CARMEL:MEN

The Bible tells us that God has known and planned us from the beginning of time. God is not a far off distant entity but a loving father who wants relationship with his children. He is a Father who has grafted you in to his family. The Bible says…. “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8 and “God said ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'” Hebrews 13:5 God values you highly. If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would of still gone to the cross for you.

His promise is that if we draw near to him he will come closer to us. He does not promise that only good will happen or life will be free of pain. He promises to give us His strength when we are weak and when we go through trials. So reach out to God in prayer. Like David did in the Psalms tell him exactly what is going on and receive His care.

Father God doesn’t want anything from you, but for you to receive his unconditional love and to receive his blessings and fellowship. Christianity is not about dos and don’ts as it sometimes is portrayed.

Jesus is the only God who has died for humanity and so we don’t have to work for salvation it is all by grace. So, he wants us to accept that grace. This grace enables us to life like Jesus. His death purchased a freedom for us, free from sin and self, connected to His love.

As a new creation, we can enjoy the fruit of the spirit working in our life’s. God’s desire for us, is that we abide in his grace and love, so that we grow in to all he has for us. So that we can then share the love grace and mercy that we have received to all others. He is also looking for us to be fruitful and multiply, this means too in our influence and ability for him, to see His Kingdom come.

In todays post modern society we tend to blur the lines of masculinity and femininity, sometimes there is an attack on manhood and being a man. There are of course clear differences between men and women physically in the way we have been fashioned. But there are differences psychologically too in the way we think and act, though of course there are no set stereotypes and each individual is different.

In Genesis 1: 27 we read, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female, He created them.” God’s design was unique for the 2 genders. Central to that is the aspect of Husband and wife, Father and Mother. The biblical view of marriage is under great attack as gender is redefined, however the Bible makes clear the importance of these distinct genders.

Roles within a thriving family come from thriving communities. We shouldn’t aim to redefine what God has already defined.

A Godly man looks to imitate Jesus and live in this world as He lived.

Jesus had to come to be the 2nd Adam – to be the example for all humanity to follow. Adams great mistake was that he did not take responsibility. God had commanded him to guard the garden of Eden and he was there with Eve as she eat from the fruit they were commanded not too, which caused sin to enter the world. When God asked them about it, they hid and tried to deny their actions.

Jesus then came in to the world to take responsibility for our sin and the sin of all the world. This is a key example for every man - to take personal responsibility for our actions and our life.

To be real with God and to not hide. When we do this, we learn to take responsibility in other areas of our lives and we become men that others can trust and follow this is essential for leading a family and is often the downfall of marriages.

When we live for self, we constantly get opposition in our relationships. Learning to live more as Christ lives can bless our marriage and family phenomenally. Relationships can be transformed when both or even one spouse begins to love unconditionally.

A marriage covenant is something sacred that sanctifies the family and preserves communities. It is under attack from the world and from the devil, so do not be surprised when your relationship with your wife seems unnecessarily difficult, but view the attack from the devil or from your selfish flesh, don’t believe it is an attack from your wife. Love thinks the best of others, especially those closest to us. Pray in these times and ask God to help you to think and then act his way.

You must remember that you are your children’s hero, no one else can be their Dad. This is why it is vital that we do invest in our children, but also not to give yourself a real hard time. If you love them and you are doing your best for them, they will see and know this love.

Your responsibility as a Father is to guide, guard and govern. You are the Prophet the Priest and the King of your home. As a Prophet you are to talk to your children about God, as Priest to talk to God about your children and intercede for them and as King to make wise decisions that bless and protect them. It is a privilege and a high calling – but don’t be intimidated with the Father of Fathers to help you and with a community of older men to give wisdom. You are more than capable and God has enabled and destined you to succeed.

Don’t worry – it is not just you! We have all been born in to sin and to self. So we each of us view things from our own best interest. But with Jesus’ help we can begin to live for others and day by day make decisions to be more self-less. This is the importance of daily fellowship with Jesus and His Spirit. Through regular Bible reading and prayer (talking to Jesus – asking for help, thanking him for working in us, general communication) we begin to renew our minds to the Jesus kind of life that God has planned for each of us. A life where we can freely love others and give of ourselves.