Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

a. fear the Lordb. serve him in both sincerity and truthc. put away your idolsd. you must choose; you cannot have it both ways!B. Serving a Jealous God1. God calls himself a jealous God, which is to say that he refuses to share worship that belongsto him with an idola. whenever a person tries to worship both Jehovah a false god, he finds that Jehovah walksaway and leaves the man to his idol, for our God will not accept a divided loyaltyb. friendship with the world is enmity against God (cf. James 4:4)–spiritual adultery the likesof which caused the Lord to divorce Israel 2500 years ago2. therefore we must fear God and keep his commandments (cf. Ecclesiastes 12:13)3. we must worship him in spirit and in truth–with emotion and scriptural authority (cf. John4:23-24)4. we must put away the sinful relics of a misspent life and keep ourselves from the idols ofcovetousness, popularity and self5. and we must realize that we cannot serve two gods, we cannot serve God and mammon andhave it be all right with GodC. As For Me And For My House1. Joshua is a leader in his house, the likes of which we do not see much anymore2. the inmates are running the asylum in homes across America, as parents cower in the cornerafraid to offend or discipline the children whose self-esteem must be nurtured even at the expense of theirsouls3. but it is up to Christian parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition ofChrist (cf. Ephesians 6:4), not provoking them to wrath, but neither coddling them to the devil's delight4. as for me and my house means standing in the doorway and keeping out corrupt things, asmuch as possible–knowing their friends, monitoring their televisions and movies and music and makingthem see that God's word is paramount in everythingConclusionWhat wisdom in Joshua, a man who was courageous and dedicated to one true God. Take a stand in thechurch and at home for faith and believe that God can take us home.Character Studies! 67