What Makes a Man?
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1 John 12:
I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The beloved disciple John is here addressing the church as a whole:
Men and Women, Young adults, children, new believers, seasoned Christians.
He leaves none out!
His comments and instruction are rather straight forward - conduct your lives in the will of God and don’t be seduced by worldliness.
Today is Father’s Day, a day set aside once per year to honor our dads!
Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there.
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.
What contribution to the family do fathers actually make?
What contribution to the family do fathers actually make?
The following is from my daughter’s facebook page:
Not everyone has a mom and dad that is great, and some don’t have one or both of these. I’m not one of those people. I have parents that have given me their best, and have taught me so much. I hated some things growing up, but even those things made me who I am today. I wouldn’t change it. I wouldn’t go back and make it different because then I’d be different. I look back and I see the love and sacrifice that they both gave me. My mom put herself aside so much and was truly selfless. My dad was tough but he made me see the value in standing for your beliefs and not being wishy washy. Idk about the rest of you, but I have two great ones, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything else. Love you, guys.
Not everyone has a mom and dad that is great, and some don’t have one or both of these. I’m not one of those people. I have parents that have given me their best, and have taught me so much. I hated some things growing up, but even those things made me who I am today. I wouldn’t change it. I wouldn’t go back and make it different because then I’d be different. I look back and I see the love and sacrifice that they both gave me. My mom put herself aside so much and was truly selfless. My dad was tough but he made me see the value in standing for your beliefs and not being wishy washy. Idk about the rest of you, but I have two great ones, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything else. Love you, guys.
Sincerely,
Your “rotten kid” lol
But is that all there is?
There can be no confusion as to God’s ordained structure of a family unit.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of God’s order for the family in ...
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
1 Cor.
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
And yet Paul is considerably more tender that Moses writing in...
To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
Now, I’m sure you realize that none of what I just showed you from the Bible, is even remotely accepted in this culture!
Today, we are more enlightened and trust the pseudo science of family revisionist to show us what is healthy and good for our families.
Some of us may have even bought into these philosophies.
No wonder the family is under attack, and we have so many problems in our country!
Yet, if we as God’s people embrace God’s word regarding these things, we will reap the blessing and miss the consequences.
The blessing? - That God has a plan for us in our state of fallenness.
The Consequences? - That we will find our family relationships fragmented and dis-functional.
I. We must embrace the Biblical Structure.
I. We must embrace the Biblical Structure.
How?
A. Know our God given position.
A. Know our God given position.
Fathers and husbands, need to lead!
They will be held accountable.
B. We do it as a service to the Lord.
B. We do it as a service to the Lord.
If a husband doesn’t know how to lead his wife, he should study - Eph 5
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
God not only holds men accountable to lead, but also how they lead!
C. It is a true representation of the leading of our heavenly Father.
C. It is a true representation of the leading of our heavenly Father.
Leadership in the family is God’s earthly example of His leading us.
We will surrender to His leadership if we’ve learned to trust and surrender to the leadership within the family.
II. We must avoid the trap that lures us in.
II. We must avoid the trap that lures us in.
A. Fight worldliness, resisting its temptations.
A. Fight worldliness, resisting its temptations.
Not only in our own lives, but in the lives of our family.
B. Walk in the will of God.
B. Walk in the will of God.
The will of God is not complicated nor difficult to discern, it is simply conducting ourselves in obedience to His word.
Paul says,"Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.” ()
Conclusion:
Men, I tell you this as your friend and brother, Do not shirk your responsibility!
Obey the Word of God, and act like men!
Our families need it!
Our communities need it!
Our world needs it!
And so, to the answer the question posed to us in the title of this message - “What makes a Man”, It is following God’s word in truth and love, in obedience!