2020 Father's Day - Act Like Men
Notes
Transcript
I want my audience to see God’s design of men so that we act like men.
I want my audience to see God’s design of men so that we act like men.
Introduction
Introduction
Father’s Day is more significant for me today than five years ago.
Three years ago on Father’s Day I had my final conversation with my Dad. At the time, I didn’t know that would be the last time I would hear his voice. A couple of days later he was gone… three years ago today… on June 21.
In addition to the events three years ago around Father’s Day, over the last five years the culture around us has blurred and diminished the value and significance of fathers and men.
The legalization of same-sex marriages devalues the importance of a father and mother in the family
The gender identity movement has blurred the line of biblical manhood and womanhood
Marriage has been diminished from the ideal to “one way” of parenting
Any authority is ridiculed and demeaned; anarchy or lawlessness is applauded
We truly live in a confused world…
It is more important than ever that we focus on and understand what Scripture teaches us about the value and significance of men and fathers… especially on a day like today.
God’s Design
God’s Design
God created two (and only two) genders - man and woman
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
When sin entered the world, the perfection of masculinity and femininity was marred
Throughout Scripture (and other history) we see examples of this:
Men doing or not doing the things men were designed and created to do
Women doing or not doing the things women were designed and created to do
This is the result of sin and the curse on God’s perfect creation
Men and women have distinctly different God-given roles
While their roles are different, their intrinsic value is the same
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
One is not more important than the other
Both are created in the image of God… together, godly men and women reflect who God is
Satan’s goal is to twist and distort God’s design to confuse and deceive as many as possible
This morning I want us to consider the God-given roles and responsibilities of men
Show yourself a Man!
Show yourself a Man!
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Be strong
Be courageous
God is with you!
“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,
Be strong
Show yourself a man
Keep the charge of God walking in His ways
then you prosper in all you do
My text for this morning comes from two short verses at the end of the first letter to the church at Corinth
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Five statements… centered around ACT LIKE MEN… four critical characteristics of godly men
Be watchful (vision)
Stand firm in the faith (wisdom)
Be strong (strength)
Do all in love (love)
These four pillars of godly man provide stability for marriages, families, churches, and societies
(some terminology borrowed from Stu Weber’s book entitled Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart)
All men are created with these four pillars…
We either use them as God designed and intended or we abuse or neglect what God has given
It is our choice!
Biblical masculinity to today’s culture is difficult… it requires great courage and strength of character
God has designed us for biblical manhood… let’s embrace it and face the challenges together
A Godly Man is a King (first pillar on handout)
A Godly Man is a King (first pillar on handout)
“Be watchful” is the first of Paul’s admonitions from our text
Kings are watchful and attentive over their kingdom… their realm of responsibility and authority
God designed men to have the vision to provide for those under them (fill in handout)
In chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians, Paul made clear God’s authority structure… the headship order of creation
God —> Jesus —> Man —> Woman
This is the creation order… not a reflection of the value of a person
The heart of the king is a pro-visionary heart… a provider… a leader that blazes the trail
The king looks ahead… anticipates needs… spots potential dangers… defines direction… charts a wise path
The king cares deeply about those entrusted to his care
The king provides direction for those in his charge
The king is a shepherd (Psalm 23)
… providing for personal needs (physical, emotional, spiritual)
… providing justice
… providing mercy
… providing honor
… NEVER abandoning the flock (those in his care)
When sin and Satan hijack this pillar, the results are catastrophic
Emotional abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or even spiritual abuse result when this rightful role is leaning toward tyranny and unfettered power/control
Another tactic of Satan to disrupt the king is passivity and weakness… not doing what God calls them to do.
These men are abdicating the God-given mantel of masculinity to live a life of ease — shying away from taking the responsibilities God has handed us
Be watchful…
Men are commissioned by God to provide… as a Servant-King
A Godly Man is a Mentor (fill in handout)
A Godly Man is a Mentor (fill in handout)
In order to “stand firm in the faith” one must have the wisdom to know in whom we have our confidence and faith
Last Sunday as we sung the song “I know not why God’s wondrous grace” I was struck by the words
I know not WHY God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known, nor WHY, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own
I know not HOW this saving faith to me He did impart, nor HOW believing in His Word wrought peace within my heart
I know not HOW the Spirit moves, convincing men of sin, revealing Jesus through His Word, Creating faith in Him
I know not WHEN my Lord may come, at night or noonday fair, nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him, or meet Him in the air
BUT I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day
Too often, we are busy focusing on the why, the how, the what, the when — Rather then on WHOM I have believed!!
God designed men to have the wisdom to teach others (fill in handout)
All of us are mentors — whether intentionally or not
AND each one of us is also being mentored (whether consciously or not)
We influence others who look up to us and we are influenced by those we hold in esteem
Mentoring builds men who understand life and pass it on to others
Mentoring takes many forms...
sometimes it is modeling… over a lifetime
I would have to say that is true of my dad and my father-in-law - two godly men who have modeled lifetimes of service
sometimes it is instinctive…
a quick note of affirmation; a glance instilling confidence; a quick word of encouragement
sometimes it is systematic
regularly scheduled interactions; for me, weekly time with my fellow pastors is a critical aspect of my life
A godly mentor is a student of Scripture
The strength and courage we need to be the man God intended must come from outside ourselves - from God Himself
We don’t know the WHY, HOW, WHAT, or WHEN… but we can and do know WHOM
while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
A godly man communicates transparently and honestly with his mentors and those he mentors himself
He admits failures; he is willing to learn; he is willing to teach others what he has learned
Satan wants us to believe one of two things about ourselves...
We have nothing to offer others… we are ignorant and others are so much smarter than we are, we are worthless
We have intellectual capacity that others can’t understand and I don’t know that I can learn anything from others… I can tell others the way it is, but they have nothing to offer me
Godly men understand they have much to learn from other godly men AND they have much to offer to other men
Men are commissioned by God to teach, as a Wise Mentor
“Be strong” is a phrase used multiple times in scripture usually directed to a man (or men)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Three times Moses tells Joshua to be strong and courageous at the point of leadership transition
Men are physically stronger than women… physical strength is a natural characteristic
When Paul tells the Corinthian men to be strong, he is referring to more than working out in the gym and building muscle mass
He is referring to strength of character… moral strength, spiritual strength, emotional strength, tender strength
God designed men to have the strength to protect those in their care
The shepherd boy David protected his sheep by killing a lion and bear on two occasions
Courage and strength are requirements of a warrior… by their very nature, there is an assertive and aggressive aspect
It takes incredible discipline to only use these qualities at appropriate times
One of the first characteristics of a true warrior is self-denial… someone who is willing to give his life when necessary
While a destroyer, a godly warrior only wants to destroy evil in its many forms...
… dishonesty, tyranny, injustice, child abuse, pornography, racism, oppression
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
The warrior is also a protector… women and families deserve protecting and defending by a tender warrior
The warrior in a man is under authority
a warrior not under a greater authority is nothing more than a mercenary or pirate or renegade
The warrior in a man remains on call
King David misused his authority and did not remain on call when he committed adultery with Bathsheba
The warrior in a man willingly sacrifices
warriors suffer… deny yourself — warriors don’t have the luxury of self-actualization
life doesn’t revolve around my desires, my pleasure, my achievements, my enjoyment
The warrior in a man must sometimes say and do the hard thing
It also involves the fortitude to know when to speak up / take action and when to wait
The warrior in a man demonstrates a heart of mercy
there is a time to step up and confront the enemy…there is a time to show mercy
This strength of a warrior often gets distorted from what God intended… Satan wants us to get tripped up and fall one way or another…
Either by a temper raging out of control —
OR abandoning your assigned post because you are afraid
A godly man will contend courageously
Men are commissioned by God to protect, as a Tender Warrior
A Godly Man is a Friend
A Godly Man is a Friend
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
This may be the most difficult characteristic for many men to accept or embrace
Men readily step into responsibilities of king and warrior… and even get the mentor aspect
being a friend requires more emotion and vulnerability than many of us are comfortable with
Jesus set an example and has promised to be a friend who never abandons us… last recorded words
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
God designed men to have the love to connect with those in our spheres of responsibility
God Himself, at the very core of His eternal essence, is our friend.
We are made in His image… for connection, for friendship
Three examples of times when there is a deep emotional connection with with others in my life
I was present at the birth of all three of my sons… and actually delivered one unplanned at home while on the phone with 911
Our wedding day… just over 29 years ago. I was overwhelmed with the number of people who joined in our celebration
Death/funerals… being present when a loved one passes on is deeply emotional and sacred… it bonds
We shouldn’t wait for those kinds of moments to connect… to be vulnerable… to express emotion
We have the privilege of being genuine friends with the people God has placed in your life… not only other men
Godly men will find ways to connect deliberately with those around him
God want to have a relationship with each one us… and He makes some promises to those who are His
You will have trouble in this world - we can be assured life won’t be easy!
Jesus promises, I will be with you
Following God through life will be worth it
We should pursue those kinds of meaningful relationships in our lives
Satan tries to knock this pillar loose as well...
Many of us lean toward being a loner… and refuse to intentionally connect and make friends
Others may be so friendly in an insincere way with others they become annoying
Friendship is mutual… and genuine… not something manufactured or superficial
Men are commissioned by God to connect, as a Faithful Friend
Pillars of Society
Pillars of Society
All four of these pillars (King, Mentor, Warrior, & Friend) are necessary… if one is leaning, it will weaken the other three and all that it supports
These four pillars of biblical manhood provide the only solid foundation for:
Marriage
Family
Church
Community / Society
Brothers, we have the incredible opportunity and responsibility to demonstrate with our lives what it means to live out biblical manhood in our marriages, our families, our church, and our community
Conclusion
Conclusion
Men are designed and commissioned by God...
… to provide, as a servant king
… to teach, as a wise mentor
… to protect, as a tender warrior
… to connect, as a faithful friend
God is calling men today to
Act like men… Show yourself a man…
Don’t shirk your masculinity
Be strong and courageous!
Let’s together be the men God wants us to be… a beacon of light and hope in our confused culture.