A Powerful, Transformed You

How to be a Real Man: Powerful, Transformed You

There must be more. Most men I talk to are confused about what a powerful, transformed life really looks like, regardless of how much “I love Jesus” they’ve got. They have high hopes for what Christianity offers but little to show for it.

I just feel like I am in this thing all alone.

I don’t feel like God cares about me personally - not really.

I don’t feel like my life has a purpose. It seems random.

There must be more. Most men I talk to are confused about what a powerful, transformed life really looks like, regardless of how much “I love Jesus” they’ve got. They have high hopes for what Christianity offers but little to show for it.

I have a lot of destructive behaviors that keep dragging me down.

My soul feels dry.

My most important relationships are not working

I don’t feel like I’m doing anything that will make a difference and leave the world a better place.

I’d estimate as many as 90 percent of Christian men lead lukewarm, stagnant, often defeated lives. They’re mired in spiritual mediocrity - and they hate it.

They don’t know what to do, so they don’t take the next steps to move forward.

No man fails on purpose.

Here’s the question: What do men who lead powerful, transformed lives do differently than their lukewarm counterparts?

Here’s the question: What do men who lead powerful, transformed lives do differently than their lukewarm counterparts?

To imitate what most professing Christian men do wouldn’t be helpful. What we want to know is,

What are the guys who really have it together that the guys who live in spiritual mediocrity don’t do?

What are the guys who really have it together that the guys who live in spiritual mediocrity don’t do?

What do successful Christian men do that unsuccessful Christian men fail to do?

What do successful Christian men do that unsuccessful Christian men fail to do?

What is keeping men’s lives hard, rocky, and choked with thorns when so many urgently want more and when God crated us for more - much more?

English Standard Version Chapter 13

3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

English Standard Version Chapter 13

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

If we want to be “fourth soil” men, who bear fruit for the Lord, we need know the Scriptures and the power of God

Matthew 22:29 ESV

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Matthew

Jesus made a direct connection between knowing the Bible and leading a powerful life. Lukewarm men are in error because they “don’t know the scriptures” and therefore “don’t know the power of God.”

Thus, their soil remains bare, stony, and full of weeds.

Jesus is talking about a lot more than “head knowledge.”

Transformed men “truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest.” Digging into the Word of God is easily the number one factor that differentiates men who have tapped into God’s power.

It’s not self-indulgent for you to become the man God’s created you to be. In fact, it’s your destiny to lead a powerful life transformed by Christ - not without ongoing opposition but equipped and trained with the power to prevail.

What Morley discusses in his book, which we’re going to be talking about...

to feel like you don’t have to do life alone

to believe, really believe, that God loves and cares about you personally

to understand how your life has a purpose, that your life is not random

to break free from the destructive behaviors that keep dragging you down

to satisfy your soul’s thirst for transcendence, awe, and communion

to love and be loved without reservation

to make a contribution and leave the world a better place

Question: In your experience, what do men who lead powerful, transformed lives do differently than men who are stuck in spiritual mediocrity?

English Standard Version Chapter 1

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.