A few years ago, I was asked to speak on a Men’s Retreat and I challenged the men to be…
Men of God
Men of Morals
Men of Leadership
Men of Passion
Men of Responsibility
Today, have things changed form a few short years ago? Not really.
Men are needing to step up more today than they ever have before. In a changing world, men nee to rise to the occasion. Whether it is politically correct or not, men need to stand up.
Christian men are needed today; not just men, but Christian men. Those men who are God fearing, need to stand firm. This firmness must be one based on the morals taught in the Bible.
So, what are Christian men to do? Let me offer a few suggestions…
Biblically Educate Yourself
Hosea 4.6 – “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.”
Deuteronomy 6.4-9 – The education must come at every opportunity.
As men, we are to be the leaders of our family. The pressure is on us. (Ephesians 5.25-34; Ephesians 6.1-2)
It is hard to teach others if we are not Biblically educated.
Shield Your Family
As men, our duty is to get our families to heaven. Imagine what would happen if everyone saved their family? How the church would grow.
Shield your children by teaching (Deuteronomy 6.4-9)
Do we know their friends?
Are we spending time with our children teaching them Biblical values?
Do What is Right
Men, are we choosing our family over football? How much will the football scores matter in eternity?
We must do what is right, even when others are not doing it.
Acts 4.12 – The apostles chose the right way in difficult circumstances.
Love the Brotherhood
1 Peter 2.17 – “Love the brotherhood.”
As men, we lead the brotherhood and to lead, we must love the brotherhood.
We must love those who take the life out of us (loving the unloving).
Regarding our wives, are we just telling them we love them or are we showing them we love them?
God not only told us he loved us, He showed us. (John 3.16)
God said He loved us and SHOWED it.
Do we only tell our wives we love them, or do we show them?
Do we only tell our children we love them, or do we show them?
Support What You Believe
Back up your words with your actions. (Note James 2.14-26)
If you believe in supporting the church, are you doing it? For instance, if we believe in our congregation, are we supporting it financially? Are we supporting it with our time?
What we support is usually what we value?
Our wives and children need to see what we believe by the things we support.
Do you believe in your family? Are you supporting them?
Supporting what we believe will take our time and our finances, but the legacy we will leave is powerful.
Serve Humanity
Jesus called on us to serve, not the government. (Matthew 10.42)
Serve others as you would serve the Lord. (Colossians 3.17)
Involve your children in areas of services. Involving them shows that you are a person of your word. Many times, we talk about serving the world, but our children never see us doing it.
Serve where you have the ability (Ephesians 4.11-16) – Some people have great ability for carpentry and others do not. There are some people you want to deal with an electrical problem and there are some you do not. Figuring out our area of service is a must to serving the people around us.
The adage, “Charity begins at home” can be adapted to “Serving begins at home.”
Pray Daily
This point can never be stressed enough, pray always.
God’s people were people of prayer and we must be so as well.
When I see him, he is an 85-year-old man looking to the prize set before him. He is standing looking off in the distance and asking for the prize, he was promised 45 years earlier. He says he is as strong now as he was 45 years ago, and I would not test him one bit. His speech is domineering and sincere; he has waited for this day. He has fought battles, wars and people to get here and now he wants what is his.
On this Earth, I will never meet my favorite veteran. He has long since passed, but the words of his life become a beacon for mine. He had a desire so bold and so powerful, he lived up to one of the meanings of his name, “bulldog.” His words bring motivation centuries later; we just need to read them.
His name is the same as my son. In fact, I was insistent that my son have the same name. So, what is his name – Caleb!
Caleb should not just be remembered as the one with Joshua telling the people they could take the land, he should also be remembered as one who obtained his inheritance!
Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him,
“You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God.
And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness.
And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said.”
Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
Caleb knew what he wanted, but he knew he must be a man of action. Over 40 years he waited. He walked the wilderness with those who kept him out of the promise land and everyday he waited for his inheritance.
Even while in his elderly age, Caleb wanted the gift, even though he would have to drive out the inhabitants of the land. His faith in God was working each day knowing the promise was ahead. Do you and I have the convictions of Caleb to press on to the prize which is ahead?
Let us remember the words of Paul,
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3.12-14; ESV)
Also, remember the words of the Hebrews writer,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12.1-2; ESV)
Notice the Hebrews writer makes two distinct points: (1) there are weights (things that slow us down) and (2) there are sins. Normally, our focus is on avoiding sins, but what about those things that slow us down? Are there things, circumstances, situations, or choices that are hindering you in your spiritual life?
In just a few more days our calendars will move from 2018 to 2019; Lord willing. Another year has come, and its days have moved quickly. For many, the days of 2018 seem like they just started; for others, they are ready for a new year to begin.
A new year brings a time to begin living better. As it has been said before, “you cannot go back and start a new beginning, but you can start today and create a new ending.” Through the blessings of God, each one of us can begin a new year with a clean slate.
How will you begin 2019?
1. Will you read your Bible all the way through? It is the word of God that is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalms 119.105)
2. Will you practice a pure religion? James says a pure religion is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction. (James 1:27)
3. Will you attend services to build one another up? The Hebrews writer encourages us to stir one another up to love and good works by being together. (Hebrews 10.24-25)
I love the fact that God sees fit to give us days upon this earth. They are times spent with family, friends, working and doing whatever else our hands find to do. Looking back on our lives, I am sure that each of us will agree that we have been blessed.
How will you bless others with the blessings that God has given you this upcoming year?
As 2018 is quickly drawing to a close. Through the year, we have seen baptisms, restorations, increased moments of fellowship and opportunities to share. You have to say it has been a good year.
Even though the year is drawing to a close, our responsibilities are still active and open. This time of the year provides several great opportunities to share the gospel with someone you know. The Christmas holiday puts many people’s focus on Jesus and provides a great opportunity to share with them the message of what Christmas truly is – it’s about a Savior. When Jesus came into the world in human form (probably around April) the world was going to begin to change for the better and the mystery of God was being revealed.
Remember: Many people look to this time of year, to see Jesus. Each of us can begin to plant the seed, water the seed of the gospel and allow God to give the increase.
This time of year also represents a time where many people begin to make changes for the coming year; most call the resolutions, some call them goals, still others call them promises. No matter what they are called, people want to do better. This is an opportunity which needs to be grasped. The best way to make one’s life better is to change the focus from where it has been and begin to look to where one wants to be.
Remember:As people look to make themselves better, let each of us be sure to share with them the One who makes all things better.
During this time of year, families will make trips from all over the country to be together and celebrate a few days. Family becomes a top priority during the holidays because these are the time where memories are created, and the past memories are shared. When families get together, it is another opportunity to spend time growing closer to each other, but also a time to grow closer to God.
As you can see our work is still vital, and the opportunities are here. Pray that your words will be the right ones at the right time to encourage others to see the One who truly makes life worth the living.
Have a Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
Will you join me in praying for the President on October 1, 2019 at 12:00pm EST?
The Bible speaks of the necessity to pray for those in authority and this would include our governmental leaders, including the President.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Will you join me in praying for the President on October 1, 2019 at noon?
Feel free to download and share the graphic.
Questions:
Why should we pray for the President? God has asked us to be obedient to our rulers (Romans 13-1.4) and to pray for them (1 Timothy 2.1-4)
Shouldn’t we pray for them everyday? Absolutely. Many times having a scheduled day to pray, along with inviting others, assures that many prayers go up to the Father together.
What if I do not like the President? Once again, this is not about politics. It is about prayer. God asks us to pray for our rulers and we should.
What should I pray for the President? Below are a list of a few itmes to pray for…
Pray for his family
Pray for his decision making
Pray for his decisions over immigration
Pray for his relationship with world leaders
Pray for his ability to lead our country in the future
The future of our young people is bright. Despite what is in the news and in various media outlets, the future of our children is bright. Over our young people’s lifetime, they have seen advances in the field of medicine, technology, and industry quicker than any other generation.
The advances are happening quickly and major events are being planned and funded. In the middle part of last century, a man walked on the moon and plans are being made through the private industry to land a manned spacecraft on Mars. The future is excellent.
However, just because advances are being made, does not mean one should forget about the basics. While one can carry 20 different Bible versions on their phones, are they being used? Each advance can be a wonderful blessing, if they are being used properly.
What does the Bible say about teaching young people?
Are young people taught to love their families? (Titus 2.4)
Are young people taught to be self-controlled? (Titus 2.5)
Are young people taught to be kind? (Titus 2.5)
Are young people taught respect? (Titus 2.7)
There is more listed in Titus 2 worth reading and being reminded of every day.
As advances through the world are taking place, are young people still mindful of the basics? Is part of their education the basics?
Are young people being educated in the blessings of God?
