Sermon Tone Analysis

Act Like a Man

1 Corinthians 16 is where I wanna go this morning.

Powerful instructions, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith," This next part is really something.

"Act like men, be strong".

And then He ends it with one more commandment.

He says, next verse "and let all that you do be done in love".

What God needs more than ever before is men to act like men.

He wants you every day to step up every day and do what men are supposed to do.

There's a narrow view of masculinity in many people's minds.

And they think that the Bible gives a narrow view, but the Bible is very, very diverse in its view of masculinity.

For example: Jacob who's one of the greatest heroes of faith in the Bible, he was the father of 12 sons - ten sons and two that were taken in, Joseph's boys, I don't have time to explain it.

He gave birth to the 12 tribes of Israel that became the nation of Israel.

All came from a guy named Jacob.

But the definition of his masculinity is pretty amazing in scripture.

He was not a hunter, he was not a sportsman, he was not a major warrior, he was not killing and fighting and swinging swords and throwing rocks, the Bible said he was a mama's boy.

He stayed home, he liked cooking, he liked, fashion, probably, GQ magazine.

And he was a man, and he was a man of God. and his twin brother, Esau, the Bible draws a clear difference.

He was a hunter, he was on probably the front cover of Outdoor Magazine, he brought home stuff he killed every day out in the woods, probably the quarterback of the high school football team.

They both were men, they both were men that God used in powerful ways.

And even though men are different, not everybody is athletic, that doesn't mean you're a man.

Not everybody is, you know, flamboyant or strong or not, God has a big, big view of what a man is and He says, "Be what I created you and act like a man".

What does it mean?

There are three definitions that I'm gonna give you of what it means to act like a man.

Number one: to act like a man means don't act like a woman.

Men are called... to lead not follow.

Men were given by God, according to the word of God an anointing and a responsibility and an accountability to lead their family, not follow.

Act like a man.

It's on you more than anybody else to act like a man.

Are you leading your family?

Are you realizing that the family is in desperate need of men of God to lead their family spiritually, lead their family emotionally, lead their family physically?

Lead your family to church, lead your family in prayer, lead your family in the word of God.

"I can't do it".

Yes you can, God made you that - when He wired you He wired you to be a leader.

When I say to follow and to obey this text...

And act like a man means, don't act like a woman it's important that this generation hears that teaching.

Because we're living in a time when major corporations like Disney are now trying to do away with gender and say there's no difference between male and female.

On March the 31st the Biden administration recognized Transgender Day of Visibility.

They have put in a transgender official, sworn in as a four star Admiral in the US Public Health Service Commission.

On passports they now have demanded that they now allow an X - instead of checking male or female on passports you can check X, which says, "I'm neither".

The Biden administration announced this week that they endorse sex change surgery and hormone therapy for children, not for adults, for children.

For children! What is happening to parental rights?

What is happening to us deciding what our children hear about sexuality?

We must realize that there's a war going on!

Disney announced that 50% of the characters in their movies and cartoons will - I wanna read it just like they said.

They will be representing the LGBTQ community, account for at least 50% of its regular characters by the end of the story.

In other words, indoctrinating little innocent minds of little children.

And I'm not mad at anybody, I'm not angry at anybody, I'm simply going to tell you what God's word says.

I'm simply tell you that what the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, did was not an evil act of bigotry.

When he said, and I quote, "We will make sure that the parents can send their kids to school to get an education not indoctrination".

Thank God for a man standing up and saying, "This is right and this is wrong".

Our kindergarten to third graders don't need to be taught that there are multiple genders!

There's male and there's female!

That's the word of God! That's the truth of the scripture.

You can be seated.

Don't leave, don't get mad.

Just listen.

Listen to what Romans 1 says.

It's like reading the New York times.

Verse 26: "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.

For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge," ‘We don't wanna hear that stuff.

Get rid of that stuff, ban that stuff, stop that stuff.' "Even though they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate, debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; and knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but are proud," or, "approve of those who practice".

I can't say it any better than God's Holy word.

Act like men.

I was born this way.

I was born in sin.

I was born to commit adultery.

If I go the natural way I'd be a drunk, I'd be a cocaine addict, I'd be an adulterer, I'd be a fornicator but when you get... that's why you need to be born again.

If you were born that way, get born again, get the nature of Christ and be an overcomer.

And just like I have to resist sin - temptation and sin you learn how to resist temptation and sin! Get your mind renewed!

"Be not conformed to this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind".

And suddenly you'll get the strength to live a life that's pleasing to God!

It's the same salvation for the straight as for the gay!

Who so ever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!

And it's time for men to act like men and women to act like women!

Act like men means you don't act like a woman.

What are we doing?

What are we accepting?

And why are we so worried and quiet?

Let's speak the truth in love.

All that you do, do in... if I love you I'm gonna tell you the truth.

If I see a truck coming at you about to run over you I'm gonna scream at you to get out of the way.

I'm preaching the truth to you! "There's a way that seems right under man but the end thereof is destruction".

This word is right.

This word will heal your life.

I'm not mad at anybody.

"What do you mean act like a man".

It means don't be the weaker vessel.

In 1 Peter 3 he said, "Men deal with your wives in understanding giving honor to her, as the weaker vessel, and being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered".

Notice what he said, "Give honor to her as the weaker vessel".

When God made you, He made you physically stronger, emotionally stronger, spiritually stronger.

The Bible is right, the woman is the weaker vessel.

Not she's less, I believe in equality, I believe in equality in pay and in opportunity.

All of that but let's just go back to what the Bible says.

And the Bible says that if - The man ought to be the person who's leading that family!

As the weaker vessel.

"You don't know my wife".

Well, you don't know my wife and I'm telling you, if you don't know her you wouldn't think she's the weaker vessel.

But physically, spiritually, emotionally, I'm supposed to be the strong one.