Man of God?
Men want to belong to a band of brothers. However, many men are afraid of the commitment and the sacrifice. How do we find other men who are safe…men who can relate to our life’s story…men with whom we can share the details of our life? To commit to a band of brothers requires vulnerability. Men will never be the men that God intended us to be unless we fellowship with likeminded men. Humility and meekness is the requirement to approach God’s throne of grace. These are also the qualities of the heart that are required to fellowship with our brothers in Christ.
One wife in a counseling session said, “my husband is an island. I keep circling the Island but never find a port that I can land.” Our male culture teaches a man-code that says that I can’t be vulnerable. If I say “I love you,” then I’m weak. If I say, “I don’t know,” then I’m not the man I’m supposed to be. Getting in touch with our own selves is a challenge because we need to acknowledge that we’re insufficient in ourselves.
Many churches don’t have men’s ministries. Most churches have a thriving women’s ministry but only about 10 percent have a ministry to men. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. There is a spiritual battle to take men off the spiritual battlefield. Men’s camraderie is easy on sports teams, especially in a winning locker room. However, as Bonhoffer said in Germany before the Second World War, “they were sleepwalking toward a precipice.” There’s a need for men to act like men when the need arises. To stand firm in the faith, do everything in love… be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to have such confidence in him that they will be the reliable ones.” A crisis is an unstable state of affairs. It is a crucial time of uncertainty and difficulty when action is required to avoid complete breakdown.
If the church is to reach its maximum potential, men must find their place in God’s economy. In a “man on the street interview” the men who were interviewed did not know their place in culture. Men won’t compete with women. Women are caring compassionate, relational, and expressive. However, men are action-oriented. Men are God’s method to will and to do of his good pleasure… Men whom God can use…men who are empowered by the Holy Spirit…Men of prayer aligned according to the will of God.
According to a Barnum Group study, When a mom comes to Christ, 17 percent of children follow their mother in the faith. However, when a man comes to faith, 93 percent of his children will come to faith. Influencers starts with men of God in whom the spirit of the Lord is.
In Christ there is always the opportunity for a fresh new start. If we’re saved by grace through faith, then church needs to give us grace. Women in the church also need to give their husbands grace. Men need to “man up” in Christ…for I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live I live by the faith of the one who loved me and gave himself for me.
In our culture young boys are asking “what is a man?” Most men don’t understand what “man of God” means. What are the requirements? The first is what Jesus said to Peter, “do you love me with the love of God?” Peter said, “Yes Lord, you know I love you like a brother.” Peter didn’t yet understand the meaning of the unconditional love of God. If love is the motivation, then it’s not difficult to serve because faith works by love. When love is the motivation, then the effort is not difficult. Grace through faith will make us free when we confess Jesus as Lord. The second question is, “do you find your identity in Jesus Christ?” Our identity is not who we are but rather whose we are. It’s not about me, it’s about Him. Grace reminds me that in my flesh dwells good thing. Without the grace of God, we’re destined to crash and burn. However, thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me. He will change us from the inside out when we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The third thing is that a man of God wants to spend the rest of his life becoming just like Jesus. Jesus said, If you abide in me and I abide in you then you shall bear much fruit. For the fruit of the spirit of Christ in me is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
In Christ we’re men of God. A man of God is God’s man. This is the “genitive of possession.” It’s not who we are, it’s whose we are. He blots out my iniquity, not because of who I am but because of who He is. The Holy Spirit is the one who comes alongside to encourage, to comfort and to edify. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Jesus said, if you continue in my word, then shall you be my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. The question is “Are you a man of God?” The answer is “absolutely!”
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael