A Father Who Lived A Well-lived Life

ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH SERMON OUTLINES

A Father Who Lived A Well-lived Life

Text: Joshua 14:6-15 IBCSWS June 18, 2005

Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar

Father’s Day comes and goes. Thoughtful children excitedly and heartily greet their fathers by saying appreciative words and by giving meaningful gifts. Justly, they should be highly-honored as great men of our lives.

Some may not agree, but earthly fathers are indeed blessings from our Heavenly Father. Their caring acts, wisdom-filled words, visible and guiding presence are wonderful reflection of the loving-kindness of our invisible Father above. Certainly, every father has a vital role to perform in this present life, and the life he lives today, to God he will give account.

Apparently, the philosophy of modern civilization could not give us a well-defined role of a father. The undeniable growth of women’s liberation-related programs and activities and the world-friendly children shouting and claiming for their questionable rights surely obscure the true role of a father in this modern and messy world.

Through the Bible, the God-given role of a father in his own house, local church, community, nation and the world as a whole is so clear and so interesting to be studied and applied considerably.

Studying the life of Caleb offers us an additional understanding concerning a well-lived fatherhood. The unchanging Word of God is always our help to guide us so we could walk righteously in this ever changing world. Every Christian should then pray to God for fathers that their lives will be spent the way God wants them to live. A well-lived life will surely touch countless people to live for the glory of God.

(I) A Well-balanced Life

Joshua 14:6-15

-Physically strong

In Joshua 14:7-11, it is written, Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. (KJV) Without doubt, to have that kind of physical strength in this “high-tech generation” means having an extraordinary care for ones physical body. A father should be a good steward of his body because a physically fit father is surely a blessing to his whole family. Good health is a blessing that comes from God.

-Mentally sharp

Caleb was not only physically strong but mentally sharp as well. Leadership in the home is not for the wife to usurp, but for the father to handle and an intelligent father is a reliable leader and a sure strength of the family.

In verse 11, it is written; As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. (KJV) A man going to the battle field in his prime of youth endowed with physical strength is one thing, but going to war at the age of eighty five is quite another thing. The substantial words of Caleb to Joshua truly revealed his God-given intelligence. We must keep on praying to God for the needs of fathers specifically for the needed intelligence.

-Spiritually sound

In verse 8, Caleb says, “but I wholly followed the LORD my God.” In verse 9, we could read what Moses told Caleb when he was still alive saying, “Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.” Again verse 14 says, “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.” (KJV)

Some professing believers claim they are following the Lord, but their claims cannot be confirmed by men’s word of approval. In Caleb’s case, his unquestionable walk with God was not only confirmed by Moses and Joshua, but above all, God confirmed Caleb’s notable spiritual life. In Numbers 14:24, it is written, But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (KJV) Caleb truly followed the LORD and was blessed significantly by his Almighty God.

A well-balanced life is a well-handled life. A wisely used strength produces notable and advantageous results. Obviously, Caleb handled his whole being amazingly through the grace of God. Christian homes are in great need of fathers who are physically strong, mentally sharp and spiritually sound so that their children may be properly led in the way of truth.

(II) A Life Well-pleasing To God

Numbers 14:22-24

-Faith-energized life

-Unquestionable obedience to God and His servants

Caleb’s life was a faith-energized life. Through the eyes of faith, he saw the blessings of the LORD prepared for Israel. It is so sad because others were not able to see what Caleb was seeing. And as a heartbreaking result, those who lived by sight never enjoyed the Promised Land.

A father who leads his family in the path of faith will surely be delightful to God. His family will enjoy the overflowing blessings of the Lord. On the other hand, a Christian father who neglects to lead his family to the Lord Jesus Christ will have members leading to a tragic life.

In Numbers 14:22-24, it is written, Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (KJV) Through these words spoken by the LORD, we could say that Caleb’s life was a God-pleasing life.

(III) A Blessing To Others

Joshua 14:12 Joshua 15:13-20

-Through his inspiring faith in God 14:12

-Through his motivational words Num. 13:30

-Through his courageous acts 15:14

-Through his generosity 15:13-20

-Through his godly life 14:14

Through Bible teachings, we’ll come to realize that fathers have God-given responsibilities to carry on, and someday, they will give account before God how they spent their lives. Caleb lived a well-lived life. He was blest by God and became a blessing to his family, his tribe and his nation, Israel. Today, his heroic acts triggered by his faith in God are not only well-spoken stories of the past, but also inspiring Bible accounts to encourage fathers to follow God wholly.

Millions of homes are in great need of Caleb-like father today. May Christian fathers grab their opportunity to demonstrate Bible principles through their lives and become shining lights to guide others to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To all fathers, be reminded that your children and the people of this world, especially the lost, want to take note of your inspiring faith in Jesus, want to hear your motivating words, want to watch your courageous acts, want to be blessed by your big-heartedness, but above all, they want to be convinced by the way you follow and live a well-lived life for the glory God.

What a blessing to see people being blest by our lives and being led to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through following our distinct and unquestionable steps of faith.

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