Receive And Do (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23) (Part 5)

Conclusion:

1. You can't implement a word of the Lord that you haven't received (1 Cor. 11:23).

2. You can't receive a word of the Lord if you aren't willing to listen.

3. In this messed up, rebellious world of ours, one of the greatest gifts you can bestow to your children is the ability to hear and obey the word of the Lord – to receive and do what He says. They probably won't do this if they don't see you doing it. You can't do it unless you're willing to do the hard work of cultivation.

4. What's the one thing – the one interest, hobby our pursuit -- that, if God were to take it from you, you might think He was unfair? What if His purpose was to strip from you all distraction so that you could more accurately hear His voice? Would you let Him have that one thing? If your answer is no, then you are saying you are not serious about hearing and obeying God's Word.

5. May you be a father who hears from God and obeys Him!

• You will profit.
• Your wife will profit.
• Your children will profit.
• Your church will profit.
• Your community will profit.

6. Consider what might have happened had Joseph rejected what God said to him in the dreams.

Receive And Do (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23) (Part 4)

SINCE FATHERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO TO HEAR AND OBEY THE VOICE OF GOD, WE MUST CULTIVATE THESE SKILLS.

Since you battle the sin nature, hearing and obeying God is never a “one and done” transaction.

How do you cultivate spiritual sensitivity?

• Be willing.  You must want to hear God speak to you and direct you.

• Be quiet.  It is interesting that God used dreams to get through to Joseph.  He was able to dream because he was asleep (profound, eh?).  When you are asleep, your body is at rest and your spirit is quiet.  Was Joseph so active that God could get through to him no other way?  It is hard to hear God's still, small voice when you are consistently hurried, worried or distracted.  It is hard to hear God's still, small voice amid an unrelentingly noisy world.  Read 1 Kin. 19:11-13.

• Be patient.  You might have to sit in silence a while or even a long while.  You might have to do this several times.  Mt. 7:7-8 > Keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. When you read the prophets, you regularly encounter this phrase: “The word of the Lord came to _____.”  Did it come randomly?  It is more likely that the prophets developed, as their number one skill, an ability to hear accurately and consistently.  For example, recall that Daniel spent 21 days seeking God for an answer (Dan. 10:8-14).

• Be obedient.  God doesn't speak just to speak.  He speaks because He wants something done in a certain way, at a certain time or place by a certain someone.  God has a bias toward action. If you won't follow through with what He says to you the first time, why should He keep on speaking?  Even if He does keep on speaking, what He expects from you – obedience – won't change.

• Be prepared.  God tends to speak to prepared hearts.  Always have access to a writing utensil and paper.  You don't want to “lose” what God said because you didn't write it down. Well, isn't God powerful enough to remind you later?  Don't make this about God's capability when it is really about your responsibility.

• Be accountable.  If you're going to act on what God says, then you had better know that it was God who spoke, and not some other voice.  Hearing from God can't always be a trial-and-error experiment.  There are some things you can't afford to be wrong about (Gen. 22:2).  People say, “Thus saith the Lord” frequently in our day and, sadly, much damage has been done.  Read Prov. 15:22; 24:6.  You don't go to the counselors to get God's Word but to submit it and receive wise advice, knowing you could be deceived (1 Cor. 14:29).

Receive And Do (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23) (Part 3)

THIS DOMINANT PATTERN IN JOSEPH'S LIFE IS RELEVANT FOR TODAY'S

FATHERS.

What were the primary means by which God spoke to Joseph? The primary means by which God spoke to Joseph were dreams.

Does God still use dreams to speak to people?  Yes, although they are not the primary means by which one should expect to hear from God.

What is the primary means by which God speaks to people today?  The primary means by which God speaks to people today is His Son, Jesus (Heb. 1:1-2).

Where do we see Jesus revealed, that is, His speaking to us?  We see Jesus revealed in God's Word (the Bible) (Mt. 4:4; Jn. 5:39).  We see Jesus revealed by God's Spirit (Jn. 15:26; 16:14).

When God speaks, wise fathers want to listen!  Their response is the same as Samuel's (1 Sam. 3:10). Fathers, the greatest gift you can give to your children, regardless of their ages, is assurance that you have developed the ability to hear God and obey Him.  Your children need to know that you are cultivating spiritual sensitivity.  Let's be honest: How can a father who doesn't hear from God, let alone obey Him, be trusted to make decisions that affect everyone in the family?  Men, don't be “that guy.”  If a father doesn't hear from God and obey God, how then can he teach his children the value of this pattern?  Fathers, of all the lessons and skills you could teach your children, what is more weightier than this one?

Receive And Do (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23) (Part 2)

THERE IS A DOMINANT PATTERN IN JOSEPH'S LIFE.

This pattern is revealed easily when we consider Matthew's narrative of Jesus' birth and early years.

• Read Matthew 1:18-25.  God spoke, Joseph obeyed.
• Read Matthew 2:13-15.  God spoke, Joseph obeyed.
• Read Matthew 2:19-23.  God spoke twice, Joseph obeyed twice.

Just so we're clear on the pattern, let's state it in black and white terms.  Joseph received the word of the Lord and implemented it. He was a man of spiritual sensitivity.  This sensitivity wasn't automatic; it had to be cultivated.

Receive And Do (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23) (Part 1)

When you hear the name Joseph, what usually comes to mind? What usually comes to mind is “Christmas.” That is when you expect to hear about Joseph. You don't expect to hear about Joseph on Father's Day.  Why not?

Obviously, God saw something in Joseph that qualified him to fulfill the role of Jesus' father. Would you agree with me that it is highly improbable that Joseph was chosen randomly? With something so valuable as His own Son's human welfare at stake, God wouldn't be laissez-faire when it came to selecting a human father for Jesus. It is my belief that God was picky when it came to selecting a human father for Jesus.  Not just anyone would do.

When you study the life of Joseph, there is a dominant pattern that emerges. That pattern, which God knew about before Joseph ever acted to make it one, is why I believe that God chose Joseph. That pattern is the basis for this week's posts.

Taking a Stand (2 Sam. 23:10-12)

This was my Father's Day sermon.

Introduction:  "Man of Steel" > David's Mighty Men (2 Sam. 23:8ff)
1. You are in the fight of your life (1 Pet. 5:8).
2. What you are defending is worth the fight (marriage, children, etc.).
3. Hold onto the sword no matter what (Eph. 6:17).
4. Expect the fight to weary you. You can receive renewed strength, however, from God (Isa. 40:31).
Conclusion: Both Eleazar and Shammah took a stand. Rise up, men of God! Take your stand today!

Living the High Life (Psa. 128:1-4)

The Bible describes “the high life” differently than the world.  In the non-Christian arena, “the high life” means a good beer, a sexy woman, plenty of money and a steady dose of pleasure without restraint.  In the Christian world, “the high life” means the state of blessing that comes from fearing the Lord.

What does it mean to “fear the Lord”?  It means to “walk in His ways.” (Psa. 128:1)  It means to reverence (awe), worship, and obey Him.

The Man Who Fears the Lord Is Blessed!

1.  He is blessed as a provider (128:2a).  He eats of the fruit of his hands.  His work is productive and provident.

2.  He is blessed as a person (128:2b).  Happy > from a root that means “to be straight, level or right”; “to go forward, be honest or prosper.”  Well > from a root that means “to be (do or make) good”

3.  He is blessed as a partner (128:3a).  His wife is a fruitful vine in the house.  The man is blessed because his wife is fulfilled and content.  Husband, the greatest security you provide your wife is for her to know you are sold out to God!

4.  He is blessed as a parent (128:3b).  His children are olive plants around the table.  It takes 15 years of cultivation for olive plants to develop into olive trees.  Instead of “cultivation,” today we would say “investment.”  Why should a father invest in his children?  After the 15 years of cultivation as plants, those olive trees will produce for the next 2,000 years.  Fathers, your legacy will outlive you for generations!

Observations

1.  God has set you up for success, not failure.  It all starts (Psa. 128:1) and ends (Psa. 128:4) with the fear of the Lord.

2.  When you bless the Lord, the Lord blesses you.  The reward for godly fear is fruitfulness.

3.  When you fear the Lord and are blessed, everyone else in your family is affected.  If the positive is true, so is the negative.  When you do not fear the Lord and are not experiencing His blessing, everyone else in your family is affected.  Fathers, so much depends upon your leadership!