Where Are You Sitting? We all have chairs that we sit in: heartbreak, celebration, it’s even been a chair of commitment, confusion, conflict or even a chair that’s produced of compromise. We have ALL sat in these chairs at some point in our own residence. But what chair are you resting in today? Joshua 24:14-15 (NET) 14 “Now obey the LORD and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and worship the LORD.15 If you have no desire to worship the LORD, then choose today whom you will worship,whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates,or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the LORD.” Joshua took over and begins to re-new his covenant with God. Prior to this we know that they got to the promise land but did not enter in, so an entire generation had to pass. And now Joshua is declaring “For me and my house we will serve the Lord”. It’s a choice to follow Jesus with your FULL HEART. It’s the chair of the COMMITTED. -This is intentional time that we seek as we honor God. It’s when we live in this spiritual state constantly committed and connected to God. COMPROMISED Chair. -We allow issues of the heart to drive us to a place of being committed to 2 different environments.This chair is a relationship with Christ but when things get challenging our seat changes into an acquaintance relationship. Another chair is called CONFLICT. -This is the seat of dealing with unresolved hurt, pain, issues. We fight within ourselves to find reason for the confusion we deal with. But then just lose heart and walk away. *We must fight this sequence of Spiritual EROSION. It’s a slow and steady erosion shift where we are resting in. Don’t have the “Some Day” Attitude. Let me ask you today: What chair did you live your last week or month sitting in? Joshua and his people all lived in these 3 seats. But Joshua decides: as for me and my house will serve wholeheartedly. 2 Cor 5:9 (ESV) So whether we are at home or away, we must make it our aim to please Him. *Paul puts his finger on something essential to Christian life: “Christian Ambition” Every other ambition we aim for is temporal. To get where we want to go- a readiness will always be required to keep us sitting in the COMMITTED CHAIR. Nehemiah 13:15-22 15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs,and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food.16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city,brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them,“What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.“19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy.” *Nehemiah survey’s the scene – He could have thrown up his hands in frustration. But instead, he gives them 4 way’s to re-commit themselves. #1 Put The Priority on Worship (verse 15-17) 15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs,and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city,brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people ofJudah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them,“What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day." Small decisions that so easily derailed them from the issue of 1st Importance. The enemy doesn’t mind complacent worship- because it’s the opposite of the real thing. #2 Confront any Complacency (verse 18) “18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster[a] on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” Neglecting the spiritual disciplines won’t make you committed. Don’t settle for the way it’s been before when you know it’s not good enough for today. Complacency chokes out all spiritual ambition. It’s GOOFY to say I’m going to do something the same way I’ve always done & expect God to do something I’ve never seen done in my family/church. Romans 12:11 “Never lack in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord." To not lack in zeal: You will always pay attention to your passion. Is your passion intensifying towards God? #3 Fortify your convictions (verse 19) “19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day” What gets in the way of your spiritual-forward progress? What are the things that have developed a traffic pattern in your heart? Sometimes we make growing spiritually really complicated. It’s not complicated it’s just costly. Nehemiah solution is simple: SHUT THE GATES! It’s also not about just keeping thing out, but also about keeping the right things in.Spiritual disciplines set in place serve the purpose of guarding your heart with all diligence. Nehemiah 13:20-21 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath." It’s a picture representing that once you fortify your convictions, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be tested. Notice that there was an outside influence that lodged outside the gate, to test the fortification. Reminds me of taking every thought captive that exults itself above the Word of God. #4 Pursue Holiness (verse 30-31) 30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good." Holiness is simply: “I want God to continually align us with who we are in Christ.” Choose your chair that your sitting in. I want to encourage you to serve fully committed to Christ. Serve the Lord with integrity and loyalty. Structural Integrity: The ability of a structure to withstand it’s intended load without failing due to fatigue or fracture. When it’s compromised it’s not just isolated damage. When a load bearing structure fails-the weight is transferred It potentially overloads all surrounding support and will collapse. I want to encourage us to re-evaluate what seat we're sitting in,because it’s all about how we are building our house. For me and my house we will serve the Lord.