Act Like Men Session 3

Christ. He'd be a strong-willed man. Dave Wilson hit no shots. Turned a little bit because he has a heart condition, but and then he was saying, oh there's no better way to go. I was nervous before we started.

Father God, all praise goes to you for this wonderful weekend that we all have. It's such a blessing to have the opportunity to grow in faith with the brothers of Christ and to grow in faith and grow closer to you and build a relationship with all these men in here.

And I pray that we will learn more and more from your word each and every day and take into our lives to become better men and better men of faith. And I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

So our theme verse is, be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong. And that's 1st Corinthians 16 .13. So God tells us to act like men, no matter what the world tells us to do. We know from God, who is our authority, to act like men and be strong.

So be strong men at that, who are watchful, protective, and stand firm in the faith, knowing the truth, knowing what we believe. So we get that word from God because he is our authority, not what the world tells us to do.

And for strong men, I don't know if some of you guys were here, last time I spoke to the men was at the Stockman's house and I talked about four spiritual disciplines that we could have as men, that strong men have.

And I think there's few strong men in the world that have all four of these spiritual disciplines, even in the church. Now does anyone remember those four things that I said? And if you remember, I talked about it being a table and there was four legs that held up a strong man.

Does anyone remember any of them that I talked about? We were listening. Okay, well I'll remind you. And that's good because I developed something to help us remember. So P-E-W. And the P is silent, but it's few.

Few strong men have these spiritual disciplines. So the first one is prayer. Pray. Strong men of faith pray. They have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and they value that. And one person I look to for encouragement in that is my brother Rich.

Last year on the Mentor Treat, we were there because I taught youth group on a Friday night and then we strolled up, me, Joey, and Jack. It was about 1 in the morning when we got there. And I thought, who would be up at 1 in the morning on the Mentor Treat?

And I knew Rich would. Because Rich always tells me, call me anytime, even 1 in the morning. So I called him 1 in the morning. And there he was. He was talking with Ivan about, what was it, UFOs and how they happen to really decent people.

And so I ended up rooming with Rich and we continued that conversation all through the night. And Ivan kind of jumped into a rabbit trail of opening up new ideas and he listened to our conversation. But the following night, Rich and I stayed up to about 4 or 5, maybe 6 in the morning praying.

So it wasn't a wasted night staying up praying. It's good to get sleep. I think I disagree with Rich. Rich thinks he's preparing for heaven where we don't sleep. I think we get a new body that will help us not do that.

So I like to sleep, but praying with him, with Rich, was a great encouragement to me because I see Rich as a strong spiritual man. So when he prays, I see that as a good thing that I should do. So prayer.

And then the next one is F. Anyone want to take a guess? Fellowship. Fellowship, right? Fellowship with God, but also fellowship with other believers. The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching to fellowship the breaking of bread into prayer.

So fellowship is a key thing that we need to do to build each other up, to encourage each other in the faith. So strong men stay together in the battle and they don't become a lone wolf and go off on their own.

That's bad. We need each other. God designed us to be in fellowship in the church with each other. The third one, E. Evangelism. Evangelism, good job, yes. And I think that if all of us learned how to evangelize and actually did it, and understood the power of it, and fully committed ourselves to evangelism, doing what God told us to do, spreading the gospel, I think that we could probably take Montelaro, we could take Princeton, we could take New Jersey, right?

If all of us actually were evangelizing, not just Phil and Jeff on Thursdays, right? If we all actually were looking for every opportunity to evangelize. And the reason why evangelism and the gospel is so important, why we would value that, is because we were all saved through evangelism and the gospel.

So we want to preach it to others so that they would hear the word and are saved by hearing the word, having faith. And then, W. I think we all know this one.

Women.

The word. Women. The word of God.

The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword, and it can pierce through all the way to the heart, dividing bone from marrow, spirit from soul, and it discerns the intentions of the heart. But it helps us battle things.

The word of God is what we need in our hearts so that we might not sit against God. But it also helps us become strong men. Here's an example. Has anyone ever been afraid of the dark growing up, or still afraid of the dark?

Well, I was afraid of the dark sometimes. Not all the time when I was young, because I think I would see things that weren't there, my eyes would play tricks on me, and I would become afraid of the dark when I was by myself.

And then even when I got older, sometimes I'm a little afraid of the dark. If I'm in the basement, I'm by myself, I shut off the TV, the lights, I'm like,.

Oh, let me run up the stairs.

But the word of God has helped me not be like that, because I read in Proverbs that the wicked flee when no one pursues. So then I say, you know what, I'm not going to run up the stairs, I'm going to walk.

I'm going to go slow, too, just in case someone's there. That's what I do. The word of God changes you to do that. And then sometimes I'll have a spiritual dream, like a demonic attack, even in my dream.

And I'll wake up, and I'll be kind of scared, because I sense an evil presence. But now I don't just stay in fear, I wake up and I start praying, I start praising God. So the righteous are bold as a lion.

So be bold, and the word helps us to do that. So those four spiritual disciplines make up strong men. And only few men have all of these legs all the time, I think. And I looked at it as a table for each leg.

So if you can remember it that way, if you only have one leg, you're not really a table. If you have two legs, you're still not a table. If you have three legs, you're a table, but you're a little wobbly.

You're not firm, strong in the faith. But if you have all four, you are strong in the faith. But the word that I wanted to preach to you guys today comes from 1 Timothy 6, verses 11 -21. Can we have someone read that?

It's about ten verses.

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life, to which you were called, and of that which you made the good confession, in the presence of many witnesses.

By charging the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate, made the good confession, to keep the commandment, unstained and free from reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time.

He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to him the honor and eternal dominion.

Amen.

Amen. So that's 1 Timothy 6, starting with verse 11. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. And these things are talking about what came before these verses, and talking about evil things, namely the love of money, the desire to become rich, and all the evil things that flow from that.

So, men of God are called to flee those things. The world pursues after those things, and sees it as successful. But it says, as for you, O man of God, talking to the real men of God, who are strong enough to flee these things.

We're commanded to flee those things. Flee evil at all costs. And as Ivan was saying, not just fleeing and turning away from sin, but also pursuing righteousness. So it says, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.

And steadfastness is enduring. Men endure. They don't waver. Not wavering in the faith. But we pursue righteousness. Fleeing from sin, fleeing from evil, and pursuing righteousness. And as men, accountability for this is crucial.

All of us need to be checking in with each other, or at least somebody in the group, to make sure that we are killing sin in our life. Even Jesus, our Lord, taught us to take up our cross and follow after Him.

Not just kill our sin, but follow after Him. So we need to be checking in with each other, and making sure all of us are doing this. The Spirit helps us do this, kill sin. We're to make war on our own flesh.

Leave evil, flee from evil, and pursue righteousness. Pursue good things. So, the thing that I want you guys to remember comes in verse 12. Fight the good fight. Fight for truth, in other words. As men, we can't be thinking that someone else is going to do it.

As men, when we see an opportunity to fight for the truth, we take it. We need to be ready to defend the truth, and also be ready with our sword on the offense. We don't wait for the world to approve to us what's true.

We know that God has already told us what is true. He's revealed His truth to us, and we don't need to wait for the world to tell us what is true. We have the approval of God, and His stamp of approval, and we don't need the approval of man at all.

So, we want to thank God for His word, and thank Him for helping us keep this faith that we all need to keep. And with all the lies and the falsehood, God has chosen all of us here in this room, out of the world, to defend His truth.

There's men... It's always the oldest guy in the group. But, we need to really act like men in this, and we need to be the leaders in our household. It's the word of God that helps us be the leaders of our household.

I've seen too many times where the woman in the relationship is the leader of the household, and she's embarrassing herself. And she's embarrassing her husband. And the husband is weak for letting that happen.

The husband needs to step up and lead. And if the woman really has a problem with that, and cannot submit to that, eventually it'll probably come to the point where maybe you'll have to get remarried for a man in it of the non-believing wife.

But, we really need to, as men, take the lead. And I think sometimes, even for me, I don't always want to lead. It's way easier not to lead. It's way easier just to watch everything unfold and not take action.

But, when I read the word of God, and I see, like Adam and his wife in the garden, and I see the verses in scripture, I know that men are to lead, not women. And I step up and do that. And I'm accountable towards that.

And a decision, to not make a decision to do that, is still a decision, and it's a bad decision. So, as men, we're accountable either way, so let's step up and actually fight the good fight of faith. And not wait for someone else to fight it for us.

So, fighting the good fight of faith is not just at church, it's everywhere we are. We are God's men, no matter where we go. And we have men all over the place. We have a man on the inside, at Princeton University.

And I think that you're there for a reason. I think that we can take Princeton through Jeremy. I believe that. I believe that God can do big and mighty things through his people. And I think that God is raising up Jeremy to defend the faith and fight the good fight of faith at Princeton or wherever he goes.

And then, our brother Tim, he's a security guard at Camden County College. And he told me that there is a man that comes on campus and dresses like a woman sometimes. And any given day, he can go in the men's room, sometimes he goes in the women's room, and no one stops him.

But Tim is there, and he's on the security team. And my advice to Tim is, pretend that you are the third monkey that just arrived at Noah's Ark, ready to board. And brother, it just started raining. So, fight the good fight of faith.

Fight.

Don't sit back and let that happen.

Fight.

We're men, we're called to do that. You're a man. So, do not fear man. And I think, when we look at this E in evangelism, I think the main reason why we don't evangelize, and it's something that has a grip on men, that shouldn't.

Because God calls us to preach his word and reveal the light. And no one else is going to do that but his people, his men. So, the next verse says, take hold of the eternal light to which you were called.

And Paul's talking to Timothy, and we know that Timothy is already saved. He's believed. He already says that he's a true child in the faith. So, we know it's not saying that he needs to get his salvation, or earn his salvation, or even hold on to his salvation.

But he's saying, take hold, meaning embrace it. Enjoy it, for crying out loud. We said that if you have eternal life, you should be joyful. One time I walked in, after church, I walked into a coffee shop, the Covey Hall in Morristown.

And I walked in there, and I ordered my coffee. And the girl at the register kept, you know, whatever she was doing, making the coffee, but then kept looking at me. And then kept looking at me. And I'm wondering, I'm just sitting there smiling, I don't think too much of it.

But, then she finally says, why are you so happy?

Why are you so joyful?

Like, I really wasn't expecting that, but I could have said, I'm just having a good day. I don't know, I just didn't like this. Could do that, right? Could not say anything, just say thank you. But what I said to her was the truth.

I said, I have eternal life. And she said, no!

I'm like, yeah, I have eternal life.

I'm like, yes, no, I have eternal life.

And then, how?

How do you have eternal life?

I said, I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that he died on the cross for my sin. And I believe that he rose from the dead. I really believe that in my heart.

And she said, no!

Yes, that's the truth.

And she said, no, I read the Bible before. I read it cover to cover.

And I said, oh, okay. Well, do you believe it?

She said, no!

I said, well, that's the difference between me and you.

But, that's a way for us to fight the good fight of faith, simply, right? She wasn't ready to throw anything at me, but she was shocked that I said that. But, I was happy not to brag or anything. I was just happy that I chose to fight the good fight of faith.

And I think that we all can look for opportunities like that. To where we can give the glory to God. Because he's the one that gave me eternal life. And me having eternal life has brought me the most joy.

That's the truth of why I was joyful. Because I have eternal life.

Amen.

So, then he says, Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. And about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. All of us who know that we have eternal life. Eventually make a good confession.

Usually at our baptism. And when we finally make that good confession. To which we were called. Internally called. God internally calls his people. To turn, flee from evil. And put faith in him. And I've experienced that eternal call.

And I became born again. So, I'm a man in the battle now. At first, I just had the flesh. But when God called me to his marvelous light. And opened up my eyes. Now he's given me the Holy Spirit. And now there's a war inside of me.

So, blessed are you if you're struggling. But still in the war. If you're not in the war. Then you probably only have the flesh. But now, when you're born again. The flesh is weak. But the spirit is willing.

And we need to be strong-willed men. To defeat the flesh. So, take hold of the eternal life.

And fight the good fight of faith.

And at our baptism. If you haven't been baptized.

And you believe.

And you know that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. And you know that he rose from the dead. It's time to come out of hiding. And confess. And make the good confession. In front of everyone you know.

That you're a believer in Christ. It's easy. We've made it easier to come out of the closet as a gay person. Than to come out of the closet as a born-again Christian. Who preaches the word. So, he says, I charge you in the presence of God.

Who gives life to all things. And of Christ Jesus. Who is his testimony before Pontius Pilate. Made the good confession. So, he charges in the presence of God and Christ. This is elite company. Because God is the giver of life.

And Christ Jesus who made the good confession to Pontius Pilate. And he confessed that he was a king. And he told Pontius Pilate that. He came and was born into our world. To testify of the truth. So, us who fight the good fight of faith.

Need to testify to the truth. To keep the commandment unstained. And free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, how long do we fight the good fight of faith? And how long do we defend the truth?

And how long do we act like strong men? The answer is right here. Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, we endure. We don't give up. We act like men. And we encourage each other to act like men.

And a strong man is not afraid to say something to their brother. And try to help their brother. And even sometimes rebuke their brother. And an even stronger man is someone who can take that rebuke. And then change.

So, we can't be afraid to try to help one another in love. To reveal some sin that maybe we're blind to. That someone else sees. So, I'm okay if you see something in my life that I can improve. Or I can improve.

You can let me know.

And I'll try to improve it. And I'll listen to you. Now, someone might come up to you with bad advice. And you just say, okay, that was bad advice. But, as men, we need to be ready to share the truth in love.

And receive the truth in love. And He will display at the proper time. So, Jesus will return at a proper time that only the Father knows. But Rich Ventura also has prepared me to want the Lord to return.

To look for His coming. For a while, I think, or even sometimes I fall into, oh, well, I want to get married. I want to have kids. I want to do this and so. But what Rich has helped me to do is be rapture ready.

Be ready at all times to want the coming of the Lord. To want to see Jesus. Because that's far better than anything that I can do or achieve on earth.

That's true.

That's true.

So, what's that word you like to say?

Maranatha? Maranatha.

Yep, that's it.

Come Lord Jesus.

Yep.

So, verse 16. Who alone has immortality. Who dwells in unapproachable light. Whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion.

Amen. Amen.

And then there's a charge in verse 17 to the rich. As for the rich, in this present age, charge them not to be haughty. Nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches. But on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

So, if you are rich, maybe some of us are wealthy. Depending on what we look to the world, all of us are wealthy, right? But to our culture, maybe some of us are more wealthy than others. And we're charged not to be haughty.

Not to think that we're better than anyone else. Because we have riches. Because we have things. Because we have possessions. That could cause us to think that we're better than we really are. And that doesn't make us humble men.

God wants us to be humble men. So, riches can cause that. So, you can fall into two dangers. There's basically a false sense of pride. And a false sense of security. Relying on your riches. Relying on money.

Relying on your hard work. Relying on what you do for a living. Relying on, you did it, not God. But the poor man relies on God for his next meal. So, all of us need to see that humbleness and take that as a warning for us.

Not to desire money and the love of money. But to rely on God. And to do things. He says, they are to do good. To be rich in good works. Not just rich with money, but to be rich with good works. And to be generous and ready to share.

So, not only share, but be ready to share. So, be ready to do good works. What John has prepared us to do. Be ready for the battle. Be ready to do good things. To pursue righteousness. And there is something called delayed gratification.

Do you guys know what that means? Delayed gratification? So, delayed gratification, the definition is the ability to delay an impulse for an immediate reward to receive a more favorable reward at a later time.

If you have that ability, that comes with extreme wisdom to be able to do that. Because the world wants you to pursue success. But God wants us to pursue righteousness. They are not always the same thing.

Success for the godly man is pursuing righteousness. Success for the worthy man is pursuing exactly what God told us not to pursue. Riches and the love of money. So, they are in conflict. So, Paul says a teaching kind of what Jesus talked about was the storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future.

So that they may take hold of what which is truly life. So, as Christians, we know something the world doesn't. They chase after riches because they can't see past this world. Us, on the other hand, know that this world looks like this compared to eternity.

So, we prepare for eternity. Not just for our retirement here on earth. We prepare for eternity. And while we are here, we fight the good fight of faith. But, there is a reward that comes with that. It's not storing up treasure here.

It's storing up treasure in heaven. So, knowing this is going to help us be wise men. And knowing this is going to help us do the right thing and pursue righteousness. Because when we pursue righteousness, we are stacking our treasure not in this bank account on earth.

But, a bank account in heaven where the thieves can't get to. That is eternal. So, delayed gratification can look like even sexual sin. It looks good. It feels good for maybe ten minutes. And then, you feel horrible about yourself, right?

But, delayed gratification looks like fleeing from that and pursuing a righteous life. And setting yourself up for a righteous life. I have a girlfriend that I want to marry one day. I haven't even kissed her yet.

Because of delayed gratification. What's better later on than just taking what I can get now even though it looks good? I want to wait. So, we can apply this to other areas of life. Waiting for God to bless us.

Not trying to steal a blessing for ourself. Waiting for God. Now, I did kiss Mare when I was like 20. But, I haven't, that was almost ten years ago, nine years ago. So, I'm looking forward to be able to do that again when I get married on my wedding day.

So, that's what delayed gratification looks like here. But also, the delayed gratification of eternal life. Fighting a good fight now and being rewarded for it later. Even though you might have people upset with you for fighting it here on earth.

God is pleased with that. So, I'm okay with missing out on some earthly pleasure to receive a more favorable reward in heaven. So, I've settled it in my heart that God's word is true. It's not that I read God's word and don't change.

But, I read God's word and change because I believe the word. So, when the W is not just read God's word or know God's word. It's believe God's word. So, I've settled it in my heart that God's word is true.

And, that God is real. And, that God is coming back. And, He's going to judge the world. The righteous and the unrighteous. So, I've decided, made the decision to be strong, act like a man, and fight the good fight now.

Amen? Amen.

Who would like to close the prayer? Who's going to be strong? You. Tim, thanks.

Heavenly Father, we are so thankful for the teaching of your word. The men that love you and care about your word. And, one, to pursue righteousness. Heavenly Father, we ask you to help us all here to do that.

To be strong and pursue you in all aspects of your life. To make hard decisions as the Holy Spirit has convicted you. You're a good God.

Amen.

And, we're grateful for this church. The blessings that you've given us. And, the pains we've raised. And, help us not to take this just as a mountaintop as we've been born. We love you greater. Let's go to keep each other accountable within this.

And, thank you Lord for Tim even keeping me accountable for what I have to do in my journey. Your strength to stand in the midst of this ungodly world. And, we'll do it in love. Thank you for the cross of Christ.

And, for all you have given us life. Given it abundantly. And, thank you for the joy of our salvation. In Christ's name.

Amen. Amen.

Thanks you.