THE CHRISTIAN MAN WHO IS A REAL MAN

   INTRODUCTION:

   A.  Difficult to know where to start & approach subject. I'm no
       authority on subject. Yet, study & experience gives insight.
   B.  Start area of greatest breakdown in  home & family: husbands &
       fathers over world particularly in this country and the Lord's
       church.
   C.  Material in this lesson primarily from I Sought for a Man by Robert
       Harkrider. May be abridged and/or  enlarged as deemed necessary.

   DISCUSSION:

   I.  MASCULINITY - IS IT ONLY PHYSICAL?

   A.  In Ezek 22:30 God says he looked for a man & couldn't find one. See
       also Jer 5:1  Were there only females there?
     1.  Shows masculinity involves more than physical body
     2.  God made them male and female Gen 1:27 There is difference in
         physical makeup, but takes more to be kind of man God looks for
   B.  God gave man role of leadership 1Tim 2:11-15; Eph 5:23
     1.  Woman is described as the "weaker vessel" 1Pet 3:7
       a.  Doesn't imply inferiority, but men generally physically stronger 
       b.  Man given role of providing for family Gen 3:17-19
       c.  Woman given childbearing/guiding house Gen 3:16; 1Tim 5:14
     2.  Responsibility of successful family and righteous society depends
         on direction men give it.
     3.  How well one develops strength of character & takes leadership
         determines whether he is a "real man"!
     4.  Problems stem from fact man has abdicated his role 
   C.  Men who had everything physically but were weaklings
     1.  Samson Jud 14,15,16: stronger than any man but gave his strength
         away to the allurements of a woman
     2.  Saul taller than any man and began his reign in humility, yet
         pride became his downfall 1Sam 15:11-23
     3.  Absalom 2Sam 14-18 most handsome all Israel, but greed/conceit
         caused to lead insurrection against God's leader, David, his
         father
   D.  Physical appearance not everything, must remember to exercise
       ourselves unto godliness 1Tim 5:7,8; 1Cor 9:27

   II.  SHOW THYSELF A MAN (GIVEN TO SOLOMON 1KI. 2:1-3)

   A.  Supreme quality of manhood is strength of noble character and the
       foundation of a noble character is self-mastery 
   B.  Examples of men who showed strength of character
     1.  Joseph was tempted sexually like no other Gen 39
       a.  Taken from home at age 17 as a slave Gen 37
       b.  Tempted more than once Gen 39:10,12,20
       c.  Not only tempted to gratify, but refusal meant prison
     2.  Daniel tempted with the kings meat and wine Dan 1
       a.  Though a captive he was honored to eat king's meat
       b.  Purposed not to defile himself: strength of character
     3.  Moses tempted with affluence (treasures of Egypt) while in his
         youth Ex 2; Acts 7:20-22; Heb 11:24-27
   C.  What made different?  Same qualities make men different today.
       Masculinity is not determined only by physical appearance, but is
       result of properly managing oneself - being in control of one's
       emotions rather than letting one's emotions control him 1Pet 2:11

   III.  YOUR BODY - ASSET OR LIABILITY?

   A.  What is your attitude toward your body, how is it to be used
     1.  Victorian/religionist: thinks the body must be treated with
         distrust, distaste, and disgust, as being without question the
         seat of sin. 
     2.  Playboy: Body is toy, plaything exposed/exploited w/selfish greed
     3.  Businessman attitude: average thinking is: body is to be driven as
         machine to limit of endurance, simultaneously pouring into it
         alcohol, pep pills, tranquilizers, and food
     4.  Christian attitude: "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost...
         glorify God in body" 1Cor 6:19,20; Psa 139:14
   B.  A mark of maturity is self-mastery  1Cor 9:24-27
     1.  Undisciplined horse no value to farmer; undis athlete never reach
         top; undis Christian controled by Satan  Rom 12:1,2; Gal 5:19-26
     2.  Self discipline easier when realize body is gift from wise, loving
         Father to whom will give account of abusing that trust 2Cor 5:10 
   C.  Whether an asset or liability depends on self- discipline
     1.  Overeating
     2.  Alcohol
     3.  Drugs and Tobacco 
     4.  Sex Heb 13:4
     5.  Tongue 

   CONCLUSION:

   A.  Crying need today in church, family, country for real men.  Men
       w/courage of convictions and strength of character to act like men.
   B.  Need men who take leadership & providing roll seriously.
   C.  Until willing to accept responsibilities God has given men; not only
       will church suffer, but our country will continue to suffer, because
       family will not be what God designed and as the family goes, so goes
       the church and the country.
   D.  So, men as we continue to look at our responsibilities let's purpose
       in our hearts to be the kind of men that God would have us to be.

   Daniel Lee Henderson   Buckhorn   2/12/98 8:43:09 PM
   From an outline by Jerry L. Henderson

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