Mighty Men of God
Band of Brothers
Two Lies Many Men Believe
I CAN DO IT BY MYSELF
The first statement is one made by the man who is in denial and is dishonest in his assessment of himself. This statement is born out of the desire and need to be in control.
Face it; most of us want to believe that we are competent and capable. Ultimately we’d like to believe that we are in control! None of us really are in control but we sure would like to believe it.
This statement is a red flag challenging all comers. It says I can take on anyone, any challenge, any time. I don’t need help. I am in control.
THIS IS JUST THE WAY I AM.
The second statement comes from the man who has learned that he is out of control.
The first lie is a red flag challenging the world. The second lie is the white flag of surrender. It is what a man says who has given up and let go of control – not in surrender to God but in surrender to the desires of his heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, “More than anything else, a person’s mind is evil and cannot be healed. Who can understand it?
Here is the truth… I NEED HELP. I cannot do it by myself and it’s not acceptable to say give up and say “It’s just he way I am.”
Max Lucado says, “God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to leave you that way.”
Today I’d like to speak again to the men about how we can help one another to become Godly Men – “Mighty Men of God” here at Meridian Christian Church.
Let’s talk about how we need to become a Band of Brothers then let’s talk about how to make that happen. This may seem a bit foolish to you ladies here today but guys have to learn that they need each other – it’s the way God made us! Let’s look at what the scripture says about the need for one another…
Without Accountability You are Vulnerable
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
It’s really very simple – without accountability, you are an easy mark for failure spiritually, morally, ethically, and sexually.
Last week I asked you to respond to these areas and to tell me how you were doing. In the area of personal purity here is what you men said about yourselves last Sunday.
Personal Purity
Spiritually Pure
Good person - ok with God 30%
Committed follower of Jesus 68%
On Spiritual purity 70% of the guys have fully committed to Jesus as Lord and Savior – 30% are doing their best to be good people and trying to be ok with God.
Fellows, do you remember the first lie we talked about this morning? “I can do it my self.” If you are part of the group of men who have not yet committed yourself to Jesus as one of his followers you are buying into that first lie.
Jesus is the older brother that wants to stand with you in this life against all the pressures, enemies, and problems.
Listen fella’s - You can’t make it alone and you don’t need to try!
Personal Purity
Morally Pure
Morality is relative 6%
Right and Wrong 90%
Here the results are lot stronger. Remember the second lie. “It’s just the way I am” is a way of saying, “It’s all relative.” It all depends on the circumstances, the situation, or the people involved.
There is a truth. It is real and solid but it may not be what you think. God’s old law (the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law) is good but no one has ever measured up to it perfectly. The law serves best to expose our frailty and to expose our weaknesses. We have all fallen short of the law’s requirements.
But here is the good news, we have a new law that is like the old law but is different and better. The new law is Jesus Christ. HE is the law. HE is the example. HE is the way, the truth and the life.
Let me explain it this way. When I was a young preacher man I believed that morality was a simple thing. Everything was very crisp and easily defined. Right and wrong was very black and white. Truth was easily discovered and understood.
The older I have gotten the more gray areas I’ve discovered in life. Things aren’t nearly as crisply defined as I once thought.
Now does this mean that all truth is relative and that it depends on the circumstances? No, not at all – truth is not to be understood in regulations, traditions, circumstances, or situations. Jesus is the truth. HE is the embodiment of all that is right and righteous.
A number of years ago I met with 9 men around a couple of tables in a church Sunday school room from 9:00 in the morning to 5:30 late the same afternoon. We attempted to sort out a conflict and to know the truth of the matter. After some 8 hours of talk I came to the conclusion that we would never be able to sort out the truth. Each one of us had our own perceptions and filters. The only truth we could agree on and hold to was the truth of Jesus.
All of us (except for one man who walked out of the meeting) agreed to let go of the conflict and to hold onto Jesus as the truth. We agreed to never bring up the conflict again with each other or anyone else.
Guys – the only truth that you can depend on in this world is the reality of Jesus. He is Lord. He is Savior. He is your friend.
Personal Purity
Ethically Pure
Two sides - pretend and real 24%
Personal integrity 70%
Guys here is an area that we struggle with. Fully 24% of the men who responded said they lived with two people, me and my evil twin. Another 6% didn’t answer the question. I suspect they struggle with this issue too.
The truth is that we all struggle with the issue of personal integrity at times in our lives. It’s easy to live ethically when all is good. It’s not so easy when the pressure is on or there is a chance to pick up some easy money.
Here is an area that requires openness and honesty for guys to hold each other accountable and to do it without tearing each other down but by building each other up.
Personal Purity
Sexually pure
Losing battle of lust 12%
Fighting battle of lust 86%
On sexual purity we see that 12% of the guys admit to being helpless with the sexual desires in them. The other 86% struggle to contain this desire in them. In all my years of ministry I have only met one man who said that this issue was not a problem to him – and frankly I would call him a liar.
Let me take a little side trip here because it’s important to understand that sexual desire is not a bad thing. God invented sex. Ok? Sex is the Almighty God of the Universe’s idea… YEAH God! Right!?!
So how come guys have this hunger inside of them that can be so tough to control. Why is pornography, sexual perversion, and predatory sex such a problem in our culture?
Very simply… dirt in a garden is good. Dirt in the living room is not.
God gave man a natural hunger so that we would pursue the woman and become one with her physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. God made us to interconnect with a woman and for two people to become one person.
Sex is part of God’s plan for marriage between a man and a woman. The problem and the challenge of sex is that if you let it have free reign in your life it will ultimately destroy you and those around you.
A Band of Brothers
I’ll cover your back, you cover mine
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Help him up – Hebrew – Quwm – lift again, hold up, raise, to make stand, stir up, strengthen, help succeed.
The critical element is that we need each other. So How do we do it… Let’s get practical.
A Band of Brothers
I’ll carry you when you are tired, you carry me when I’m tired
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
He’s not heavy – he’s my brother. The key to this is that we carry each other.
A Band of Brothers
I’ll Pray for you, you pray for me
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed...
James 5:16a
We will meet regularly
We will expose all weaknesses
We will express all goals
We will pray aggressively
We will keep confidences
A Band of Brothers
I’ll get in your face, you get in mine
When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.
Galatians 2:11
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:6
There are times as men we need to get in each others faces.
A Band of Brothers
I’ll be there for you, you be there for me
…correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2
* We will ask the hard questions. * We will not blame others. * We will confess immediately and fully. * We will penalize failures. * We will help you do the right thing.
We Win Together!
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
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