Choosing To Lead

“CHOOSING TO LEAD”

Joshua 24:1-15

INTRO: 1. If there was any one man out of the pages of the Old Testament that would most impress us if he could stand behind this pulpit this morning it would be Joshua.

a. A man of courage. Leading the children of Israel into the promise land willingly facing the challenges that crossed his path.

b. A man of Integrity. The type of man you could trust with your life. An entire nation of men was willing to follow his most seemingly ridiculous command.

c. A man of Conviction. What he believed was no secret, nor was there the slightest hint of wavering in his faith.

2. He cannot stand here this morning, but the message he preached to the children of Israel is recorded here in God’s Word.

a. Not just any message, this was Joshua’s final message.

b. This was the “last will and testament” of this legendary man of God.

c. There was one great truth that he wanted to leave with those he loved the dearest.

3. This last message was directed to the Fathers of Israel.

a. As a father of the nation and of his own household he commended Fathers to follow his example.

Josh. 24:15 ...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

b. Joshua knew that a nation was only as strong as it’s Fathers.

c. Joshua knew that the father holds in his power the security of today and the potential of tomorrow.

4. This truth is one that our society is just now beginning to again realize.

a. For years our society has devalued the father and has reaped the disastrous fruit of it’s actions.

b. Even sadder is the fact that many a dad has bought into the lie that their role as “dad” is somehow insignificant.

c. A crucial key to the healing of our crumbling society must be dads who have “Chosen to lead”.

d. Nothing more important than you can be than a Dad.

ILL. I recently read a story from a dad that I found to be cute.:

Blythe is a desert town on the Arizona-California border. My family and I were on our way back home from vacation when we stopped at a McDonald’s in Blythe. Lauretta, my wife, asked me to hold Mary, our eighteen-month old, while she went to the restroom and our three sons romped in the play area. Picture me holding my daughter, a few feet from the restroom doors, as "The Babe from Blythe" emerged from behind those doors. She was gorgeous and she was looking right at me, smiling warmly! I straightened up and smiled back, flush with the adolescent conceit that even though I was much older than she was, I must still be a very attractive man. Babes still take notice! Our smiles and eyes met for longer than a mere random encounter as she walked past. Then I noticed my reflection in the mirror along the wall and saw who she was smiling at. It was me, all right, but it wasn’t Ben Patterson the Hunk. It was Ben Patterson, Mary’s Daddy. Middle aged, a little lumpy, and holding a precious child. That’s what delighted "The Babe." My first reaction was embarrassment. Silly fool, you aren’t what you thought you were! But as I continued to look in the mirror, I decided I like what I saw there more. I like being Mary’s Daddy. I like it a lot.

5. Joshua, encouraged the men of his day to be what God had designed them to be - Spiritual Leaders.

I. IT’S A CHOICE THAT CAN’T WAIT.

a. You can sense the urgency in Joshua’s voice.

Josh. 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.

b. This was serious business for this man of God, business to be dealt with today.

c. ILL. I heard the song ‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ played this morning—a powerful reminder of how important our choices today will impact our future as Parents… Your kid’s need you now, no matter how young or old they are.

A. IT CAN’T WAIT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TO GET IN ORDER.

1. Being a Good Father won’t wait for you to get the promotion you’ve always dreamed, it won’t wait for the finances to get better, it won’t wait for tomorrow - it must be dealt with today.

2. ILL. Just ask King David - an excellent warrior, a legendary king, a great worshipper - but a lousy dad. David had all the bases covered in his life, but in his old age he would pay dearest for his failure as a father.