Get Off the Fence! - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
Get Off the Fence!
Joshua 24
· 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
· 15 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.
Get off the fence of…
I. Sincerity
· 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth:
Our sincerity is evident by:
A. Our Fear of God – “Now therefore fear the LORD…”
I am amazed at how many people that profess to be saved have no fear of God.
You can’t profess to fear God and live a life contrary to His Word!
· Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man
· John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments..
B. Our Honesty with God – “…and serve him in sincerity and in truth:…”
· SINCERE: sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity; what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact
Don’t you think it’s time you stop lying to yourself and to God?
Get honest. Get real. Stop hiding. Take off the mask.
· John 4 says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
C. Our Loyalty to God – “…and put away the gods which your fathers served…”
1. A Recognition of the gods – can you identify what in your life doesn’t belong?
2. A Relinquishing of the gods – the putting away is where most people fail.
Get off the fence of…
II. Service
A. The Decision that is Commanded
15 “…choose you this day...”
You will serve someone. That’s not an option.
The question is WHOM will ye serve?
B. The Distortion that is Confusing
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;
How in the world could anyone think it was evil to serve the Lord?
How distorted does your thinking have to be for you to arrive at that conclusion?
C. The Dedication that is Commendable
15 “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua is 110 years old in this passage.
But he’s never been on the fence when it came to serving God.
He was on fire as a young man.
He was seeking the face of God way back.
In fact, he was one of only two of the spies that came back with a good report.Joshua and Caleb were still on fire for God when they were old men.
They never spent a single day on the fence.
Get off the fence of…
III. Salvation
If you are still undecided about being saved, it’s time to get off the fence!
There is a story of a king named Agrippa that was given the opportunity to be saved.
The Apostle Paul himself witnessed to him in Acts 26.
He shared his testimony and gave a clear presentation of the Gospel.
King Agrippa sat on the fence – unmoved and refusing to heed the warnings.
Acts 26
· 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
· 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
· 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
