| A Portrait of True Manhood |
A Portrait of True Manhood 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Introduction If someone asked you the question: "What is a real man?", how would you answer? What is true masculinity? Many people in our society would find this a hard question to answer. Who are some well-known guys in our culture who express well what it means to be a real man? Is it someone like former wrestler Stone-Cold Steve Austen, who gave menacing stares to his opponents and threatened to kick them in the pants? (Of course, he used more colourful language than that!) Or is it someone like actor Brad Pitt or former Red Wing hockey star Steve Yzerman, who led his team to three Stanley Cups? Who are the males in your personal network of relationships who demonstrate well what it means to be a man before God and others? Think for a moment . . . What makes them good examples of manhood? We are going to see a great example of what true masculinity is from our Scripture passage. One of the most profound portraits of a godly man is found right here in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. It is a picture of the Apostle Paul. 1. A godly man demonstrates courageous initiative in his life (verses 1 & 2) Let’s read verses 1 & 2. In Acts 16:22-24, we read that Paul and Silas were stripped and severely flogged in the Philippian jail and their feet were put in stocks. After this experience, they came to Thessalonica, and we know that they encountered opposition here as well. But they didn't let this opposition deter them from what God had called them to do. A real man will do the right thing even when it’s not the most convenient or easy thing to do. For God’s purposes to be advanced best in a family, a church, or society, there needs to be men who are willing to exercise courageous and sacrificial leadership. Someone has said that you can divide the world into three groups of people: Those who make things happen, those who watch what’s happening, and those who don’t know what’ s happening. A man who is faithful to God will fall into that first category, even when he’s criticized. A godly man will seek to provide godly leadership in his spheres of influence. (In saying this, I am not saying that women cannot ever take initiative.) In our portrait of a godly man, we see that 2. A godly man demonstrates integrity in his life (verses 3 - 6a) |
In his "Terminator" movies, Schwartzenegger plays an exaggerated masculine role. He plays a kind of he-man character. It is not a good portrait of how God has created a man to be. But in his role as an undercover police officer, pretending to be a kindergarten teacher, he demonstrates more clearly what God has created a man to be. He has strength but also a softer side that can nurture those around him. In general, men need to work a little harder on developing this aspect of their manhood. Paul didn't just preach the gospel and then leave. He nurtured the flock that came into being through his preaching the gospel. He poured his very self into the Thessalonian believers. Paul was willing to give not only the Gospel but his own life as well. Finally, in our portrait of a godly man we see that 4. A godly man integrates love and discipline in his nurture of others. (verses 10 - 12) Let’s read verses 10 to 12. One of my greatest challenges as a pastor and as a father is to strike a redemptive balance between exhorting those under my care to live a life worthy of God and to encourage and comfort those same people. I think we all have that challenge as mothers and fathers. On one hand, we don’t want to be authoritarian. But on the other hand, we don’t want to be doting mothers and pampering fathers. I have come to realize that I can approach this redemptive balance only as I live with a pure heart and as I am willing to pour my life into others.
_______________________________ "JESUS IS LORD" _______________________________ By Pastor John Neposlan |
Let’s read verses 3 to 6a. The spiritual power of a godly man resides right here. The greatest need of our culture is men with a pure heart, who have a single eye to please the Lord. Nothing would change our families and culture faster and more powerfully than men who would love God with all their soul, all their heart, all their mind and all their strength. "The highest masculine impulse is that which ‘wills My will’ for some creative purpose, and holds firmly to that purpose until it is accomplished . . . Nor will the woman disciple lack a share in these masculine impulses of the soul. She, too, will develop the will to create, to conquer, to overcome, for the redeemed soul must be integrated, ‘one-d’ into that Christ nature in Whom there is ultimately neither male or female, but one man in Christ." A double-minded man, who is divided in his loyalty to God, is not in complete touch with his God-given masculinity. In his book The Master and the Disciple, John Gaynor Banks has the Master (who represents Jesus) say these words: The double-minded person is torn by conflicting desires which make it impossible for him to step confidently and powerfully into his world to make a difference for God. He becomes less than what God created him to be. Leanne Payne writes: "The power to honour the truth – to speak it and be it – is at the heart of masculinity." Only the man with a pure heart has the power to consistently honour the truth in his life. He is the one with a single eye to please the Lord Jesus, Who is the Truth. In our portrait of a godly man, we see that a real man demonstrates courageous initiative and integrity in his life. In addition, 3. A godly man imparts his life for the good of others. (Verses 6b - 9) Let’s read verses 6b to 9. I believe if a man is true to his God-given manhood, he will express mother-like nurturing to those around him. God has made a man with masculine and feminine aspects. Obviously, the masculine aspects should be more dominant in a man.
Schwartzenegger. I don’t like all the movie roles he plays. In fact, I’ve never watched any of his "Terminator" movies. But I have watched some of his other movies like "Kindergarten Cop". |
| Heavens Saints M/M Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. MARK 12:30 |
| Be filled with the Spirit |
| GOD LOVES YOU |