REAL Men Equip

We love equipment - tools.

We don’t WANT tools, we NEED tools.

We have tools right now that we bought because we saw someone else use it and thought, “I need one of those.” So we bought it and we haven’t used it in 5 years. But...

I wold rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

We love equipment.

The shift in thinking about equipping ourselves, it when we begin to focus - not on the tool, but on the purpose.

No one buys a drill because they want a drill. They buy a drill because they need a hole.

The hole is the goal.

In order to achieve the purpose - the goal - of our life, we need to be properly equipped.

If you want the right equipment, you go to the right source.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

When we equip ourselves with the Word we:

Distinguish truth from falsehood.

Expose error in our own ways.

Correct our Course.

On March 28, 1979, a sightseeing flight crashed into a mountain in Antarctica, killing all of the 279 people onboard.

An investigation determined that the crew had not been informed of a two-degree correction made to the plane’s flight path the night before, causing the plane’s navigation system to route them toward Mount Erebus instead of through McMurdo Sound.

Two degrees doesn’t sound like a lot, but in aviation terms, even one degree is huge.

That’s why pilots are taught the 1 in 60 rule, which states that after 60 miles a one degree error in heading will result in straying off course by one mile.

1 in 60 Rule

The equipment was off by 2 degrees and the results were devastating.

The Word of God sets our bearing to the proper heading to land at the destiny for which God has created us.

We are not only called to equip ourselves, but we are called to equip others.

2 Timothy 2:1–3 NKJV

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

When we moved to Bethany - Jaron & hunting.

Notice what Paul called Timothy: SON

1 Corinthians 4:15 NKJV

15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

In the midst of the most fatherless society in history, God is calling us to equip others with the same fervor that a Father equips his son.

My tools - at my boys houses. I have equipped them.

2 Timothy 1:5–7 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Here is a principle we see in the Word of God:

Sons carry the Wood. Fathers carry the fire.

Genesis 22:6 NKJV

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

You will equip others on purpose, or by default.

Jeremiah 7:16–18 NKJV

16 “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. 17 Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.

Jeremiah spoke of fathers who just went along with the culture of the day. They worshipped what everyone else was worshipping. And in doing so, they kindle a fire by default.

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet c. 627 B.C., when he was young (1:6). He served for more than 40 years (1:2–3). Jeremiah had a difficult life. His messages of repentance delivered at the temple were not well received (7:1–8:3; 26:1–11). His hometown plotted against him (11:18–23), and he endured much persecution (20:1–6; 37:11–38:13; 43:1–7). At God’s command, he never married (16:1–4). Although he preached God’s word faithfully, he apparently had only two converts: Baruch, his scribe (32:12; 36:1–4; 45:1–5); and Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch who served the king (38:7–13; 39:15–18). Though the book does not reveal the time or place of Jeremiah’s death, he probably died in Egypt, where he had been taken by his countrymen against his will after the fall of Jerusalem (43:1–7). He most likely did not live to see the devastation he mentions in chs. 46–51.

To be successful in equipping others, we must first equip ourselves.

Video: Put your mask on first.

1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV 1900

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

How can I make sure I stay equipped?

John 6:7 NIV

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

John 12:5 NIV

5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”

In order to successfully equip others, my investment at His feet needs to double my investment feeding others.

Look what happens next:

Jesus goes to the mountain alone to be with the Father.

For 6-9 hours the disciples were fighting the storm.

Jesus walks on the water. Calls Peter out of the boat, then calms the storm.

This scene took minutes, but He had been on the Mountain for hours.