THE COURAGEOUS FATHER
2 Samuel 10:9-13 – KJV
9. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. 13. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
Nehemiah 4:14 – KJV
14. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
In these circumstances, there were battles to be fought. There were lives at stake – children, wives, families, nations.
Today, there are battles against our homes and families. There are battles against our children and wives and God is looking for fathers to rise to the occasion.
Let me start with some striking statistics:
There is a father absence crisis in America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.7 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home. Consequently, there is a father factor in nearly all social ills facing America today.
God is looking for Courageous men and fathers in our days! He has always sought for such men all through history and when He finds one, He equips such with Courage to be the kind of men or father He wants him to be.
*Moses was about to die and God needed a man that would serve Him faithfully with his whole house and He found Joshua –
Joshua 1:7 – KJV
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
And when Joshua was about to die, guess what instructions and encouragements he left with the children of Israel?
Joshua 23:6 – KJV
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
It takes courage to obey the Lord and build a family that knows and follows God!
It takes courage to lead a family and lead a team as well as a nation.
Today, as we have this Special Service for men, God is renewing His Call for men of courage. Men who can stand for their families, be soldiers and also train up soldiers for the Lord. He is looking for men, whose influences are not limited to the four walls of their homes but men that can help the fatherless in the community and the Church. Men who can mentor young men and start the exercise from centre of their own homes.
- QUALIFYING AS A COURAGEOUS FATHER
How does one become a Courageous man or father?
Come to the Father of Creation who can change your life
Matthew 11:28-30
28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Obey His Words – on repentance and turning away from your life of sin and following Him
Malachi 2:14-16 – KJV
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
Understand that He has your best interest at heart
Repent and restitute your ways where you have gone wrong
Abide in Him and in His Secret Place of prayer
Go away from everything that draws you back to sin, evil companions and practices
Exercise faith in the Atoning Blood of Jesus that can cleanse guilt from your heart and conscience
Offer your life and family to Him as a living sacrifice
Untie yourself from every adulterous and evil relationship that can destroy your life and family
Strengthen your faith through the Word of God and use it as the Sword of the Spirit – Ephesians 6:17.
- QUALITIES OF COURAGEOUS MEN AND FATHERS
What are the qualities of these men?
Caring and Consistent
Open and Obedient to the Father
Understanding and unassuming
Respectful and Realistic in goals for family
Amazing and Affectionate
Godly and Graciously Good
Enduring and Entertaining
Occupied and Opportunity-seeker for family members
Unique and Upright in character
Self-less and Sacrificial
EXAMPLES OF COURAGEOUS MEN
Caleb – Numbers 14:6-9; Joshua 14:7-13
Obed-edom – 2 Samuel 6:10-12
Uriah – 2 Samuel 11:7-12
Reformer Nehemiah – Neh 4:14
Abraham (Genesis 18:19) and Able David
1 Samuel 17:37
David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Gideon – Judges 7:15 – KJV
15. And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
Elijah and Elisha – All declared God’s Word to the kings in their days without fear or favour. 1 Kings 18:18; 2 Kings 3:11-14;
Obedient Daniel – Daniel 6:10
Underestimated Hezekiah – 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 – KJV
7. Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Saints in Hebrews –Hebrews 11:32-34 – KJV
32. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Of course, there are also examples of men of Cowardice
- The 10 Spies
- Children of Israel
- Ahab – driven and controlled by his wicked wife
- Aaron in submitting to the wishes of idolatrous Israel – Exodus 32:22-24.
- Parents of the blind man healed by Jesus – John 9:22.
- …and many others.
- QUIT YE AND FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY!
1 Corinthians 16:13 – KJV
13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Ezekiel 22:30 – KJV
30. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
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