Father of Courage (Outline)

Introduction

Joshua 24:14-17

"Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 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.” 16 So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17 for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed." (NKJV)

It takes courage to stand for the things of God in a godless age. The people in Joshua’s day were being influenced by the wicked nations around them. Joshua knew the danger this brought to the people of God and to his own family. Joshua was committed to lead his family in the way of the LORD.

I. Decision of Joshua

 A. A Personal Decision (vs 15)

 B. A Practical Decision

 1. Based upon the past blessings of God. (v. 13, 17-18)

 2. Based upon the folly of past decision of Israel. (v. 14-15)

 3. Based upon the consequences of denying God. (v. 20)

II. Declaration of Joshua

A. Public Declaration (v. 1)

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32-33)

B. Purpose of Declaration

1. Joshua's witness to the people. (v. 1)

2. Joshua's warning to the people. (v. 14, 20, 23)

         3. Joshua's will for his family. (v. 15)

III. Determination of Joshua

A. Joshua's Separation from Idols

B. Joshua's Service to the Lord

C. Joshua's Submission to the Lord

Lessons For Life:

1. We need fathers who will give heed to the commandments of God.

2. We need fathers who will submit to the authority and lordship of Jesus.

3. We need fathers who will unashamedly stand up for the things of God.

4. We need fathers who will lead their family in the ways of God.

Fathers are responsible to provide and protect their families. (materially, physically, spiritually)