Wanted: Christian Men Who Aren’t Ashamed :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: June 18, 2017 by RR7

The day and age in which we live brings many challenges. Being politically correct requires us to be biblically incorrect, and for a Christian that’s wrong. God’s Word is our authority in all things, so if the world dictates one course of action and the Bible another, always choose to follow the Bible. Today there’s a lot of contention over the roles of men and women.

Many women want to “rule the roost” and many men are happy to let them. By the world’s standards that’s understandable, but by God’s standards that’s not good. Brothers, God created you to be leaders in spiritual matters as well as the leaders of your household. This truth is evident throughout the Bible beginning in the Garden of Eden.

In the beginning, God created everything after its kind, but He made Adam in His own image. That means that Adam was special and very different from animals. The first responsibility that God gave to Adam was a spiritual one. God gave him only one commandment, but a very important one.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

Eve hadn’t been created yet, but Adam received the commandment from God and had the responsibility to be sure she understood. Prior to the creation of Eve, the animals were brought before Adam and he named them, but this also showed him that animals were not proper companions for him. He needed a woman to be his companion and help him…he needed a wife. That’s why God created Eve. She was taken from Adam’s side and when he saw her he was impressed.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:23-24)

Brothers, choose a godly woman to be your wife and love her. Marriage is ordained of God and isn’t to be mocked.

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4)

If you are not married, then you are to be celibate. When you marry, then love your wife and lead her into a deeper love for God. Take your place as the spiritual leader in your house by studying God’s Word. Study with prayer and the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to God’s truth. Then apply that understanding to every part of your life. Study with your wife and lead her to a deeper understanding of God’s Word.

Don’t be ashamed to boldly stand on God’s truth. God is not the Author of chaos, but of order. It was God who established the roles of men and women, but the world tries to blur those roles. As the roles of Christian men and women get blurred, Christianity becomes watered down. Brothers and sisters, we all have responsibility to put Christ first in our life.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” (Ephesians 5:22-2)

This verse can hit a raw nerve in men and women who don’t think their own role is important. This letter was written to Christians. Therefore the Christian man should understand his responsibility and not compare a Christian man’s way of life to someone who is secular. Brothers, Christ gave His life for His Bride because of the unselfish love He had. That’s how you are to love your wife.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Ephesians 5:25)

God loved imperfect sinners enough to die on the cross for us. Your love for Christ and your love for your wife reflects your love for yourself.

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” (Ephesians 5:28)

A wife cannot submit to a man who has no concept of Christ’s sacrificial love. Don’t abuse her verbally or physically. Brothers, you have a great responsibility, so honor God and love your wife. Your responsibility doesn’t stop with your love for your wife.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Children represent the future. Ground your children on a firm foundation in Christ. Brothers, teach your sons to be men of God and your daughters to be godly women. Lead by example. Show your sons that you aren’t ashamed to honor God and love your wife. A boy looks to his father for guidance into manhood so don’t let your son down.

Your daughters, too, must be grounded in Christ so that they won’t marry a man who doesn’t honor God. If your daughter can look to you as the example of a loving husband, then she will choose a husband based on how he loves God and how he treats her. Love your children with a strong hand of discipline, but temper that with the love of Christ. Lead your children into their own relationship with Jesus. Then, they too, will teach their own children.

As Paul traveled on his missionary journeys he established congregations in various cities. He left men to lead these congregations along godly paths. It was important to Paul that these men understood the need to establish leadership. Titus was left in Crete and Paul gave him instructions.

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:5-9)

Brothers, don’t be ashamed to cultivate these traits in your own life. Leaders in the ekklēsia are to be men of strong character, who aren’t afraid to stand firm on God’s ways. Crete was filled with pagan ways much like our world today, yet Paul makes note that the leaders in the congregation are to be men who are married to one wife and his children would also be faithful. Much is required of a Christian man even if he is not an elder, bishop, or preacher. There can be no compromise.

In today’s politically correct world, God-honoring men are hard to find. So are God-honoring women. God’s rules haven’t changed. God established both the leadership role of men and the one man/one woman marriage in the Garden of Eden, and He expects the same policies to remain today. There is no caveat saying that in five or six thousand years women will replace men in the order of things.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” (Hebrews 13:8-9)

Brothers, you have a responsibility from God to be leaders in honoring God’s commands; loving your wife and raising your children to be obedient to God. Throughout the Bible men are the ones who God called to build an ark, establish a nation, lead the Israelites from captivity, and slay giants. Women are also used by God, as seen in Miriam, a prophetess, and Deborah who was a prophetess and judge of Israel. Queen Esther was brave and brought into the open a plot by Haman to destroy many Jews.

In the New Testament we see that Anna was a prophetess and the ministry of Jesus was helped by the many women who followed Him. It was Lydia who offered her home to be used by Paul while he was in Philippi and Paul also noted the faith of Timothy’s grandmother and mother as being a strong influence on the young pastor.

It wasn’t a man who could give birth to the Savior. The example of leadership, though is when Jesus chose twelve men to be given special teaching and to eventually be the Apostles who were entrusted with the gospel. In all things, Jesus is our example. His love for His creation is shown through His actions. He entered this world as a tiny baby and faced temptation as we all do.

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)

Brothers, go to Jesus in prayer when you’re tempted to turn away from the straight road of God’s truth. Don’t be ashamed to learn from God’s Word and to stand on His principles. Honor God by loving your wife, your children, and fellow Christians. Men, be bold in your walk with Christ. Lift Him in praise at home, at work, and in public.

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:8)

There is a deep need in this fallen world for men who are not ashamed to live for Christ. Be that man of God who is not ashamed.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original Scripture is “theopneustos” (God breathed).

Words to Live By :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: June 11, 2017 by RR7

A scribe came to Jesus and asked “…Which is the first commandment of all?” (Mark 12:28b)

Once again, the people who should have known better were trying to trap Jesus. The Pharisees had just asked if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar and the Sadducees had asked Him about who a woman’s husband would be in heaven if she had been widowed multiple times. Oddly enough, the Sadducees didn’t even believe there would be a resurrection. Then one of the scribes wanted to know about the commandments.

“And Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.’” (Mark 12:29-31)

Jesus quoted this from Deuteronomy so the scribes couldn’t dispute this. These words are as true today as when Moses first spoke them. A Christian is to first love God, then love others. These are words to live by but they aren’t being heeded by many Christians today.

The world seems to be going berserk and many who claim to be Christians are just as berserk. Anger is everywhere and men’s hearts are waxing cold. Brothers and sisters remember: God is love.

God IS love, and we need to allow His love to show in all we say and do. The first commandment that Jesus named is regarding God. Our understanding of God is reflected in our relationship with Him.

“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

There is only one God and there’s none like Him. The word “LORD” is translated from the Hebrew word “Yehovah.” It means “The Existing One.” Yehovah had no beginning and will have no end. The word “God” is “Elohiym” which is a masculine noun and the “iym” ending indicates it’s a plural noun.

In Hebrew, a plural means there are at least three parts. When referring to God this indicates the three personalities of God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) are one. The Trinity is clearly in the Scripture. The first use of the word Elohiym is in Genesis chapter one and it tells us that Elohiym created everything that exists by speaking it into existence . The Gospel of John ties this all together:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

The Word became flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ. The LORD our God is one LORD, and Jesus is God the Son.

God created everything, including humans. Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden where all of his needs were filled. God gave Adam one rule.

This rule was given to Adam before Eve was created and it was up to Adam to adhere to God’s rule. Adam needed a mate and God met this need in a special way.

“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” (Genesis 2:20-22)

Adam was a direct creation of God, but Eve was taken out of Adam. Not only did God create Eve to be Adam’s companion, but this established the one man/one woman marriage.

Then it happened. Satan entered into the picture. Eve was deceived into eating the very fruit that God said not to eat.

“For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13-14)

Satan’s lies will befuddle anyone who doesn’t adhere to God’s Word. Eve ate the fruit and then talked Adam into eating. God knew what had happened, but the finger pointing began. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. The truth is that instead of loving God with all their heart, soul, and might each made their own choice to sin.

Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden and fellowship with God was broken. Since then sin has kept us from fellowship with God. Cain killed Abel, people multiplied and chose to sin through demonic worship and activities, and Satan continues to lie. Though sin has reigned throughout time, God wanted fellowship to be restored. He had a plan. The first step in that plan was to separate a people to eventually bring salvation to this fallen world.

“Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” (Acts 15:14)

Before God called Abraham there was no distinction between the various nations or ethnic groups, but through Abraham’s descendents the Jewish people were separated and the Messiah would be born. God would give the Law to the Jewish people through Moses and this would further separate them and teach mankind about how God views sin.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24-25)

The Law was filled with rituals and animal sacrifice. In and of itself, the Law could not save anyone, but it pointed to salvation through the coming Messiah. The plan had always been that God would step into His creation and become the once for all sacrifice. God’s perfect love for us is seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

That’s perfect love. Love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This brings us to the second part of Jesus” answer to the scribe.

“And the second is like, namely this, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.’” (Mark 12:31)

How do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? By treating them as we would want to be treated. When Paul and Silas were asked by a jailer what he must do to be saved, they told him to believe on Jesus.

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)

Could the jailers faith save his household? Each person must make his own choice to accept or reject Jesus. The jailers wife, children, and servants each had to make their own decision in order to be saved, but if they saw the jailer’s life changed through Christ they would come to their own faith. Accepting Christ’s shed blood for salvation should change a person and that change should be noticeable to people around you.

The way you treat people should become more loving, forgiving, and kind. We don’t know what kind of man that jailer was, but he had a job that would harden him. Paul and Silas had spent their night in jail singing praises to the Lord and didn’t show bitterness. Then, there was an earthquake which would have allowed the prisoners to escape and the jailer would have been executed.

Instead of escaping, Paul, Silas, and all the prisoners remained which was an example to the jailer of God’s love. These two men treated the jailer in the way that they would have wanted to be treated had they been in each other’s sandals. The jailer saw their example and believed. If he followed their example of how to treat others then his household would come to know Jesus through his actions.

Nobody wants to be mistreated and most people take pretty good care of themselves. When we get hungry we eat, when we’re dirty we bathe. If you see someone in need, help them. Treat others as you would want them to treat you, but do all things for the Lord.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Don’t “do unto others” in order to gain their praise, but do good works in Jesus’ name so God will be glorified. That’s how we show our love for God to others. Our actions just may be the example they need in order to give their life to Christ. Treat others how you want to be treated.

Quite often Christians focus on missionary work or food kitchens to reach out to the unsaved. This shows God’s love to lost people who may not even know they’re lost. Too often we forget to show love to fellow Christians.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)

John wrote this to Christians and used the words “brethren” and “brother.” This indicates he’s telling Christians to take care of fellow Christians. The first Christians were severely persecuted and they helped each other. That has changed over the years. It’s easy to give money to a mission group to go somewhere else to help the unsaved, but we forget the needs of Christians in our own community or congregation.

“And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:21)

In loving others as we love ourselves, don’t forget the local Christians in need.

“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4)

Every word of the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is for our instruction. If we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength we will naturally love others as we love ourselves. Live by these words and you can’t go wrong.