• About Us
    • Our COVID-19 Plan
    • Our Vision
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Calendar
    • Our Staff
    • Our Missions
    • Keep in Touch
  • Grow
  • Bloom
  • Worship
    • Online Worship
    • Messages
    • Pastor's Blog
  • Members
    • Member Portal
    • Directory
  • Give
  • Precious Lambs
Gethsemane Church in Raleigh
  • About Us
    • Our COVID-19 Plan
    • Our Vision
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Calendar
    • Our Staff
    • Our Missions
    • Keep in Touch
  • Grow
  • Bloom
  • Worship
    • Online Worship
    • Messages
    • Pastor's Blog
  • Members
    • Member Portal
    • Directory
  • Give
  • Precious Lambs

The Joshua Program: Bad Company

9/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Things had finally settled down. For the very first time, you could call the Promised Land – Israel. The majority of the land had been conquered. The Israelites had moved in; they had planted their gardens; picked out the right backsplash; they had even set up a few of those little lawn gnomes on the front lawn.

The land was at rest.

What could they possibly have to worry about?
 
Today we are looking at the second to last chapter in Joshua. It’s essentially the first of two final sermons that Joshua preaches to his people. This one he speaks directly to the leaders of all 12 tribes. Listen as Joshua warns Israel of the danger that lay before them; a danger that we have to watch out for, too. Before we begin, a prayer: Strengthen us this morning by the truth, O God. Your word is truth. Open our eyes to see what YOU want us to see. Open our ears to hear what YOU want us to hear. Open our hearts to believe what YOU would have us believe. Amen.
 
 
I. Identify Bad Company
 
Chapter 23 starts by mentioning that Joshua is well advanced in years. He’s older than he was in the last sermon – and that was pretty old. And he summons all the leaders of Israel together to give them one final speech. Check out verse 7 in chapter 23. It’s a key verse in Joshua’s sermon. It says this, “Do not associate with the remaining nations; do not invoke the name of their gods or swear by them…but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.”

Maybe you get to that part and you wonder, why?
What was wrong with the Canaanite people?
Is God some kind of racist?


First of all, absolutely not.
God made all people.
God made the Canaanite people.
God loved the Canaanites.

But that was the problem. The Canaanites didn’t love God.  Rather the Canaanites loved to take pieces of wood, cut them to the appropriate length, sand them down, use their carving knives to make a face, six eyes, a couple of noses -- sprinkle on some glitter and …voila! “This is my new god.” Even though…it didn’t exist until about 5 minutes ago.
 
And what’s interesting is that these Canaanites still held to their belief in these gods – even after all that had happened over the previous years!
 
Even when they heard of how the LORD held up the Jordan River.
And how the LORD knocked down the wall of Jericho with a couple of trumpet blasts.
And how the LORD caused the sun to stand in the sky and expand the daylight 24 hours.
And how the LORD had drastically changed the borders and boundaries of their land over the last couple of years.
 
The Canaanites still held to other gods.
The Canaanites still held to their own “pretend gods.”
And if Israel got too close, they would gladly teach Israel to do the same.

It’s easy to see how that would happen.

It starts with a trip to the local Canaanite Restaurant that everyone was raving about. The food was good and…the decorations were interesting. “Bartender…sir? What are those decorations?” “Those? Those are Asherah poles. They are devoted to the goddess Asherah. She’s pretty awesome. She lets you drink as much as you want and sleep with whomever you want.” (He nodded in the direction of one of the waitresses.) “Does your God let you do that?” “Um...no?”


Then, there was the time little Avram went for a sleep over in Little Philistine. And he came back so excited – “Mom and dad! It was so much fun. They have this god ‘Dagon.’ He’s part man and part fish. I saw his action figure. He has big muscles and karate chop action. PLUS, each package comes with a piece of gum. Can we get Dagonite action figure? Please!?!”

And then, there was the wedding. I don’t know. I like Bob. But? Should we really be entering Baal’s temple for a wedding? I’d feel weird about praying to a golden statue in order to bless them? But…then again. They are nice people. And…I heard there’s gonna be a Chocolate Fountain, so….
 
And I kinda like it.
And I kinda see where they are coming from.
And I kinda believe this isn’t so bad

And I kinda think that God might not be the only God.
And I kinda think I’m not a God follower anymore…

 
 
Scripture says this: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Cor. 15:33) That was the point of what God was saying through Joshua. These Canaanites were bad company. These Canaanites could lead Israel into their own sin. These Canaanites could lead them away from faith in the true God.

One of the first steps in avoiding bad company is identifying bad company.

Because the thing about bad company is that it isn’t always so obvious. In fact, it’s usually not. For instance, you probably aren’t going to have a group of Satanists come to your door dressed in “Satan rules” t-shirts with matching tattoos and an invite card in their hand that says, “Join us for Back to Satan Worship Sunday.” It’s never that obvious. It’s usually much subtler. Here are three modern areas where bad company tends to hideout:

1) Online.

This isn’t just a warning for cyber sexual predators. (Although there is that and please watch out). It’s a warning against cyber spiritual predators.

And they look nice. They become friends with you. You have cheerful dialogue via social media. You comment on their cat pictures and they comment on the photo of your dog. 
 
But then, you notice something different in their social feed. A steady stream of attacks on Jesus, followed by a constant promotion of sinful things. And at first you think – this doesn’t affect me. And at first you give them a LIKE because “They’re my friend.” And then later you give them a LIKE because “They made a good point.” And finally, you give them LIKES left and right because, “They’re right. God is awful.”

Bottom-line: If one of your friend keeps posting stuff from AtheistsAreTheBest.com…Please Be Careful.  Bad company corrupts good character.
 
 
2) TV.
 
We all probably know this, but TV executives are not all that interested in helping you lead a holy life. Not even remotely. They want money and sin sells. So, they promote sin.

Please be careful. Because suddenly some of our favorite characters end up being a virtual version of bad company.

Homer Simpson may lead you to believe that drinking beer and hanging out on the couch is a great way to treat your wife.  
Anything on HBO might make you think that those filthy words aren’t so big a deal.
Grey’s Anatomy could have you believe that sleeping around with anyone and everyone is just how life is.
 
Careful. Bad company corrupts good character.
 

3) Church.
 
That might sound crazy! Isn’t church supposed to be the place where we go for good company? Absolutely. It is.  Yet – the devil works hard at church. And it’s easy for him to watch friendships be made, relationships be strengthened, and then…inject a bit of sin.
 
I’ll never forget about the time when I was at another church…and some of the older ladies invited me to join them for a Bible group. So, I went. And the Bible study opened like this:

Did you hear about so and so?
Oh I know. She’s terrible.
And did you hear about what that person did?
I know they are the worst.
And can you believe pastor did that?
I can’t and I think he’s pretty terrible.


I was there for about five minutes when I realized…
I wasn’t at a Bible group.
I was at a gossip group.
 
Bad company can exist even a church. Even when we don’t want it to.
If there’s a group that loves to get together and gossip, politely break it up.
 
Because this shouldn’t be a place for bad company…
…but sometimes…it can be.
So, we are careful and watch each other’s back because…Bad company corrupts good character (even in church).
 
II. The Problem with Bad Company
 
Yet it can be hard to leave bad company.
Oftentimes because bad company has something to offer in return:

Friendship.
Fame.
Money.
Even “they think I’m cool.”
 
But the reality is that bad company has very little to offer. Listen to Joshua’s reminders:

(1) “Bad company” does not Save
 
The LORD has driven out before you powerful nations…the LORD your God fights for you...so be careful to love the LORD. (v.10-11)
 
Because their new Canaanite friends didn’t split the Jordan River.
And their “idol”- didn’t cause the walls of Jericho to come tumbling down.
To put it simply:
 
It was not some pile of rocks splashed with red paint and glitter that protected you from your enemies! It was the LORD. 

Those false gods that the Canaanites promoted would not protect them!  Neither will whatever it is that is causing you to want to remain in bad company.

Money won’t save.
Fame won’t save.
A promotion at work won’t save.
“Being cool” won’t save.

None of these things are god and none of them will save.
 
(2) God is the Opposition
 
In fact, they lead to big trouble. Joshua said, “If you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you…then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you.”   
 
Because how else would you expect God to react? He brought them out of Egypt, provided for them in the desert, and conquered the Promised Land for them. In return, they hang around a pile of rocks and sing, “How Great is this Pile of Rocks.” 
 
Here’s how God reacts. God doesn’t fight for bad company.
God fights against them.
And if you are a part of that bad company…

God fights against you.

(3) Bad company are Deathtraps
 
Joshua says it this way, “These nations will become snares and traps for you, whips on your back and thorns in your eyes, until you perish…” (v.13)
 
Have you ever used a sticky ant trap? It’s especially useful if you have lots of ants in your home. It’s a trap that you place on the ground around the area where they seem to get in. It lets off a really nice and pleasing smell to the ants (I don’t know. Sugar or something.) and the ants follow the smell. They walk onto the trap and…they get stuck. They can’t move. They are trapped. They die.

And that’s exactly what would happen to the Israelites.
These flashy new gods might seem nice.
The beautiful Canaanite fertility dancer might seem beautiful…
The handsome Asherah worshipper might seem like a gentleman…

But it was nothing more than a trap.

It would lead to false belief.
Which would lead to falling way from God.
Which would lead to falling away from salvation.
Which would lead to HELL.
 
TRUTH: Bad company always leads to death. Even if they aren’t promoting obvious idolatry, if they are promoting sin…sin leads to death. Thus: They are promoting death.
They are a trap.

Get out before it’s too late! Before these traps get ahold of you; get ahold of the LORD.
 
 
III. Why God?

These scary warnings drive us back to the true LORD.
They drive us back to Jesus.
And when we hold to Jesus, we need not be afraid. Here’s why:

You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you…The Lord your God himself will push the remaining nations out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you. (23:3-5)
 

1) Look at What God’s Done!

For Israel, He split the Jordan River in half in the middle of flood season. He caused the walls of Jericho to come tumbling down with a few blasts of a trumpet. He stopped the sun in the sky, gave you 24 extra hours of daylight, and led you to victory over five vicious armies. And look down at your feet! He gave you the very land that he promised to give their great, great, great, great, great, great-grandfather 500 years ago!
 
And since then?

He appeared on this earth. He lived perfectly, completely apart from bad company.
He died innocently, at the hands of bad company.
He rose triumphantly, defeating the bad company of sin, death, and the devil.

God saved you from sin! Nothing bad has ever come from Him.
Hold fast to the LORD.
 
 
2) Look at What God Will Do
 
He would knock out any nations that remained. He would give Israel the final 5% of the land. He would have no problem completing the job.

He will have no problem completing the job for you.   

God is not like a credit card. His goodness doesn’t get maxed out…so that you have to put him back in your wallet and pull out a different credit card, because “I’m out of money, but those rhinestone studded slippers are really nice.”  

God’s love is infinite.
God’s love is unending.
His resources are unlimited.

He will not fail you.
He will bring you home to heaven.
He will give you eternal rest.
He will give you peace.


IV. What now?

1) Identify Bad Company

That doesn’t mean just avoid people you don’t like.
It doesn’t mean that you avoid people who don’t believe like you do. The Bible says, “Be the light of the world.” In order to be that light…you have to be in the world.

But it does mean be careful. And if the situation warrants, avoid them.

If you struggle with gossip, avoid those who gossip.
If you struggle with alcohol, avoid the bar.
If you struggle with faith, avoid those who are making you question it.
 
Identify what your bad company is and be careful.

2) Be Good Company


Again, the Bible says, “Be the light of the world.” Be that good company that influences others back towards God!
Whether it’s at work, with friends, at school – be that light.

Even at church! Because (we said this earlier) that’s what God would have us be – an encouragement to one another to keep serving Him and keep sharing His message! We are to be the good company for one another.


3) Hold fast to the LORD


Because the LORD is all Israel ever needed. And the LORD is all you need. And the LORD is all will ever need.

Think about how you can hold fast to the LORD.
Do your own Bible reading.
Join a small group.
Make worship a weekly priority.

Whatever you’re doing – great – do more! Fill yourself with as much God as you fill yourself with social media.

And God will hold fast to you.
 
In fact, do you remember that earlier phrase? Bad company corrupts good character?
With God, the opposite is true. Because God-company purifies corrupted character.

May God purify us and make us good company for one another. Amen.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Picture
    Pastor Phil Kiecker and his wife, Julianna love serving the community of North Raleigh.

    Categories

    All
    500
    ACTS
    Adiaphora
    Advent
    All Powerful
    Alone
    Anger
    Anxiety
    Ascension
    Ash Wednesday
    Atheism
    Attitude
    Authority
    Back To Church
    Backwards Thinking
    Baptism
    Barabbas
    Battleground
    Being Selfless
    Believe
    Betrayal
    Bible Study
    Blessed
    Bold
    Bread Of Life
    Breathe
    Building Project
    Caiaphas
    Caring
    Chapel Hill Shootings
    Charleston
    Chosen
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Clean
    Combative
    Comfort
    Commission
    Commitment
    Compassion
    Complete
    Complicated
    Confession
    Confidence
    Confirmation
    Confusion
    Counter Culture
    Courage
    Creed
    Crucifixion
    Danger
    Dark Arts
    Dear Church
    Death
    Debt
    Deep
    Demons
    Depression
    Disappointment
    Disciple
    Diversity
    Divorce
    Don't Be Afraid
    Doubt
    Drowned
    Easter
    Education
    End Times
    Enough
    Entitlement
    Eternal Life
    #EternalLivesMatter
    Evangelism
    Everyone
    Evil
    EYEWITNESS
    Faith
    Faithful
    #FaithTest
    False Teachings
    Family
    Family Matters
    Father
    Fear
    Fighting Temptation
    Firsts
    Fixer Upper
    Follow
    Forgiven
    Forgiveness
    Foundations
    Freedom
    FRESH
    Friendship
    Fufilling
    GIVE
    Giving
    God
    God & Country
    Godly Wisdom
    God's Family
    God's Great Exchange
    God's Not Dead
    God's Will
    God's Word
    Good
    Good Friday
    Good Shepherd Sunday
    Gospel
    Grace
    Greed
    Grow
    Guilt
    Hallelujah
    Hallowed
    Healing
    Heart
    Heaven
    Heavenly King
    Hell
    Help
    Holy
    Holy Spirit
    Homosexuality
    Hope
    Humility
    Hurt
    Idolatry
    Impossible
    Inclusive
    Intimacy
    Jesus
    Joy
    Judgment
    Last Day
    Leaders
    Lent
    Life
    Light
    Love
    Love One Another
    Lust
    Marriage
    Martin Luther
    Maundy Thursday
    Meditations
    Mercy
    Messiah
    Messy
    Ministry
    Miracles
    Mission Work
    Nehemiah
    NEW
    New Life
    New Year
    North Raleigh
    Opportunity
    Outreach
    Palm Sunday
    Parable
    Patience
    Patriotism
    Peace
    Peer Pressure
    Pentecost
    People Of God
    Plan
    Pontius Pilate
    Popularity
    Pornography
    Prayer
    Prepare
    Present
    Priorities
    Promise
    Prophecies Of Isaiah
    Psalms
    Punishment
    Purity
    Race
    Racism
    Raleigh
    Reformation
    Rejection
    Renewal
    Repentance
    Rest
    Resurrection
    RETURN
    Revelation
    #RiseUp
    Runaway
    Salvation
    Satan
    Savior
    Seriousness
    Serve
    Sex
    Sickness
    Simple
    Sin
    Sola
    Son Of God
    Special
    Stand Firm
    Stranger
    Submit
    Substitute
    Suffering
    Surprising Grace
    Thankful
    Thanksgiving
    The Crowd
    The Joshua Program
    The Kingdom Of God
    The Lord's Prayer
    The Lord's Supper
    The Word
    Time With God
    Transfiguration
    Trapped
    Trinity
    True Heart
    Trust
    #TrustGod
    Truth
    Unfaithfulness
    Unity
    Urgency
    Valentine's Day
    Value
    Victory
    Visions Of The End
    Voting
    Walking Together
    Wisdom
    Work
    Worship

    RSS Feed

Gethsemane Lutheran Church
1100 Newton Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 539-2218
pastor@gathertothegarden.com
  • About Us
    • Our COVID-19 Plan
    • Our Vision
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Calendar
    • Our Staff
    • Our Missions
    • Keep in Touch
  • Grow
  • Bloom
  • Worship
    • Online Worship
    • Messages
    • Pastor's Blog
  • Members
    • Member Portal
    • Directory
  • Give
  • Precious Lambs