“We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise.” – C.S. Lewis
Ezekiel 22:30 – “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”
1 Kings 2:2-3 – “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, [3] 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,
2 Samuel 10:12 – “Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to Him.”
I. A Realistic Man (13a)
“Be watchful…”
Serve as a protecting agent against anything and everything that might bring harm to your family. This is your job.
II. A Resolved Man (13b)
“…stand firm in the faith…”
Know the truth of Christ. Grow in the truth of Christ. Hunger for the truth of Christ. Live the truth of Christ.
Pass on the truth of Christ.
III. A Retro Man (13c)
“…act like men, be strong…”
A Biblically-Fueled, Socially Inappropriate Charge To Christian Men
Away with sissified, waffling, cry-babying, feminized, pacifying, snow-flaky, cowardly, whining, excuse making, feet-shuffling, limp-wristed, spineless, henpecked, backtracking, hairless, testosterone suppressing, mama’s boy, indecisive, and conflict-avoiding pansies!
Nehemiah 4:14 – “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
IV. A Representing Man (14)
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
• Our children develop their early concept of God’s nature from us
• We model the love & acceptance of God to our children – is yours conditional or unconditional?
• Discipline is our responsibility – it must be applied with consistency and appropriate restraint
• Communicate affirmation twice as often as correction
• No matter what our children believe when they leave our home, they must be convinced that they are loved by Dad