These are the type of men that you would see and come to know in the church that I attend every Sunday and Wednesday. In the outer appearance, you would only see them as simply, "common men." But there is something special inside of these men. They hold a secret within that unites them. A thread that binds them. A love that surpasses all understanding. These men unite together in good times and in the dark times. They are tried and tested almost everyday. Sometimes they win, sometimes they fail. But they never faulter in their "faith."
Men over the dawn of time have been described and taught to be the "bread-winners" and "head of the house." There is alot to bare as a "man of God" when you are the head of a family. But, I am sure at times, they get overwhelmed. They lose their patience with the wife, kids and the bills. But I would like to think that in those times, that even if someone is suffering outside of their own family, they would step in and encourage the ones that are hurting. A couple of the men that I go to church with have been great encouragements to me in the past. Some have really encouraged me in the things of God. Most men today wouldn't take the time to even talk to you and help you learn how to deal with the temptations. As men today, we are constantly tempted by the things of the world. Whether it's toys, women or money, we are constantly thrown into the ugliness of temptation. But it's up to us whether or not we rely on God or ourselves to deal with such thoughts. Being a single man myself, I cannot even think of the temptations that married men face today. I can only assume that it is worse than the single men. But, I have been blessed and encouraged by some of the men in church. I have one friend that I have become very close to. We enjoy the same things pretty much, but he is married with a beautiful family. He is in a business that he is constantly surrounded by temptation or the ugliness of sin. But he always encourages me by how he deals with those things, even if he fails, he learns from it and goes forward. But he also stands of what God has placed in his heart. Another friend, looking at him is a big ol' country boy that is married with a beautiful family that is a mechanic on semi-trucks. But when he speaks of God, the discipline that has been embedded in him, I can't help but think, "how is it that a guy like this is a man of God? How can he teach me anything?" But the truth is that Chad and Josh both have taught me alot in my walk.
Now the older generation has taught me quite a few things as well. I have talked to the older men on a few occasions on how to deal with sexual temptation and what they did to overcome it. They have encouraged me on how to deal with those things, feed on the Word of God, get into my prayer closet, take on the accountability of your actions and ask for help when you need it. It's okay to talk to the older generation. We should always feel free to receive the advice or counsel when we need it. These are great times of fellowship.
But here recently, I have been encouraged by the way some of the men in our church have been allowing God to get on them, and for them to soak in His Presence. As a singer on the Praise and Worship team, there are times that I see people that are drawing in on the Presence of God. I saw one in particular one night when another man of God was just basking in His Presence. Chad was simply standing there and soaking in the love and joy of God. If you look at Chad, he's a construction worker with a beautiful family as well. Chad is tall, couple of tattoos and very quiet most of the time. But when he got into the Presence of God that night, he was like a child that was being embraced by His Father. He just took Him in.
Throughout the Old and New Testament, the definition of man has never changed. The responsibilities have not changed. The calling of God that has been put on the lives of men have not changed. The only thing that has changed within men, is the men. Nothing else. Men of God should encourage one another in all things. But we should just stop there. We should encourage those that are lost in the things of God. Alot of us are around other people that need witnessing to or encouragement. The Disciples of Jesus prayed for "boldness" when they went out and ministering to the people. As men of God, we should be encouraged and chase after such an example.
So how do we encourage one another?
My thought is this. Our lives for one should be an example. The greatest form of encouragement is the life that we live according to God. Men today are so burdened by the things of life today, that you can see it when they come to church. Some choose to feed on it and some let it go. Those are the men that you need to encourage in the things of God. Telling them to release those burdens and cast off those cares. Show them how to deal with things they way God would want you to deal with them. But first and foremost, Seek God on the care. Get into your prayer closet. He is our "safe refuge, strong tower, my hiding place." Encourage them to praise God not only in the good times, but in the bad times. The enemy wants nothing more than the men of God to fall away from Him for the mere fact that it will not only destroy them, but their family as well. Most men today would kill a person if someone harmed their family in away. The same should go when it comes to dealing with the devil. He is out to destroy everything that God has blessed your life, your family and friends with.
Men of God, it is time to rise up and defend the Gospel. Proclaim and encourage the things of God to one another and to the lost. He is our God to share with the world, with each other and our family. This is not the time to be greedy and keep Him to ourselves. It is time to "spread the love." This is the time to seek and devour the goodness of God. Have the "God-like Boldness" today that the Disciples had back in the day. I have one last thing to say on this.
Men, our lives, families and friends are being attacked by an invisible enemy. He is there to destroy everything that God has blessed us with. Defend your faith, your family and your God with every ounce of your being. Satan isn't going to stop attacking us. We should never stop defending what God has given and promised us.
1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
We have the power and ability to overcome these attacks.
But are you willing to use it?
That is the question...
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