Eli's sons

Samuels call, are we hearing Gods voice?  I Samuel 2:12-36, 3:1-21       

Presuppositionaly I believe:

Idolatry is not something we go out with an intention of doing; it is very subtle, it’s what we will naturally do if we don’t hold ourselves in check. We know that there is idolatry in us; when we are disobeying Gods word concerning child discipleship.

                  “The heart of man is a virtual Idol factory” John Calvin

1)    The story of Eli is for us at HBC. If we like Eli make an Idol of our children they will harden their heart and God will destroy them! – Entitlement –selfishness/self-willed – ungrateful –taking for granted.

a)     Make an idol of children? How do we know? Samuel 2:29,3:13

i)       Not properly disciplining

(1) Despise not the chastening of the lord -Hebrews 12:5

(2) A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Proverbs 13:1

b)    Elevating to high stations without the character to stand-- They are Priests of the living God – Shilo is where the Ark of the Covenant is.

i)       Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

ii)     He who is faithful in small things will be faithful in big things.

(1) A small thing could be an assigned chore while a big thing could be running the whole household.

(2) A small thing could be handling a knife properly, while a big thing is handling a gun properly

c)     They can become arrogant and full of selfish lust –

Hophni and Phinehas did whatever suited their flesh. –sons of Belial.

Their actions display who they serve. Romans 6

i)       2Timothy 3:2-4  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

(1) The apostle is grabbing a lot of adjectives, to help us get a feel for those who fight against God.

(2) But notice “Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

(3) We are a nation of “lovers of pleasure”! The thing about this “lovers of pleasure” is that it feeds on immaturity.

(a)  What’s better a high self-esteem or a low one? Neither, in either case the center (reference point) is you. It is idolatry and we move in relation to our idols. We become predictable and controllable by evil.

(b) We get

(i)    Suicide, Drug use, Immorality of all kinds, Video game addictions, Being controlling or manipulating of others (emotional payoff), Pretty much any addiction can be tied to being lovers of pleasure.

(ii)  Unmotivated to serve/ half committed

(iii)Thoughtless

(iv)                        Laziness—Education—Chores

1.     Not taking ownership of their life

(v)  Un-Forgiveness

(vi)                        Unrepentant

(vii)                      Discouraged or angry

(viii)                    Independent spirit

(c)  What do we want to see – cheerfulness- service- self-sacrifice-enthusiasm- energetic- diligent- punctual – accountable. To participate in the ways of life, and put away the paths of death. They will seek the wisdom of their parents.

(i)    When we don’t see any of this stuff going on, we are seeing rebellion.

These are the natural result of a mature right relationship with God and parents.

           

d)    Whose job is it to see that children grow up and are mature?

i)       Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Any questions?

(1) Discipline= 3809 paideía (from 3811 /paideúō, see there) – properly, instruction that trains someone to reach full development (maturity).

(a)  Self-control- wisdom –responsibility

(2) Instruction= 3559 /nouthesía ("warning through teaching") improves a person's reasoning so they can reach God's solution – i.e. by going through His thought-process.

ii)     Salvation is of the Lord but maturity is our part. It’s our job men are you on it?

(a)  Deuteronomy 29:29“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

(2) It’s about observable maturity. Do your children need constant supervision?

(i)    1peter 5:8 be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

(3) It’s about the mind. Is your child’s thinking biblical?  (Put on the mind of Christ) expressed through attitudes. PRIDE ISSUE

(i)    Philippians2:5 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, a 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

iii)   Bad actions come from bad thoughts (James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire). A correct “mind will and emotion” will cause us to shun pride and embrace humility.

2)    We lose God’s guidance/protection turning to sin

a)     Deuteronomy 9:17 (Moses)So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes.

b)    No judges/prophets (did evil in the sight of the Lord.) 7 times in the book of Judges ->Bondage

c)     Losing the law -2 Kings 22:8-10 (King Josiah)

i)       Sin in the temple

ii)     Prostitution m/f

iii)   Child sacrifice

iv)   Ashera poles

v)     There are terrible things going on in the temple of the living God and their ignorance has made them proud and wise. You are either obeying God or doing what’s right in your own eyes.

d)    In America this looks like

i)       Turning to places like Harvard or Yale for wisdom and not to God.

ii)     Children not listening to parents about marriage

iii)   Immaturity in anyone over 13

iv)   Being led by a worldly spirit of music rather than the spirit of God

3)    Drought of the word – Samuel 3:1 

a)     God raises up prophets

i)       Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen  - God raises up prophets

b)     God withholds prophets

i)       Psalms 74:9 we do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long

ii)     Amos 8:12 'They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it'

iii)   Lamentations 2;9 Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has ruined and broken her bars; her king and princes are among the nations; the law is know more , and her prophets find no vision from the Lord.

iv)   Ezekiel 7:26 the king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hand of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

4)    Why this rejection of Eli?   -Eli is no Abraham

i)       Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

b)    Eli rebukes his grown sons but does act. V2:22

(1) It’s important to note that verbal railing or apathy will both cast our children’s heart away from us through mistrust; both rest on a selfish idolatry. God demands clear action with a view on restoration. Mistrust destroys relationship.

->How does God parent - God’s voice is gentle, sounds like the Bible, is peaceful, steadfast, reliable, single minded, personal, glorifying to Jesus which leads me to be more like Him, and convicting rather than condemning.

(2) Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. à Delight to your heart is not a sobbing child locked away; it is a restored relationship.

(3) All too often discipline becomes about us, “I’m tired, mad and out of patience”

(i)    If you say that inside then run to the cross with that idol, it is sin.

(b) Discipline is about

(i)    Unity & relationship (proverbs 29:17)

(ii)   love(proverbs 13:24) Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

(iii)The cross (Ephesians 2:8). For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.

c)     Eli’s sons are out of control

(1) Stealing from God – cut off/death- Leviticus 7:25  - They took meat (Eli ate it also)  vv2:29

(2) Adultery – death penalty - Deuteronomy 22:22 –Samuel 2:22

(3) Rebellious son – Death penalty –Deuteronomy 21:18 – Samuel 2:25

ii)     We believe culturally that when our children are grown and gone that we can wash our hands of them and let sleeping dogs lie. That’s not wisdom from God.

(a)  Deuteronomy 21:18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives,

d)    Abraham commands his children after him  (Faithfulness of Elkanah & Hannah)

i)       Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

(1) Command= (6680) Tsavah =Imperfect3masculine singular àImperfect =It’s a work in progress(We are Commanding, not once, ongoing state of motion)  à Masculine= It’s a man. à Singular= There is only one leader.

(a)  Used 3 times and each time it is general, not specific

(i)    Genesis 2:16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;

(ii)  Deuteronomy 28:8 "The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

(2) How is he commanding? In reference to God. Keep= (8104) Shamar = it’s about observing and remembering who God is. Loving the creator.

(a)  This is 400 years before the law is written by Moses!

(i)    Its relational and a life shared with your children, Good and bad.

1.     Hey kids remember where uncle Lott lives in that big city? Well they don’t follow the ways of God and are consumed with pleasing themselves and taking advantage of one another for unjust gain. God burned them with fire ---every man, woman, child, dog, cat, mouse, donkey, ox, and bird. We can’t even find were the city was; there is just a great big area of desolation. Uncle Lott made it out with your cousins but he lost auntie on the way.

(ii)  This “Keep” is not in observance of the minimum standard. That is our modern day mechanistic life. What’s a cog? Well it has these specifications and we can measure the tolerances to see if it passes.

1.     No! A thousand times no! We have killed education with this thinking.  Life is not about these minimum standards it’s about running as hard as you can fighting as hard as you can; working as hard as you can; loving God as hard as you can ------->is HE not worthy!!!

Visiting a house – just inside the door

                                    Or

            Meal -worship -fellowship – relationship.

>Go all in –We don’t just stand at the door happy to be in, no we run to the arms of the Father.

Matthew 18:3 and He said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”

A stubborn one will stand and stare at the line in self-righteous approval.

            The little child will run to the father with reckless abandon!

5)    God rejects two and selects one >Samuel 2:12-36

a)     Pride = Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. Webster

Key-Bondage

b)    Humility = In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will. Key-Repentant           

i)       Sons of Eli  -- Worthless men (sons of Belial=wicked men) Samuel 2:12 

(1) Self-righteous pride and arrogance (no fear)

(a)  Sons of the high priest

(b) Born of the tribe of Levi

(c)  They are in power and have authority

(d) They use it for personal gain

ii)     Samuel --  grew in stature and in favor  --Samuel 2:26

(1) Humble – servant –keyword is

(a)  Faithful = Firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion.

(i)    Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. 2.

(2) Set apart from birth as a servant of God

(3) His Mother is a woman of faith,  raised him as a small child

(a)  her prayer is even mimicked by Mary with Jesus

(4) 2:21 and the young man grew in the presence of God

(5) 2:26 and the young boy grew both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with man.

(6) 3:19 and Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him

The opposite of hardening your heart is seen here; humbling his heart, not growing bitter because of the opportunities of others or the work he must do. Comparison game of defeat

6)    Called of God/character displayed

a)     Samuel first call –Second call and third call “ here I am for thou did call me”  Samuel 3

i)       patient

ii)     Faithfully serving Eli – apprenticeship

iii)   Lived with Eli-In the evening

b)    No emotional manipulation- straight forward.

i)       Following God is the only sane thing to do.

c)     Eli gives good counsel –

i)       Remember that “the word was rare” Samuel 3:1

ii)     Samuel did not yet know the Lord –Samuel 3:7

7)    And the Lord came and stood. Samuel 3:10

a)     After Samuel had been faithful 3 times going and coming again- God came to him. Called Samuel by name  and he obeys “Speak Lord for your servant hears”

8)    God gave a hard prophesy against the very people who had cared for Samuel.

a)     Compassion in the face of judgment.

i)       Samuel does not say – “you get what you deserve”

(1) Samuel 3:15 –

(a)  He lay until morning (sleepless)

(b) And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli

b)    Samuel is faithful and tells Eli the truth—(passed the trial)

i)       Eli is unrepentant (heart is hard)

9)    Just faithful no matter the cost

a)     Not one word shall fall to the ground. Samuel 3:19

i)       The epitome of faithfulness

(1) People don’t want to hear it

(2) God upheld the words of Samuel that he received from God

10)           Samuel 3:21

What’s the heart of it? Will you parents, will you children;

 Harden your heart or humble yourself? We have no righteousness of our own.

Ezekiel 13:19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of  bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?


Col 3:1-11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 

NO

Will you be found faithful?

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”

1 Corinthians 4:2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

2Timothy 2:11  This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless He remains faithful- For He cannot deny Himself.

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation2:10)

Acts of immorality are generational betrayal

Preface – 1 It’s a great victory of Satan to convince the elect that the invincible

                      weapons of God are foolish and weak.

                - 2 Remember ours is faithfulness and the victory is the Lords.

The cultural adherence to the basic tenants of God effect how God deals with that nation i.e. a faithful nation will see blessings and an apostate nation will see the just hand of God.

Why should we care? While God makes provision for a remnant in cultural judgment; all of society will suffer harm. Believers and unbelievers died in Katrina (Hurricane) and Japan (Tsunami).

 When a nation is placed under the yoke of tyranny it suffers as a whole. What’s that have to do with us? Teaching self-control is a primary concept and it is far reaching. We are being taught to train our children in self-control, wisdom and responsibility as practical steps to maturity. I believe we need to connect that to deeper truths. We believe presuppositionaly that our sin is our own but our life’s works leave an inheritance to future generations. Acts of immorality are in reality a generational betrayal.

                In the land of Lady Liberty, In God We trust and the home of the brave. The only thing we are missing is a basis for understanding the most elemental principals of the “Laws of nature and of nature’s God” We must never forget that liberty is purchased with the blood of men and the deep sorrow of women. Whoever approaches the beautiful flower of liberty with a self-gratifying heart shall never grasp it. Try as you may it shall repel you. A culture staggering in a drunken narcissistic stupor dreams of liberty while demanding the chains of tyranny and slavery. Our families have fragmented us, while our education has made us proud and our religion has made us self-righteous not realizing that all these things have torn the treasure of liberty from our land.

                Have you ever heard?

“Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants” Ben Franklin

“Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants” William Penn

"If you will not be governed by God, by God, you'll be governed" Ben Franklin

Proverbs 28:2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers; But with a man of understanding and knowledge its stability will long continue.

Psalm 28:5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the works of His hands, He will tear them down and build them up no more.

““This government is for a moral and religious people, and is wholly inadequate to the governance of any other” John Adams

                Liberty is the freedom to control yourself, a people without self-control will be enslaved.

It would seem that family discipleship is the hinge of civil Liberty.

Mighty men make Fierce Father’s

• Failure in Society
  Father, what's in that word? For most it probably brings good feelings and a sense of security.
  When I think of a father I think of a
  Point man= Military a soldier who walks at the front of an infantry patrol in combat, the leader or spokesperson of a campaign or organization.
  Fatherhood is built on the foundation of Manhood.
  Judges 6:11-27 Gideon
  We are here today to celebrate something that I believe has been dead for generations.
          What is a Man?
  Do you know?
  Have you seen one?
      
  The father is the voice of the family, church and civil government, yet he has been emotionally manipulated educationally castrated and socially rejected.
  Men you are that voice; stand, lead and serve. You were designed for it.
  Society would make you a victim and if you look at the stats you will believe them.
  We are at war! Are you fighting? Take back the lost ground!
  
   
  It is critical to understand
  Integrity= having within itself the strength and ability to do what you are designed for.
  • We are complete in Christ and so can become Mighty men of God.
    • Acts 17:28 for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'for we are indeed his offspring.'
  
   
  What is a man and why should we care? Today we live in a feminist culture and the effeminate man is highly praised while a mature man is seen
  as a Neanderthal; a primitive life form in a highly developed culture who if ignored will die off and fall away.
      --Gideon was hiding while attempting to care for his family but was actually neglecting future generations. The Spirit of God will change you direction Judges 6:11-12
  
   
• Failure in Family
  • Where I came from. And where I am
  
   
  God is good and sovereign; we can trust His work in our life.    
  My biological father

1. Rejected me at birth and said I wasn't his.
2. Had a disconnected relationship throughout my life.
3. Left me unprotected.
4. Unloved
5. Un-discipled
6. Un disciplined

My stepfather

1. Raised me as my mother's son (from my earliest memories)
2. Distant or separate relationship
3. Turned to alcohol for the pain of work injuries and being unable to work.

My second stepfather

1. Didn't protect me from people who would cheat me
2. He is separated by guilt
3. I am separated by the pain of being taken advantage of.

What I've learned--- post salvation, upon reflection.

1. I've learned there is a difference between a father and a dad. Even if you had a dad you will want that fathers whole in your life filled.
   1. Where did I come from –what are my roots.
2. A life lived for your own pleasures/interests is destructive.
   1. Unless it is family integrated.
3. A man must protect his children, even from himself.
   1. Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
   2. --Gideon Judges6:15-16 I am week and in the eyes of men have nothing to offer.

I believe God in his sovereignty has been the father I didn't have =

Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

        Before you feel too sorry for me---

I grew up a rebellious young man with an "us and them" mentality, concerned with myself and being cool.

    In spite of that God used these men to teach me many things.

1. Hard work is good. Proverbs 14:23 farm life and bringing in wood
2. Don't be afraid of doing hard things. Philippians 4:13
3. Take care of your tools. Matthew 25 14:30 (Talents)boy and the broken wrench- 2^nd grade
4. You can do more than you think if you give it your all. – dealing with anger
5. Your children need to be specifically relationally integrated in your life DAD. – breaking the independence battle
   
    

• If it weren't for the failings of my past I wouldn't be who I am today.

 

More than anything I have had a big hole in my life when it comes to a fatherly and manly example. Realizing my shortcoming ---

    Looking for good examples in others and emulating them myself 1 Corinthians 11:1

        The down side is that I tend to look to other men for approval.

• What is a man

1. Our biggest mistakes
   1. We let others define it and not God
      1. Androgyny= no difference between men and woman

Thomas Gramstad (feminist thinker) = One of the biggest and most prevalent mistakes in Western Culture is the idea that there

exist two separate and "opposite" genders, masculinity and femininity. This gender dualism is not only false and without any

factual or scientific support, but also very harmful. One strategy to overcome this wrongness is the idea of androgyny, by which

masculinity and femininity are not conceived as opposite ends of one spectrum, but as two separate spectrums: you can be or have

both at once (or neither), not only the one or the other.

1. Pietism= Salvation by being good (17^th-mid 18^th century and beyond)
   1. Led to strong endtime expectations (watching for comets)
   2. Broke down the barriers between men and women (writers prophets and leaders)
   3. The problem lies in the unbiblical soft exegesis of scripture that are of man and not of God.
      1. Personal piety is one thing but doctrine and theology are another.
      
       

àI believe these still effects the church today giving us a twisted worldview. Satan is well pleased with churches

that are full of feminist women and cowardly men. I say no

 

Men who struggled from cultural osmoses --    

i.    Moses= Exodus 3:11 Who am I that I should go (Guilt)

ii.    Jonah= Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord (Hatred)

God can use us in spite of us but with a bitter branch of consequence.

• Arron made the calf and went astray with the people.
• Jonah swallowed by a whale.

1. Our only hope – the word of God in the hands of the elect administered by the Holy Spirit.
   1. Men who overcame culture with unreserved obedience to God
      1. David = 1Samuel 17:26b "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the
         armies of the living God?"
      2. Isaiah = Isaiah 6:8 Here am I! Send me.
      3. Caleb= Numbers13:30 "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."
2. Men want to do real things.
   1. If you make church just a fluffy spiritual emotional festival you will either effeminize your men or lose them.
      1. Our hands were made for tools!
      2. 1Cor 4:12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

Some of my earliest memories are of my brothers and I Picking up the biggest rocks we could possibly hold and –smashing our Tonka's with them.

    Who would discipline their children for such antics?

What you don't know is that my stepdad was a scrap hauler and if you smash cars flat, you can haul more of them per

Semi load to the recycle center. As boys we simply applied what we saw to our world and emulated our Dad. We wanted to do real things.

1. Let's fight culture take down the bad guys and replace them with Godly order. Matt 6:10 Lords prayer- on earth as it is in heaven.
   1. Let's be salt and light in our culture. Matthew 5:13-16

 

1. Men need to do hard things
   1. As a man I found myself considering professional athletes and their abilities. When they scored a touchdown
      or drained a three from down town; it was exhilarating.
      
      1. I began to wonder, what were the three pointers in my life; did I have any buzzer beater ability or life in me?
         1. We are led to believe that we should settle for mediocrity.
            1. Did Michael Jordan do that? Or what about Joe Montana? They went all out and left it all on the floor.
      2. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
         1. These athletes have their reward, money and praise of men.
         2. Ours is an everlasting one before God almighty.
            Do you believe it?

    You were made to live a life of significance; not for the praise of men but for the glory of God.
        I challenge each and every man here to go hard until you go home (die)!
It is not sinful selfish lust to want to live a life of significance; God put that in you to drive you. Just make sure your eyes are on Him.

 
    This is significance "the husband of one wife" "father of children" "fighting principalities" Simply doing your best where you are
applying the law of God by the spirit of God with a heart of praise.

 

1. Men were made for dominion – personal(Time and resource)- Familistic(Production and outreach)- Cultural(Church and Government)
   1. Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have
      dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." – first command
   2. Genesis 9:1 1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2The fear of you and
      the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground
      and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you
      the green plants, I give you everything – repeated after the flood
   3. Lamentations 5:14 The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.
      1. If the husband and wife relationship is right, a man will have influence at the city gate.
         1. Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
      2. If the parental relationships are right, a man can contend with his enemies-In the Gate
         1. Psalm 127:5 blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with
            his enemies in the gate.
      3. Dominion is the life and breath of man's purpose on earth; the people of God have been empowered by His spirit to take care
         of his creation according to His Law; its private and public.
         
         1. PROVERBS 28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked :but such as keep the law contend with them
         2. Matthew 14:3-4 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, 2 and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his
            brother Philip's wife, 14:4 because John had repeatedly told 3 him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." Holding
         a pagan ruler to the law of God- all men are under the righteous dictates of the law.
         
         1. Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
         2. Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you 1 about our common salvation, I now feel
         compelled 2 instead to write to encourage 3 you to contend earnestly 4 for the faith 5 that was once for all 6 entrusted to the saints.
         
         1. We have things to doàare we not called?
            1. Neglecting and rejecting the dominion mandate is like saying that it is ok with us if our children are the slaves and puppets of tyrants.
            
             
2. Make decisions/ Take responsibility
   1. These go hand in hand; we teeter on indecision when we are fearful of mistakes and taking responsibility for them.
      1. Indecision kills – consider driving a car and you are sitting at an intersection of a large road. Your wife and family are in the car and you have to decide when to go.
         1. Indecision would mean not moving with conviction. Imagine just rolling out into traffic and then being a terrible hazard for yourself and others.
         2. If you move with purpose, even if you go the wrong way, you can still turn around; you will learn something.
            1. Don't be afraid of mistakes, be purposeful, and trust God.- word-prayer
            2. If you don't get this right you will be paralyzed (zombie)
         3. If you're consumed with fear of failure then it is pride.
            1. Pride is a state of immaturity and rejection of the design of the creator.

 

• Nagging and cowardice the spin cycle of destruction

We read "wives submit to your husband" and the ladies wince a little while men sit there in wonder.
We know that God himself made man first and then woman from his side curiously close to the heart. When we see this admonition it is always to the women first.
How strange, if man was made first then why the switch. It's because of the great and colossal influence a woman has on the home. The curse says that the desire
of the women will be for her husband but he shall rule over you.

1. God has given us order and the world will not have it, He has reasons that are life giving.

    I believe that the created strengths of the man help him lead and the strengths of a woman complement that; making marriage complete, Good.

 

1. The different way a man and woman handles emotions is very significant and understanding how it is a curse for immature men and women
   to be leaders. I think this plays a big part with how we approach the world and make decisions. Isaiah 3:12

 

1. Emotionally immature people will typically not know that about themselves. It is hidden under the surface and when revealed they are surprised by it. (Overreaction)
   1. We would do well to be concerned about the emotional maturity of our children
   2. I can think of times as a young man; when faced with adversity that I really failed with anger, sorrow and bitterness.
2. A woman who is more concerned about expressing herself then honoring her husband is wounding his heart and seriously damaging the marriage relationship.

        Do you see how?

a. It violates trust.

        b. Reinforces selfish thought patterns. Not love.

c. Encouraged as healthy by our feminist culture. Acceptable limits of expression are out of balance.

4. Women will normally have an immediate emotional reaction to turmoil, expectations and adversity.

5. Men will typically internalize the problem and deal with it later or just hold it in. It's part of taking it on the chin; note the emotional pain is

the same but is dealt with differently. That is why the command for ladies "they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives" is

so important. 1Peter 3:1 We foolishly believe we can save, but salvation is of God.

 

Because of the emotional makeup of men this kind of emotional trauma can be as damaging as physical abuse.

    I have seen women who continued to damage there husband's heart for thirty years with tiny paper cuts – millions of them. To the point where he just
did nothing because nothing he did was right. In the end she discarded him as rubbish. The other scenario is he just leaves because the marriage is dead.

 
This sounds like I'm coming down on ladies but bear with me!
    How we treat others should be filtered by our love for God, maturity and love for them.

• The confession and forgiveness process not only repairs relationships but is also an active part of the emotional maturing process.
  • Romans 2:4 or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads
    you to repentance? Run to it not from it!
  • 1Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel,
    since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Husbands; be mature about this you are not your wife's conscience but you are the homes protector.
  • Proverbs 15:1 a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

• Passivity or leadership
  
   
  What a Man must be.
  
   
  A man is a leader and passivity cannot be present in him. Passivity produces a coward, who is too proud to admit fault. A man is humble and courageous not passive and proud.
  A humble man will also fully rely on God (psalm 25:3 indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous).
  
   
  In Adams fall we sinned all.
  Adam & Eve/the fall: (Genesis 3) Eve failed to remember the commandment/ failed to obey. The fall of all mankind is hung on Adam's neck (because he's the leader)
  he was passive and cowardly. He did not stand alone, he instead followed her in the breaking of the
  Commandment he left his role as leader, and instead let his wife lead.
  
   
  If you must stand alone before your wife, then it's your fault. You must wash her with the water of the word. If you have to stand alone against your wife it's because you have neglected to teach her!
  
   
  The man must lead and the man is always held accountable before God even if he neglects his role for that of passivity (letting the wife lead). But in Christ
  we are freed from the curse of the woman seeking the leadership and the man seeking passivity. The man is reinstated into this God given role, and the same
  is done for the wife. In this position of the man leading and the wife following/helping the man in his vision, Gods design is fulfilled and the world can be
  changed but only through Christ, because without him it cannot be done Adam proves this.
  Only in Christ can the true design for the man and woman be accomplished.
  
   
  The man has huge influence. If you are passive- Repent! –Repent! –Repent!
  
  
   
  Also a man cannot rely on his emotions; he must control himself based on what he is called to do, not what he feels.
  
   
  A man is called to make the decisions; his wife is his counsel in his decision making (2nd to the word of God).
  
   
  This is the day that the Lord has made: I can rejoice in Gods priorities, not my selfish ambitions.
  Not sleeping in/ playing games rather in taking dominion and living righteously.
  
   
  Proverbs 1:32 for the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."--> Complacent
  
   
  • Keyà Manhood is about submission
    • What does it look like -John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only
      what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Fathered does, that the Son does likewise.
    • Submission to Christ – Rev 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True,
      and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name
    written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
    14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp
    sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath
    of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. –This is your King
    
    • It is a position of strength – no indecision
    • Unites your heart – James 1 :8 a double minded man is unsteady in all his ways
    • James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
    • Job 22:21 (has·ken) Yield--Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.
    • Submission is the key to an unreserved life of obedience to God!
    • When you look at what needs done you won't look at yourself.
  If there is sin in the home it is ultimately the father's responsibility to deal with it. Like a captain of a ship.
  
   
  --Remember Gideon's first task was to pull down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah replacing it with God honoring life. Judges 6:25-26 We as fathers
  need to root out ungodly false worldviews in our home and replace them with biblical truth.
  
   
  Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
  
   
  Scott Brown "It is amazing to me that God would take a regular guy and stick him in a home and make him the hinge point for the whole nation"
  
   
  Men are the pillars of society, protectors of justice and defenders of the innocent –
  
   
  Judges 6:11-27
  
   
      It is men who are called to lead and protect, is it any wonder that marriage is initiated by the man (we can't say it's not our problem we didn't start it).
  So it is in culture, cultural reform starts in the home; the American experiment has shown that the culture rises and falls with the family.
  
   
  Will you be like Gideon, a mighty man of Valor?
  
   
  "A Sword for the Lord and for Gideon!"
  Judges 7:20