a God-free conscience.
b. The Holy Spirit uses the motivational force of love.
1. He seeks to appeal to your reason.
a. "Come now let us reason together."
2. He seeks to lead you to truth.
a. To follow body appetites will never lead to
satisfaction.
c. "Choose ye this day..."
II. YOU'VE GOT TO SERVE SOMEBODY.
A. No man is an independent island.
1. Each man is ruled by some guiding force or principle.
2. Certain concepts or principles guide your actions.
B. Every man has his gods or God.
1. The gods your fathers served the other side of the flood. or the gods of
the Amorites.
a. Who were these gods?
1. Gods of pleasure.
2. Gods of force, power.
3. Gods of man's intellectual powers.
2. If you do not choose to serve the true and living God, you are serving
some god.
3. Every man has his master passion which becomes the guiding principle of
his life.
III. "AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."
A. How great it is when the father can speak for the house. He rules his house well.
1. So many dads seeking to escape the responsibilities of the family and home.
a. They are strangers to their own children.
B. What a strong influence the father has on his family.
1. Your son is learning his father roll from you.
2. The influence can be for good or evil.
3. How reprehensible when a father has an evil polluting influence on his
family.
a. He is not just going into the pits himself, but dragging his
family with him.
b. Some children never have a chance.
4. How beautiful when a man will lead his whole family to serve the Lord.
How blessed are his children.
(My head is bloody but unbowed.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - '{''1'': {''a'': ''God is a self-determinate being.'', ''b'': ''He created man a self-determinate being.''}, ''2'': {''a'': ''The kisses of the kissy doll are meaningless.'', ''b'': ''I can choose to love God or not.'', ''c'': ''I can choose to serve God or not.'', ''d'': ''Choose you this day.''}}' - '{''1'': {''a'': ''God honors the choice I make.''}, ''2'': {''a'': ''No one can force you to believe in God.'', ''b'': ''No one can force you to serve God.'', ''c'': ''No one can force you to go to heaven.''}, ''3'': {''a'': ''Satan appeals to your body appetites and pride.'', ''b'': ''The Holy Spirit uses the motivational force of love.''}}'
- II points: - '{''1'': {''a'': ''Each man is ruled by some guiding force or principle.''}, ''2'': {''a'': ''Certain concepts or principles guide your actions.''}}' - '{''1'': {''a'': ''The gods your fathers served the other side of the flood.'', ''b'': ''The gods of the Amorites.''}, ''2'': {''a'': ''If you do not choose to serve the true and living God, you are serving some god.''}, ''3'': {''a'': ''Every man has his master passion which becomes the guiding principle of his life.''}}'
- III points: - '{''1'': {''a'': ''So many dads seeking to escape the responsibilities of the family and home.''}}' - '{''1'': {''a'': ''Your son is learning his father roll from you.''}, ''2'': {''a'': ''The influence can be for good or evil.''}, ''3'': {''a'': ''How reprehensible when a father has an evil polluting influence on his family.''}, ''4'': {''a'': ''How beautiful when a man will lead his whole family to serve the Lord.''}}'
Key Quotes
“Choose you this day.” — Chuck Smith
“The kisses of the kissy doll are meaningless.” — Chuck Smith
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must make a conscious choice to serve God and not be swayed by the influences of Satan.
- Our choices have consequences, and we must consider the impact on our families and lives.
- As fathers, we have a significant influence on our families, and we must lead them to serve the Lord.