Stronger Conference - Man Up! - Session 1

STRONGER CONFERENCE › Life story - Breakfast with dad (start with war story - almost died at birth, father and grandfather almost died in the wars, almost died in my drug addiction crying out to my Jesus in a stolen car - Growing into the Man of God! MAN UP! – 1 Samuel 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. I love that David didn’t try and defend himself or try to justify himself to his soldiers - instead he turned to God for strength and wisdom on what do in his current circumstances. › My cry out to God in my lowest point of ministry (UNIC-wife- couldn’t work). Told my wife everything was going to be alright. An open door became available within two weeks (IMPACT). When we cry out God for strength and wisdom, He promises to be Faithful, because that is who He is › After the break will find out what can help us to grow into the Man of God, He created us to be, not just for ourselves but for those around us ------Break------ Two things that can cripple a man from Manning Up! • Bitterness (or resentment) • Disappointment Two areas to avoid in times of trials • Don’t blame God • Don’t move into shame or guilt Did you know David functioned as a king, priest, and prophet? We can as well! But if we don’t learn how to respond in the trials of life as a man of God, we will never be able to mature and function as the man of God He has called us into! James 1:2–4 My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We must become un-offendable (Back drop to David's anointing and kingship - rejection journey). David received his calling after his darkest hour (Saul and Jonathan died). To Man Up is to move in the calling God has for you as a man, husband, boyfriend, brother, uncle, friend - with God’s Favor. We must know and accept who we are in Jesus (His son in whom He is well pleased) and we must accept what we have, God’s favor to live as Mighty Men of God! • David knew who he was in the eyes of God - (Never doubt your calling from God, a simple act of obedience can bless up to 1000 generations) 2 Samuel 7:15–16 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. • Jesus knew He was in the eyes of the Father - (If Jesus needed God’s favor then we need too as well) Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. • The woman with the Alabaster bottled knew who she was in the eyes of Jesus - (When we treat our women as Jesus did, our relationship will be restored, the body of Christ will be restored) Mark 14:9 “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Activation/prayer time: What areas of your life do you need to Man Up in. Instead of trying to fix in your own strength, turn to God like David did, like I did in the worship cry in the apartment. Let’s turn to God right now with a worship cry • Give Him your relationships; He will restore them • Give Him your addictions; He will restore you from them • Give Him your dreams and passions; He will renew them for you