INTRODUCTION:
1. THIS BEING THE LAST DAY OF OUR GOSPEL MEETING,
WE WANT TO LOOK AT
GOD’S CONCEPT OF A MAN’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
2. THIS IS A VITALLY IMPORTANT SUBJECT THESE DAYS
WITH ALL THE
INFLUENCES OF EVIL TRYING TO DESTROY GOD’S DIVINE PLAN
FOR THE FAMILY.
3. WHAT IS PUT FORTH TODAY IS NOT POPULAR IN OUR
SOCIETY.
4. PLUS TO SOME EXTEND IT IS NOT POPULAR EVEN IN
THE LORD’S CHURCH.
5. BUT HAS IT IS THE COUNCIL OF GOD WE MUST STUDY
IT AND TO BE PLEASING
TO GOD FOLLOW HIS CONCEPT OF A MAN’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
6. EQUAL RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE FOR THE MOST PART CAME
OUT AGAINST GOD AND
WHAT HIS CONCEPTS ARE FOR MOST EVERYTHING.
7. SO IT IS NO WONDER WHEN THEY SPEAK OUT AGAINST
MEN AND THEIR GOD
GIVEN ROLE.
8. THIS MORNING MAYBE SOME OF YOU MEN LISTENING
DO NOT KNOW AND
UNDERSTAND THE ROLE AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT GOD
HAS GIVEN TO YOU.
9. WHILE OTHERS MIGHT HAVE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS
OF WHAT THIS ROLE IS AND
WHAT ARE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
10. TURN IF YOU WILL TO GENESIS 1:26 SO THAT WE
CAN GET STARTED.
I. IN GENESIS 1:26, WE READ, “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.”
A. MAN IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, IN OTHER WORDS
THERE IS A PART OF
MAN THAT IS LIKE GOD, HE CREATED MAN
WITH INTELLIGENCE.
1. IN GENESIS 2:7 WE FIND A LITTLE MORE ABOUT
HOW GOD CREATED MAN, “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.”
2. WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, OUT OF
THE DUST OF THE GROUND,
INTO WHICH GOD BREATHED
THE BREATH OF LIFE AND IN SO DOING THE MAN
BECAMEA LIVING SOUL.
3. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MAN IS AND WAS A SPECIAL
CREATION OF GOD, HE
CREATED MAN IN HIS IMAGE, WE
DID NOT EVOLVE FROM SOME LOWER LIFE FORM NO
MATTER WHAT SCIENCE SO CALLED
WHAT US TO BELIEVE.
4. GOD DID NOT CREATE MANKIND AS CHILDREN OR IGNORANT,
AFTER GOD
CREATED MAN ON DAY SIX HE THEN
CREATED ALL KINDS OF ANIMALS AND ADAM THE
FIRST MAN NAMED THEM (GEN. 2:19-20).
5. ALSO IN GENESIS CHAPTER TWO WE FIND THAT GOD
GAVE MAN A WORK TO DO
LOOK AT VERSE 15, “AND
THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN, AND PUT HIM INTO THE
GARDEN OF EDEN TO DRESS
IT AND TO KEEP IT.”
6. GOD KNEW THAT MAN NEEDED WORK TO DO AND HE
GAVE HIM WORK TO DO IN
THE GARDEN.
7. GOD ALSO KNEW THAT IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR MAN
TO BE ALONE, THAT MAN
NEEDED A HELP MEET.
8. “AND THE LORD GOD CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP TO FALL
UPON ADAM, AND HE
SLEPT: AND HE TOOK ONE OF HIS RIBS,
AND CLOSED UP THE FLESH INSTEAD
THEREOF; AND THE RIB, WHICH
THE LORD GOD HAD TAKEN FROM MAN, MADE HE A
WOMAN, AND BROUGHT HER UNTO THE MAN.
AND ADAM SAID, THIS IS NOW BONE OF
MY BONES, AND FLESH OF MY FLESH: SHE
SHALL BE CALLED, WOMAN, BECAUSE SHE
WAS TAKEN OUT OF MAN.” (GEN. 2:21-23)
APPLICATION: MAN WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND WAS
GIVEN A WORK TO
DO AND WOMAN AS A HELP MEET SO THAT MAN WOULD NOT BE
ALONE. MAN REMEMBER
FROM WHAT PART THE WOMAN WAS FASHIONED. NOT THE
HEAD, BECAUSE MAN IS TO
BE THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY, NOT FROM THE HEEL, BECAUSE
WOMEN ARE NOT THE
SERVANT OF MEN, BUT FROM THE RIB, CLOSE TO THE HEART.
SO THAT SHE CAN
WALK BESIDE THE MAN AS EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT, ALTHOUGH
HER ROLE IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE MAN’S.
II. MAN RECEIVED TWO ROLES IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, THAT
OF CARETAKER OF
THE GARDEN AND HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
A. THESE ARE GOD GIVEN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
1. IN GENESIS 6, WE ARE INTRODUCE
TO NOAH AND HE GIVES US SOME INSIGHTS
INTO THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF A MAN, A HUSBAND AND A FATHER.
2. “THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH: NOAH WAS
A JUST MAN AND PERFECT
IN HIS GENERATIONS, AND NOAH
WALKED WITH GOD” (GEN. 6:9).
3. ALL AROUND NOAH WAS WICKEDNESS AND VIOLENCE,
SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE OUR
TIMES.
4. THINGS WERE SO BAD THAT GOD DECIDED TO DESTROY
THE EARTH, BUT BECAUSE
OF NOAH’S FOLLOWING GOD
OR WALKING WITH GOD, HE WAS TOLD TO BUILD AN
ARK.
B. BESIDES TAKING CARE OF HIS FAMILY, GOD GAVE
NOAH A SPECIAL WORK TO
DO, WHICH WOULD SAVE HIS FAMILY
AND ALL THE ANIMALS OF THE WORLD.
1.THE TASK WAS NOT EASY AND THE CONCEPT OF A FLOOD
WAS PROBABLE HARD
FOR NOAH TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE
AS FAR AS SCRIPTURE REVEALS IT HAD NOT
EVEN RAINED.
2. NOTICE SOME THINGS ABOUT NOAH THAT WE AS MEN
NEED TODAY.
a. NOAH BELIEVED GOD.
b. NOAH TRUSTED GOD.
c. NOAH PUT HIS FAITH INTO ACTION.
d. IT TOOK NOAH SEVERAL YEARS TO COMPLETE
THE WORK THAT GOD PRESENTED
FOR HIM TO ACCOMPLISH,
BUT HE KEEP ON UNTIL HE COMPLETED IT.
e. NOAH INSTRUCTED HIS FAMILY IN GOD’S WILL.
3. ONE OF THE GREAT VERSES ABOUT NOAH IS FOUND
IN GENESIS 6:22, “THUS
DID NOAH ACCORDING TO ALL THAT GOD COMMANDED HIM, SO
DID HE.”
1. MEN CONSIDER NOAH HOW HE ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITIES
AND COMPLETED THE
WORK SET BEFORE HIM.
2. CAN THIS BE SAID OF US?
3. GOD HAS GIVEN US A WORK TO DO.
4. GOD HAS GIVEN US RESPONSIBILITIES TO KEEP JUST
LIKE HE GAVE NOAH.
a. GOD EXPECTS US TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY.
b. HE EXPECTS US, MEN TO LEAD OUR FAMILY.
c. PLEASE GET THIS POINT BECAUSE IT IS SO
VERY IMPORTANT, GOD EXPECTS
US TO LEAD OUR FAMILY
IN SERVICE TO HIM.
APPLICATION: MEN ARE WE FOLLOWING GOD’S CONCEPT OF OUR
ROLE AND
RESPONSIBILITIES LIKE NOAH? WE ARE SURROUNDED BY
WICKEDNESS, CAN IT BE
SAID OF US THAT WE ARE WALKING WITH GOD? ARE YOU
GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE
AND FAITH OF GOD? ARE YOU TRAINING TO BE THE KIND
OF A LEADER THAT GOD
WANTS YOU TO BE? IF YOU ARE MARRIED ARE YOU HELPING
YOUR WIFE TO BE
SAVED? IF YOU ARE BLESSED WITH CHILDREN ARE YOU
TRAINING THEM TO WALK
AFTER GOD ALSO? WILL YOU, YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN
BE SAVED FROM THE
FLOOD OF WICKEDNESS? MEN THESE ARE THINGS THAT
NEED CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
III. WE TURN A FEW PAGES IN GENESIS AND WE FIND A MAN
NAMED ABRAM
BEGINNING IN CHAPTER 12.
A. AGAIN WE SEE THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT
GOD GAVE TO MEN BEING
FOLLOWED.
1. GOD CALLED ABRAM TO LEAVE HIS HOME LAND AND
FOLLOW HIM TO A NEW
LAND.
2. “NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO ABRAM, GET THEE
OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND
FROM THY KINDRED, AND
FROM THY FATHER’S HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL
SHEW THEE.” (GEN. 12:1).
3. ABRAM WAS TRULY LEADING HIS FAMILY AND HE FOLLOWED
GOD’S
INSTRUCTIONS TO HIM (VS.
4).
4. EVEN IN TIME OF FAMINE ABRAM PROVIDED FOR HIS
FAMILY, BY MOVING THEM
TO EGYPT (VS. 10-20).
5. ABRAM WAS A BRAVE MAN, HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO
PUT HIMSELF IN HARMS WAY
TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY, EVEN
HIS NEPHEW (GEN. 14).
6. ALTHOUGH AT TIMES ABRAM DID NOT UNDERSTAND
ALL OF GOD’S PLAN AND
EVEN QUESTION GOD ABOUT IT,
HIS FAITH REMAINED STRONG AND HE FOLLOWED
GOD’S WILL.
7. IN GENESIS 17, ABRAM REVERENCED GOD, “AND ABRAM
FELL ON HIS FACE:
AND GOD TALKED WITH HIM, SAYING,
AS FOR ME, BEHOLD, MY COVENANT IS WITH
THEE, AND THOU SHALT BE A FATHER
OF MANY NATIONS.” (GEN 17:4-5).
8. ABRAHAM WAS A MAN OF GREAT HOSPITALITY, IN
GENESIS 18, HE INVITED
THREE MEN TO STOP AND EAT WITH
HIM, PROVIDED THEM WITH WATER TO WASH
THEIR FEET.
9. ABRAHAM WAS ALSO A MAN WHO HAD CONCERN FOR
PEOPLE AROUND HIM, WHEN
THE LORD INFORMED HIM THAT HE
WOULD DESTROY THE CITIES OF SODOM AND
GOMORRAH BECAUSE OF THEIR SINS,
ABRAHAM BARGAINED THAT THEY MIGHT BE
SPARED.
10.ABRAHAM SHOWED GREAT FAITH WHEN GOD COMMANDED
HIM TO TAKE HIS SON
ISAAC AND SACRIFICE HIM
GENESIS 22.
B. MEN GOD HAS CALLED US TO GET UP AND TAKE OUR
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO A
NEW LAND CALLED HEAVEN.
1. THE JOURNEY IS LONG FOR SOME AND SHORT FOR
OTHERS, BUT HOW WE
SOJOURN IN THIS LIFE WILL
DETERMINE WHETHER WE GET THERE OR NOT.
2. IN HEBREWS 11, WE READ OF ABRAHAM THAT HE “DESIRE
A BETTER COUNTRY,
THAT IS, AN HEAVENLY: WHEREFORE
GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR
GOD: FOR HE HATH PREPARED FOR
THEM A CITY.”
3. DO WE DESIRE THIS BETTER COUNTRY ENOUGH TO
FOLLOW GOD’S COMMANDS,
LIKE ABRAHAM?
4. TO GET TO THIS COUNTRY WE NEED FAITH LIKE ABRAHAM.
5. WE NEED TO SHOW OUR FAITH BY OUR ACTIONS.
6. GOD BLESSED ABRAHAM, BUT HE STILL HAD TRIALS
AND TEMPTATIONS IN THIS
LIFE, WHICH TRIED HIS FAITH,
BUT REMEMBER HE IS CALLED THE FATHER OF THE
FAITHFUL.
7. CAN GOD SAY OF US LIKE HE DID OF ABRAHAM IN
(GEN. 18:19) “FOR I KNOW
HIM, THAT HE WILL COMMAND HIS
CHILDREN AND HIS HOUSEHOLD AFTER HIM, AND
THEY SHALL KEEP THE WAY OF THE
LORD, TO DO JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT; THAT
THE LORD MAY BRING UPON ABRAHAM
THAT WHICH HE HATH SPOKEN OF HIM.”
APPLICATION: ABRAHAM HAD HIS FAULTS, JUST LIKE US, BUT
HE WAS A MAN WHO
DID HIS BEST TO FOLLOW GOD. HE LEFT US WITH A GOOD
EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.
IV. JOSEPH IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF A MAN ACCEPTING
AND FULFILLING HIS
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES, HE
WAS THE GREAT GRANDSON OF ABRAHAM.
A. JOSEPH’S MOTHER DIED WHEN HE WAS A BOY, YET
EVEN WITH THIS HANDICAP
HE TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT
LEADER, NOT ONLY OF HIS OWN FAMILY, BUT OF
EGYPT.
1. JOSEPH’S FOLLOWED IN HIS TRAINING ABOUT GOD
THAT NO DOUBT HIS FATHER
JACOB HAD TAUGHT HIM.
2. HE BROTHERS DID NOT LIKE HIM AND CAST HIM IN
A PIT AND THEN SOLD HIM
INTO SLAVERY IN A FOREIGN
LAND (GEN. 37:28).
3. IN SLAVERY, JOSEPH ADVANCED BECAUSE HE FOLLOWED
GOD, “AND HIS MASTER
SAY THAT THE LORD WAS
WITH HIM, AND THAT THE LORD MADE ALL THAT HE DID
TO PROSPER IN HIS HAND.”
(GEN. 39:3).
4. HE AROSE THROUGH THE RANKS AND BECAME THE OVERSEER
OF POTIPHAR’S
HOUSE.
5. JOSEPH KEPT HIMSELF PURE, EVEN RESISTING THE
ADVANCES OF POTIPHAR’S
WIFE NOT ONCE BUT SEVERAL TIME
(GEN. 39:7-20).
6. BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT COMMIT A SEXUAL SIN WITH
THIS WOMAN, SHE
FINALLY SET A TRAP FOR
HIM.
7. IN GEN. 39:11-13 WE READ OF THIS TRAP AND HOW
JOSEPH FOLLOWED GOD
AND KEPT HIMSELF PURE, “AND
IT CAME TO PASS ABOUT THIS TIME, THAT JOSEPH
WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO DO HIS
BUSINESS; AND THERE WAS NONE OF THE MEN
OF THE HOUSE THERE WITHIN.
AND SHE CAUGHT HIM BY HIS GARMENT, SAYING, LIE
WITH ME: AND HE LEFT HIS GARMENT
IN HER HAND, AND FLED, AND GOT HIM OUT.
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN SHE
SAW THAT HE HAD LEFT HIS GARMENT IN HER
HAND, AND WAS FLED FORTH.”
8. WHAT DID THIS ACT OF FOLLOWING GOD COST JOSEPH?
9. HE WAS CAST INTO PRISON, FALSELY ACCUSED OF
ATTEMPTED RAPE.
10. BUT EVEN IN PRISON, JOSEPH DID NOT ABANDON
GOD AND GOD DID NOT
ABANDON HIM.
11. JOSEPH DID NOT LET THIS SOUR HIM ON OTHER
PEOPLE AND HE PROSPER
EVEN IN PRISON.
12. SOME TIME PAST AND JOSEPH IS CALLED OUT OF
PRISON TO INTERPRET A
DREAM FOR PHARAOH.
13. NOTICE EVEN BEFORE PHARAOH JOSEPH PLACES GOD
IN HIS PROPER PLACE.
14. “AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH, I HAVE DREAMED
A DREAM, AND THERE IS
NONE THAT CAN INTERPRET
IT: AND I HAVE HEARD SAY OF THEE, THAT THOU
CANST UNDERSTAND
A DREAM TO INTERPRET IT. AND JOSEPH ANSWERED
PHARAOH, SAYING,
IT IS NOT IN ME: GOD SHALL GIVE PHARAOH AN ANSWER OF
PEACE.”
15. ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN IS TO GIVE GOD
HIS PROPER RESPECT.
16. BUT JOSEPH IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A MAN
WHO PERFORMS HIS GOD
GIVEN ROLE IN A
PLACE OF AUTHORITY.
17. AS YOU KNOW JOSEPH BECAME RULER OF EGYPT WITH
ONLY PHARAOH HIGHER
AND YET JOSEPH NEVER
FORGOT GOD.
18. HE WAS FAIR TO ALL THE PEOPLE.
19. JOSEPH DID NOT HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST HIS BROTHERS
WHO SOLD HIM INTO
SLAVERY.
20. BECAUSE OF THESE HE WAS ABLE TO REUNITE HIS
WHOLE FAMILY IN EGYPT
WHERE THEY GREW
AND PROSPERED.
B. YOUNG MEN, STUDY JOSEPH, HE IS A GOOD ROLE MODEL
FOR US TO FOLLOW.
1. HIS LIFE TEACHES US MUCH ABOUT GOD’S CONCEPT
OF THE ROLE AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEN.
2. HE WAS FAITHFUL TO GOD IN SPITE OF HOW OTHERS
TREATED HIM.
3. HE WORKED HARD AND WAS LOYAL TO THOSE ABOVE
HIM.
4. HE KEPT HIMSELF PURE AND TRIED NOT TO SIN AGAINST
GOD, EVEN THOUGH
IT GOT HIM INTO TROUBLE.
5. JOSEPH DID NOT HOLD GRUDGES AGAINST PEOPLE
WHO DID HIM WRONG.
6. HE DID NOT TAKE REVENGE EVEN WHEN PLACED IN
A POSITION OF POWER AND
GIVEN OPPORTUNITY.
7. HE LOVED HIS FAMILY AND DID NOT ALL HE COULD
TO HELP HIS FAMILY.
8. ABOVE ALL HE ALWAYS REMEMBERED AND RESPECTED
GOD AND KNEW HIS
SUCCESS WAS DUE TO GOD’S GRACE
AND NOTHING ELSE!
V. ANOTHER MAN WE GET LOOK AT AND FOLLOW TO GAIN A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING
OF GOD’S CONCEPT OF A MAN’S ROLE AND
RESPONSIBILITIES IS FOUND IN JOSHUA.
A. JOSHUA WAS A MAN OF CONVICTION.
1. HE KNEW WHAT WAS RIGHT AND KNEW HE WAS RESPONSIBLE
TO FOLLOW IT.
2. HIS LIFE-STYLE WAS CONSISTENT WITH ONE WHO
WOULD TAKE
RESPONSIBILITIES, HE ASSUME
THE LEAD AND GUIDED OTHERS.
a. LEAD IN THE DEFEAT OF THE AMALEKITES
(EX. 17:8-16).
b. HE WAS WITH MOSES ON MT. SINAI (EX. 24:13,
32:17).
c. HE REPRESENTED HIS TRIBE EPHRAIM AS ONE
OF THE 12 SPIES SELECTED TO
SPY OUT THE PROMISE LAND
(NUM. 13:8).
d. HE ALONG WITH CALEB TRIED TO CONVINCE
THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE
(NUM. 14:6-9).
3. THESE THINGS DID NOT SURPRISE HIS FAMILY, THEY
KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT.
a. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZED IF HE DID
NOT SPEAK UP.
b. IN (JOSHUA 24:15) JOSHUA SAID, “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.”
c. EVEN IF ALL THE REST OF THE CHILDREN
OF ISRAEL TURNED AGAINST GOD AND
SERVED OTHER GOD’S, JOSHUA
AND HIS HOUSE WOULD SERVE JEHOVAH GOD.
B. JOSHUA WAS A LEADER AND HE WAS CONFIDENT OF
HIS FAMILY FOLLOWING HIM.
1. HE HAD A PROVEN TRACK RECORD, HE HAD NOT FORSAKEN
OR ABANDONED HIS
FAMILY, HE DID NOT LEAVE
THEM ON THEIR OWN.
2. HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN DID NOT RECEIVE MIXED
SIGNALS FROM JOSHUA.
3. HIS LIFE WAS CONSISTENT WITH HIS CHARACTER.
4. HE DID NOT HAVE TO LEAVE HIS FAMILY FOR A WEEKEND
OR A WEEK TO MAKE
A STATEMENT ABOUT WHO HE WAS.
C. JOSHUA WAS A MAN OF REALISTIC MANNERS, HE KNEW
THERE WAS A CHOICE.
1. HE WAS NOT A DICTATOR, BUT OFFERED TO LEAD.
2. HE POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BY EXAMPLE.
3. HIS LIFE IS A REMINDER THAT GOD HAS BLESSED
US IMMEASURABLY.
4. THAT THE DECENT THING TO DO IS TO DO RIGHT.
5. WHEN A CHOICE NEEDS TO BE MADE HE WAS DECISIVE
AND HE CHALLENGED ALL
ISRAEL TO BE DECISIVE (“THIS
DAY CHOSE”).
6. HE KNEW THAT GOD WAS GLORIFIED WHEN WE CHOOSE
TO DO RIGHT AND THAT
GOD DOES NOT FORCE US TO DO
SO.
D. JOSHUA WAS A MAN OF ENTHUSIASM EVEN IN OLD AGE.
1. HE PUT GOD FIRST AT ALL COST.
2. HIS FAMILY BELIEVED IN GOD, BECAUSE HE BELIEVED
IN GOD.
VI. WE COULD LOOK AT MANY MORE MEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
AND SEE HOW THEY
LIVED THE CONCEPT OF GOD ROLE
AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MAN, BUT TIME IS
PASSING AWAY AND I WOULD LIKE
QUICKLY TO TURN TO THE NEW TESTAMENT.
A. IN MATTHEW CHAPTER ONE WE ARE INTRODUCED TO
ANOTHER JOSEPH WHO HAD
MANY OF THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE OTHER JOSEPH.
1. JOSEPH WAS A GOD FEARING MAN.
2. HE KNEW THAT HE WAS THE LEADER OF HIS FAMILY
AND SO HE LED.
3. HE FOLLOWED GOD AND WHEN INFORMED BY ANGEL
ABOUT THE CHILD THAT MARY
HIS ESPOUSED WIFE WAS CARRYING
IT IS SAID OF HIM, “THEN JOSEPH BEING
RAISED FROM SLEEP DID AS THE
ANGEL OF THE LORD HAD BIDDEN HIM, AND TOOK
UNTO HIM HIS WIFE: AND
KNEW HER NOT TILL SHE HAD BROUGHT FORTH HER
FIRSTBORN SON: AND HE CALLED
HIS NAME JESUS.” (MATT. 1:24-25).
4. HE WAS A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, EVEN TO THE POINT
OF TRAVELING A GREAT
DISTANCE TO PAY HIS TAXES.
5. FOR HIS FAMILY’S SAFETY HE WAS WILLING TO TAKE
THEM TO FOREIGN
COUNTRY.
6. THIS MAN WORSHIPED GOD REGULARLY AND OBSERVED
THE LAWS THAT GOD HAD
PUT FORTH.
7. BECAUSE THIS MAN FOLLOWED GOD’S CONCEPT OF
A MAN’S ROLE AND
RESPONSIBILITIES HE WAS
ALLOWED TO RAISE THE SON OF GOD.
8. THIS MAN WAS A HARD WORKING MAN WHO TAUGHT
HIS CHILDREN TO WORK.
B. CORNELIUS IT ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOUND IN ACTS 10.
1. HE WAS A DEVOUT MAN.
2. HE RESPECTED GOD.
3. HE TAUGHT HIS FAMILY TO RESPECT GOD.
4. HE GAVE ALMS TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED.
5. HE PRAYED TO GOD ALWAYS.
6. HE WAS WILLING TO FOLLOW GOD’S COMMANDS EVEN
TO SENDING FOR SOMEONE
WHO WOULD TEACH HIM WHAT HE
NEEDED TO DO.
7. CORNELIUS WAS A HUMBLE MAN EVEN THOUGH HE WAS
A OFFICER IN THE ARMY
OF ROME.
8. HE WAS OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WILL.
CONCLUSION:
1. MEN GOD HAS GIVEN US A ROLE WITH RESPONSIBILITIES
TO FOLLOW.
2. WE NEED TO BE LIKE JOSHUA AND CHOOSE THIS DAY
WHO WE ARE GOING TO
FOLLOW? GOD OR MAN?
3. WE ARE TO BE LEADERS IN OUR HOMES AND IN WORSHIP
TO GOD.
4. LEADERS NOT DICTATORS, LEADING BY EXAMPLE AS
WELL AS BY WORD.
5. PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES, NOT ONLY IN WORLDLY
GOODS, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS.
6. STUDY GOD’S WORD, BECAUSE I HAVE JUST TOUCHED
AS IT WERE THE HEM OF
THE GARMENT, ON THIS VITAL SUBJECT.
7. THIS MORNING GOD IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN
TO JOIN HIS ARMY ARE
YOU WILLING.
8. THIS MORNING MEN WILL YOU BE ALL THAT YOU CAN
BE BY STUDYING AND
FOLLOWING GOD’S CONCEPT OF MAN’S
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THIS LIFE?
9. THE CHOICE IS YOURS TO MAKE, DO NOT MAKE IT
LIGHTLY BECAUSE YOUR
ETERNAL SOUL AND THE SOULS OF
YOUR FAMILY ARE AT STAKE.
© Copyright 2000 Paul D. Fisher. All rights reserved.