"I Am A Man"

Prayer:Lord, I lift up Christian men everywhere and pray that Your Spirit of grace and truth may rest and remain on each one. I pray that Christian men may grow in grace and in a knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord, and that they become strong in the Lord and in His mighty strength, and not rely on their own abilities but rest in Him alone.

Ephesians 6:10-17 (New Revised Standard Version)

(v. 10) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. (v. 11) Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (v. 12) For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (v. 13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (v. 14) Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. (v. 15) As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. (v. 16) With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (v. 17) Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Introduction:Macho, macho man.” What does it mean to be a man? Tough? Rich? Powerful? A Player? I am continually reminded that some young black males are struggling with what it means to be a man. Recently in Philadelphia, a group of teenage black men beat up a young, Starbucks manager, soon-to-be-married man, “just for kicks.” They skipped school just to beat up someone, “for kicks,” literally kicking and punching him to his death. Muted and invisible, they think the only way to be heard and seen is through senseless violent attacks such as this. They declare, “I am a man” through such actions. “I am a man?”

There are violent wars and battles occurring all over the world, but we have our own wars on the streets right here. We do not have to look into Iraq or Afghanistan for terrorism. We have it right here -- terrorism on our streets. Senseless shootings and beatings of innocent men. “I am a man?” Is violence the only way for young black men to express their manhood? Are there other options in the battle called life? Ephesians shows us another way to say, “I am a man.”

Body:The writer of Ephesians clearly talks about a battle or struggle going on but, “our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh” (v. 12) on the streets; that is, not against each other, not against other human beings. Here the struggle is “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (v. 12), “against the wiles of the devil” (v. 11). The battle is cosmic. The battle is bigger than us. Nonetheless, we are in a battle, and these powers are manifesting on the earth in systems and structures that destroy our flesh and blood, our young black men. We are in a battle for the lives of our young men who are killing themselves and others in street-side terrorism. We are in a battle for the souls of black men who have been muted and invisible and crying out, “I am a man.” If these Ephesian words are not enough to get a glimpse of the intense, ongoing spiritual battle, then the military images should be enough -- “the whole armor of God,” “the belt of truth,” “breastplate of righteousness,” “shoes for your feet,” “shield of faith,” “helmet of salvation,” “sword of the Spirit.” One needs protection in any war, and this one is no different.

Yet, what is different is who owns the military regalia. It is not ours. It is God’s. Twice the writer notes “the whole armor of God” (vv. 11, 13). The entire armor is owned by God -- the belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword. In this struggle, God provides what is needed to fight this battle. Fists are not required, but faith is; for, we are encouraged to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power” (v. 10). No doubt about it -- it is God who has the power and empowers us. Earlier in Ephesians, we hear that God has “great power” at work in Christ “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come” (1:19-22). What a powerful God! God’s power is the source that allows us “to stand” (vv. 11, 13). God has the power. God is the man! “Can’t touch this,” God says. The evil one may throw “flaming arrows” (v. 16), but we will not burn because God fights this battle. “Macho, macho man?” No. Praying, praying man (vv. 18-20).

Praying in the Spirit may not be fashionable or cool but this is a nonviolent fight, God-style. This is not a return violence-for-violence battle. It is a nonviolent one. The only offensive weapon is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17). We are called to fight with words, a nonviolent means during war. In God’s army, the fighting tactics are different. Our only weapon is a word. There are no guns, no knives, and no fists. Only the command “to stand” (vv. 11, 13). It doesn’t say attack, kill, maim, or torture. Just “stand.” “Stand” up and say “I am a man,” just like the black Memphis sanitation workers on strike in 1968. “I am a man,” when I stand for what is right. “I am a man” when I don’t fight with fists. “I am a man” when I struggle with life non-violently. “I am a man” when I fight the cosmic powers with words, and not any word, but the word of God, our sword of the Spirit. Words are not just rhetoric, but words are power, the power of God in our mouths. This non-violent sword is not in our hands, but in our mouths and hearts. “I am a man,” a person with dignity, honoring another’s dignity, when I fight in this way.

There is a war on the streets and some want to win it with guns and violence, but with God this battle is won with peace. The shoes that are to be worn are not Nike, Converse, or Reebok, but any shoes that “will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace” (v. 15). A real man spreads peace, not war. The aim in the battle of life is peace. Black men can still fight, but with a divine word, a word that brings peace to stormy streets. Young men don’t have to pull out a gun to wage war, but just need a word of peace to fight the powers. “I am a man” when I do this -- proclaim peace, something we all need. “I am a man.” I do not have to beat a woman, or strut my stuff, or impress a posse to be a man. “I am a man.” God’s man. “I’m in the Lord’s army. I just have to stand.” Stand firm and speak words that can move mountains of hate. Preach peace, the gospel of peace. Walk in peace. Wear those shoes. Peace brotha. I won’t try to take you down in the street, but I’ll lift you up in the Spirit through the word. Peace brotha. “I am a man.”

In Conclusion,God provides what we need to fight in life. We can trust God’s power and strength during life’s battles. God empowers us to stand firm in the face of destructive powers. No weapon formed against us will prosper!

What do you do when you've done all you can And it seems like it's never enough? And what do you say When your friends turn away And you're all alone, alone? Tell me, what do you give when you've given your all And it seems like you can't make it through? Well, you just stand when there's nothing left to do You just stand, watch the lord see you through Yes, after you've done all you can You just stand Tell me, how do you handle the guilt of your past? Tell me, how do you deal with the shame? And how can you smile while your heart has been broken And filled with pain, filled with pain? Tell me what do you give when you've given your all? Seems like you can't make it through Child, you just stand when there's nothing left to do You just stand, watch the Lord see you through Yes, after you've done all you can You just stand Stand and be sure Be not entangled in that bondage again You just stand and endure God has a purpose Yes, god has a plan Tell me what do you do when you've done all you can And it seems like you can't make it through? Child, you just stand, you just stand, stand Don't you dare give up through the storm Stand through the rain Through the hurt Yeah, through the pain Don't you bow, and don't you bend Don't give up, no, don't give in Hold on Just be strong God will step in And it won't be long After you've done all you can, after you've done all you can After you've gone through the hurt After you've gone through the pain After you've gone through the storm After you've gone through the rain Prayed and cried Prayed and cried Prayed and cried Prayed and cried, oh my After you've done all you can you just stand