Stuff I Wanna' Say | Mostly for Men

Hey you probably knew this but it is not God's design for us to get our theology primarily by TikTok--as much as I appreciate the power and reach of social media.

How a man can be a powerful and lasting influence for good.

Seven Questions to Ask...

One of the most important things a man must learn is how to hate evil and love what is good. Here are eight ways to increase your hatred for evil.

I like to call Faith "Eternity Vision" What happens when a man has eternity vision and sees the world thought the lens of faith?

There was once a reluctant leader who Gos used powerfully to leas his people. This man "wrote the book" on leadership. In this podcast we will learn from him.

Moses on Leadership

1—Genuinely love people. 

“But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.” (Exodus 32:11–14, ESV)

2—Have face-to-face intimacy with the Lord. 

Exodus 33:11; Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:5–7; Exodus 34:27–29

3—Do what God tells you to do. Every detail. complete obedience. 

(Exodus 39:7, ESV) …all this was done in accordance with the Lord’s instructions to Moses… TLB

4—Get Spirit-filled, gifted people to help for your weakness.

“The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” (Exodus 31:1–5, ESV)

5—Don't compromise and do wrong to accomplish good for God. 

Exodus 34:15–17

6—Explain God's commands to the people. 

“But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.” (Exodus 34:31, ESV)

“Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do.” (Exodus 35:1, ESV)

7—Inspire people to help and give. 

“Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.” (Exodus 35:20, ESV)

“All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.” (Exodus 35:29, ESV)

8—Inspect their work and bless them. 

“According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.” (Exodus 39:42–43, ESV)

9—Watch God visit the work with his glory--manifest presence. 

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34, ESV)

One thing that should activate a leader to lead, or maybe show him that he is failing to lead or needs to lead, is grumbling, murmuring. 

There is an example of this in Acts. The Greek widows were feeling neglected in the daily distribution. There was some murmuring, some grumbling… The leaders sprang into action to meet the need. They did not chastise the widows or those who were concerned for them. They did not preach a series of scathing messages on complaining. They lead. They solved the problem. 

Additional notes on Moses and Leadership:

Grumbling of the People Calls for Leadership

1. The whole community grumbled  Exodus 16:2
2. Moses and Aaron heard their grumbling  Exodus 16:9
3. The Lord heard their grumbling Exodus 16: 11

Eight Reasons to Improve Your Listening Skills

James 1:19-20  So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;  [20]  for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 18:13  He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. 

Proverbs 29:11  A fool vents all his feelings,  But a wise man holds them back.  

Proverbs 10:19  In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 17:28  Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Eight Powerful Reasons to Improve Your Listening Skills

1. Listen to Diffuse Anger. Prov. 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath…” Proverbs 29:11 — “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”  

2. Listen to Love. Phil. 2:3-5 “…love is patient, kind…”

3. Listen to Understand and Show Honor. 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

4. Listen to Learn. (Prov. 19:27) “Cease to hear instruction my son and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” (Prov. 2:1-4) 

5. Listen to Guide and Teach and Protect. (Prov. 18:2) “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” 

6. Listen to Help and to Heal. Proverbs 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.

7. Listen to Reconcile and Resolve Conflict. (Matthew 18:15-17) “If he does not listen…” (Phil. 2:4) not just his own interests, but the interests of others.

8. Listen to Communicate the Gospel with Effectively. 

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 

Seek to understand before you seek to be understood. 

Here are seven things God has been teaching us after 40 years of raising children.

If you are going to be a factor in resisting evil and bringing glory to God's name in your life, marriage, parenting, church and family, you are going to have to have a robust theology of God's sovereignty. This must be a practical working theology of the providence of God.

We are in dangerous times. Dangerous times call for men who are dangerous... dangerous to the enemy and his schemes. Are you a dangerous man?

Jesus made things simple, men.

Mark 12, Eph. 3, Romans, 3, Exodus 34:6-7

This one is vital. What do you do when you are sinned against. You will be sinned against and what you do when you are sinned against is one of the most important things about a man.

A man must lead his family and others in taking care of sin in his own life. Here is how to do that, what happens when you don't, and what happens when you do.

You cannot have strong relationships without this...

An often-overlooked element of building strong and healthy relationships is showing honor. You will likely be surprised how much the Scriptures have to say about the importance of showing honor.

Here are some powerful ways to build stronger relationships with you wife, your children, your grandchildren, and others. These are based on a powerful principle in 2 Cor. 12:15

The Principle of Imitation:

You will tend to become like whoever you train yourself to admire

Who do you want to be like?  

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20 

“He who walks with wise men will be wise...”

·       Galatians 4:19  My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you

·       Luke 6:40 “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

·       1 Corinthians 4:16  Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

·       Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

·       Philippians 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

·       1 Thessalonians 1:6  And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

·       2 Thessalonians 3:9   not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

·       1 Timothy 1:16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

·       1 Timothy 4:12  Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

·       Hebrews 13:7  Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

·       1 Peter 5:3  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

·       Acts 20:28-38  This is why older, godly Christians are so important in a Christian fellowship.

Here is how the process works: 

1.  the behavior is modeled

2.  the behavior is imitated

3.  I accept by faith that the behavior is God’s will

4.  I trust the enabling power of the Holy Spirit

5.  I repeat the behavior

6.  I continue over a prolonged period of time

7.  I am among brothers and sisters who support the behavior

8.  Over a period of time it becomes the behavior I deeply desire.  (affections)

“…A companion of fools will be destroyed.”

·       Proverbs 12:26  The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

·       Proverbs 22:24  Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go

·       1 Corinthians 5:11  But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

·       1 Corinthians 15:33  Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

You don’t need many friends.

What kind of friends do you need?

1.  You need friends who fear God and obey Him.    Psalm 119:63  I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.

2. You need friends who refresh you in the things of the Lord.    2 Timothy 1:16  The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;

3.  You need friends who will stimulate you to love and good works.    Hebrews 10:24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works…

The most powerful way to fight sin is love!

5—Sin is Spiritual Adultery—Fight it With Intimacy With God. 

5—Sin is Spiritual Adultery. Fight it with LOVE—AFFECTION FOR GOD. (Mark 12:28-31)

Luke 7 she loves me much because she has been forgiven much

John 21 do you love me? Three times… one for each denial.

James—spiritual adultery.

The Greatest Weapon Against Sin is Intimacy With Christ

Training children: Relationship with us: fear-favor-fellowship. Relationship with God: fear-favor-fellowship. The stongest incentive for obedience is love-intimacy. 

The Central truth and it’s placement: in my personal experience and my opinion, the most powerful way to defeat temptation is to see sin as a threat to my fellowship with God and displace it with communion.

Psalms 4:7  You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.(abound)

Psalm 16

Psalm 27

Psalm 42

Psalm 63 

Psalm 73

Psalm 91

John 15:4  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

1 Corinthians 1:9  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Cor 6:14-7:1

Philippians 3:10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death

1 John 3:6  Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

The Language of Devotion/Intimacy in Christian History. Saints of God—lovers of God through the centuries.

Augustine ‘Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee?’

Paschal “There once was in man a true happiness of which now remain to him only the mark and empty trace, which he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings, seeking from things absent the help he does not obtain in things present. But these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only by God Himself.” Maybe you have heard that expressed like this: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man.”

J.I. Packer says that the Puritans differ from evangelicals today because, with them: communion with God was a great thing; to evangelicals today it is a comparatively small thing. The Puritans were concerned about communion with God in a way we are not. The measure of our unconcern is the little that we say about it. When Christians meet, they talk to each other about their Christian work and Christian interests, their Christian acquaintances, the state of the churches, and the problems of theology - but rarely of their daily experience of God.

Owen  (Communion with God). The Holy Spirit produces joy in the hearts of believers directly by himself without using any other means. As in sanctification he is a well of water springing up in the soul, so in comforting he fills the souls and minds of men with spiritual joy. When he pours out the love of God in our hearts, he fills them with joy, just as he caused John to leap for joy in Elizabeth’s womb when the mother of Jesus  approached. This joy, the Holy Spirit works when and how he wills. He secretly injects this joy in to the soul, driving away all fear and sorrow filling it with gladness and causing it to exult, sometimes with unspeakable raptures of the mind.  –John Owen

Charles Spurgeon, When a man pants after God, it is a secret life within which makes him do it: he would not long after God by nature. No man thirsts for God while he is left in his carnal [i.e., unconverted] state. The unrenewed man pants after anything sooner than God: . . . It proves a renewed nature when you long after God; it is a work of grace in your soul, and you may be thankful for it.

1-Pray

2-Obey

3-Meditate

4-Worship

(Fifteen Biblical Responses to A Contentious Person).

1–Avoid Evil people when you can.

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 16:17–18, ESV)

2–As much as it is possible live at peace. Create spaces where you can remove yourself and do productive things.

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18, ESV)

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14, ESV)

“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” (Proverbs 21:9, ESV)

“It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.” (Proverbs 21:19, ESV)

“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” (Proverbs 25:24, ESV)

3–Love your wife like Jesus loves you. Don’t be harsh with her.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” (Ephesians 5:25, ESV)

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” (Colossians 3:19, ESV)

4–Keep your promises to act in a loving way continually even if you are cursed or or hated or abused. (Luke 6:27–29, ESV)

5–Make sure their curses are without cause: “Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.” (Proverbs 26:2, ESV)

6–Show loving-kindness and tenderness whenever you can. Gal. 5 “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” (Colossians 3:19)

(Galatians 5:16–25)

7–Be like Jesus. Do not be selfish or think only of yourself. Give and serve others and lay down your life. (Philippians 2:1–16)

8–Do not get involved in argumentation and do not react sinfully to an attack.

“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” (Proverbs 17:14)

9–Don’t engage in conversation that is just a lure to attack.““Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6)

10–Don’t Try to correct her. She will only be more contentious. Let God deal with her.

“Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” (Proverbs 9:7–8)

“A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.” (Prov. 27:15–16)

11–Don’t blow up and vent your anger:

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Proverbs 29:11)

12–Do not return anger for anger. Trust the Lord to judge. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23, ESV) (1 Corinthians 4:1–5)

13–Strengthen yourself and encourage yourself in the Lord. Deepen your relationship with God when you are being abused. (1 Samuel 30:6)

14–Always try to see yourself in the mirror before you look at the faults of the other.

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5, ESV)

In the presence of my enemy. Don’t tell her things. She will use what you say against you.

15–Leave all the children and other people completely out of it. It is not necessary or right to draw them into it. It is not their business. Keep them out of it. Don’t talk to other people about it. The only exception would be a qualified counselor.

Treat the Contentious Person As You Would An Enemy. Bless. Do Good. Pray (Matthew 5:44 NKJV)

How to you craft a holy life? Pray. Obey. Meditate. Worship. Love. Gather. Study the tools to build a holy life, the weapons to resist sin.

The next six episodes will describe six powerful weapons to fight sin. Pray, Obey, Meditate, Worship, Love, and Gather…

Before you are able to resist sin in your jurisdiction, you have to first resist sin in your own soul.

Get out a picture of your family and look at it, if you can, while you listen to this bonus episode.

A Godly Man is a Lord of the Earth, Husbandman, Savior, Sage, and the Glory of God.

What Does It Mean To Be A Man?

Introduction. I ran across a list of what it means to be a man while reading on the dock at Camp Barakel a few years ago and they have been a great help to me. I have permission from Bill Mouser to use these five things this morning. There is something for everyone here. An encouragement to men. A prayer list for wives. A training curriculum for Mothers and Fathers, Grandmothers and Grandfathers. A list of goals for young men and if you are a young woman, you might want to look at this a little like a shopping list.

1.  Lord of the Earth.  Exercise dominion in his jurisdiction.  (Genesis 1:26-28; Matthew 28:19-20; Psalm 8) Man is created in the image God to rule and subdue the earth for God. (ill) Young people can’t subdue Kingdoms until they lean to pick up their socks.

2.  Husbandman (Genesis 2:15)  Make life flourish within your dominion. 

            Life—Eternal Life—Abundant Life

Grow things! Man is created to cultivate the persons and things within his realm, so they fulfill their potential within God's creation. (ill) Voluntary Watermelon is very rare, you have to have a plan and cultivate it. (ill)  When a wealthy farmer was asked why he made his sons work the fields when he did not have to he replied, ‘I’m not raising corn, I am raising boys.”(ill) The Cut Away Principle

3.  Savior  (Gen. 3:14-15)  Oppose evil and be a spiritual protector in our dominion.   

·       Satan wants to kill, steal, and destroy. 

·       He especially loves to snuff out life in its youth

·       To do so he must “bind the strong man” first

·       (Job 1:5)  A strong man must ask himself every day: “What lies is Satan using today to kill my wife, sons, daughter, me?”

Man is created to war sacrificially against evil and injustice until they are vanquished.  15 Dangers that should activate a Father’s protection…   (ill)  Woody… we wouldn’t think of going out there alone.  Is there a man in your house?   (ill)  Men of the Character Inn came armed and ready for confrontation.

4.  Sage  (Prov. 1-9)   Man is created to be trained by mature men, to gain skill and insight, to take his place among wise men, doing work which counts forever.  Wisdom. Discernment. Ability to motivate learning in others. (ill) “You will notice they walked everywhere they went.”

5.  Glory of God  (1 Cor. 11:7, 3; Eph 5:23-24) Walk with God until you have the glory of God on you that others can see, especially your wife and children. Man is created to display something of God's glory in his bearing, roles, and activities. (ill)  Pastor Chen… a place for daily communion with Christ… 

The essential thing is your own fellowship with God.  Are you in continual fellowship with God?  Do you have holy affections?  Is your faith deeper than a creed or code of conduct?

Where do I begin? If you want to know how to be a Lord of the Earth, Husbandman, Savior, Sage, and Glory-Bearer, go at it backwards. First spend time in the presence of God until his glory is on you, only then will you be wise. Then you will be able to be a savior—a danger to the enemy—a spiritual protector. These are the only men who will be able to make life flourish and they will have a jurisdiction that mirrors the Kingdom of Christ and of God in a small way. That is what it means to be a man.

Lead on O King Eternal

A man is a Lord of the Earth (Genesis 1), A Husbandman (Genesis 2), A Savior (Genesis 3) and a Sage--A Wise Man (Proverbs)...

In this talk I explain the third aspect of Biblical masculinity--Savior from Genesis 3 and I talk about one of the most important things a man can do to resist evil in his life and in his jurisdiction.

The five aspects of godly masculinity according to Bill Mouser are: Lord of the Earth, Husbandman, Savior, Sage, and Glory-Bearer. These are Biblical descriptions of what it means to be a man. In this episode I talk about making life flourish in in your jurisdiction.

The first of five qualities of a Godly Man. (Thanks for Bill Mouser for this idea)

lively talks to help men follow Jesus and serve their families and churches.