Act Like Men - The Mandate, The Malady, the Motivation

A MANDATE

1 Cor 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. 15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 

1 Cor 16:13 (NASB) Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.

There are two kinds of people and men: 1) Those who are living mainly for themselves and their ambitions: 2) Those who live mainly to serve others. 

The end of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church offers sound advice for men and fathers (and everyone by example). Be on the alert

1. Stand firm in the faith
2. Act like men
3. Be strong
4. That all that you do be done in love

Greek word for "act like men" means, "to make a man of, or make brave...to show one's self a man, be brave"

Brave definition: Ready to face and endure danger or pain

Here’s a good question: How does a man act?

A MALADY

There are a lot of negative perceptions about men. Part of this comes from the bad things that some men have done that are highlighted over and over again. This bad behavior gets assigned to all men, especially black men. 

Frederick Douglass said in a different day and time: "You degrade us and then ask why we are degraded. You shut our mouths and ask why we don't speak. You close your colleges and seminaries against us and then ask why we don't know.

A MOTIVATION

Good men are already motivated to do the right thing, even against all odds. 

If you encourage and honor a father and a man, that will empower him raise above all challenges and shortcomings.

What blesses men and fathers is honor. A lack of honor for fathers and men is reflection of a lack of honor for the Lord. Remember this Scripture, 1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

In his book “Honor’s Reward,” John Bevere shared the following: The greek word for honor literally means “a valuing.” The picture is one of something valuable, precious or weighty, such as gold. Other definitions: appreciation, esteem, favorable regard, respect.

Flattery is insincere praise, especially that given to further one's own interests.

The antonym for “honor” is “dishonor” or to treat as common or ordinary, to not show respect or value.

Honor can be shown in actions, words, or thoughts, but all true honor originates from the heart. This is what the Pharisees and most religious leaders in Jesus’ day lacked. This is why they lacked power and moral authority.,

Even Jesus had to deal with a lack of honor and is hindered the release of God’s power.

Mark 6:1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

What I have seen all of my life is the extraordinary things that men do in service to the community, family, business and ministry. Just here in Indy, there are men I have met and worked with who “act like men” in extraordinary ways. We have men who are well known doing great deeds, but we also have men acting like men under the radar.

Men like Brian Carter, Denell Howard, Derris Ross, Jonathan Thompson, Robert Townsend, Jim Strietelmeier, Eugene Potter, Anthony Beverly and many more 

 

Godly men won't lose motivation for a lack of honor, though he might lose heart. Motivation is the will to act and do what is necessary and right. Losing heart is to lose confidence or to stop believing that you can succeed. Godly men do not throw their hands up in defeat. Motivation has to be inward. This is something that separates men from boys. Boys have to be told what to do. Men know what to do.

 

If you waited for someone to encourage or help you to do something, you would not get a lot done. Help and encouragement follow action – and it often comes from unexpected places and people.

 

Later in life, and especially after your father is gone, you will appreciate how much he loved you, how much he did, how hard he worked. Don't let people hear all that at his funeral, tell him now. That’s way I honor my father with words and deeds.

 

The Bible says "Honor your mother and faith." A lot of people don't understand what honor is or how to honor.

 

How does honor affect our identity and blessings in life?

Mark 6:5 – Jesus goes to a city looking for the messiah – “Now he could do no mighty work there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

What really got my attention was that he could do no mighty work. I understand if he would do no mighty work. He says “could” do no mighty work. He was restrained.

We’ve got to know what restrains Jesus, because if we know what restrains him, we’ll know what restrains us.

A lack of honor and reducing Him to something lesser and familiar, blocked the blessing they could have received from him. To his family, friends, and neighbors, Jesus was just the kid down the street, or “the carpenter.” He was more than his occupation, but “familiarity” hindered their ability to see beyond the natural.

Jesus comes to this city that is looking for the Messiah, and the result is that even though he comes with the spirit of God without measure, only a few people get healed. They get a small reward because of honor.