MEN AFLAME

(Luke 11:21,22 – Ezekiel 22:30)

LIGHTING THE FIRE – FANNING THE FLAME

MODULE I

MANLINESS

(GROUPS:  DEFINE MANLINESS)

Scriptural calls

Manliness – Jeremiah 5:1 “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it.”

Manhood (manliness) 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.

There is a lack of it – Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”

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?

Act like a man – I Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

A survey showed the following statistics. Death row – 99% men; Prison population – 95% men; Cause of drunk driving accidents – 91% men; Cause of all traffic accidents – 75% men; Wanted posters – 98% men.

Be a man for others – II Samuel 10:12, “Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

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

He was a man of purity – vv.2-6

He left a godly heritage and example.

He was committed to his children – v. 5

Values are caught more than taught.

He earned the respect of others – vv.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). (A COVENANT W/ HIS EYES)

He was a man of mercy – vv.12,13

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

He was a man of justice – vv.14-17

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

.

He was a man of stability – vv.18-20

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

He was a man of wisdom – vv.21-25

His wisdom was from the Lord. College doesn’t 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

He was sincere. He had credibility

Ordinary people, King Herod and the Disciples listened to Him.

He was a man of simplicity. He was disciplined.

In his diet, clothes and residence. – Matthew 3:1-4 (CAMEL HAIR/LEATHER BELT, LOCUST/WILD HONEY, DESERT)

He was a man of prayer, fasting, simple tastes and in the directness of his message and presentation of Christ. – John 1:29-31 (INTRODUCED JESUS)

He called people to repentance, confession and commitment.

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 – Some think he doubted that Christ was the Messiah. But 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 (HE MUST INCREASE)

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

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

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

2.     Tough as nails. 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 may have been a short, dark skinned, ugly Jew, but he was no coward or weakling. He was a man’s man.

3.   He was power under control!

4.    Strength clothed in tenderness.

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

Five admissions men have difficulty with:

I don’t know

I was wrong

I need help

I’m afraid

I’m sorry

III.      BECOMING A GODLY MAN.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little something extra.  “What ever your hands find to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

Steps to becoming a godly man.

1. We cannot deny it.

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?

You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed

It’s coming.”  II Peter 3:11,12a

Denying the reality of an oncoming bus doesn’t make it stop. Denying the reality of

death doesn’t stop people from dying.

2. We cannot delay it.
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered but later he changed his mind and went.” Matthew 21:28,29

How much work went undone while the son delayed? How many souls go unsaved while we delay? “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7

Hindrances – Indifference, indecision, worry. “Casting all your care up on him, for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:7

Don’t fear mistakes or failures. Just do it!

3.  We cannot do it alone.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17

Moses – Aaron

Joshua – Caleb

David – Jonathan

Paul – Barnabas, Timothy, Luke, John

Jesus – Peter, James, John

No man is an island – no man stands alone. A piece of charcoal will die if it tries to burn alone.

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25

4.   We cannot be distracted from it.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21

Stay focused. When you make mistakes, confess them and go on.

5.   We cannot rush it. Little by little. One step at a time.
“But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.” Exodus 23:29-30

Time is involved. “Joshua waged war against all these king for a long time.” Joshua 11:18

Take it one day at a time. When God works to make an Acacia (oak) tree He takes around 100 years. When He wants to make a squash He only takes a few weeks.

Which would you rather be, a mighty Acacia tree or just a squash?

(FROM THE “TEN OBSERVATION ABOUT MEN” WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS YOUR

GREATEST NEED?)     PG. 6

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

A PERSONAL INVENTORY

Proverbs 28:13, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Take time to work through this on your own and then share with one other man a prayer request. Pray for each other.

Repentance is one of the first steps toward personal and corporate revival. In facing our sins, we make room for deeper fellowship with Christ. It is impossible for a man to meet the Lord of Glory in the full revelation of His majesty and not be grieved by his particular sins and want to confess them.

Confession – To agree with God it is called sin and not gloss over it and blame someone else. To confess is to bring each individual sin before God, acknowledge it is wrong, and thank God He has forgiven it.

Repentance – A change of thinking, action, direction. It is a forsaking of sin. It involves turning from our sinful action.

Read through the passages below and ask God to shine the light of His Holiness into the dark and secret chambers of you heart.

Confess your sin to God as He convicts you of it.

Ask His forgiveness – I John 1:9

Repent of it – fruit of repentance is seen in a changed life-style.

Idolatry – Matthew 6:33.   All things I have loved, sought, or placed ahead of God. What has captured my heart?

Materialism – I John 2:15.   Am I trusting in things and seeking to accumulate more and more things to have a sense of fulfillment?

Ritualism – Matthew 15:8,9.  Am I just going through the motions of Christianity without any authenticity to my relationship with Jesus?

Independence – Jeremiah 17:5.   Am I trusting in my own strength, abilities, wisdom and resources to live my life or am I living a life of dependence on God for all that I am and all that I do?

Pride – Proverbs 11:2.   A secret spirit of pride, love of human praise, secret fondness of being noticed, drawing attention to self in conversations.

Self Will – Jeremiah 7:24.   A stubborn, unteachable spirit. Arguing, harsh, sarcastic expressions. An attitude that “my way is best” and “I am always right.”

Dishonesty – Ephesians 4:25.   Do I not speak the whole truth? Do I use lies and deception to get ahead?

Sexual Immorality – Ephesians 5:3.   This will show itself in lustful thoughts, involvement with pornography, inappropriate flirting and emotional and physical relationships with women other than your wife.

Anger – Ephesians 4:26.   Quick-tempered, angry outbursts, inappropriate actions and words toward your children, your spouse, friends and co-workers.

Lovelessness – James 2:18.   A lack of compassion for the lost. A lack of helping those in need right in your own community.

Prayerlessness – I Samuel 12:23.   Finding yourself settling for quick, on-the-run type of prayers. Being busy for God, but not in touch with God.

Criticalness – Ephesians 4:29.   Any talk of discord, dissension, divisiveness. Are you critical of others, causing harm to others through what you say or how you say it?

Greed – Proverbs 21:26.   A desiring of more and more, never content with what God has given you. Unwillingness to share God’s resources with others.

Spiritual Apathy – Isaiah 29:13.   A heart that is indifferent towards the things of God. You are settling for mediocrity in your walk with Him. Just enough to get by and look good.

Disobedience to the Great Commission – Matthew 28:19,20.   You find yourself tolerating widespread injustice and neglecting the four billion people who do not know Jesus and who will spend a Christless eternity.

Read and pray through Psalm 51.

Read any of the following verses and allow God to forgive you of your sin.

I John 1:9
Hebrews 9:14
Romans 8:1-4

Psalm 103:11,12
Micah 7:18,19
Isaiah 1:18

Acts 3:19

Remember, God is waiting for us when we repent and return to Him.

“Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away

from my decrees and have not kept them.

Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 3:7

Produced by the Men’s Ministry of Elmbrook Church. Used by permission from Steve Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

TEN OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MEN

MEN NEED ACTION.  Men measure themselves by what they do.

MEN NEED SAFETY.  Men by nature are independent.

MEN NEED TO BE CHALLENGED.  Men tend to view everything around them as something to be overcome and conquered.

MEN NEED TO GET TO THE “BOTTOM LINE.”  They want to move from theory to practical applications. They want to get right to the point.

MEN NEED TO “WIN.”  One of men’s greatest fears is that of failure.

MEN ARE GENERALLY EMOTIONALLY ISOLATED.  Men are afraid of four things; Fear, Failure, Friends, Feelings.

MEN TODAY NEED HEALING.  Many men have unhealed wounds. Some from fathers, mothers, wives, work. They need support groups where they feel free to share these wounds with others.

MEN NEED FREEDOM.  Men  do not like to be boxed in. They need freedom to try new things and take risks.

MEN DEFINE THEMSELVES BY WHAT THEY DO, WHO THEY KNOW, OR WHAT THEY OWN.  When a man walks into a room he usually shares his name and the next question is: “What do you do?” Men are living for the applause of others.

THE KEY ISSUE FOR MEN IS WORK.   Men spend 50-60 a week at work. They must be taught how to live out their faith in the marketplace today.

Used by permission from Steve Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

THE WORLD NEEDS MEN

….who cannot be bought;
….whose word is their bond;
…. who put character above wealth;
….who posses opinions and a will;
….who are larger than their vocations;
….who do not hesitate to take chances;
….who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
….who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
….who will make no compromise with wrong;
….who are true to their friends in adversity as well;
….who will not say they do it “because everybody else does it;” as in prosperity;
….who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the qualities
for winning success;
….whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
….who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular, who can

say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes”;

FAILURE

Failure does not mean you are a failure – It does mean you have not succeeded yet.

Failure does not mean you have accomplished nothing – It means you have learned something.

Failure does not mean you have been a fool – It means you have a lot of faith.

Failure does not mean you have been disgraced – It means you are willing to try.

Failure does not mean you don’t have what it takes – It means you have to do something in a different way.

Failure does not mean you are inferior – It simply means you are not perfect.

Failure does not mean you have wasted your life – It means you have reasons to start afresh.

Failure does not mean you should give up – It means you must try prayerfully harder.

Failure does not mean you will never make it – It means it will take a little patiently longer.

Failure does not certainly mean God has abandoned you – It simply means God has a better idea for you!

By an American preacher

Success is never certain and failure is never final.

As long as you have the grace of God, failure is not final.

Besides – there is virtue in every futile effort towards the good – especially when those efforts are invested in the Cause that counts.

Dr. Greg Tingson

“Nothing is greater than man’s success, other than what God can do with failure”. (Trent Crowley, Memphis, TN, USA)

SUGGESTED READING: The Measure Of A Man (Gene A. Getz). Maximized Manhood (Edwin Louis Cole). A Man’s Integrity (Jack Hayford). Eight Steps To Intimacy (John Trent). The Future And Your Family Ten Commandments For Husbands And Wives (both by Harold Sala). How To Keep Your Wife Happy How To Keep Your Husband Happy (for your wife) ( both by William W. Orr). Men Of Honor Influence (Stuart Briscoe). Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart (Stu Weber). Not Just Sundays (William B. Girao)

MEN AFLAME

(LUKE 11:21,22 – EZEKIEL 22:30)

LIGHTING THE FIRE – FANNING THE FLAME

MODULE II

A MAN AND HIMSELF

YOUR PERSON

Do you love yourself? It is OK to love yourself. It is scriptural.

“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  Matthew 22:39

But don’t be conceited.  Romans 12:3 says, “…do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.”

If God can love you, you can love yourself! If God can forgive you, you can forgive yourself!  (HAVE YOU?)  (FORGIVING IS LOVES REVOLUTION AGAINST LOVE’S UNFAIRNESS.     WE FREE OURSELVES!) (FORGIVENESS IS THE FRAGRANCE OF THE ROSE THAT CLINGS TO THE HEEL THAT CRUSHED IT!)

Do you love others?   How you love others tells others how you love yourself.  If God

can love and forgive others, you can also. “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor

as yourself.’”   Matthew 22:39   (ANY ONE YOU NEED TO FORGIVE?)

Do you love God?  With all of your being?   “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  Deuteronomy 6:5

Keep on loving Him. You can not out love God.  “Keep yourselves in God’s love…..”

Jude 21.   (HOW?  THE WORD – PRAYER – WORSHIP – WITNESS – OBEDIENCE)

YOUR SPIRITUALITY

Are you sure of your salvation?  Where is your heart?  “For where your treasure is there will you heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

Are you born again? (From above – of the Holy Spirit?). Jesus said we must be born again. John 3:3,5,7

Do you have a vital, up-to-date relationship with Jesus Christ?  “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test?”  II Corinthians 13:5

(ARE YOU LIVING ON YESTERDAYS BLESSINGS?)   (YOU CAN BE AS STRAIGHT AS A GUN BARREL DOCTRINALLY, BUT AS EMPTY AS A GUN BARREL SPIRITUALLY!)

How is your prayer life? Are you and God on speaking terms? “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 (DID YOU PRAY THIS MORNING?)

Are you uninhibited in your prayer life?  “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be

done unto you.”  John 15:7

YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

LISTEN, LEARN AND OBEY.  “….’Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.’” Deuteronomy 5:1

Don’t just be a hearer of the Word, but a doer also.  James 1:22.

Study the Word.  “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119:11.

Search the scriptures. Mine them. Dig out the truths of God.  John 5:39

Mature. Grow up. Do not remain babies. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”   II Peter 3:18

Make time alone with God. Jesus did. “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from the land, buffered by the waves because the wind was against it.” Matthew 14:22-24

There was work to do. There were people in trouble. BUT – Jesus needed time alone with the Father. And if He needed it – how much more do we!  (DAILY DEVOTIONS)

Are you so busy in your work (the work of the Lord) that you do not have time for the

Lord of the work?

Have a spiritual check-up. Check your diet.  “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”  I Corinthians 11:28  (There may be times when you should not take communion!)

Have a spiritual x-ray. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.”

II Corinthians 13:5,6.

Prove yourself.  “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”  Galatians 6:3-5.

LEARN AND TURN. “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40

Being God’s man involves not only what we do – but also what we do not do.

Being a godly man is:

A RACE, I Corinthians 9:24-27. Spiritual excellence is not just a destination – it is a journey.

AN EXERCISE, I Timothy 4:7-10

A FIGHT, I Timothy 6:12.  The Bible tells us to fight the good fight of faith. Some times it is necessary to fight!    (CHRISTIAN ARMOUR)

YOUR SEXUAL PURITY.

The Bible speaks quite liberally about the issue of sex.  “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:  that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable.”  I Thessalonians 4:3,4

Sexual purity involves the:

MIND – “You have heard it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27,28   (WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE MOST?)

BODY – “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with

her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who unites himself

with the Lord is one with him is spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a

sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own

body.” I Corinthians 6:16-18

SPIRIT- “…They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit

of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.”  Hosea 4:12.

(GROUP:   SHARE ONE AREA IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU NEED HELP  OR IMPROVEMENT)

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

A PERSONAL INVENTORY

Proverbs 28:13, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Take time to work through this on your own and then share with one other man a prayer request. Pray for each other.

Repentance is one of the first steps toward personal and corporate revival. In facing our sins, we make room for deeper fellowship with Christ. It is impossible for a man to meet the Lord of Glory in the full revelation of His majesty and not be grieved by his particular sins and want to confess them.

Confession – To agree with God it is called sin and not gloss over it and blame someone else. To confess is to bring each individual sin before God, acknowledge it is wrong, and thank God He has forgiven it.

Repentance – A change of thinking, action, direction. It is a forsaking of sin. It involves turning from our sinful action.

Read through the passages below and ask God to shine the light of His Holiness into the dark and secret chambers of you heart.

Confess your sin to God as He convicts you of it.

Ask His forgiveness – I John 1:9

Repent of it – fruit of repentance is seen in a changed life-style.

Idolatry – Matthew 6:33.   All things I have loved, sought, or placed ahead of God. What has captured my heart?

Materialism – I John 2:15.   Am I trusting in things and seeking to accumulate more and more things to have a sense of fulfillment?

Ritualism – Matthew 15:8,9.  Am I just going through the motions of Christianity without any authenticity to my relationship with Jesus?

Independence – Jeremiah 17:5.   Am I trusting in my own strength, abilities, wisdom and resources to live my life or am I living a life of dependence on God for all that I am and all that I do?

Pride – Proverbs 11:2.   A secret spirit of pride, love of human praise, secret fondness of being noticed, drawing attention to self in conversations.

Self Will – Jeremiah 7:24.   A stubborn, unteachable spirit. Arguing, harsh, sarcastic expressions. An attitude that “my way is best” and “I am always right.”

Dishonesty – Ephesians 4:25.   Do I not speak the whole truth? Do I use lies and deception to get ahead?

Sexual Immorality – Ephesians 5:3.   This will show itself in lustful thoughts, involvement with pornography, inappropriate flirting and emotional and physical relationships with women other than your wife.

Anger – Ephesians 4:26.   Quick-tempered, angry outbursts, inappropriate actions and words toward your children, your spouse, friends and co-workers.

Lovelessness – James 2:18.   A lack of compassion for the lost. A lack of helping those in need right in your own community.

Prayerlessness – I Samuel 12:23.   Finding yourself settling for quick, on-the-run type of prayers. Being busy for God, but not in touch with God.

Criticalness – Ephesians 4:29.   Any talk of discord, dissension, divisiveness. Are you critical of others, causing harm to others through what you say or how you say it?

Greed – Proverbs 21:26.   A desiring of more and more, never content with what God has given you. Unwillingness to share God’s resources with others.

Spiritual Apathy – Isaiah 29:13.   A heart that is indifferent towards the things of God. You are settling for mediocrity in your walk with Him. Just enough to get by and look good.

Disobedience to the Great Commission – Matthew 28:19,20.   You find yourself tolerating widespread injustice and neglecting the four billion people who do not know Jesus and who will spend a Christless eternity.

Read and pray through Psalm 51.

Read any of the following verses and allow God to forgive you of your sin.

I John 1:9
Hebrews 9:14
Romans 8:1-4

Psalm 103:11,12
Micah 7:18,19
Isaiah 1:18

Acts 3:19

Remember, God is waiting for us when we repent and return to Him.

“Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away

from my decrees and have not kept them.

Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.”

Malachi 3:7

Produced by the Men’s Ministry of Elmbrook Church. Used by permission from Steve Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

Used by permission from Steve Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

PROBLEMS

PREDICTORS – They help us mold our future.

REMINDERS – We are not self-sufficient. We need God and others to help.

OPPORTUNITIES – They pull us out of our ruts and cause us to think creatively.

BLESSINGS – They open doors we usually don’t go through.

LESSONS – Each new challenge will be a teacher.

EVERYWHERE – No place or person is excluded from them.

MESSAGE – They warn us about potential disaster.

SOLVABLE – No problem is without a solution.

“If we work upon marble, it will perish: If we work upon brass, time will efface it: If we rear temples, they will crumble into dust: But if we work upon mortal souls: If we imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and love of fellow man, we engrave on those tablets something which will brighten all eternity.”   (Daniel Webster)

Much has been wrought by a few good men well disposed. (???)

BAKING A CAKE

A little boy is telling his Grandma how everything is going wrong. School, family problems, severe health problems, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of course, he does. “Here, have some cooking oil.” “Yuck” says the boy. “How about a couple of eggs?” “Gross, Grandma!”

“Would you like some flour them? Or maybe baking soda?” “Grandma, those are all yucky!” To which Grandma replies, “Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! !God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows than when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!” God cares about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. Have a wonderful day, life
A friend.

SUGGESTED READING. The Measure Of A Man (Gene A. Getz). Maximized Manhood (Edwin Louis Cole). A Man’s Integrity (Jack Hayford). Eight Steps To Intimacy (John Trent). The Future And Your Family Ten commandments For Husbands And Wives (both by Harold Sala). How To Keep Your Wife Happy How To Keep Your Husband Happy (for your wife) (both by William W. Orr.) Men Of Honor Influence (Stuart Bricoe). Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart (Stu Weber). Not Just Sundays (William B. Girao).

MEN AFLAME

(LUKE 11:21,22 – EZEKIEL 22:30)

LIGHTING THE FIRE – FANNING THE FLAME

MODULE III

A MAN AND HIS INTEGRITY

DEFINITION

Integrity – Whole, Sound, Unimpaired, Truthfulness.  Credibility!  It has to do with a man’s morals and ethics.   Proverbs 12:19,22, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”  “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”

It is what you are when you are alone.  What you are when no one is looking. King David as an example. “And David shepherded them (Israel) with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them.” Psalm 78:72

IN YOUR WORSHIP

Why worship?  It is God’s command! Man was made to worship God. “Jesus said to him, (Satan), ‘away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:10

We are told to exalt and worship Him. Psalm 99:5,9.

Who do you worship? Is God still searching for you?  “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are

the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.” John 4:23

How do you worship? Not the style of worship but the attitude of you spirit. “God is Spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

Do you worship in a spirit of love, joy, thanksgiving, humility, holiness, awe and respect? Do we still fear God?

Do you rejoice in your worship? “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship

by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”

Philippians 3:3

When do you worship? On the first day of the week? Why worship on Sunday, the first

day of the week? When we worship on Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus

Christ from the tomb! “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary

Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” Matthew 28:1

Paul preached on the first day of the week. “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.” Acts 20:7

But we should worship every day, every where and any time.

Where do you worship?  In the house of God?  “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1

Are you neglecting worship? Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to give up meeting together for worship.

7.    Is your temple clean? “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” I Corinthians 3:16

IN YOUR WALK (LIFE BUSINESS)

In your private life is your light shinning? How brightly? “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Don’t hide your God-given talent. Don’t waste it. Use it to the best of your ability for the glory of the Lord.

In your business life is your light shinning? Are you an honest businessman? “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Acts 6:3

Notice – The first requirement was honesty. The business was the Lord’s business.

Are you honest in weights and measures? “Do not have two differing weights in your bag – one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house – one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” Deuteronomy 25:13-16.

Do you keep two sets of record books – one for the government and one for ‘your eyes only.’

“Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.” Jeremiah 17:11

Truth, honest and justice. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praise- worthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.

Here is something to think (pray) about. Do you pay your debts?  “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”  Romans 13:8

“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.” Psalm 37:21- 22

(GROUP – WHAT RELALTIONSHIP IS THERE BETWEEN A MAN’S SPIRITUALITY AND HIS INTEGRITY?)

IN YOUR WORK

There are three main attitudes about work: - Too casual – Too involved – Too meaningless.

A Biblical work ethic:

God worked – Genesis 2:2 – “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

Jesus worked – John 17:4 – “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

Man is to work – Genesis 2:15 – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Work is both creative and productive. Proverbs 6:6-11, “Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in the summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed men.”  (MAN AND WHEELBARROW)

Man is to work properly and rest adequately.

Six scriptural principles about work.

Our ability to work is part of what makes us human. Genesis 1:26 – God made man to

rule over His creation.

2. Work is a means of service. – Matthew 20:28 – Christ came to serve not to be served. We should have a servant attitude. – Galatians 5:13 – We are to serve one another in love.

3. The way we work show others what we believe. Matthew 5:16 – Let others see your good works. We should have a keen sense of purpose about our work.

4. God has called us to be co-workers with Him. – Luke 10:2 – We are the workers, the

field and harvest are His. We are God’s fellow workers. – I Corinthians 3:9.  Pursue the work God has gifted you for.

God Chose: Adam – Patriarchs –Prophets – Kings – Apostles.

He also chooses: Farmers – Teachers – Mechanics – Drivers – Painters – etc.

5. Work is a form of worship. – Colossians 3:23 – What ever work we do should be done with all our heart for Him.

6. When we work we function as providers. – I Timothy 5:8 – We are to provide for our

family. We are to work and not steal. – Ephesians 4:28

A Biblical man is a man of:

Integrity – in daily life. – Intimacy – with God and his wife. – Identity – with Christ

and people. – Influence – In the community and his family.

(From “Men of Influence and Honor” by Stuart Briscoe.)

SUPPLEMENTAL READING

MONEY:

Psalm 50:10, 14-15 – Pay your vows.   Proverbs 37:25 – Righteous never forsaken.

Malachi 3:8-10 – Robbing God.   Philippians 4:9 – He will supply our needs.

I John 5:14-15 – Confidence in God.   Psalm 139:23,24 – Search my heart, O God.

Your financial security is not in Saudi Arabia or America but in Jesus Christ.

SELF LOVE:

Matthew 9:19 – Love your neighbor and your self.   Ephesians 2:10 – We are His workmanship.

SELF DENIAL:

Matthew 16:24 – Deny, Carry Follow.    Mark 8:34-37 – Preserve your life by giving it to Christ. Luke 9:23,24 – Save your life by losing it for Him.

HUMILITY:

Romans 7:7-25 – Living in the Spirit.   Philippians 3:12 – Don’t claim perfection yet.

Galatians 5:16-18 – The struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.

I John 1:5-10 – Walk in the light of the Lord.

LESSONS FROM NOAH’S ARK

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah’s Ark. ONE: Don’t miss the boat. TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat. THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark. FOUR: Stay fit. when you are 600 years old someone may ask you to something really big. FIVE: don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. SIX: Build your future on high ground. SEVEN: For safety’s sake, travel in pairs. EIGHT: Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. NINE: When you are stressed, float a while. TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.                                 (?????)

SUGGESTED READINGS:

The Measure of A Man (Gene A. Getz).  Maximized Manhood (Edwin Louis Cole).  A Man’s Integrity (Jack Hayford).  Eight Steps To Intimacy (John Trent).  The Future And Your Family, and Ten Commandments For Husbands and Wives (both by Harold Sala).   How To Keep Your Wife Happy, and How To Keep Your Husband Happy (for your wife) (both by William W. Orr).   Men Of Honor Influence (Stuart Briscoe).  Four Pillars Of A Man’s Heart (Stu Weber).   Not Just Sundays (William B. Girao).

MEN AFLAME

(LUKE 11:21,22 – EZEKIEL 22:30)

LIGHTING THE FIRE – FANNING THE FLAME

MODULE IV

A MAN AND HIS HOME

PREMISE:

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” Psalm 127:1,2

If our love for Christ is real it will usually prove itself at home among those who know us best. (or at our worst).

YOUR HEADSHIP

God placed man as the head of the home. “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”

I Corinthians 11:3                    (MAN – HEAD;  WIFE – NECK)

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of

which he is the Savior.” Ephesians 5:23        (GOD ORDAINED)

Being the head means taking hold of authority.  Men are to be the head.

BUT – there is also to be mutual submission (?). Ephesians 5:21.  To submit means to

obey, put under. It is a choice.

Men – your wife is not to be a doormat!

A PRAYER FOR THE HEAD OF THE HOME.  Psalm 101:2-7 (The Living Bible)

“I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should. Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor all crooked deals of every kind, to have no part in them. I will not tolerate anyone who slanders his neighbors; I will not permit conceit and pride. I will make the godly of the land my heroes and invite them to my home. Only those who are truly good shall be my servants. But I will not allow those who deceive and lie to stay in my home.”

YOUR LEADERSHIP

Leadership is cooperating with and complimenting others.

“A leader is a Person, who influences People to accomplish a Purpose.”

- Howard Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary

“Leadership is a man or woman of vision, who can communicate that vision in such a way to inspire people to accomplish a purpose.” – Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community

Church

“Leadership is the ability to get a person to do what you want him to do, when you want it done, the way you want it done, because he wants to do it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Sometimes the best way for a man to manage his home is to realize that his wife is the best manager, and let her do it.

FIVE STANDARDS OF LEADERSHIP:

I Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an

example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Speech – Romans 16:18; Colossians 4:6

Life – I Peter 2:12

Love – John 15:12,13; I John 4:19-21

Faith – Matthew 5:16

Purity – Psalm 24:3,4

YOUR MARRIAGE

Marriages may be made in heaven, but the maintenance must be done here on earth.

“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33

Success in marriage is more than finding the right person – it is also becoming the right person.

I Timothy 6:11 tells us to run away from evil and strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Hebrews 13:4,5 give us some of God’s guidelines concerning two of the greatest weaknesses of most men – sex and money.

After Adam had named all the creatures of God’s creation, I can imagine that he might have asked God, Where is mine?

What do you think Adam said when he first saw Eve?  ____________!

(QUESTIONARE – #1 – LAST PAGE)

How do you answer the following questions?

Do I love my wife? I mean REALLY love her!  Do you show her and tell her you love her? (HOW?)

Why am I to love her?

It is God’s command.  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27

Notice: He loved her, He gave Himself for her, He cleansed her, He presented her to Himself.

Husbands, you have a lot to do with your wife being the woman you want her to be.

Your prayers depend on it. – “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." I Peter 3:7  (HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO PRAY WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY WITH YOUR WIFE?)

c.   How am I to love her? The same way you love yourself.  “In the same way,

husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife

loves himself.”  Ephesians 5:28. (DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR ANGER.  Ephesians 4:26,27)

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” Amos 3:3

RESULT: The two become one. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31 (LEAVE AND CLEAVE = 1)

Aquila Priscilla are never mentioned separately. (Acts 18; Romans 16; I Corinthians 16; II Timothy 4)

d.  When am I to love her? ALL THE TIME! “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun. – all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and your toilsome labor under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:9     Is it hard work to love your wife – or a  pleasure?

Do I respect her? (Honor – Esteem)  I Peter 3:7 – Be considerate of her. Be mindful  of her. KJ – according to knowledge = A seeking to know. An inquiry.

Do I appreciate her?  Does she increase in value to you? Do you love her as much  or more than you did when you married her?  (DOES SHE INCREASE IN VALUE?)

Do I encourage her? “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

To consider means to esteem. Signifies to lead, to be the head.  Be open – transparent.

Do I provide or meet her needs? “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I Timothy 5:8

To provide here means to ‘consider in advance.’

1. Her financial needs. But it involves much more.

1. Her psychological needs. They are different than yours. (GOD MADE US DIFFERENT)

1. Her moods – do you know them? Small talk – After dinner. Doing the dishes. Star gazing. Do you do little things for her like giving her flowers, a card, a phone call, etc. It’s the little things that count the most men.

1. Her spiritual needs. Are you a priest in your home?  A man’s first obedience is to the Lord, but his first ministry is to his family. Do you minister to her?  Do you pray with her?  Do you lead in devotional time with her?

1. Her physical needs. She has them also, you know. Are you sensitive to her needs?  Do you know what turns her on or off romantically?  (SEXUALLY)   (CHANGING HATS)  Have you ever asked her?  Have you forgotten?  Have the two of you ever shared your romantic needs, likes and dislikes? (WIVE’S COMPLAINTS - PGS. 7-8) Are you responsive to her when she expresses her sexual desires?

A few suggestions: Do you bathe, shave, use after-shave and deodorant, brush your teeth, use a mouthwash before going to bed?

BY THE WAY – How is your love life?  Consider this.

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control.” I Corinthians 7:3-5

Fulfill = To give away; Perform (MENOPAUSE – SONG OF SONGS)

Duty = Kindness; Conjugal duty

Have you given control of you body to your wife?  And only to your wife? (Proverbs 5:15-19. Do you pray together about it?  Did you ever?

Is the honeymoon over?  (When was the last time the two of you were really alone together?)

Maybe it is time for another one.

Men, are you there for her when it counts the most? (Birthday, Anniversary, etc.)

(QUESTIONARE  2 – LAST PAGE – OPEN FORUM)

YOUR CHILDREN

The cure for crime is not in the electric chair – but in the high chair. “Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.” Proverbs 22:6 (Good News)

(WALKING IN YOUR STEPS!)

The education of a child begins 20 years before they are born.

Our children are like mirrors – they reflect our attitudes and values of life. They imitate us.

Success anywhere else can never compensate for failure at home.

Are you a leader or a driver? Do you demand respect or earn it? What kind of example are you to your children?   (YOU SHOULD RESPECT ME – I AM YOUR FATHER! POSITION – PERSON?)

Do you confess your mistakes – apologize – to them?  James 5:16.  Try it the next time you fail one of them. Children are very forgiving.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Children) or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Children)”. Matthew 16:26

Men – pastors and laymen – our first ministry is in our home!

Your Daughter

Are you setting an example of what she might look for in a husband?

Do you let her know she is special? Do you show her what a date should be like?

Do you answer her questions – or do you send her to her mother?

Boys – Dating – Kissing – Sex – Babies.

You are the most important man in her young life. Nobody can show her the facets of a good father nearly as well as you can.

Your Son

Are you an example for him of what a godly man is?  Truthfulness – Honesty – Keeping your word

Do you spend time with him?  Ballgames – Shooting – Fishing

Do you talk to him on his level?  Honestly – Frankly

Do you answer his questions?  Girls – Dating – Kissing – Sex – Babies

We save our boys by giving them a role model to follow. It is our job to save the boys. It is our god-appointed task to insure that our son(s) will be ready to lead a family. Sons are the fathers of tomorrow.

Are you transparent before your children – or – are you a transient parent? Just passing through.

No man ever really finds out what he believes until he begins instructing his children.

Ephesians 6:4 – Raise them to love the Lord.

Psalm 78:72 – Do it with integrity of heart. With credibility.  (DAVID – INTEGRITY OF HEART – SKILLFUL HANDS)

The sins of the fathers. I Timothy 5:24,25, “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.”

- Sinfulness is hereditary

- Sins are learned

The cumulative or heap effect of sin.

“You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the father’s sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty.” Jeremiah 32:18.   Numbers 14:18 – to the third and fourth generation.

Fathers are told in Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 not to enrage their children or cause them to be angry and rebellious.

Are we as fathers putting our children in bondage to our sins? Consider this:

“You shall not bow down to them or worship them (other gods); for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate men.” Deuteronomy 5:9; Numbers 14:18

God does not allow sin to go unpunished!  The Kennedy family.

So often we do pass on the ‘BONDAGE’ of our sins to our children!

It is time to break the bondage! (QUESTIONARE  3 – LAST PAGE)

Jonathan  Edwards – Among his descendants four generations after his death there were: 300 pastors – 120 college professors – 110 lawyers – 30 judges – 60 authors – 14 university presidents – 3 congressmen – 1 vice-president.

The Three “R’s” of Sin.

The Reason.  – sinful nature – lack of accountability – constant pampering.

The Result. – broken relationships – powerlessness – bondage.

The Remedy (Luke 15:11-24) – The Prodigal Son.

Realization – remorse and brokenness. v.17

Resolution – repentance (a change of mind). v.18

Repentance – renewal and revival. vv.18,19,21

Reconciliation – recommitment and resubmission. v.20

Re-clothing – restoration and reinstatement. vv.22-24

Rejoicing – celebration. v.24b

(QUESTIONARE  4 – LAST PAGE)

Your children do not have to believe that you are the wisest man in all the world to count

you as a good father.  Just be there for them.

(GROUPS – PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER REGARDING OUR TOPICS SO FAR)

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

Proverbs 2:18 – A wife is a good thing.  Romans 7:2 – Bound by law.  I Corinthians 7:3,4 – Power over own body.  Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage is honorable.

PROSPECTIVES.

Genesis 2:18 – It is not good for a man to be alone.  Proverbs 24:3 – Wisdom and understanding.  Amos 3:3 – Agree to walk together.  II Corinthians 6:14 – Don’t be unequally yoked together.  Ephesians 5:22,22 – Submission.  I Peter 3:7 – Husbands to dwell with wives.

SEX.

The Bible is much more liberated about sex than most of us believe. (Read the O.T. book – Song of Songs, also called Song of Solomon)

Sex used God’s way, according to the writer of Hebrews, is undefiled, not sinful, not soiled or dirty.

Sex is the holy of holies where the husband and wife meet privately to celebrate their love for each other.

THREE PRINCIPLES.

The Principle of Need – Meet your mate’s needs.

The Principle of Authority – Relinquish the right to your own body.

The Principle of Habit – Abstain from sex only by mutual consent. (I Corinthians 7:3-5)

Touching, romantic caresses, admiring glances, affectionate pats, a smile and a wink can all be a turn on.

Shut the world out – LOCK the bedroom door.

Foreplay and after play are both essential in a good sexual relationship.

CLIMAX (orgasm) is a Greek word meaning “LADDER”. You climb to a climax.

Orgasm lasts only a few seconds. Emotional satisfaction and gratification occur during the entire episode.

Fear and hostility are two chief inhibitors of the desire phase of sex.

Excessive self-consciousness will short-circuit the orgasm phase.

Sex can be used both positively and negatively. FOR PLEASURE OR AS A WEAPON.

If you and your mate are having difficulty in the area of sex, get complete, dependable medical advice and information.

WIVES COMPLAINTS ABOUT HUSBANDS.

They don’t stimulate them during foreplay.

He is more interested in perfecting physical technique.

He is overly concerned about the wife having a climax because this reflects his success as a lover.

He fails to provide foreplay.

He is too repetitious and boring.

He is not sensitive to the wife’s preferences.

He is too deadly serious about sex.

Questions to ask yourself about your lovemaking. (Think of your wife as well as yourself when you answer these questions.)

Is it positive? – Is it relaxed? – Is it pleasant? – Is it romantic? – Is it physically satisfying? – Is it emotionally satisfying?

Love is the best aphrodisiac discovered so far. (Dr. Helen Singer Kaplan)

PRE-MARITAL EXTRA-MARITAL SEX.

Matthew 5:28 – The look of lust.  Romans 12:1,2 – Body a living sacrifice.  Romans 12:13,14 – Put on Christ.  I Corinthians 6:9-11,13,15-20 – Fornicators, adulterers and the body.  Titus 2:11,12 – Instructions. James 1:13-15 – LSD.

MASTURBATION.

Genesis 38:9 – His seed spilled on the ground.  Masturbation may be mostly stimulated by your thoughts and what is in your heart.

PORNOGRAPHY IN MARRIAGE.

It may well increase the sensation but it can also lead to addiction and abuse.

It depends on the couple. Pornography by yourself can leave you emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.

THOUGHTS.

Psalm 1:1,2 – Blessed is the man.  Psalm 16:3 – Commit thy works .  Proverbs 23:7 – As you think in your heart.  Romans 12:1,2 – Be not conformed.  Philippians 2:5 – Let Christ’s mind be in you.  Philippians 4:8 – Think on these things.  Hebrews 4:12 – The Word of God is quick.

DIVORCE – ANNULMENT – REMARRIAGE.

Genesis 2:24 – One flesh.  Deuteronomy 24:1,2 – Divorce due to uncleanness.  Matthew 5:31,32 – Fornication and uncleanness.  Matthew 19:1-10 – Christ’s clearest teaching on marriage.

Mark 10:4-9 – God joined them together.   I Corinthians 7:10-16 – Unbelievers refuse to stay

REMARRIAGE AFTER DIVORCE SALVATION.

Proverbs 103:10-12 – Sins are as far away as East is from West.  Isaiah 43:25 – Blot out sins.  Malachi 7:19 – Sins cast into the sea.  Matthew 6:14 – I will forgive.  Romans 6:18 – Free from sin.  Philippians 3:13,14 – Forget the past.  Hebrews 8:12 – I will be merciful.  I John 1:9 – Confess/cleanse.

MENOPAUSE

(CHANGE OF LIFE)

PRE-MENOPAUSE: The change before the change.

Experience irregular menstrual periods and other symptoms that come with the beginning of the end of their reproductive years.

MENOPAUSE begins somewhere between the age of 35 – 55, usually 40 – 45.

It usually lasts for four years but can last as long as 10 years.

Symptoms:

-    Irregular periods – sometimes heavy bleeding.

-    Hot flashes – the worst hot flashes tend to occur 2 – 3 years before menopause actually occurs.

-    Sleep disturbances.

-    Irritability and anxiety.

-    Forgetfulness and poor concentration.

-    Tiredness.

-     Sexuality – Vaginal thinning and dryness increasing the frequency of vaginal infections which can be uncomfortable and interfere with intimacy. Vaginal lubricants are available and recommended.

-   Fluctuating hormone levels which can affect her general sense of well being is the cause of the physical symptoms.

-   Aside from that – middle age is a topsy-turvy time when she may be facing and making many changes in her life, career, family and other relationships.

Men – We don’t always understand our wives during normal times. We understand them even less during menopause – because they can hardly understand themselves. It can be a very stressful time for both partners. You need extreme patience in dealing with this change. She will need your support then more than any other time in her life.

But bear with her – because your relationship later can be better than it ever was.

MALE MENOPAUSE

Some call it the “grumpy old man” syndrome. You hit 55 or so, and suddenly you don’t feel half as spry as you used to. Symptoms come on slowly. You’re fatigued. You have less muscle strength and endurance. You seem to be putting on weight around the middle, and your libido has gone south (not like it used to be). It seems your body is having its own midlife crisis.

You may also have moments of depression, emotional malaise, panic attacks, decreased short-term memory, and insomnia; or perhaps your skin is sagging and you have aches in your joints and muscles. Perhaps you feel inexplicably moody and irritable, or get angry easily, and thinking about your general state of health only strengthens these feelings.

What’s your problem?  Doctors are calling it male menopause, and it’s a diagnosis that is gradually gaining acceptance among physicians. According to Gary S. Ross, M.D., who practices in San Francisco, California, usually by the time a man reaches his mid-fifties (although symptoms may appear in one’s forties), indications of the “andropause complex of symptoms” (another name for a condition of unbalanced hormones in men) are noticeable.

All the symptoms mentioned above are signs that a man’s hormones-their levels and ratios one to another-are in flux, shifting into a new configuration at midlife. “Hormone level, especially of testosterone, start off high in puberty and peak throughout the teenage years,” says Dr. Ross.

(Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone or androgen ((meaning a hormone with a masculinizing effect)) formed in the greatest quantities in the testes but also secreted in a small amount by the adrenal glands and, in women, by the ovaries. The purpose of testosterone is to produce the masculine physical features of the male body such as body hair, voice, muscles, and genital and sperm development. While minute amounts of testosterone are produced in the fetus, levels of this hormone peak around age 20. Thereafter, there is a steady decline such that, at the age 80, a man has only 20% to 50% of the amount he had when he was young.)

Dr. Ross continues, “Then as you pass the age of 30, the hormones begin a slow drop, so gradual that most men don’t notice it. But by the time you’re 40,45, or 50, you do notice it. That’s when many men start experiencing some of the symptoms clustered under the umbrella term, male menopause.”

“By the time a man reaches 60 or 65, things have slowly built up in the body the way they do in an old carburetor. Unless you keep your carburetor clean and open, you may become subject to heart disease or strokes later in life.”

Regular exercise ( a brisk walk, treadmill, exercycle) is also mandatory to maintain good blood circulation, especially in the reproductive area, says Dr. Ross.

Sources: Alternative Medicine, March 1999, as printed in Healthy Options News Digest, Sept-Oct 1999.

LEADERSHIP

MASCULINE LEADERSHIP.  1) Serves and sacrifices for a woman’s good.  2) Points the woman to Christ. 3) Makes the most of the other’s strengths. 4) Takes the general responsibility to initiate. 5) Expresses itself romantically. 6) Takes the initiative in disciplining the children. 7) Finds appropriate ways to express masculinity. 8) Knows that leadership requires repentance and humility.

MARKS OF A COMPETENT LEADER (Nehemiah, Chapter 1)

1. A leader has a clear recognition of the needs. v.4. – Hear what is being said in word and action.

2. A leader is personally concerned with the need. “You never lighten the load unless first you have felt the pressure in your own soul.” (Allan Redpath)

3. A leader goes first to God with the problem. v. 5 – Pray before you act.  He confesses his part in the problem. vv.6,7 – When there are unresolved personality conflicts claim God’s promises to help overcome our difficulties.

(From “Hand Me Another Brick” by Charles R. Swindoll)

A GODLY FATHER

God had something in mind when He made the first father. He assigned him a specific role in life and all of a father’s activities are measured against that standard.

A little boy needs a father. He needs a father to teach him how to be a man…to take him by the hand and lead him through the maze of life…to teach him to be strong, to be gentle, to be loving and to be a defender of the right.

A little girl needs a father too. She needs a father to protect her…to counsel her on life’s problems…to teach her how to be a woman.

The home needs a father to serve as provider, protector, spiritual leader and counselor.

While the world seldom hears what a father says to his children, the effects of his counsel will be felt by the next generation…the next… and the next.

To fathers the Bible says:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.” (Ephesians 5:25)

“Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

PROPHET – PRIEST – KING

PROPHET (TO GUIDE):
Listens to the Lord and ministers to his family what God is saying to his family.

PRIEST (TO GUARD):
As the Priest listened to the congregation and took their request to the Lord, the Father is to spend time with his family  to know their needs and then to take those needs before the Lord.

KING (TO GOVERN):
Not to be as an earthly king who lords it over his people, but to be a heavenly king who is a servant to his family.  (From – Family Foundations International)

HUSBANDS – FATHERS

Judge Samuel Liebowitz, Criminal Court Judge in New York City – “Put father back at the head of the family!” This is his simple principle for reducing juvenile delinquency.

Charles Stanley, in his book “A Man’s Touch, says, “When a business fails, the head of the company is held responsible, not the man on the assembly line. As the head of the home we husbands and fathers are responsible for it’s condition, whether good, bad, or indifferent. Husband, you were made to rule your home – how is the project doing? All around us are broken homes, disillusioned divorces, and lonely children. In many cases, the cause is men who refused to rule their homes.”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A LEADER IN THE HOME?

Gladys Seashore’s paraphrasing of Proverbs 31;

“Who can find a faithful husband, for his price is far above that of a Cadillac or even a Rolls Royce.

“The heart of his wife doth safely trust in him whether he is on a business trip, or comes home late from the office.

“He tries to do the best for her and his family.

“He learns to use the tools of his trade and isn’t afraid of a hard day’s work.

“He is knowledgeable about world affairs and uses this for his family’s enrichment.

“He rises early in the morning for his devotions and asks for wisdom for his daily tasks.

“He considers investments carefully and buys a home, property, or business with an eye toward the future.

“He watches his health and gets the sort of exercise he needs in order to stay physically fit.

“His work is of a good quality even if he has to put in extra hours to make it that way.

“He doesn’t neglect his home.

“He is concerned about social issues and tries to help those who are in need.

“He isn’t afraid of difficult times because he has learned to trust God and has done what he could to provide for his family.

“He nourishes himself and his family both physically and spiritually.

“His wife is well-thought of in their community because he never belittles her.

“He has a hobby that is relaxing and worthwhile.

“He is strong and honorable and is a happy person, easy to live with.

“His conversation is wise and uplifting. In fact, he makes it a rule of his life to speak kindly.

“He is interested in all things that concern his family and is not lazy or indifferent.

“His children love him and admire, and his wife is proud of him and says, ‘Many men have succeeded in this world, but you are the best of them all. If I had it to do over again I would still marry you.’

“Flattery is deceitful, and good looks are only on the surface, but a man who loves and fears God shall be truly praised.

“This sort of man deserves to be treated like a king, for his life proves that what he believes is real.

SUGGESTED READING:

The Measure of A Man (Gene A. Getz).  Maximized Manhood (Edwin Louis Cole).  A Man’s Integrity (Jack Hayford).  Eight Steps To Intimacy (John Trent).  The Future and Your family and Ten Commandments For Husbands And Wives (both by Harold Sala).  How To Keep Your Wife Happy and How To Keep You Husband Happy (for you wife) (both by William W. Orr).  Men Of Honor Influence (Stuart Briscoe).  Four Pillars Of A Man’s Heart (Stu Weber).  Not Just Sundays (William B. Girao).

PERSONAL QUESTIONARE

A. What three things do you feel you need to change about yourself that would improve the quality of your marriage?

1.

2.

3.

B. What three things do you feel your wife needs to change about herself that would improve the quality of your marriage?

1.

2.

3.

C. What three things would you most like to improve in your family relationship?

1.

2.

3.

D. What do you think you should do to bring about these changes and improvements?

In question #1

In question #2

In question #3

CHALLENGE: Go home and lovingly talk to your wife and family about the above questions. Be transparent with them.

MEN AFLAME

(LUKE 11:21,22 – EZEKIEL 22:30)

LIGHTING THE FIRE – FANNING THE FLAME

MODULE V

A MAN AND HIS CHURCH

Are you a member of a local Bible believing church”

Are you actively, regularly participating in that church?

Attending – Acts 2:42 – “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship…”

Hebrews 10:25 – “…Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner

of some is;…”

Praying – Luke 18:1 – “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint:”

Tithing – II Corinthians 9:7-8 - From the heart, not grudgingly, “…for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Are you a FAT man? (ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS)

FAITHFUL – Proverbs 20:6 – “Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?”

I Corinthians 4:2 – “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must

Prove faithful.”     (TRUST – RESPONSIBILITY)

AVAILABLE – Matthew 9:38 – “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 10:16 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as

shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

TEACHABLE – Psalm 25:4-5  – “Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.”

Psalm 27:11 – “Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my

oppressors.”

Are you conforming to God’s standard of a man?  Spiritual leader?

Examine yourself – I Timothy 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-9

Strong character qualities:

Above reproach – Blameless

Husband of one wife – A one-woman man

Temperate – Self control

Prudent – Understanding. Able to discern – perceive

Respectable – Honorable

Hospitable – A lover of strangers

Able to teach – Teachable

Not addicted to wine – Drugs

Not self-willed – In action and words

Not quick tempered -   “               “

Not pugnacious – Not always have to have your own way. Fighting

Not quarrelsome -        “                      “                       “           “

Gentile – Gracious

Free from the love of money – Not a priority

One who manages his own household well

A good reputation with those outside – A strong witness

Loving what is good – Hating evil

Just – Right, fair

Devout – Earnest

Not a new convert – Danger of pride and falling.  (Satan’s downfall)

Becoming the man God requires of us is a life-long process. – Exodus 23:29,30 – Not “…in a single year,……Little by little…..”

JESUS NEVER FAILS! Philippians 1:3-6 – “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

GROUP:  HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CHURCH AND MY PASTOR?

SUGGESTED READING: The Measure of A Man (Gene A. Getz). Maximized Manhood (Edwin Louis Cole). A Man’s Integrity (Jack Hayford). Eight Steps to Intimacy (John Trent). The Future And Your Family Ten Commandments For Husbands And Wives (both by Harold Sala). How To Keep Your Wife Happy How To Keep Your Husband Happy (for your wife) (both by William W. Orr). Men Of Honor Influence (Stuart Briscoe). Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart (Stu Weber). Not Just Sundays (William B. Girao).

MEN AFLAME

(LUKE 11:21,22 – EZEKIEL 22:30)

LIGHTING THE FIRE – FANNING THE FLAME

MODULE VI

A MAN AND HIS FUTURE

I. Where do you go from here? Some helpful suggestions.

1. Build friendships.

With a Christian man or men – Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Inside and outside of your church or circle of friends – I Samuel 18:3 – “Then

Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”

Agree to meet together on a regular basis. (Encouragement – Accountability)

2. Become transparent.

Be open with each other – Proverbs 27:5 – “Open rebuke is better than secret (hidden) love.”

Confess your faults to each other –  Pray for each other – James 5:13-16, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."

3. Become accountable.

Hold each other accountable. (Correct a fellow believer) – Be constructively critical of each other – Matthew 18:15-17, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

(see Proverbs 10:10)

4. Be an encourager.
Hebrews 3:12-15 – “…But encourage one another daily,…”

Proverbs 25:11 – “Timely advice is as lovely as gold apples in a silver basket.” (LAB)

To be an encourager means to strengthen, help and fortify others.

To be a sharer is to be an associate, a partner, to participate with others.

Hebrews 10:24,25 – “…. spur one another…. let us encourage one another – and all the more as we see the Day approaching.”

To spur means to stimulate or incite.

To encourage is to call near, to invite, to comfort, to pray and to exhort.

A DEFINITION OF THIS KIND OF RELATIONSHIP:  UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – PERSONAL ENJOYMENT – MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE – MUTUAL INTERESTS – MUTUAL COMMITMENT – MUTUAL LOYALTY.

A church, a family, a nation is only as strong as its men are.

“God requires manhood from all men.” (Edwin Louis Cole, from Maximized Manhood)

Don’t be afraid of pressure. Remember that pressure is what turns a lump of coal into a

diamond. James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of

many kinds,……Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and

complete, not lacking anything.”

BUT WHAT IF I FAIL?    CONSIDER Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States in 1860. He grew up on an

isolated farm and had only one year of formal education. In those early years he was

exposed to barely half a dozen books. In 1832 he lost his job and was defeated in the race for the Illinois legislature. In 1833 he failed in business. In 1834 he was elected to the state legislature, but in 1835 his sweetheart died, and in 1836 he had a nervous

breakdown. In 1838 he was defeated for Speaker of the House, and in 1843 he was

defeated for nomination to Congress. In 1846 he was elected to Congress but in 1848 lost the renomination. In 1849 he was rejected for a federal land office appointment, and

1854 he was defeated for the Senate. In 1856 he was defeated for the nomination of vice president, and in 1858 he was again defeated for the Senate. Yet, he is considered by many to be the greatest president of all time.

FAILURE BECOMES A FRIEND IF IT TURNS US TO GOD.

“DO WHAT YOU CAN, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, WHERE YOU ARE.” -

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

REMEMBER: “Success is never certain and failure is never final.” (The Pursuit of

Excellence, Ted W. Engstrom)

HOW TO BE A SURE WINNER (Joshua 1:1-15)

Know the winning factor – vv. 1-5

God is always there.

God never runs out of resources.

God is committed to His promises.

God will see us through.

Apply the winning formula – vv. 6-15

God has a specific plan for your life. – v. 6

Obedience to God’s word assures you of success. – vv. 7,8

God is on your side. – v. 9

(Pastor Richel Maraat, Bacolod Alliance Church)

A FUTURE PLAN.

God’s will is:

Purposeful

Before the world. – Ephesians 1:4,5

Until the end. – Ephesians 1:9,10

Centered in Christ. – Ephesians 1:10

Personal.

Saved by grace. – Ephesians 2:8

God’s workmanship. – Ephesians 2:9-10

For good works. – Ephesians 2:10

Practical.

Find what pleases Him. – Ephesians 5:10

(STUART BRISCOE, “MEN OF HONOR AND INFLUENCE.”

A BIBLICAL MODLE FOR MANHOOD.)

HOW DO I APPLY THESE TO MY LIFE?

Prayer

The Word

Obeying

FAILURE

Failure does not mean you are a failure – It does mean you have not succeeded yet.

Failure does not mean you have accomplished nothing – It means you have learned something.

Failure does not mean you have been a fool – It means you have a lot of faith.

Failure does not mean you have been disgraced – It means you are willing to try.

Failure does not mean you don’t have what it takes – It means you have to do something in a different way.

Failure does not mean you are inferior – It simply means you are not perfect.

Failure does not mean you have wasted your life – It means you have reasons to start afresh.

Failure does not mean you should give up – It means you must try prayerfully harder.

Failure does not mean you will never make it – It means it will take a little patiently longer.

Failure does not certainly mean God has abandoned you – It simply means God has a better idea for you!

By an American preacher

Success is never certain and failure is never final.  As long as you have the grace of God, failure is not final.  Besides – there is virtue in every futile effort towards the good – especially when those efforts are invested in the Cause that counts. Dr. Greg Tingson

“Nothing is greater than man’s success, other than what God can do with failure”. (Trent Crowley, Memphis, TN, USA)

AFFIRMATIONS FROM THE WORD

I will not follow the crowd in doing wrong. (Exodus 23:2

I will not be dishonest in judgment, in measurement of weight or quantity. I will be honest and just in my business affairs. (Leviticus 19:35,36)

I will not show partiality in judgment; I will hear both small and great alike. I will not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. (Deuteronomy 1:17)

I will not pervert justice or show partiality. I will not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. (Deuteronomy 16:19)

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. (I Chronicles 29:17)

I will let the fear of the Lord be upon me, and I will be careful in what I do, for with the Lord, my God, there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. (II Chronicles 19:7)

I will walk properly as in the daytime, not in revellings and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. Rather, I will put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision to gratify the lusts of the flesh. (Romans 13:13,14)

I do not want even a hint of immorality, or any impurity, or greed, in my life, as is proper for a saint. Nor will I give myself to obscenity, foolish talking, or coarse joking, which are not fitting, but rather to giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:3,4)

I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11)

I have kept my feet from every evil path that I might keep Your word. I gain understanding from Your precepts, therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:101,104)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes to the very end. (Psalm 119:105, 112)

I will not be quickly provoked in my spirit, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

(Ecclesiastes 7:9)

I will watch and pray so that I will not fall into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

I will make it my ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind my own business, and to work with my hands, so that I may walk properly toward those who are outside and may lack nothing.

(I Thessalonians 4:11,12)

SUGGESTED READING: The Measure Of A Man (Gene A. Getz). Maximized Manhood (Edwin Louis Cole). A Man’s Integrity (Jack Hayford). Eight Steps To Intimacy (John Trent). The Future And Your Family Ten Commandments For Husbands And Wives (both by Harold Sala). How To Keep Your Wife Happy How To Keep Your Husband Happy (for your wife) (both by William W. Orr). Men Of Honor Influence (Stuart Briscoe). Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart (Stu Weber). Not Just Sundays (William B. Girao).

Contrbuted by:
Rev. Max Hughes

Asian Christian Outreach

Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, Philippines