Illus: The TV show "60 Minutes" did a segment that revealed some disturbing news about elephants.
The story was about some park Rangers at a South African wildlife preserve who were concerned about the slaughter of 39 rare white rhinos.
It turned out that the rhinos were not killed by hunters, but rather by juvenile delinquent elephants.
The story began a decade ago, when the park could no longer sustain the increasing population of elephants.
They removed a lot of the large male elephants to solve this problem.
As a result, many of the young elephants grew up without the presence of male leadership.
As time went on, researchers observed that many of these young elephants began roaming together in packs and began to do things elephants do not normally do in nature.
• They took their trunks and threw sticks and water at the rhinos and acted like neighborhood bullies.
• They knocked down trees, threatening the females and basically raising the noise level and anxiety in the park.
• Without dominant males in the tribe, the young bulls became sexually active, producing excessive testosterone and exhibiting overly aggressive behavior.
• A few young males grew especially violent, attacking non-aggressive rhinos and stepping or kneeling on them, crushing the life out of them.
Park rangers theorized that these young teenage elephants were acting badly because they lacked a dominant male role model.
They eventually devised a solution and brought in a large dominant male to lead them and to counteract the abnormal behavior.
After a few years of the new male leadership, the young bulls returned to their natural role in the tribe.
The killings stopped and the wildlife preserve was saved.
The devil is doing his paramount to destroy the dominant MALE role in the home today.
He knows he can cause major chaos in the home if the dominant MALE role is removed.
Men today are being push aside in many ways.
Let me illustrate…
Illus: For example, today we hear a great deal about abortion.
And to hear some talk today about abortion, ALL YOU HEAR IS ABOUT A WOMAN’S RIGHT!
She is the one to decide if she is going to abort the fetus!
What about a MAN’S RIGHT?
She cannot have a child without him. If it was not for him there would not even be a child.
• When it comes to childbirth HE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS SHE IS?
• When it comes to childbirth IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO!!!
But today’s father is being pushed aside that he is no more than a MALE DONOR!!!
Today we celebrate Father’s Day, and I want to do something that is contrary to the society in which we live.
The society in which we live today does everything it can to make the man seem like the idiot in the family.
• The Woman’s lib movement has done this
• The Hollywood crowd has done this
• The cartoonist has done this
But I am afraid that even our churches have done their share also.
For example, many churches exalt motherhood on Mother’s Day and Fatherhood is not as important as Mother’s Day.
Illus: One little boy defined Father’s Day best, when he said that Father’s Day was just like Mother’s Day. But on Father’s Day you don’t spend as much money on the gift.
Most of us men would join me when I ask, “What gift?”
After years and years of this type of treatment, it is no wonder there is a lack of MALE attendance in churches today.
Listen, if men feel they have been beat-up all week, the last thing they want to do is come to church and have some preacher beat them up from the pulpit.
WHAT IS FATHER’S DAY?
I read a statistic that said:
• The greatest numbers of long-distance phone calls are made on Mother’s Day.
• The largest number of collect calls are made on Father’s Day.
Dads are very important to the health of the home.
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT TO THE HOME?
Illus: Someone remembered how things were when the:
• 3 years old - My Daddy can do anything
• 4 years old - My Daddy knows everything
• 5 years old - My Dad is smarter than your dad
• 6 years old - My Dad doesn’t exactly know everything.
• 7 years old - My Dad grew up in the olden days when things were sure different.
• 8 years old - My Dad doesn’t know anything about that, he’s too old to remember.
• 12 years old - My Dad knows about that, but he should, because he’s been around so long.
• 22 years old - Maybe we should ask Dad?
• 28 years old - I won’t do anything about that until I talk to Dad.
• 30 years old - I wonder how Dad would have handled this?
• 50 years old - I’d give anything if Dad were here now, so I could talk this over with him.
I would like to go on record this morning as saying that a CHRISTIAN FATHERS is one of the least praised, unnoticed, and unappreciated heroes of all times.
But we dads have to always remember that while we may be LEAST PRAISED, UNNOTICED, AND UNAPPRECIATED, one day God is going to reward us richly if we have done our job as the scripture teaches.
There are many men in the Bible I could use this morning as examples of godly men.
Joshua is one of my favorite FATHERS for many reasons.
In our text Joshua is at the ripe old age of 110, calling the leaders of Israel together for a farewell address.
There are lots of things that we could say about Joshua, but for the sake of time I want to mention just two -- two qualities that he possessed that all fathers would do well to emulate.
I. JOSHUA’S LEADERSHIP
Look at Joshua 24:15, we read, “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.”
In this verse of scripture, Joshua wanted people to know where he stood with God.
Illus: We live in a world where we know –
• Where people stand politically
• Where people stand on moral issues
• Where people stand on sports
But when it comes to God, we do not know where they stand.
How refreshing it is to meet a man like Joshua. You knew exactly where he stood with God.
He said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
It is not always easy to take a STAND like Joshua did. If it was easy MORE WOULD TAKE A STAND LIKE JOSHUA!!!
Because when you take a STAND, you will start to get comments like…
• He is not willing to compromise
• He is a dictator
• He is too bossy!
This stand that Joshua took is missing in many homes today and we are paying a tremendous price for it.
Dads are important.
Illus: Shortly before her death, Lucille Ball did a remarkable TV interview with Merv Griffin.
He asked her a very serious and pointed question:
• "Lucy, you've lived a long time on this earth, and you are a wise person.
• What's happened to our country?
• What's wrong with our children?
• Why are our families falling apart?
• What's missing?"
Lucille Ball answered without hesitation -- "Papa's missing. Things are falling apart because Papa's gone. If Papa were here, he would fix it."
Joshua demonstrated leadership for his family. I am happy to tell you that on this Father’s Day, we still have some fathers that provide this same kind of leadership.
• Thank God for godly Father’s like Joshua that will say, “I do not care what the trends of the world may be, as for me and my house we are going to serve the Lord.”
• Thank God for godly Father’s like Joshua that will say, “I do not care what Woman’s Lib, TV Crowd, Worldly crowd, Hollywood crowd say about promiscuity. As for me and my house we are going to serve the Lord.”
What the world needs now is men like Joshua, who are willing to reject the ways of the world and lead their families in serving the Lord.
We live in a world today:
• Men want to become women
• Wear jewelry like a woman, earrings, and necklaces.
• Wear shorts so you can see their bowlegs.
• Wear long hair like a woman.
Illus: Preacher asked a young man why did he want to look like a girl?
He said, I do it because my girl friend likes for me to look like this.
The only thing that can be said about that is, he had better get some medical help for his girl friend that wants a boy friend who look like her sister.
SHE IS NOT A 100% WOMAN THAT’S FOR SURE!!!
A REAL MAN ENJOYS BEING A REAL MAN.
Dads, in comparison to Moms have it made in many ways, such as:
• When we get married our last name stays put
• The garage is all ours
• Wedding plans take care of themselves
• Car mechanics tell us the truth
• Wrinkles add character
• We do not have to shave our legs and arm pits
• The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected
• One mood, ALL the time
• Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds' flat
• A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase
• We can open all our own jars
• We get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness
• If someone forgets to invite us, they can still be our friend
• Our underwear is $5.95 for a three-pack
• Everything on our face stays its original color
• Three pair of shoes are more than enough
• We don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt
• We are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes
• The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades
• Our belly usually hides our big hips
• One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons
• We can "do" our nails with a pocketknife
• We have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache
• We can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives, on Dec. 24, in 45 minutes
We dads certainly have it made in many ways, and a real man does not want to be a woman!!!
This might not sit well with the women libbers among us, but it needs to be said because the Word of God says, in 1 Cor. 11:3, “But I would have you know,(What?) that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
This does not mean he is a dictator that never consults with his wife. In Eph. 5:23, we read, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
But she and the children both need to recognize that he is the head!!!
Man, AS THE HEAD OF THE HOME on the judgment day he will give account to God more than any member of the family for his leadership or his lack of leadership.
WHY DOES GOD MAKE HIM THE HEAD?
It is not because God loves him more than the woman.
Let me illustrate…
Illus: For example, Israel is God’s chosen people.
Does this mean God loves them more than He loves us gentiles?
No! It means that God has a plan for all mankind, and He could not use all nations to carry out that plan, He had to choose one nation, and God in His wisdom chose Israel to be the nation He would use to carry out His plan.
• If a corporation is going to be successful, there has to be someone at the top calling the shots. The boss may not always be right, but the boss is always the BOSS!
• Every school has a principal or a headmaster to operate a school successful.
• If a football team is going to be successful there has to be a quarterback calling the shots.
• If a marriage is going to be successful there has to be someone calling the shots.
Illus: Have you ever gone to the State Fair and they had these side shows for you to go inside and see what is inside.
And one of them would be a banner showing on the outside of a human with two heads.
When a marriage has TWO HEADS you have a FREAK MARRIAGE.
Joshua was the head of his house, and his life reflected that.
Notice, Joshua did not say:
• “Let me go home and talk to the boss.”
• “Let me go home and ask the children because we always vote on everything.”
He took a stand and said, “As for me (Who? Me) and my house (Whose House? My House), we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua was a REAL MAN!!!
Illus: Have you ever thought why so many women like John Wayne as a cowboy? He died in June 11, 1979 and people are still talking about him.
Why? Because he represented a real man!!!
• He dressed like a man.
• He walked like a man.
• He talked like a man.
He was not a “SISSY” MAN, HE REPRESENTED A REAL MAN IN LIFE.
The Bible not only tells us that man is the LEADER, but it also tells us how he is to lead.
We have a lot of dads today who know they are supposed to be the LEADER, but they do not LEAD.
Illus: When he does not lead the HOME is like a car without a steering wheel.
According to the Word of God, God designed the family to be the basic educational unit for the children.
HERE IS THE PROBLEM!
We have given the responsibility of raising our children to the public school system.
Listen, it is the school’s responsibility to teach them reading, writing and arithmetic.
God gave the responsibility to parents and to grandparents to instill Christians values based on God’s Word.
Look at Deut. 6:6-9, we read, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
This scripture leads me to believe that Joshua was not out of order in speaking for his family.
It leads me to believe that he was simply doing his fatherly duty to make sure that his children knew how to be saved and how to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Illus: I heard a touching story about a humble, consecrated pastor whose young son had become very ill.
After the boy had undergone an extensive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his only son had a terminal illness.
The youngster had accepted Christ as his Savior, so the Minister knew that death would usher him into Glory; but he wondered how to inform one in the bloom of their youth that he soon would die.
After earnestly seeking the direction of the Holy Sprit, he went with a heavy heart through the hospital to the boy’s bedside.
When he got there, he read his son a passage of scripture -- then he said a prayer with his dear child.
Then he gently told him that the doctors could promise him only a few more days to live.
And he went on to ask his son “Are you afraid to meet Jesus, my son?”
Blinking away the tears, the little boy said bravely, “No, not if He is anything like you Dad!”
It is obvious from the scriptures that JOSHUA WAS THE LEADER OF HIS HOME.
WHY DIDN’T GOD CHOOSE WOMEN TO BE THE HEAD OF THE HOME?
Because women are much more emotional than men.
• Women make their decisions with their heart,
• Men make their decision with their head. God made men different.
Women are emotional, and many of their decisions are based on what they feel is RIGHT or WRONG!
Illus: Have you noticed when these false prophets fill a stadium with people, women out number the men 2 to 3 in attendance.
These false prophets know to lead women they have to fill the atmosphere with emotions.
Mom is full of “Sweet talk” but Dad is full of “Straight Talk”.
Illus: Bill Cosby describes parents having children. In his book about fatherhood.
In the chapter titled, "A Baffling Question," Bill Cosby wrote, "So you have decided to have children.”
• You have decided to give up quiet evenings at home when you listened to good music and read good books.
• You have decided to give up lazy weekends when you just held each other in your arms and assured each other of your love.
• You have decided to give up candlelight dinners where you could finish complete sentences.
• You have decided to change all your couches into trampolines.
• You have decided to give up your pursuit of the reproduction of fine art and start coping with the pursuit of the reproduction of yourself.
“Why?
That’s the baffling question."
• He went on, "Poets tell us that one of the reasons That we want to have children is because we desire immortality.
• Yes, I must confess that I asked God for a son to carry on my family name. And God did exactly what I asked Him to do.
• But now there are times when I ask my son not to reveal his identity. I beg him, `Make up a name. Tell them anything, but don’t tell them you belong to me, whatever you do.’"
• "Immortality?" he speaks. "Now that I am the father of five, my only hope is that I will live long enough to see all five of them leave home."
Joshua was a godly father, and he made it clear that he was going to live for the Lord and was going to lead his family to serve the Lord.
We see JOSHUA’S LEADERSHIP and -
II. JOSHUA’S PLAN
What was the plan?
He said, “WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!”
When Joshua spoke, his voice had the sound of togetherness.
We get the feeling that the family said, “Whatever you say, Dad, we will agree.”
Illus: Back in the 50’s, there was a very popular television program called, “Father’s Knows Best,” starring the Actor Robert Young. No matter what the family faced, the father knew what was best and did what was best for the family. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Hollywood portrayed fatherhood in this light today?
Through the life of Joshua, we can see that when the family is united, it will endure the trials that come.
This is where Mom comes on the scene.
If Dad is the spiritual leader of the home, she needs to back him.
Illus: Listen, children have learned that when they want to have their way, all they need to do is cause DIVISION between Mom and Dad.
It is the old strategy called, DIVIDE and CONQUER!
However, they know when Dad takes a stand, and Mom supports him they do not stand a chance. THEY KNOW HE IS THE HEAD OF THE HOME!!!
But some children will not recognize dad as the head, they like to think that MOM AND DAD are EQUAL.
So, if they can get Mom on their side, DAD does not stand a chance. It becomes TWO AGAINST ONE!!!
Children are smart; they know that Mom is an old softie and so they try to get her on their side by using her emotions in making her feel sorry for them and teaming up against dad.
When this happens, WATCH OUT!
Because the children know that when LEADERSHIP in the home is absent, they can do pretty much what they want to do.
Illus: Some would have you believe it takes a village to raise a child. I beg to differ!!!
May I submit to you this morning that when you classify raising a child as everyone’s job, it ultimately becomes nobody’s job!
Why?
Because nobody will be held accountable, and the villagers will not be willing to step up to the plate and except another man’s responsibility.
I’d rather say that it takes two parents to raise a child: a mother and a father.
Also, we have some educators today who believe that a parent’s authority ends at the schoolhouse door?
Once the child enters the schoolhouse, they believe they have the right to teach the child about:
• Acceptance of Transgenderism
• Sex Education
• Acceptance of Homosexuality.
• Elvolution
• Atheism
But I can hear them telling Joshua that!!! AS FOR AS ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!!!
He would have set them straight God gave those children to the PARENTS to raise, not the PUBLIC SCHOOL!!!
We need some godly fathers like Joshua who are willing take up the banner of Jesus Christ, not just for our own salvation, but also for the salvation of our children.
We need some fathers today to MAN UP!
• They do not need to be wearing Moma’s Jewelry
• They do not need to wear shorts like a woman
• They need to get a haircut and look like a man
• Some might be saying, Well my wife like me like that.
All I can say to that is, if you wife likes you looking looking like her sister you need to get her some medical help soon!
If she respected, you as a man she would want you to look like a man.
Maybe as a man you might be saying, I enjoy looking like a woman---THAN YOU NEED GO SEE THE SAME DOCTOR SHE NEEDS TO GO TO!!!
I like preaching about Joshua on Father’s Day because he was a REAL MAN!
Conclusion:
Remember -
• It takes months to build a house.
• It takes a lot of time to plant a good garden.
• It takes a lot of time paint a beautiful picture.
• It takes YEARS TO RAISE A CHILD IN THE FEAR AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD.
That is why God placed dads here; to raise these children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. It takes time and we have to be willing to give these children that time as dads and granddads!
Illus: I read about a little girl who drew a pretty picture. She went in her dad’s office, crawled on his lap, and said, "Daddy, come and see my picture."
The dad said, "Not now, honey. Dad’s busy."
About 10 minutes later, she came back again, crawled on his lap, and said, "Daddy, will you come see my picture now?"
The dad got frustrated and said, "Can’t you see I’m busy? Don’t bother me right now. I’ll come and look at your picture later."
A couple of hours later, the dad came out. He said to the daughter, "Can I see the picture now?"
The girl said, "Sure." It was a picture of her with her brother and her mom standing on the lawn with the family dog. They were smiling and it was a sunny day.
The dad noticed that he wasn’t in the picture, so the dad said, "That’s a nice picture, sweetheart. But how come I’m not in the picture?"
The girl said, "Because you’re always working in your office, daddy."
In a few minutes the altars will be open. Do we have any Christians fathers who will come down this morning and bow before God and say, “Lord, I commit my life to you. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
We have looked at:
I. JOSHUA’S LEADERSHIP
II. JOSHUA’S PLAN
Joshua was a FABOULOUS FATHER THAT EVERY FATHER SHOULD PATTERN THEIR LIFE AFTER.
