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 – 2023 - Let Us Make Man

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-18-2023

Genesis 1:26-28

 

Introduction: 

A.  First of all, “Happy Father’s Day!”  I pray that today will be a special day for each person here this morning.  None of you would be here this morning if it were not for your dad.  Artificial Intelligence can never replace the men that God has placed in each of our lives.  Make this a special day for both your father and your family.

 

B.  Our text is the First Mention of man, woman, children, and home.  In the First Mention of these, we find the will of God for each within the divine structure of the home.  The world has done its best to destroy homes and is doing a good job of it.  Today, homes are out of order, filled with division, and filled with the world.

 

C.  God has purpose in the structure for the blessing of our homes, but homes must follow the purpose and pattern that God intended to prosper. 

 

D.  Man has been on this earth for approximately 6000 years.  As we go back to the “dawn” of creation, through the inspiration of the Word of God we get to see through God’s eyes. 

 

Genesis 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

 

Genesis 1:10  And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:12  And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:18  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:25  And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

E.  Six times in Genesis, chapter 1, the Bible says that “God saw” and “it was good”.  A seventh time, God added the word “very” to “good.”  A perfect creation was only perfect when God created man in His image and after His likeness!

 

F.  Let us look at three verses found in Genesis, chapter 1 that made this world a perfect place.

 

Genesis 1:26-28  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  (28)  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 

G.  God made man:

 

1.  After His image.  Image: From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, that is, (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, especially an idol: - image, vain shew.  (Something that cannot be seen but can be perceived.  You can see my physical body, but you cannot see my spiritual person.  Today, I live in my body, but I will also live outside of my body one day.)

 

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 

Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

 

2. After His likeness.  Likeness: resemblance; concretely model, shape; adverbially like: - fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.  (As God is a trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, so man is a trinity: body, soul, and spirit.)

3.  Before God established the first home, He gave Adam everything that he needed to head it up.

 

a)  A body that was world conscious.  When God created Adam, my thinking—as he was created a full-grown man—is that we could say that his life began at what we would call 30 years old in looks and strength.  I base that upon Christ beginning His public ministry when He was 30.

 

b)  A soul that was self-conscious.  Adam’s soul or heart or seat of affections is where he was conscious of self which forms our conscience.

 

c)  A spirit that was God conscious.  It is in spirit that Adam worshipped the Lord and walked with “the voice of the Lord God.”

 

H.  All this seen by God and given to us to see and know that it is very good?  God made man spirit and also multiple in one.  “Male and female created He them.”

 

J.  Now, for the structure of the first home created by God created Adam, the first man, to be the embodiment of all three aspects of the family.  In Adam was Eve and through Adam and Eve came children.  All were in Adam when he was created!  This is an important revelation given to us.  God made man along with women and children to eternally co-exist with Him!

 

K.  I used to be hard on Adam because of the thinking and actions of Eve in the Garden of Eden but they were probably equal at the time as God did not appoint Adam to rule over Eve until after the fall.  Submission was a part of Eve’s judgment.

 

Genesis 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

 

L.  Adam was the head, Eve was his helpmeet, and children were the offspring.  Look at the New Testament structure of the home as it perfectly agrees with the First Mention of the home.  Homes will never be right until the order of the home is right.

 

1 Corinthians 11:2-3  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  (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.

 

Ephesians 6:1-2  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

 

M.  A good father must have:

 

1.  His Relationship with God MUST be right. 

 

a.  Salvation.  This relationship must be based on Redemption.  This is heart searching in that the question is now asked to you know Jesus Christ in salvation?  If you do not, you need to.  EXCEPT a man be born again, he cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God!  Period!

 

b. Sanctification.  A proper relationship with God requires a Walk with God.  I have been preaching a series on “Walking With God” as it is essential to our relationship with God.  If you are not walking right, it is because you are not living right.

 

b.  Service.  A proper relationship with God continues with a Walk in the Word of God.  Personal and family devotions are essential to a spiritual home.

 

c.  A proper relationship with God will produce a biblical Worship of God.  In these last days, for the most part, the women are more spiritual than the men. 

 

2.  His Responsibility to Biblical Obligation MUST be right.  Both to the family and each other.

 

a.  To Protect his family.  This has virtually become a bad thing in our day but the Father should be ready to fight and die for his family.  Real men are vicious protectors of their wives, children, and grandchildren.

 

b.  To Provide for his family.  Shelter, clothing, food, and every essential to family life.  God’s men should have a work ethic and take care of business.  They should keep their bills within their budget.

 

c.  To set a Pattern for his family.  If the wife and children are to follow the Father, then the Father MUST walk in a spiritually plain path that the Bible calls the Old Paths wherein is the good way.

 

3.  His Reason MUST be right.

 

a.  Obedience to God!  God made you men the head.

 

b.  Love of Family!  Family first, not friends or finances or fancy!

 

4.  Then his Ruling WILL be right.

 

a.  Just!

 

b.  In the fear of God!

 

Happy Father’s Day!

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!

Remove Not The Ancient Landmark, Which Thy Fathers Have Set

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-24-2020

Proverbs 22:28

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Happy Father’s Day!  We sometimes make less of Father’s Day than we do of Mother’s Day, but both are equally important.  How many times have you heard someone say, “If it had not been for Mother, I would not be here!” 

 

B.  I have got good news for you.  “If it had not been for Father, you still would not be here!”  I heard a woman once say, “If we women could have children without you men, YOU WOULDN’T BE HERE!”  Enough of the foolishness! 

 

C.  I want you men to know just how important that you are this morning to the home, the church, the work force, and this great nation.

 

1.  The home would be weakened without the father.  The home needs the father’s steadfastness, wisdom, and strength to operate properly.

 

2.  The church would be handicapped without the father.  The church cannot be run by women, regardless of what the “new fangled religionists” say.

 

3.  The workplace would be is crippled without the father.  There are jobs that women just simply cannot do due to lack of physical strength and male drive.

 

4.  The nation would be extinct without the father.  I know that we have women in the military this day, but an army entirely made up of women would not go far in battle.  Women are no physical match for men.

 

5.  We, as fathers have a moral obligation to our wives and children that the Lord has given to us. Teaching them God’s holy Word.

 

6.  I want to look at this verse this morning to get the meaning of it and then try to glean some truths from it.  I will also make application to the Word of God, which is the landmark that our fathers have set.  The Bible sets the boundaries within which we are to remain and distinctly marks the difference in things right and things wrong.

 

7.  Fathers, our children need the Word of God more than anything else that we can give them!  It is of the utmost importance that they not only know which Bible is God’s Word but also are taught the Scriptures that they might not “sin against God.”

 

8.  Let us look at God’s Command to the fathers:

 

HOW IMPORTANT IS GOD’S WORD TO OUR HOMES?  THIS ONE VERSE EXPLAINS IT.

 

1.  “Remove not” – This is something that we refuse to do or this is something that we do. 

 

a.  The ONLY reason that we move the “landmarks” of our property which have been set by surveyors is when we either sell or give the land away.  Then we have the land re-surveyed.

 

b.  Too many in our day are willing to either sell our cheaply or just give our spiritual “land” away! 

 

c.  If the Word of God is removed from our homes, it will be the fault of us fathers.  

 

d.  If the Word of God is removed from our churches, it will be our fault, the fault of its pastor and its people.

 

e.  “Remove not” is a commandment!  “Remove not” is an “absolute negative,” meaning never for any reason!  The Holy Spirit did not put this verse here just to take up space and, the verse stands alone which makes it self-explanatory. 

 

f.  Landmarks were anciently set to distinguish one man's land from another, to secure property, and preserve from encroachments; but some were so wicked as either secretly in the night to remove them, or openly to do it, having power on their side, pretending they were wrongly located. 

 

g.  To remove a landmark was not only prohibited by the law of God, but also pronounced an accursed thing.

 

Deuteronomy 19:14  Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

 

Deuteronomy 27:17  Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

 

2.  “The” – the word the is a definite article! 

 

a.  Words are important in Scripture and need to be taken as such.  To the new preachers, churches, and colleges of our day, the importance of singular words makes little or no difference.  A definite article is used before either singular or plural nouns referring to a member of a group.

 

1)  The word “the … landmark” refers to something singular in nature.  We endure a war of attrition spiritually.  The world and the liberal theologians do not try to remove every Old Path or Landmark of biblical Christianity at once as the God’s people would not stand for that.  Over the years, they keep chiseling away at the Landmarks of Christianity a little at a time so as to get God’s people accustomed to the dark.

 

2)  The Sanctity of the Scriptures.  The verbal, plenary inspiration, and preservation of the Scriptures.  To believe that God only gave perfection to the original manuscripts is to BELIEVE NOTHING!  That means that in the beginning man had God’s Word but now only has a manmade replica of it. 

 

a)  Many replicas have been made of the Mona Lisa painting but are worthless compared to the original.  We have THE “Mona Lisa” in our King James Bible!  Bible believers are called cultic by the liberals.  Book worshippers, worshippers of paper and ink.  The liberal left is good at labeling the conservative right in everything from politics to the Bible!

 

b)  The Word of God is not to be “tampered with” in any sense of the word.  It is to remain in its position of final authority, otherwise, we have no authority and every man can do that which is right in his own eyes.  We fathers have the responsibility of keeping God’s Word in our homes.  The welfare of the home hinges upon God’s Word.

 

c)  The King James Bible is not a bible.  The King James Bible is the Bible!  Liberals have tried to discount and defame this blessed Bible, but it still stands as the “benchmark” of all so-called bibles.  We fathers have the responsibility of making sure that our children know which Bible is the right one.  The King James Bible!  The very Word of God!

 

3)  The Sanctity of Marriage.  Marriage is honorable in all according to the Bible.  It was the first institution that God created and the most important as it typifies our relationship with Christ, which cannot be broken.

 

4)  The Sanctity of the Believer.  God’s people have slowly conformed to the image of the world instead of to the image of Christ.  Without holiness, no man will see the Lord!

 

5)  The Sanctity of the Local Church.  What does “not forsaking” mean?  There has been a movement away from the local church in our nation.  God said “not,” an absolute negative.  Only being providentially hindered (God allowed something to stop you from attending) is permitted by the Lord.

 

6)  The Sanctity of Life.  Our nation is a Baby Killer!  God gives life at conception and pro-choice is before conception, not afterwards.

 

7)  The list could go on and one!

 

b.  One Landmark at a time eventually leads to the destruction of all Landmarks.

 

Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (God is not going to deliver the embodiment of Truth again!)

 

3.  “Ancient” – refers to something of antiquity or of ancient history. 

 

a.  This is something that is known and has been known for a long period of time.  This does not refer to anything new or recent.

 

2 Peter 1:19-21  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

b.  The Word of God has been preserved by God from the original autographs to the Bible that we now hold in our hand.  The right Bible off of the right line of text! 

 

c.  I have a Bible as old as eternity past because “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  The same was in the beginning with God.”  The Word is still God!  That statement will make the liberal cringe!

 

d.  This old King James Bible was good enough for our fathers, it is good enough for you and me, and it is good for our children.  It was before all things and will continue to be when time is no more.

 

4.  “Landmark” – landmark is singular in number.

 

a.  LAND'MARK, n. [land and mark.]  1828 Webster's Dictionary

A mark to designate the boundary of land; any mark or fixed object; as a marked tree, a stone, a ditch, or a heap of stones, by which the limits of a farm, a town or other portion of territory may be known and preserved.

 

b.  An indelible Mark by which something may be known.  We have surveyors place stakes and ribbons in strategic places for reference.  By this, we know the boundaries of our land.  By the Word of God, we know our spiritual boundaries.  It is of no wonder that this new generation do not want the standards set by our Bible.

 

c.  By which something may be preserved.  Surveyor’s stakes are left there to preserve the boundaries and they are to be left alone.  This speaks of a specific boundary, not just any boundary. 

 

d.  As a norm, we at least mark the four corners of our land, but this refers to only one landmark.  Surveyors place their secondary markers about one specific marker from which they take measurement.

 

e.  Our children deserve a benchmark that is both settled and unmovable.  Everything is shifting today:  morals, mentors, as well as “churches” and “Christians.”  They need the stability of God’s Word!  They need an unmovable anchor!

 

5.  “Which our fathers” – this lets us know who set the landmark. 

 

a.  This is just not any landmark that we come upon, but it is one set by those who we know, love, and respect. 

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

 

b.  “Fathers” – this is a plural word!  Not a landmark set by one father, for this may or may not be a right one, but a landmark set by our fathers who agreed with one another!  Separated by thousands of years, they were in perfect agreement.

 

c.  “Our fathers” – this is in reference to specific fathers.  Not just fathers in general.  There have possibly been billions of fathers since the beginning of time with not all fathers either spiritual or ours.  This blessed Book was written to Israel and by application to the child of God.  These are our fathers!

 

2 Timothy 3:13-15 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

d.  As Isaac re-dug the wells that Abraham dug previously, we are also “digging where our fathers dug!”  These are our Christian forefathers who stood for these precious truths and passed them down to us.  By “digging where our fathers dug” and calling these “wells of truth” by the same names, we can give them to the generations to follow.  The Bible worked for them, it works for us, and it will work for them.

 

6.  “Set” – to place in a permanent position. 

 

SET, v.t. pret. pp. set.  1828 Webster's Dictionary to compose, as a book, to dispose or put in order, to establish, found or institute, to possess, to cease;  To put or place; to fix or cause to rest in a standing posture. We set a house on a wass of stone; we set a book on a shelf. In this use, set differs from lay; we set a thing on its end or basis; we lay it on its side.  To put or place in its proper or natural posture. We set a chest or trunk on its bottom, not its end; we set a bedstead or a table on its feet or legs.  To put, place or fix in any situation. God set the sun, moon, and stars in the firmament.

 

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

Hebrews 6:17-19 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: 18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (The Word of God still has the power to convert the sinner, comfort the saint, and convey our children in the right way.)

 

Conclusion:  Fathers, let us stand in such a way in front of our wives and children as to lead them in the way of righteousness.  If they wander, we must give to them a place to return to that has not moved!  A place where they can find the Lord and the help that they need.  God bless each of you this Father’s Day!