MANHOOD

I.                    Scriptural Reference

1.      Manhood – Jeremiah 5:1 "Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her.(NKJV).

Manhood is at the very heart of creation. Manhood is tied to the image of God. God wants to re-father us and make us into authentic manhood.

2.      There is a lack of it – Ezekiel 22:30. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.(NKJV)

         Where have all the godly men gone? Where are the Christian men in our churches? Why

         have so many Christian men abdicated their God given position?

3.      Act like a man – I Corinthians 16:13, Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.(NKJV)

4.      Be a man for others – 1 Samuel 10:12. Then a man from there answered and said, "But who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?"(NKJV) We should be men who will counsel, comfort and pray for others. If we are to be this kind of men we must have first gone through this training ourselves.

 II.     Our examples.

      I. Job, Chapter 29

1.      He was a man of purity – v.2-6

He left a godly heritage and example.

2.      He was committed to his children – v. 5

Values are caught more than taught.

3.      He earned the respect of others – v.7-11

He earned respect by right conduct, right language and right attitude, especially toward the government, other people and the opposite sex (31:1).

4.      He was a man of mercy – v.12,13

He was a man who cared about others and he made caring count.

5.      He was a man of justice – v.14-17

He was a man who did what was right, even if it cost him to do so.

6.      He was a man of stability – v.18-20

He had taken root in the things of the Lord and in the community

7.      He was a man of wisdom – v.21-25

His wisdom was from the Lord. Schools and colleges do not produce wisdom. You can be a well educated fool.

WISDOM – The ability to take God’s Word and apply it to life. James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

    II. John the Baptist – John 1:1-34 

1.      He was sincere. He had credibility. Ordinary people, King Herod and the Disciples listened to Him.

2.      He was a man of simplicity. He was disciplined-in his diet, clothes and residence. – Matthew 3:1-4

He was a man of prayer, fasting, simple tastes and in the directness of his message and presentation of Christ. – John 1:29

He called people to repentance, confession and commitment.

3.      He was a man of conviction, steadfastness in seven areas:

·         Reality – He demanded people show evidence of heart-felt repentance through water baptism. – Luke 3:16-18

·         Hypocrisy – He challenged the Sadducees and the Pharisees. – Matthew 3:7-10

·         Integrity – He spoke with, and demanded, truthfulness. – Luke 7:24-28

·         Purity – He was a man of high moral standards. – Matthew 14:1-12

·         Courage – He spoke out against sin to all people at the risk of his own life.

Matthew 14:1-12

·         Vision – He was a prophet.

·         Vulnerability –He was willing to risk being misunderstood by asking the right questions. Mathew 11:1-3

John shows vulnerability in his honesty and humility. – John 3:30 .And yet, Jesus said: “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than  John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”- Luke 7:28

       III. Jesus Christ

1.      Crying and compassion:– “Jesus wept.” John 11:35

Men do cry. It’s ok to cry. We should do it more often.

2.      Tough:- He drove people from the synagogue. – “So he made a whip out of

      cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered

      the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:15

 Jesus was no coward or weakling. He was a man’s man.

              3.   He was power under control.

              4.   Strength clothed in tenderness.   

The 4 F’s in Men

 There are four things many men are afraid of: Fear, Failure, Friendships and Feelings.

The 5 I’s

  Five admissions men have difficulty with:

1.      I don’t know

2.      I was wrong

3.      I need help

4.      I’m afraid

5.      I’m sorry