Joshua 24:15 Be a Man – audio

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Text:  Joshua 24:15.

Delivered on:  June 3, 2012 at  Streetsboro.

Introduction

1. Tonight, we are going to be seeing the movie, Courageous.

2. As men, we must strive to be the men that God wants us to be in all areas of our lives.

3. We need to be men.

a. What makes a male human being a man?

b. Is it big muscles?

c. Is it lots of money?

d. Is it being able to fight?

e. What makes a male a man?

4. I fear that our society doesn’t understand.

5. A real man, first and foremost, honors his God!

Body

I. BE A MAN: REALIZE WHAT IS AT STAKE.

A. Some men go through their whole life thinking it is a big game.

1. See how much money you can acquire.

2. See how many women you can have.

3. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.

4. They never stop to realize that they have a lot at stake, spiritually.

B. A definition: Stake – a sum of money or something else of value gambled on the outcome of a risky game or venture.

C. You possess something of value.

1. Matthew 16:26. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

2. What makes your soul so valuable?

a) It is that part of you which is the image of God.

b) It is immortal.

c) Your soul is YOU.

3. Nothing in this world is more valuable than you soul for your soul we still exist long after this world has passed away.

D. Your soul’s destiny is determined by the outcome of your venture.

1. Venture – a risky or daring journey or undertaking.

2. Life!

3. The choices you make in your life will determine where your soul spends eternity.

E. Most of us understand this.  However, we also must realize that the choices we make can also affect the souls of others.

1. While it is true that each one is accountable for their own actions, we are warned about setting stumbling blocks for others.

2. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

II. BE A MAN:  BE A LIGHT TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.

A. You are the only Bible that many people will read.

1. You are that light of the world. Matthew 5:14-16. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

2. You are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13.  You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

B. What example do your neighbors see in you?

1. Do they see in you a man who is the spiritual leader of his family?

2. Do they see in you a man who loves his wife as Christ loved the church?

3. Do they see in you a man who loves God with all his heart soul and mind?  Matthew 22:37.  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

4. Do they see in you a man who loves his neighbor as himself?  Matthew 22:39. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

5. Do they see in you a man who loves the church for which Christ died?

C. Do your neighbors know that you care for their souls?

1. We never seem to have a problem helping a neighbor with material things.

2. Do you ever talk to your neighbors about God?  Jesus?

3. Do you ever talk to your neighbors about their spiritual condition?

4. Let me let you in on a secret.  If they know you are a Christian; they are expecting you to talk to them about Christ.

5. We’re not suggesting it needs to come up in every conversation… but it should come up at some point.  And more than once.

6. Are you thankful that someone took the time to teach you the truth?

7. Matthew 7:12. Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

8. You’re not loving your neighbor if you don’t try to help them with their spiritual welfare.

D. Who is your neighbor?

1. The parable of the Good Samaritan…

2. Luke 10:36-37. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

3. Your neighbor is anyone and everyone with whom you come into contact.

E. If we don’t fulfill our responsibilities to our neighbors; their very souls are in danger!

III. BE A MAN:  BE A LABORER IN THE LORD’S CHURCH.

A. In regard to the church, we need to be LABORERS.

B. How highly do we value the Lord’s church?

1. What is it that determines the value of something?

2. Sometimes things are valued by the raw materials from which they are made.

3. Sometimes, though, the value of a  thing can be much, much greater than the cost of the materials from which it is made.  For example: certain baseball cards.

4. The value of something is determined by what a person is willing to pay for it.

5. The church is important to God!

a) It has always been in His mind.  Ephesians 3:10-11. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

b) The price He paid for it was nothing else but the blood of His only begotten Son.  Acts 20:28. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

6. If it is that valuable to God, then it ought to be that valuable to us as well.

C. How do we behave toward something that is valuable to us?  Let’s use our wives for an example.

1. Do you talk bad about her to other people?  You had better not!

2. Do you tell other people how great she is?  You should!

3. Do you work to provide for her:

a) Physical needs?

b) Social needs?

c) Spiritual needs?

4. Why are we willing to do all these things for her?  Because we love her.

D. Even more so with the church.

1. Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

2. You are supposed to love God and His church more than you love anything else.

3. Do you talk bad to others about the bride of Christ?

4. Do you tell others about how wonderful the bride of Christ is?

5. Do you work to provide for:

a) The physical needs of the church.  Galatians 6:10. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

b) The Social needs of the church.  James 1:27. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

c) The spiritual needs of the church.  Hebrews 10:24-25. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

E. If we don’t fulfill our responsibilities to the Lord’s church; souls will be in danger.

1. John 13:34-35. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

2. If you don’t love the church, how can you expect your family or your neighbors to love the church?

3. Can they see your live for the church?

IV. BE A MAN:  BE THE LEADER OF YOUR FAMILY.

A. Your family needs you to be a LEADER.

B. Men, we need to be the spiritual leaders in our families.

1. Your number one job as the head of the family is to get your family to heaven.

2. That is primarily YOUR responsibility.

a) The church will help.

b) The elders will help.

c) But it is your responsibility to do all you can.

C. We need to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

1. If you still have children at home, you need to be having devotionals with them on a nightly basis.

2. We send them of to school to learn worldly wisdom five days a week for six hours a day.

3. They get about three hours of Bible study a week in Bible class and worship.

4. 30 to 3.  What does that say about our priorities?

5. Fathers, it is your job to:

a) Teach your children to love and follow Jesus.

b) Teach your children the importance of hard work.

c) Teach your sons to provide for their families.

d) Teach your children to treat others with kindness and respect.

e) Teach you children to respect authority.

6. We need to lead by example as well.  Not with just words.

a) Who is the leader when it comes time to get to services on time?

b) Who is the leader when it comes time to load up on a weeknight and go to a gospel meeting?

c) They need to see in you, how a husband should treat a wife.

d) They need to see in you, a love and devotion to the Lord and His church.  John 13:34-35. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

D. What is at stake in regard to our families?  If we don’t fulfill our responsibilities; the very souls of our family are in danger!

Joshua 24:15 – And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

 Conclusion

1. There is too much at stake!

2. There are consequences to the choices we make.

3. If we don’t stay faithful we will not only lose our own souls…

4. Our family could lose theirs.

5. Our neighbors could lose theirs.

6. The church will suffer.