Wow. Wow. Wow. Good morning, church.

Uh, you can do better than that. Good morning, church.

We want to welcome everybody to all of our locations. So, welcome to all of you today in Dupont. Welcome to all of you in Belleview. Welcome to you who are online. Welcome to you at Yakamal.

Welcome to you right here at Tacoma.

Welcome, welcome, welcome. Glad you’re with us in church today.

And this Friday night, something really special going on. We’re going to be in Yakamal celebrating and dedicating our new building, our new beautiful building.

So, hey yakamal, let me just say our church family from the west side is coming to the east side.

Church members are coming. Staff members are coming. Location pastors are coming. I’ll be speaking at the dedication.

Some of our pastor friends are going to be there helping us dedicate the building. Pastor Pace Hartfield, Pastor Josh Bingle, other pastors are going to be there. So, you’re not going to want to miss it. And I encourage you in Yakamal, invite family, invite friends.

It’s going to be a fun night. And we’re going to have an afterparty afterwards.

So, Friday night, Friday night party in Yakimal. Amen.

Amen. It’s going to be fun.

I’m moving around a little bit because my mic is ringing a little bit and I just want to uh work all that out really quick here. Happy Father’s Day weekend.

Today we honor fathers. We honor dads.

We honor grandfathers. We honor stepfathers, adoptive fathers, foster fathers, spiritual fathers. We honor you today. We honor men who have stood in the gap. We honor men who have shown up.

Men who have prayed, men who have worked, men who have protected, provided, taught, corrected, encouraged men who have loved.

We honor you today.

We honor all of you today. And I want to just speak to the men today. That’s that’s the plan.

Not just the men who feel strong. Not just the men who feel successful.

Not just the men who feel like they got it all right.

I want to speak to every man, especially any man who has wondered, “Am I okay with God? Can God still use me?” Every man who has ever felt the weight of responsibility.

Every man who has ever looked back, wished he’d have done better, wished he’d have done something differently.

I think I’ve covered the basis.

The title of today’s message is the difference that a man can make.

The difference a man can make. I know sometimes with men I challenge you. Sometimes I admonish you.

I’ll do a little bit of that. I’m sure today I bring direction or correction that I feel like I need to bring sometimes. But the truth is is that I’m fortunate to pastor and be with and hang out with a whole bunch of great men at Champion Center. We have some of the greatest men on the planet who are part of our local church.

And I’ve been encouraged by you. I’ve watched you sacrifice. I’ve watched you make tough decisions. I’ve watched you stay faithful.

So today, I really I I don’t know. I just felt like I wanted to say some encouraging things to you today and to remind you who you are and remind you what you’re capable of. I hope all the young men will really listen up, the non-dads will listen up. Of course, I want the gals to take notes and follow up on my encouragement today.

Everybody say, “My heart’s open.” My heart’s open. My mind’s ready. My mind’s ready. Make me better, God. By your word. By your word.

I receive it. I receive it. I believe it. I believe it. And I won’t be the same again.

In Jesus name. Shout a great big amen.

The first thing that I want to say is that a man does not have to be perfect to make a difference.

He doesn’t have to have every answer. He doesn’t have to have a flawless past.

He doesn’t have to be without faults.

He doesn’t have to do everything right.

A man doesn’t have to be perfect.

Are any men in the room thankful for that? You don’t have to be perfect.

I was at a I was speaking at a couple’s conference. Sheila and I were back in the Midwest. It was a pretty large event. Couples all over the room. no children there. Everybody there, uh, just made up of of husbands and wives.

And one of the speakers said to the whole audience, I don’t think I’ve ever heard this said before, but I liked it.

And he told all of the ladies, he said, “Ladies, I just want to announce to you today that your husband is a sinner.” And it just went like froze in the room.

Like you could feel except me. I was like, “Yes.”

Because if you know anything about how scripture views us, scripture tells us that we all have come short of the glory of God. We have all fallen.

It’s like some of us are trying to prove to God that we’re perfect and he already knows we’re not.

And and I think sometimes wives and he went on, by the way, to say it. I’m giving him credit because it it really impressed me that that moment. He went on to tell wives, wives, just because he’s not perfect doesn’t mean that you’re not to honor him whether you’re not let to allowed to let him try to lead and be his best and support him. I’m like, man, that’s that’s raw and real.

So, I just want to say to you today that a man doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference. He just has to be pointed in the right direction.

And when he’s pointed in the right direction, one man can change the atmosphere of a home.

One man can change the direction of a family.

One man can break a pattern that has been in his family and and and has was in his father and was in his father’s father. One man can build a legacy for his children, a great legacy.

One man can put faith in the next generation. One man.

We have a man in our church that is a lot of the young people, the the people who were on stage today, Chase, our our youth pastors, many of them, the guys and the girls will when I say this name, there’s going going to be a little eruption here in uh in Tacoma especially. and his name is Pete Wingard.

I don’t know if he’s in the room. If he is, somebody tell me. But normally he is at one of the services, but he’s over at kids a lot.

Pete Wingard has like been a positive man figure for 40 years at Champion Center.

40 years. And he is love. He is loved because of that. All through the Bible, there are men making a difference.

So, think if you would about some of the men for a moment who have made a difference in your life.

Think about it. If you It could be a dad, a stepdad, a coach, a school teacher, a Sunday school teacher. Not I’m not asking you to think about the guy who you’re mad at, the man who you’re angry with. I I’m I’m asking you to think about the man who has made a difference in your life

because men are making a difference in lives, in families, in homes, and and in the world today.

And even those you’ve never met, there are many men who you’ve never met whose lives have impacted yours in a positive way. I mean, you’re starting with something simple. When you turn on a light switch, Thomas Edison.

When you use your PC or your smartphone, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs.

When you turn on Christian music, the songs we sing today in worship like Chris Tomlin, Chris Brown, Brandon Le, Chandler Moore, Steven Furtick.

By the way, Furtick, Steven Furtick is going to be here in just a couple weeks at conference.

Don’t tell nobody.

So, let me just go for the rest of my time. I want to go to Joshua chapter 1.

And I just want to talk about a a great man who made a difference whose name was Joshua. Okay? And I want to just take and extract some things from this scripture setting that will help us today to be the be men making a difference. Okay. uh little background is that to this text is that Moses who led God’s people out of Egypt, he had died and Joshua is now transitioning into the leadership role left by Moses to be the new leader of a massive nation of people. Okay, so Joshua was a faithful man. He’s stepping into an impossible assignment actually. And and just to tell you at that point Joshua was not famous. He was not, you know, he he was not really even proven at this level yet. He he was not Moses for sure. But God saw something in Joshua that Joshua may not have fully seen in himself. And and so what God said to Joshua, I I want to read it to you, are words that he also says to all of us men who serve him. Verse 5, Joshua 1 verse 5, God says, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.

As I was with Moses, may maybe men, if you could just think like I’m saying this to you on behalf of God today. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous.

Be careful to obey all of 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. Keep this book of the law always on your lips.

Meditate on it day and night. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

And then you will be prosperous and successful.

Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous. I think that’s the third time, right?

Do not be afraid.

Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Happy Father’s Day.

So, the first thing I want you to notice is the confidence that God expresses in Joshua.

He’s not he’s not like ripping into him, tearing him down, saying, “What are you doing? Who do you think you are? I hope you can pull this off.” No, he’s not.

He’s affirming him. He’s directing him. He’s telling him, “You got this.

No one will be able to stand against you. Just like I was with Moses, I’m with you.

I’m with you.

A man will make a difference. I’m going to give you five things out of this text. A man will make a difference when number one, he knows God is with him.

when he knows that God that’s what that’s what God was saying to Joshua. I’m with you.

I’ve got you.

I know your assignment’s big, but you’re not by yourself.

I know some days you’re going to get weary and tired, but you’re not alone. I know oftentimes you’re not going to feel adequate. You’re going to feel inadequate.

I’m with you.

A lady named Ethel Waters used to say, “God don’t sponsor no flops.”

I put it on the screen today because I wanted you to have a minute to absorb it there. It’s not a scripture. It’s a lady named Ethel.

But I heard that when I was just really young and and I’ve never forgot it.

It may not be grammatically perfect, but it is spiritually powerful.

The fact that you’re here today means that God has sponsored you.

You have his backing. He has confidence in you.

I don’t know what kind of words you’ve had spoken over you in your life, but I know that it is common for men to hear negative, degrading words, beginning when we’re just boys, from a dad who didn’t know better, who thought he was making a man out of you, but he actually was demeaning you and hurting you, taking away your confidence.

You’ve heard you’ve heard these words from if it wasn’t a dad from kids and bullies and siblings and parents and teachers and women and even your own children potentially even your own wife potentially. I mean man bashing is everywhere.

But when a man hears the affirmation of God over his life, it neutralizes the negativity and it fuels his potential.

And I want to tell all the men today, just like God spoke words of assurance over Joshua and affirmed Joshua, he also has affirmed you.

And the fact that you’re here today means that God has confidence in you.

He has sponsored you.

You are. You may have failed, but you’re not a failure. You’re a man with a purpose.

And in your life, if you’ll if you’ll trust him and look to him, he will let everything he will make all things work together for your good. You have the backing of heaven to be a man who makes a difference.

Can you shout amen?

So a man will make a difference when he knows God is with him. Secondly, a man will make a difference when he follows God faithfully.

One of the things that God said to Joshua was be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Don’t depart from the left or the right so that you can be successful. It’s like you can hear the voice of God. I want you to be successful. I I want you to be I want you to win in life.

Joshua 1 and 7 and 8 is not it’s not just about courage. It’s it’s about obedience.

Do you hear me today? It’s about obedience. God says, “Don’t turn to the right. Don’t turn to the left.

Stay focused. Stay on the path that I’ve put you on today. Keep the word. Keep my word on your lips. Meditate on it day and night. Do do what is written. And as you do, you’re going to make your way prosperous. You’re going to make your way successful.” This is the kind of man that makes a difference. This is the kind of man who makes his his way and his future bright and and not perfect but creates a wake for others to come behind him.

So the difference a man makes is not in his perfection, it’s in his direction.

Say it with me, not perfection. Not perfection. Direction.

Say it again. Not perfection, direction.

So you’re not flawless, but you can be faithful.

We’re not perfect men, but we are God loved, God led, God-directed men.

And a man who’s pointed toward God can point generations toward God.

Amen. You’re powerful. You’re more powerful than you think. You’re more powerful than you realize.

Your potential is much much greater than you have made to believe. You have been made to believe that it is with God. Say it with me. With God, with God, all things are possible. all.

Thirdly, a man will make a difference when he leads his family intentionally.

When he leads his family intentionally.

I want to read you a famous confession of of Joshua. It’s a little bit later in the book of Joshua, but at a time whenever the nation had become lethargic towards God and they were unstable, you know, a lot of uncertainty. I don’t know. I’m not sure. You going to church today? I don’t know. How you doing, man? I’m good. I’m okay, I guess. I don’t know.

Like lethargic.

like, “Hey, are you are are you are you fired up? Haven’t been in a long time.” Oh, that’s just a bunch of mojo stuff.

I don’t get too excited about anything. I’m just doing my time.

You know, that kind of thing. Everybody drifted into the same like patterns, doing what’s right in their own sight.

And Joshua stands up and here’s what he says. If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourself this day who you’re going to serve.

The God your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites and whose land you’re living now. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Come on. Isn’t that powerful?

This is the voice of a man who was a difference maker kind of showing us how it’s done.

and men, we make a difference when we lead our family intentionally.

You know, a lot of times we hear that verse and we don’t know the rest of the story. But right after this verse, the Bible that I read to you, the Bible says that his influence basically when he spoke that day, it changed an entire generation.

Like this was a not a private statement he made. It was public in front of everybody. And and literally the Bible says that it just like there was a ripple effect and men started to say, “Me too. Count me in. Let’s do this.” It was like the brave hearts of Joshua, the book of Joshua. It’s like men saying, “Let’s do this. Let’s go. I’m going to serve the Lord too. Me and my house count me in.” And you know Joshua is saying I can’t make a decision for the whole nation.

But I can lead my house. I can’t choose for everybody.

I can’t decide for everybody. I can’t control what other families are going to do, other men are going to do. But as for me and my house, we’re going to serve the Lord. Now, let me just tell you something.

Research consistently shows that children with involved fathers are more likely by a by a long shot, a high percentage, to graduate high school, to avoid incarceration, to avoid substance abuse, to experience emotional stability in their life.

I’m talking about the difference a man can make. When a man attends church faithfully, there’s a lot greater chance that the children will become faithful attenders for the rest of their life. I I’m Come on, man.

Come on, man. Fathers matter. Men matter. Presence matters. Your words matter. Faithfulness matters.

And I want to just say to the the gals here today, the single gal, the young the young lady, you’re not looking for guys who just agree to come to church with you.

And guys who just tag along or agree to be, you know, come with with you and the kids.

I mean, if you’re not already hooked up with that guy, don’t get hooked up with that guy.

You’re looking for a man who sets the tone. A man who leads the way. A man who is following God. Doesn’t have to be drugged along. Come on.

And I love to remind like Joshua was an incredible warrior. Like he was potentially the greatest warrior in the Bible. I think 31 kings he defeated. So he was not a wimpy guy. Right?

Do you understand what I’m saying? A lot of times men are like, you know, I’m too bad. I’m too good. I’m too whatever. I’m I’m too tough. I’m Oh, church is not my deal. You know, the wife and the children go, “Shut up, you weak dude.

You’re just so weak and wimpy and whiny.

I’m going to point my life toward men like Joshua. Men like David, a worshipping warrior.

like he couldn’t really build the temple. He turned it over to his son.

Why? Because he had blood on his hand too much. He was a warrior. He fought for his country. He fought for his nation. He was a man’s man.

So, so if you come to tell me that real men don’t go to church and real men don’t set the tone, you came too late.

I’ve been around a lot of great strong men who love God, worship God, serve God, and said on behalf of their house, as for me and my house, we’re going to serve the Lord.

Amen.

Okay, I I’m running out of time. Number four, a man will make a difference when he’s steady through disappointment.

And I just want to quickly tell you or remind you that part of Joshua’s story is that he was one of 12 spies who were sent to spy out the land. You remember that story? 10 spies came back and spread fear. Joshua came back with a word of faith. And then you know what happened? like because of all the people who were fearful even though Joshua had faith he still had to endure 40 years of wandering because of all the people’s unbelief 40 years in the wilderness because of the people like doubt now I I got to believe like I mean if I’m in that case I’m like come on God you know my heart you know my faith

so He had a season of disappointment that he didn’t create.

He had faith. He had courage. He had the right spirit. He gave the right report.

But he still had to walk through the wilderness with people who didn’t believe what he believed. And there are men today who are living in seasons that you didn’t create.

A divorce you didn’t want. A setback you didn’t choose.

A delay that you can’t explain. you didn’t expect a family situation you didn’t plan a wilderness that you didn’t vote for.

And I want to encourage you. I want to encourage you. Stay the course. Outlast the disappointment. Keep moving forward.

Keep your faith in God. Keep on doing the right thing.

In three generation homes, you know, three generations of not being broken.

the the the family isn’t broken. Kids live longer, parents live longer, and grandparents live longer. Like, it’s the right way. Go for it. Stay steady. Stay strong. Come on. Do the right thing.

And outlast your disappointment. Don’t let disappointment sidetrack you. Don’t let your disappointment distract you.

I don’t know who I’m talking to today, but don’t allow your disappointment to talk you out of the promises of God.

Keep the faith like Joshua. Joshua got there. He got to his promised land because he didn’t allow the disappointment to take him out.

Last one. Number five. A man makes a difference when he stands strong in the battle.

When he stands strong in the battle.

Remember what God said to him. Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong, good and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged. That’s a good verse, by the way, to memorize, guys.

For I’m with you. I’ll be with you wherever you go. And today, we’re in a spiritual battle.

Good against evil, light against darkness, truth against lies, faith against fear.

Jesus said, “The enemy comes around to steal, kill, and destroy.

He comes in our lives to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to mess you up. He wants to mess your family up.

He wants to destroy your children.

He wants them to get all caught up in the wrong place, the wrong way with the wrong voices.

And God commands Joshua, the difference maker, be strong, courageous. Be strong, courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed.

And because he was strong, Joshua becomes one of the great warriors who leads Israel into the land of promise.

Can you shout, “Amen?” How many of you know we’re in a spiritual battle?

Come on. How many of you know this is not just about me and you. This is about something a whole lot bigger.

Whole lot bigger going on.

And the enemy is doing everything he can to take out lives one at a time.

It took, by the way, Joshua seven years to conquer the promised land after he walked in.

Seven years of one king. That’s what I said a while ago. 31 kings went down.

Like one one battle you get done and go here comes another one. Isn’t that how life feels a lot of times like like one battle over there’s another one. Boom.

So I know sometimes we can get weary. I’m just want to encourage all the men today. Like don’t be weary and doing good.

I know you’re not perfect, but hang in the fight. Get around good men who are going the direction that you’re going.

Get the right stuff going in your heart and in your mind. be transformed by the renewing of your mind. God hasn’t called us to be passive.

He hasn’t called us to like, you know, sit in the grand stands. He’s called us to the battlefield.

We’re not to be passive in the face of evil. I’m talking to men telling you today that we’re called to make a difference. And we can make a difference. We can overcome. We can win.

We can be champions.

Come on. We don’t always feel strong, but but be strong. Like, go ahead and be strong.

Go ahead and be strong.

I could preach like a whole another 30 minutes on on that right there because feeling strong is different than being strong.

Like like like you know, and some of you dads, you’ve looked at your your sons 10 years old, 12 years old, 15 years old, and you say, “Be tough.

Come on, be strong.

Come on. You got You knew what was in them. You knew what’s You know what’s in them. You’re patting them on the back.

You’re saying you got this. I struck out. I struck out last time. Don’t worry about it. Put it behind you.

Get up there and bat. You’re a slugger. You’re a baseball player. Come on, dads.

How about you give yourself that pep talk and remind yourself, come on, you can be strong.

You can be courageous.

You can stay faithful. You can lead your house. You can follow God. You can stand in the battle.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Come on. If you’re if you’re in the rooms today, why don’t you if you believe that the men who are here today are difference makers and they can make a difference, I’m going to ask you to clap your hands and applaud the men of the house.

Come on, the men of the house. We are men of God. Come on. We are strong. We are overcomers. We are courageous.

We are fighters.

No, I’m not. I’m going to let everybody keep standing. I was going to have the ladies I’m going to have the ladies uh sit down, but I’m not going to do that. I I I just want men I just want to pray over you. I’m going to ask men if you would who receive this prayer, just raise hands. Raise them here. Raise them here. Raise you. God, I thank you today for every man in the house. And I know that this word, it will not return void.

And I pray God for I pray for single men. I pray for young men. I pray for middle-aged men. I pray for stepdads. I pray for fathers of of every kind. I I pray God that today your word would be a source of encouragement to them and they would leave here different. And I ask you, God, that your strength would be theirs. I ask you that this affirmation today would be remembered by them. That the enemy would not steal this out of their heart, but that today they would remember the word that we’ve spoken and that they would know in their heart, God, that you are sponsoring them. You have already sponsored them. That you brought them into the world with a purpose and a plan. and that that God you are ready each and every day to stand by stand by him and help him and strengthen him and empower him. I pray every man here remembers who he is.

Pray that every man here remembers who you are. And I pray that every man here will strengthen his step and that he will lead. He will be valiant.

when he falls down, he’ll get back up and that he’ll never give up on on the mission that you’ve given him and the purpose that you have for his life. I pray this and I bless the men today. I bless you men. You are valiant. You are strong.

You are warriors. You are overcomers. You’re not here by accident today.

You’re meant to be here. You’re meant to hear this word. I’m honored today to to be able to preach to you like this today and to affirm you and let you know that you are not against you. And I pray blessing upon your life and upon your plans and upon your future and I encourage you follow the Lord wholeheartedly in Jesus name.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Okay, you don’t have to bow your heads and close your eyes, but if there’s anybody in the house who would say, “I want a new beginning in my relationship with God,” just raise your hand up high in the air. I want to I want to pray with you today. Good. Hands are going up. Wow. Hands are going up. Men’s hands are going up. I see hands all over this room. Thank God. Thank God for this moment. For this moment. Okay. Hold your hand up high to every location today. If your hands in the air, say this with me.

Pray this with me. And we’re going to all pray along in support of you. Say with me, Lord Jesus, thank you for this day.

Thank you for this moment.

I ask you to come into my life. I ask you to forgive me of all my sin and make me a new person.

Today I declare I’m a follower.

I’m a believer.

I put my trust in you and I’m ready to serve you.

I thank you now that you’ve forgiven me and that by your grace

I’m a child of God in Jesus name. And everybody shout a great big amen.

Come on, let’s celebrate today salvation.