Masculinity That Helps Not Hurts

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ All that you do must be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NASB)

You husbands, likewise, conduct your married lives with understanding. Although your wife may be weaker physically, you should respect her as a fellow-heir of the gift of Life. If you don’t, your prayers will be blocked. 1 Peter 3:7 (CJB)

_______ IS NOT _______.  MEEK IS _________ UNDER ____________.

___________________ IS ABOUT TAKING _______________________.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come? ² My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. ³ He will not let your foot slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, He who guards Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not harm you during the day, nor the moon during the night. ⁷ The Lord shall protect you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. ⁸ The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from now and for evermore.  Psalm 121:1-8 (MEV)

_________ (Hebrew) – to guard, protect, preserve, or keep watch over.

Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.

Genesis 2:15 (GNT)

After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24 (NIV)

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 4:9 (NIV)

God Calls Adam To ______________ But He Is ______________.  Adam Is No ________.

What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. ²¹ What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. ²² What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.  Isaiah 5:20-22 (NLT)

These are the names of the Top Three—the most heroic men in David’s army: the first was Josheb-basshebeth from Tahchemon, known also as Adino, the Eznite. He once killed eight hundred men in one battle. ⁹ Next in rank was Eleazar, the son of Dodo and grandson of Ahohi. He was one of the three men who, with David, held back the Philistines that time when the rest of the Israeli army fled. 2 Samuel 23:8-9 (TLB)

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³ Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV)

I CAN MAN UP & HELP THE MISSION NOT HURT IT WHEN…

1. I TRULY ____________________ MY __________________.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1 (NIV)

This statement is completely reliable and should be universally accepted: “Christ Jesus entered the world to rescue sinners”. I realize that I was the worst of them all, ¹⁶ and that because of this very fact God was particularly merciful to me. ¹⁶ It was a demonstration of the extent of Christ’s patience towards the worst of men, to serve as an example to all who in the future should trust him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (Phillips)

2. I EMBRACE _____________ & _____________ FOR OTHERS.

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3 (NIV)

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. ¹³ For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message^[f] without fear.

Philippians 1:12-14 (NIV)

3. I __________ & __________ IN SUCH A WAY TO ______.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2:4-5 (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV)

4. I ______________ FOR ____________ & ________________.

The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 2 Timothy 2:6 (NIV)

Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. Proverbs 20:4 (NLT)

But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat… Matthew 13:25 (NIV)

For some godless people have slipped in unnoticed among us, persons who distort the message about the grace of our God in order to excuse their immoral ways, and who reject Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord. Long ago the Scriptures predicted the condemnation they have received. Jude 1:4 (GNT)

Every seed will produce more of its own kind of plant.” Genesis 1:11 (NCV)