Our Families, Our Church Need Meed Who Will Stand Up For Jesus Series

Introduction

You all are probably familiar with the story I am about to tell you that comes from the Old Testament. The Israelites were nearing the Promise Land and Moses send, at the Lord's instruction, twelve men, one from each tribe, into the land to check it out. They came back with the report that the land is flowing with milk and honey as God had told us. They also reported the cities are fortified, the people appear strong and powerful, and in certain places there are giants in the land. God told them to go in and check the land out; He never asked them to decide if they would be able to take the land or not because that was going to be God's job. But the Israelites just like us sometimes tried to do God's job for Him and so most of the spies reported we cannot do this. Can I give you a word of advice, "don't take God's job"? It only leads to problems.

Two of the twelve men didn't try to do God's job and said, "lets' go in and take our land." And today for Father's Day, we want to focus in on one of them: Caleb. He is the type of man that you need to be in your home. He is the type of man that we need in the church house. He is a man who stands up for God. So, today, I want to look at what God has to say to the men of this church about their relationship with God by looking at the life of Caleb.

So, if you have your Bibles turn with me to Numbers 14:24 for today's Scripture. Please stand for the reading of God's Word.

Scripture

Numbers 14:24

24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

Point #1

God says Caleb was a man with a different spirit; we need to be men with a different spirit.

Numbers 14:24

But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit...

Let me explain so this makes sense to you. When you came to know Christ as your Lord and Savior, you received the same Holy Spirit that everyone else who is saved in this room has received. There is only One Spirit. Bro. Greg did an excellent job of explaining this truth during his Wednesday night Bible series on the Gifts of the Spirit. I believe he quoted to us from Ephesians 4:4 (NIV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--So, how did Caleb have a different spirit? You must go back to the beginning of the verse where God said he is my servant. He had a servant spirit. In other words, he did what God wanted him to you. You may be saved today and have the Holy Spirit living in you but that does not automatically mean you have a servant spirit.

I know that there are men and women in this church house today who God is talking to about something that He wants them to do, and they are refusing. God wanted the Israelites to go into the Promise Land, the people said no, Caleb told God I will do it. I don't care if you have a good excuse, the Israelites certainly had one. There are giants in the land. Turning God down will never be a servant's heart, no matter how good the excuse.

Men, God called you to love your wife as Christ loved the church. And just to remind you that he died for his church. Today, can you honestly say that you love your wife to that level. I can hear the excuses now. I would have loved her to that level but after the children were born, she focused her attention on the children and started neglecting me. I looked at the Scripture again and it did not say love her like Christ loved the church until you all have children. If you don't love your wife like Christ loves the church, you don't have a servant's heart.

Men, God called you to be the spiritual leader in your home. As early as Deuteronomy, God made it clear it was the dad's role to teach the children the way of God. I can hear the excuses now, my job is so demanding, I don't have the time to be that spiritual leader. I delegated it to my wife. But nowhere did I find a demanding job is an acceptable excuse to God. Nowhere did I find that job is something we can delegate to our wife. Dads, if you are not teaching your children the ways of God than you don't possess a servant's heart.