A Godly Father

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-15-2025

Joshua 24:14-25

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Father’s Day typically takes a back seat to Mother’s Day, and I have no problem with that. We need to celebrate our precious wives and mothers due to their significant role in the family structure. We honor the ladies and should continue to do so because we love them and are proud of them.

 

B.  This is Father’s Day, and today we will exalt the man and praise him in the position that the Lord gave to him. 

 

1.  He is the glory of his children - Proverbs 17:6   Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. 

 

(Daddy, you are so critical in the lives of your family and especially in the lives of your children!)

 

2.  He is the head of his home - 1 Corinthians 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  (The father is the spiritual leader, and as goes the father, so goes the home!  Weak fathers = weak homes.  Strong fathers = strong homes. Spiritual fathers = spiritual home.)

 

a)  He is to take that responsibility seriously!

 

b)  The wife is willing to give him that headship.  Dr. B. R. Lakin used to say, “Some husbands are so henpecked that they roost on the foot of the bed at night.”  America needs men who are born again, with a strong spiritual backbone, who will begin to lead their families.

 

C.  Only time and eternity will show the fundamental importance of men in both the family and the work of the Lord.

 

D.  In our text, we find that wonderful testimony of Joshua as he declared to the people that he and his house would serve the Lord.  

 

1.  Joshua is well known in the Bible for his unwavering faith, commitment, and fearlessness in battle.  Joshua 10:12  Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

 

2.  Joshua was a man of God!

 

3.  But little is said about Nun, Joshua’s father.

 

a)  We know that he was of the tribe of Ephraim.  Numbers 13:8  Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. 

 

b)  The word “Nun” means (30x in the Old Testament) – to propagate or perpetual; resprout or continual.   Faithfulness in Guidance.

 

The Hebrew letter NUN is the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.  NUN means “faithfulness.”   The Psalm begins with Guidance in verse 105. 

 

Psalms 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

c)  Enough said about Nun as the Bible says nothing else but we can see the product of Nun in Joshua.  The phrase “Joshua, the son of Nun” is found in 29 of the 30 mentions of Nun.  When Joshua Was mentioned, it told us who raised him!

 

d)  Thus, Nun was a man who probably passed on his integrity and faithfulness to his son, Joshua, who became one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s history.

 

e)  Nothing is also said concerning Joshua’s children.  We do not know if he had or how man children he had as the Scripture does not carry Joshua’s lineage forward.  Therefore, I will not speculate their outcome if he had children, but I will discuss the role that Joshua played in his home and in Israel.

 

1.  Joshua Was A Man  Of  Unashamed Conversion (Saved and know it!) – (Joshua means Jehovah is salvation.)  Exodus 33:9-11  And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.  (10)  And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.  (11)  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

 

At Jerico, we find Joshua’s respect, reverence, and worship expressed.  Joshua 5:13-15  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  (14)  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  (15)  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

 

Later, during his leadership of Israel, we find the worship of Joshua.  Joshua 8:30   Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,

 

a.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Not Ashamed Of Their Salvation - Philippians 1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 

 

(Let the world know that you are saved and love the Lord!)

 

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

b.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Not Ashamed Of Their Associations - 2 Timothy 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 

 

(Love and spend time with God’s people!)

         

2.  Joshua Was A Man Of Unblemished Character (Saved and show it!) – Joshua 11:15   As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

 

1 Corinthians 16:13   Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

 

a.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Sober – “watch ye”  (Spiritually discerning.)

 

b.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Steadfast– “stand fast in the faith”  (Doctrinally correct.)

 

c.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Strong– “quit you like men, be strong”  (Unwavering.)

 

3.  Joshua Was A Man  Of Unwavering Commitment (Saved and owe it!) – Joshua 23:1 (Joshua, as an old man was still committed.)  Judges 2:8  And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 

 

a.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Sold Out To God - Philippians 1:21   For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

 

(Serving as an example to others.)

 

b.  God, Give Us Men Whose Families Are Sold Out To God - Joshua 24:15   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. 

 

(Serving as an example to the home.)

 

Happy Father’s Day!  I love the men of this church!  Be a good Christian and then you will be a good Dad!  God bless!

Father’s Day - Joshua: Israel’s Champion

Temple Baptist Church - 6-19-2022

Joshua 24:14-25

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Father’s Day normally takes a back seat to Mother’s Day, and I have no problem with that.  We need to make much of our precious wives and mothers because of their great importance to the family structure.  We make much of the ladies and need to do so because we love them and are proud of them.  We men simply need to be encouraged and exhorted.  I have never thought that I needed to be applauded for being a man. 

 

1.  It has been my Privilege.  I am glad that I am a man; I was raised by a man; I raised my sons to be men!  It is a privilege to be a husband, father, and grandfather!

 

2 It has been my Joy.  I do not need to be applauded nor patted on the back for supplying and protecting my family.  It has been my joy!  I would do nothing else.

 

3.  It has been my Duty.  I put this one last because, though all important, it is last on my list.  But it has still been my duty!

 

B.  This is Father’s Day and today we will exalt the man and praise him in the position that the Lord gave to him. 

 

1.  He is the glory of his children - Proverbs 17:6   Children’s           children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.  (Dads, you are so very important in the lives of your family and especially in the lives of your children!)

 

2.  He is the head of his home - 1 Corinthians 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  (The father is the spiritual leader and as goes the father, so goes the home!  Weak fathers = weak homes.  Strong fathers = strong homes. Spiritual fathers = spiritual homes.)

 

C.  Only time and eternity will show the real importance of men in both the family and the work of the Lord.

 

D.   Joshua was a very important man in the history and story of the Nation of Israel.

 

1.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the Fathers of Israel and highly esteemed.

 

2.  Moses was both the Deliverer and Law Giver of Israel and highly esteemed.

 

3.  David was the greatest King of Israel and highly esteemed.

 

4.  Joshua was the Warrior and Champion of Israel and also highly esteemed.

E.  This morning, we see Joshua, Israel’s Champion.  A man feared, a man revered, and a man looked up to by those who had the joy of knowing and following him!  In our text, we find that wonderful testimony of Joshua as he declared to the people that he and his house would serve the Lord.   Joshua was a man of God!

 

F.  When you get to the 23^th chapter of the Book of Joshua, the wars are now over, and Canaan has been conquered and the Promised Land divided it among the tribes of Israel.  Reuben, Gad, and the Half Tribe of Manasseh have crossed the river Jorden.  Joshua is now old and stricken in years, therefore he speaks to Israel concerning their continued relationship with the God of Israel who went before them and gave to them the Land that He had promised. 

 

G.  In the 24^th chapter of the Book of Joshua, verses 1-13, Joshua has called the elders, the heads, the judges, and officers of Israel and “they presented themselves before God!”  Joshua rehearses how God brought them from Abraham to Canaan then gives them a two-fold admonition in verse 14.

 

1.  Fear the LORD.  We men need to fear God!

 

2.  Serve the LORD.  We men need to serve God!

 

H.  In verse 15, Joshua gives these men of great responsibility a two-fold choice: serve the “god” of this world or serve the God who brought you to this place.

 

J.  As fathers and as men who have been redeemed by the marvelous grace of God; saved and know it; this two-fold is still both present and clear!  “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”

 

K.  Then their Champion, Joshua, declared this!  “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

 

L.  Joshua! 

 

1.  Joshua was a Man of Conflict.  A man of war!  The First mention of Joshua is found in Exodus 17:9-10, And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.  (10)  So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill."

 

2.  Joshua was a Man of Commitment.  A man in war, a warrior!  Exodus 17:13-14  And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.  (14)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

 

3.  Joshua was a Man of Character.  A man of worship! Exodus 33:11  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

 

4.  Joshua was a Man of Courage.  A man of worth!  Numbers 14:6-9  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:  (7)  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.  (8)  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.  (9)  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

 

5.  Joshua was a Man of Choosing.  A man of work!   Deuteronomy 34:9  And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

 

6. Joshua was a Man of Continuance.  A man of wisdom!  Numbers 32:11-12  Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:  (12)  Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.

 

7.  Joshua was a Man of Confidence.  A man of willingness!  Joshua 1:1-2  Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,  (2)  Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel

 

8.  Joshua was a Man of Conviction. A man of wealth!  Joshua 24:14-15  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.

 

Dear Lord, Please Give Us Some Men Like Joshua!

The Valley Of Miracles

Temple Baptist Church - 8-2-2020

Joshua 10:12-14

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Over the past months, we have studied many valleys in the Bible that are pertinent to the Christian experience.  Valleys are a type of hard places or times of trouble, pain, suffering, persecution, sickness, and death. 

 

B.  No one likes the valleys as they travel through them, but we have learned that they are essential for our spiritual growth and faith. 

 

1.  This morning, we will study another great valley in which we find a man of God—a spiritual and physical giant—who needed both acts of human strength and divine miracles.

 

2.   Joshua was a Worshipper.  Exodus 33:10-11  And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.  (11)  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

 

3.  Joshua was a Minister.  Exodus 24:13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

 

4.  Joshua was a Warrior.  Exodus 17:8-10  Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  (9)  And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.  (10)  So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

 

5.  Joshua was a Leader.  Deuteronomy 1:37-38  Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.  (38)  But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

 

C.  In this valley, we find that all things are possible with God and He can make a miracle happen just when you need them most. 

 

D.  A miracle can be defined as: a phenomenon that cannot be explained outside the realm of supernatural intervention. It is an event that supersedes natural law.  I want to look at two classes of miracles that we find in these verses:

 

1.  There is the manifestation of supernatural judgment of God upon the wicked.  I will not go through the Bible and list every example but here are a few.

 

                    a)  Noah’s flood that destroyed the world.

                    b)  Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction by fire.

                    c)  Nadab and Abihu destroyed by the fire of the Lord.

                    d)  Korah and his followers swallowed up by the earth.

                    e)  Herod’s death with worms eating his flesh.

                    f)  Ananias and Sapphira dying before the Lord.

 

2.  There are the gracious and mighty intercessions of God on behalf of His people.

 

          a)  The Ark that bore Noah and his family.

          b)  The angels who removed Lot and his family.

          c)  The plagues of Egypt.

          d)  The parting of the Red Sea.

          e)  The manna from heaven and water from the Rock.

          f)  The New Testament is full of them.

 

E.  Gibeon’s deception of Israel.  When Joshua’s army crossed the Jordan River, great fear fell upon the inhabitants of Canaan.  Gibeon heard of the destruction of Jericho and Ai so they sent men dressed in worn out clothes and carrying aged water bottles, etc. to deceive Israel about who they were.  Gibeon was near Ai and was possibly the next target of Israel’s military campaign. 

 

F.  Israel made peace with Gibeon and, therefore, came under their protection.  The other nations of Canaan feared that Gibeon, a highly respected nation with a large army, would help Israel, so they came to destroy Gibeon.  Gibeon sought the help of Israel.

 

G.  In our story, we find that Joshua brings Israel’s mighty army—which is at Gilgal—to aid Gibeon.  Joshua’s army destroys the armies of this great nations with the help of God through various miracles.

 

H.  There are times in life’s valleys when we need a miracle from God! 

 

THE FOUR MIRACLES OF JOSHUA’S VALLEY

 

1.  The Miracle of Strength.  Verses 7-10, 13.  Joshua’s army had been up all day, marched all night, fought all day, and then fought another night and day.

 

a.  The Strength of the March. 

 

1)  Gilgal was in the Jordan Valley while Gibeon was in the Central Highlands, and elevation difference of app. 3,300 feet or like climbing a mountain. 

 

2)  The march from Gilgal to Gibeon was app. 20-22 miles, close to the length of today’s Marathon of 26.2 miles.  Our best conditioned Marathon runners train all year, rest for days prior to a race, practice carbohydrate loading, and are completely exhausted at the end of the race. 

 

3)  Marathon runners wear little and carry nothing in their hands.  Joshua’s army was armed for war: shields, swords, spears, bow and arrows, probably water and a certain amount of food

 

4)  Joshua’s army covered 20+ miles through rough terrain (app. 3,300 foot climb to get to Gibeon), an 8-10 hour forced march that took all night to accomplish.

 

b.  The Strength for the Battle. 

 

1)  Verse 10 - Israel began the battle at daybreak with no time to eat and rest after the horrific forced march through the night.

 

2)  Israel fought in hand-to-hand combat all day and then chased the opposing army for about 2 miles (distance from Gibeon to Bethhoron). 

 

3)  Israel then re-engaged the enemy and fought again from Azekah to Makkedah.

 

4)  Verse 13 – Israel had force marched all night up a mountain, engaged the enemy at daybreak, fought all day, then fought through the next night and another day.

 

5)  A miracle of strength and endurance for mortal man.

2.  The Miracle of the Great Hail Stones.  Verse 11 – There are two striking things about these hail stones.

 

a.  One – Their Size – occasionally, a person will be killed by a hail stone, but the death was wholesale upon the enemy.  We find another example of “great hail” in the New Testament that will shed some light on the possible size of these hailstones.

 

Revelation 16:21  And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (a talent of silver was app. 100 lb while a talent of gold was app. 200 lb.)

 

b.  Two – Their Aim – the enemy was destroyed and not one of Israel’s men died.

 

Exodus 11:7  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.  (God protected His people.)

 

3.  The Miracle of Joshua’s Faith.  Verses 12-13

 

a.  Joshua’s Confidence in the Lord.  “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel” 

 

b.  Joshua’s Command to the Sun and Moon.  “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.”

 

c.  God’s Obedience to Joshua’s Command.  Verse 13.

 

Isaiah 45:11  Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

 

d.  Man may tamper with you clock (Daylight Saving Time), but no power on earth can stop the sun and the moon in their courses!

 

4.  The Miracle of the Sun and Moon Standing Still.  Verses 13-14

 

a.  “And the sun stood still … So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day”

 

b.  “and the moon stayed” – God used this to keep the moon’s orbit around the earth synced with the stopping of the earth’s orbit around the sun.

 

c.  “So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.  (14)  And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.”

 

Conclusion:  Sometimes, even the strongest of God’s children need divine intervention!

 

1)  Israel found out who God was in the Valley of Miracles - Psalms 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  (A God of help when you need Him most, He is always there.)

 

2)  Israel found out what God was in the Valley of Miracles - Proverbs 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  (A God can be confidently counted upon in times of trouble.)

 

3)  Israel found out what God could do in the Valley of Miracles - Luke 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.  (He can turn impossibility into possibility.)