A Man of Excellence
Notes
Transcript
Joshua 1:1–9 (NRSV)
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. 5 No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. 9 I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
A MAN OF EXCELLENCE
THERE ARE MANY DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN.....
SOME MALES THINK THEY ARE MEN BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF WOMEN THEY CAN GET WITH.....
SOME MALES THINK THEY ARE MEN BECAUSE OF THE HOW MASCULINE THEY ARE...
SOME MALES THINK THEY ARE MEN BECAUSE OF THE CAR THEY DRIVE.....
THOSE ARE ALL SHALLOW DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN....
I BELIEVE A REAL MAN IS A MALE WHO TAKES CARE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.....
A REAL MAN IS ONE WHO WILL SAY AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
NOT EVERYONE WHO IS A MALE IS A MAN.
I MEAN A REAL MAN, A GODLY MAN.
YOU CAN BE BORN A MALE, BUT IT TAKES MATURITY TO BE A MAN.
YOU’RE YOUNG ONLY ONCE, BUT YOU CAN BE IMMATURE
FOREVER.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM THE START, BEING A MAN OF EXCELLENCE DOESN’T MEAN BEING A MAN OF
PERFECTION.
IT DOESN’T MEAN BEING A MAN WHO HAS IT ALL TOGETHER.
IT DOESN’T MEAN BEING A MAN WHO HAS ALL HIS I’S DOTTED AND HIS T’S CROSSED.
AS MEN, WE WILL STUMBLE, WE WILL FALL, WE WILL MAKE MISTAKES, AND WE WILL DISAPPOINT
EVEN OURSELVES....
BUT WE WILL NOT STAY IN THAT PLACE
YOU SEE…..THE WAY WE RESPOND TO SITUATIONS WE FACE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THE GRACE AND
MERCY OF GOD.
THE PSALMIST WROTE IN Psalm 37:23-24
23 Our steps are made firm by the Lord,
when he delights in our way;
24 though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds us by the hand.
AND …..MEN IT’S GOOD TO KNOW ……THAT EVEN WHEN YOU FALL…. YOU’RE STILL IN THE HANDS
OF GOD.
TO SET THE STAGE FOR THIS TEXT …. WE SEE THAT THE PROPHET AND SERVANT OF THE LORD… MOSES HAS
DIED….
AND NOW JOSHUA….WHO WAS THE ASSISTANT TO MOSES…..WAS NOW IN CHARGE OF LEADING THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
AFTER WANDERING FOR 40 YEARS THROUGH THE WILDERNESS….IT WAS NOW TIME FOR GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE TO ENTER A NEW LAND…THAT THE LORD HAD PROMISED.
THEY WERE ABOUT TO FACE THE CHALLENGE OF THEIR LIVES.
THEY FIRST HAD TO CROSS THE WATERS OF THE JORDAN RIVER….AND GO AGAINST ARMY AFTER ARMY THAT WOULD OPPOSE THEM IN ORDER TO GET THE VICTORY OF THE PROMISED LAND.
THERE WERE MANY OBSTACLES THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO FACE…..AND IT’S WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THE PEOPLE WERE GRIPPED WITH FEAR AND ANGUISH IN THEIR HEARTS.
TO MAKE THE SITUATION EVEN MORE UNEASY…..THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL….NOW HAVE A NEW LEADER.
YOU SEE THEY KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE….WHEN THEY FOLLOWED MOSES…..
YES THEY HAD THEIR UPS AND DOWNS……
BUT NOW HERE IS JOSHUA…..
THE NEW LEADER IN CHARGE……JOSHUA HAD BEEN SECOND IN COMMAND AND NOW IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.
NOT ONLY WAS THIS UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FACED…….
JOSHUA WAS INEXPERIENCED AT LEADING….HE WAS UNSEASONED AND THIS WAS A BRAND-NEW ERA FOR HIM….
IT WAS A NEW SEASON…..
WHEN GOD CALLED JOSHUA….. GOD GAVE HIM A THREE FOLD CHARGE.
JOSHUA WAS TO LEAD THE PEOPLE INTO THE LAND……. DEFEAT THE ENEMY……. AND CLAIM THE INHERITANCE.
AND I BELIEVE MY BROTHERS…… GOD HAS CALLED US ALL TO BE LEADERS.
WE MY LEAD SEVERAL THOUSANDS OR WE MAY LEAD ONLY ONE…… THAT ONE BEING OURSELVES.
….TO BE THE LEADERS OF OUR FAMILIES……TO BE THE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES…..TO BE THE LEADERS IN OUR CHURCHES……..TO BE LEADERS ON OUR JOBS OR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT
BUT WE ARE CALLED TO BE LEADERS.
AND TO BE LEADERS…..MEANS WE ARE TO BE RESPECTFUL….
A MAN WHO RESPECTS HIMSELF, WILL RESPECT OTHERS.
EVERY BOY AND EVERY MAN IS CALLED TO RESPECT EVERY WOMAN AND EVERY GIRL.
MEN WHEN WE RESPECT OTHERS, SO MANY PEOPLE COME OUT WINNERS INCLUDING OURSELVES.
IT CHANGES THE FACE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND YOUNG MEN, DON’T YIELD TO THE PRESSURES AROUND YOU, AND SACRIFICE THE GREAT FUTURE GOD HAS FOR YOU AND YOUR FUTURE FAMILIES.
GOD HAS A CALLING ON YOUR LIVES TO BE LEADERS.
WE ARE BETTER LEADERS, WHEN WE DON’T HAVE A LOT OF SIDE ISSUES TO DEAL WITH FROM HAVING MADE POOR CHOICES AND DECISIONS.
MEN, WE ARE NOT CALLED TO STAY WHERE WE ARE.
IF WE DO WE BECOME SITTING DUCKS FOR THE ENEMY, BUT EVEN WORSE WE MISS THE POTENTIAL GOD HAS FOR OUR LIVES TO BECOME MEN OF EXCELLENCE.
DON’T FORGET THAT WHEN GOD CALLED JOSHUA, GOD HAD A PROMISE FOR JOSHUA THAT THERE WAS AN INHERITANCE INVOLVED WAITING FOR HIM TO CLAIM IT.
MEN DON’T STOP FIGHTING FOR YOUR MARRIAGE, FIGHTING FOR YOUR CHILDREN, OR FIGHTING FOR YOUR GOALS.
THERE IS AN INHERITANCE YOU WILL ENJOY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
THE FIRST THING GOD DID AFTER GIVING JOSHUA THE COMMAND WAS TO GIVE HIM A PROMISE TO ENCOURAGE HIM.
HE SAID, “AS I WAS WITH MOSES, SO I WILL BE WITH YOU; I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.”
THE WORDS I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED “I WILL NOT DROP OR ABANDON YOU.”
IN OTHER WORDS……GOD IS SAYING “I GOT YOUR BACK” AND THE GOOD NEWS MY BROTHERS…..IS THAT GOD NEVER WALKS OUT ON HIS PROMISES.
YOU SEE……JOSHUA WAS NOT A BIT DIFFERENT FROM YOU OR I.
MY BROTHERS …..THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN WE ARE AFRAID.
THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN WE WANT TO QUIT.
THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN WE THINK OR FEEL, THIS THING IS TOO HARD FOR ME TO DO.
EVEN JESUS PRAYED, “FATHER IF IT IS POSSIBLE, CHOOSE SOME WAY OTHER THAN ME GOING TO THE CROSS TO BE CRUCIFIED, BUT NOT MY WILL, YOURS BE DONE.”
WANTING TO QUIT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO.
TO BE A MAN OF EXCELLENCE MEANS, YOU JUST HANG IN THERE LONGER THAN OTHERS DO.
GOD KNOWS THAT’S HOW WE ARE GOING TO FEEL EXHAUSTED AND FRUSTRATED, SO THREE TIMES HE SAYS, VERSE 6—BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, VERSE 7 BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS AND VERSE 9 BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS AND DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD YOU GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.”
THERE MAY BE A FATHER, WHO THINKS HE CANNOT GO ON WITH HIS RELATIONSHIP, YOU NEED TO REMEMBER VERSE 9 BECAUSE GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, AND DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD YOU GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE POWER TO TURN THAT RELATIONSHIP AROUND.
THERE MAY BE A FATHER HERE WHO HAS A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH A SON OR A DAUGHTER.
WHY NOT TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN THE FORGIVENESS PROCESS BY HUMBLING YOURSELF AND ADMITTING YOU HAVE A NEED TO HAVE THE PERSON IN YOUR LIFE.
EVERY MAN NEEDS SOME ENCOURAGEMENT.
AND FOR THE WIVES WATCHING OR LISTENING THIS MORNING……SSOME OF YOU COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF ENCOURAGING YOUR HUSBAND….
YEAH SOMETIMES WE MESS UP AND DON’T GET IT RIGHT……BUT DON’T LET OUR MESS UPS KEEP YOU FROM TRYING TO ENCOURAGE US.
SOMETIMES WE AS MEN DON’T ACT AS THOUGH YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT……. BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE PLEASED WITH OUR EFFORTS.
WE NEED TO KNOW YOU DO GIVE US SOME CREDIT FOR SOMETHING.
WE HATE THOSE WORDS….. “YOU NEVER”….. WHEN SOMETIMES WE HAVE.
DO I HAVE A WITNESS….
I BELIEVE …..JOSHUA FELT GOOD ABOUT GOD TELLING HIM TO BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.
BUT THE PEAK POINT CAME FOR HIM, WHEN HE TOLD THE PEOPLE, “HERE IS WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO”.
AND THE PEOPLE RESPONDED….. WE WILL FOLLOW YOU, AND MAY THE LORD BE WITH YOU AS HE WAS WITH MOSES, ONLY BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.
AND JUST LIKE JOSHUA NEEDED THAT ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE PEOPLE…..
A FATHER…THE LEADER OF THE HIS FAMILY….. NEEDS TO HEAR SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FROM TIME TO TIME……..AND TO KNOW THAT HE HAS HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN CHEERING HIM ON IN LIFE.
MEN IT IS UP TO US, TO DO THINGS THAT ARE POSITIVE TO MAKE OUR FAMILY PROUD.
IT IS UP TO US TO SEE TO IT THAT OUR CHILDREN RESPECT THEIR MOTHERS.
FAMILY IT’S UP TO YOU TO NOTICE US AND ENCOURAGE US ALONG THE WAY.
JOSHUA WAS NOT GOING INTO THE PROMISED LAND, JUST SO THAT HE COULD BE BLESSED.
HE WAS ENTERING THE LAND SO THAT ALL OF GOD’S PEOPLE COULD RECEIVE THE INHERITANCE THAT GOD HAD FOR THEM.
MEN WHEN WE ARE BLESSED, EVERYBODY IN OUR HOUSE SHOULD BE BLESSED.
BECOMING MEN OF EXCELLENCE LEADS TO THE BLESSINGS OF OTHERS.
I BELIEVE THAT THE FINAL THING A MAN NEEDS TO BECOME A MAN OF EXCELLENCE IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
MEN, IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW GOOD WE WANT TO BE OR HOW GOOD WE TRY TO BE, WE ARE GOING TO FAIL.
GOD CREATED US TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
EVERY MAN NEEDS A LEADER WHO FULLY UNDERSTAND HIS MISSION.
GOD DID NOT CALL JOSHUA AND GIVE HIM SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SAY “NOW YOU GO OUT AND BE A MAN AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN.”
NO……. IN VERSE SEVEN AND EIGHT IT SAYS “BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS.
BE CAREFUL TO OBEY ALL THE LAW MY SERVANT MOSES GAVE YOU; DO NOT TURN FROM IT TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, THAT YOU MAY BE SUCCESSFUL WHEREVER YOU GO.
DO NOT LET THIS BOOK OF THE LAW DEPART FROM YOUR MOUTH; MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT, SO THAT YOU MAY BE CAREFUL TO DO EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN IT. THEN YOU WILL BE PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL.
EVERY MAN NEEDS TO OBEY THE WORD OF GOD, TO BECOME A MAN OF EXCELLENCE.
BUT IF THE TRUTH BE TOLD…….THE NATURAL TENDENCY FOR US AS MEN, IS TO REBEL AGAINST ANYBODY TELLING US WHAT TO DO.
MEN…..HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SAID , “I’M A GROWN MAN, I DON’T NEED ANYBODY TELLING ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE.”
JESUS WAS A GROWN MAN TOO, BUT HIS TESTIMONY WAS, “I ONLY DO WHAT THE FATHER TELLS ME TO DO.”
YES MY BROTHERS......
GOD GAVE JOSHUA AN AWESOME TASK.
HE WANTED HIM TO KNOW FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU CAN’T DO THIS UNLESS YOU DO IT ACCORDING TO MY WORD.
JOSHUA DON’T TRY TO TAKE SHORT CUTS BECAUSE IT WILL NOT WORK.
IF YOU DON’T TRY TO WIGGLE OVER HERE AND WAGGLE OVER THERE, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WHEREVER YOU GO.
IF YOU READ MY WORD, PUT IT IN ACTION AND BE CAREFUL TO DO ALL THAT IT IS IN IT, YOU WILL BE PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL.
BEING A MAN OF EXCELLENCE DOES NOT MEAN BEING A PERFECT MAN.
JESUS DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO BE PERFECT.
FOR THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US 1 JOHN 1:7-10 (NKJV) 7 BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. 8 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. 9 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 10 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR, AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US.
BEING MEN OF EXCELLENCE MEANS THAT WE CANNOT COMPROMISES ON RESPECTING OURSELVES,
RESPECTING OTHERS, AND RESPECTING THE WORD OF GOD.
BEING MEN OF EXCELLENCE MEANS THAT WE MUST HAVE A RELATIONSHIP …..IT IS WHEN WE COME INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT WE BEGIN TO ALLOW GOD TO MAKE US THE MAN THAT HE IS CALLING US TO BE.
IN OTHER WORDS…..WE CANNOT STAND BEFORE GOD ON OUR OWN GOODNESS.
BUT IT’S ONLY OUR PRIDE….THAT MAKES US BOLD ENOUGH TO THINK SO.
WHEN WE ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD HE WILL ENCOURAGE US…. AND LET US KNOW THAT HE IS WITH US…….
• YOU MUST BE COMMITTED TO GOD, PLACING HIM FIRST ABOVE ALL THINGS.
• YOU MUST ALSO ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS, SO THAT YOUR FOCUS CAN BE ON GOD AND WHAT IT IS HE HAS FOR YOU TO DO FOR HIM.
• AND FINALLY, YOU MUST MAKE A CHOICE, CHOOSING TO SERVE THE LORD AND LEADING THOSE WHO ARE UNDER YOUR CARE IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD AS WELL.
IT’S NOT AN EASY ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN SATAN SEES THAT YOU’RE TRYING TO GET YOUR LIFE IN LINE WITH GOD…..
BUT HANG ON IN THERE…… KNOWING THAT YOUR FAITHFULNESS WILL BE REWARDED IN THE END.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE A MAN OF EXCELLENCE NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLES YOU FACE, NO MATTER HOW MANY SETBACKS YOU’VE HAD.
GOD CAN KEEP YOU, LEAD AND GUIDE YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THE BIBLE IS FULL OF EXAMPLES OF MEN OF EXCELLENCE…..THAT HAD SOME ISSUES….BUT GOT IT TOGETHER….
ABRAHAM WAS A LIAR, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
JACOB WAS TRICKY, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
MOSES ALWAYS HAD AN EXCUSE, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
• SAMSON WAS PUDDY IN A WOMAN’S HAND, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
DAVID WAS AN ADULTERER, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
JOB QUESTIONED GOD, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
• JONAH RAN FROM GOD, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
PETER WOULD TELL YOU WHATEVER WAS ON HIS MIND, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER.
PAUL WAS A MURDERER, BUT HE GOT IT TOGETHER
• THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT BETWEEN THESE MEN AND YOU AND I, SO WE CAN BE MEN OF EXCELLENCE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS……..BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST, WHO’S ALWAYS HAD IT TOGETHER….CAN HELP US ALL…. IF YOU WANT TO GET IT TOGETHER, TELL JESUS ALL ABOUT IT AND WATCH HOW HE BEGINS TO MOVE IN YOUR LIFE, HELPING YOU TO GET ALL THE PIECES OF YOUR LIFE TOGETHER.
• HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.
HE IS LORD OF LORD’S.
• HE IS LIVING WATER.
HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE.
• HE IS THE GREAT I AM.
HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
• HE IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE. HE IS THE WORD.
• HE’S ALPHA AND OMEGA. HE IS THE REDEEMER.
• HE IS THE WAY. HE IS THE SON OF GOD.
• HE IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. AND HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP US TO BE A MAN OF EXCELLENCE
MY BROTHERS……..
HE IS WITH YOU…..NO NEED TO FEAR……
HE IS WITH YOU….. NO MATTER HOW DEEP THE VALLEY
HE IS WITH YOU…..NO MATTER WHAT COMES YOUR WAY
HE IS WITH YOU…..AND WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.
HE IS WITH YOU…..IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
HE IS WITH YOU…..DO NOT BE DISMAYED….
HE IS WITH YOU…..TO GIVE YOU PEACE.
HE IS WITH YOU…..TO CALM THE STORM….
HE IS WITH YOU…..WHERE EVER YOU GO
HE IS WITH YOU…..THE ALPHA AND OMEGA….BEGINNING AND END
HE IS WITH YOU…..THE PROMISE KEEPER
HE IS WITH YOU….THE LIVING TRUTH
HE IS WITH YOU….THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR
HE IS WITH YOU….JEHOVAH JIREH
HE IS WITH YOU…..JEHOVAH SHALOM