GOD’S CONCEPT OF A MAN’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES: GENESIS 18:19
Sermon Outline by Paul D. Fisher

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.

Back to Sermons