Manhood Restored

God’s Intention for Fatherhood

(1) Man has to leave parents and bond to his wife assumes a parental bond.

(2) Fatherhood is assumed in God’s design.

(3) The presence and impact of a father is an essential part of that design.

Father as Clarifier of Identity

Genesis 28:13 ESV

13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.

Genesis 49:28 ESV

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.

Father as Spiritual Leader

A father’s central religious duty was to see that his son was circumcised into the covenant (Lev. 12:3) and instructed properly in the Lord’s torah (Deut. 11:19). In the book of Proverbs, the father provides proper instruction about living well and responsibly within society for his sons. In biblical narratives sons leave their fathers’ house to follow divine command (Gen. 12:1) or to escape criminal punishment (27:41–45; 2 Sam. 13:34–38). More often a father arranged endogamous marriages for his sons and welcomed his daughters-in-law into his home (Gen. 12:2–6; but cf. Cant. 4:9–10; 5:1–2). In addition, the father was responsible for supervising the behavior (Num. 12:14) and the sexuality of the women who lived within his house; in this way, he guaranteed that children born to his wife were his and that his daughters daughters were virgins when they left his house for marriage. He exercised absolute authority over his children, but especially over his daughters, whose status within the household was inferior and precarious (2 Sam. 13). They returned to his control if they were widowed without children. If their behavior shamed him, they deserved death (Gen. 38:24; cf. Judg. 11:35–36).

Mason, Eric. Manhood Restored (p. 29-30). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Yahweh as Father

Romans 8:15–16 ESV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

John 5:19–20 ESV

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

The problems of Extended Childhood

Compromised maturity

Fathers who are only friends

Subsidized pictorial of manhood

Unmarried women

Un-hirable men

Life lived in fantasy.

Emotional Children

@Are content and happy as long as they receive what they want

@Unravel quickly from stress, disappointments, trials Interpret disagreements as personal offenses

@Are easily hurt

@Complain, withdraw, manipulate, take revenge, become sarcastic when they don’t get their way

@Have great difficulty calmly discussing their needs and wants in a mature, loving way

Mason, Eric. Manhood Restored (p. 36). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Let’s look at page 37

God’s View of Manhood Development

Proverbs 22:15 ESV

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Jesus is the Restorer of All Things

Colossians 1:20 ESV

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Titus 2:11–15 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Jesus is the prototype Romans 8:29 “29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

REACHING MEN

Core concerns come in three categories: personal, social, and cultural. Personal core concerns include things like loneliness, anxiety, and fear. These tend to be unchanging and universal. Social core concerns include things like education, health, and family. Cultural core concerns are directly related to particular situations and tend to be unique to each people group.

Mason, Eric. Manhood Restored (p. 48). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Jesus the Incarnate God-Man

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Daniel 7:13 ESV

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

JESUS is the prototypical man because He was driven by the ambition of this Father, he overcame temptation by trusting His Father, he was sensitive to the needs of the people around him, and his jealous that his Father get his glory.