Last Friday, February 8, 2008, VCF Malate had its third part of the Passion Trend Series entitled "The Guy Thing".
The program started with a fashion show wherein some of our VCF men ramped as models. Afterwards, one by one these men came out to give roses to the all the women in the church. This was to signify men's role in honoring all women regardless of who they are. It is a man's role to treat women with utmost respect and purity because they are special before God's eyes.
After that, the speaker for the night preached about the topic for that night which is "The Guy Thing". The topic was about becoming Real Men in accordance to how God designed and destined men to be. After the message, there was call for real men to stand up and commit themselves to start living in righteousness before God. Those who made a stand were prayed for by the pastors, and the congregation. I, myself found myself blessed to see so many men willing to start living out for God. In our generation today, it is rare to see men wanting to live pure and holy lives. But I was so blessed to see that there are still men who are willing to make that choice. C'mon! Praise God!
The message was also really amazing that I decided to blog about it so that those who were not able come would at least still be able to grasp the message. I also added my own insights and some verses to compliment the message. Be blessed!
Real Men Say NO to Sin
We all have a desire to fit in regardless of who we are, whether men or women. To give emphasis to this the speaker, showed us the video "The Human Tetris". (see The Human Tetris, YouTube) In our society today, we are often pressured to compromise in order to fit in. We all experience some sort of peer pressure whether in school, in our jobs, or even in our circle of friends, our family and church. The speaker shared his own experience in peer pressure. In a Christmas party he once attended, he was praying to God to win one of the top prizes that was being raffled. However, there was one catch. Their boss, after reading the name of the winner would make the employee drink a lot of wine that it would lead the employee to become drunk. The speaker did not want to compromise his principle to not drink and to not get drunk so he decided beforehand that if his name was called, and he was made to drink he would refuse regardless of the consequences. It was amazing that God answered his prayer to win one of the top prizes but the best part was that everyone was already drunk by the time his name was called that he was no longer offered to drink. It was God's grace that he was also saved from the temptation and pressure.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Romans 13:13-14)
We all know Joseph the dreamer in the Bible as a man of God. Joseph was a blessed man. He was handsome, well-off, he had a great job. But that's not all, because of his good looks and appeal, his master's wife, Potiphar was attracted to him. She wanted to sleep with Joseph, but Joseph being a man of God refused her.
...Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. (Genesis 39:6-10)
How many men in our generation today would choose to do what Joseph did? How many men would rather stand up for righteousness than please their sensual pleasures or go with the crowd?
REAL MEN say NO to SIN!
The original fantastic four according to the speaker can be found in the Bible. They are four friends by the name of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were also known as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respectively.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. The chief official renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. (Daniel 1:6-7)
The trials and temptation that these four friends encountered while they were in Babylon was so great that it tested more than their faith, more than their principles, but also threatened their lives.
In one incident in the story, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego encountered an extremely life threatening temptation. The king made a golden idol for himself and commanded everyone to bow down to this idol.
Idolatry as a Sin against God..
So do not corrupt yourselves by making a physical image in any form--whether of a man or a woman, an animal or a bird, a creeping creature or a fish. And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars--all the forces of heaven--don't be seduced by them and worship them. The LORD your God designated these heavenly bodies for all the peoples of the earth. So be careful not to break the covenant the LORD your God has made with you. You will break it if you make idols of any shape or form, for the LORD your God has absolutely forbidden this. The LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. "In the future, when you have children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time, do not corrupt yourselves by making idols of any kind. This is evil in the sight of the LORD your God and will arouse his anger. (Deuteronomy 4:16-19, 23-25)
To whom, then, can we compare God? What image might we find to resemble him?
Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? Or is a poor person's wooden idol better? Can God be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down? ...It is God who sits above the circle of the earth. The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers! He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them..."To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:18-20, 22, 25)
The consequence of refusal to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar's idol is death. Imagine yourself in their situation. Everyone in the world is doing it, but you know it's wrong, it's a sin, would you be able to stand up for your for your faith, for your GOD?! Talk about peer pressure. It's like you against the whole world.
..."People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king's command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Daniel 3:4-7)
But do you know what happened? THEY DID NOT COMPROMISE!
REAL MEN say NO to SIN!
Their desire to please God was greater. They were REAL MEN who wanted to obey their one and only God. And because of that, they were thrown by the king to the burning furnace, but instead of being burned to singes, God rescued them. God blessed their conviction to do what is right and pleasing. There was not even a hint of damage that was seen from these men. They did not even smell of smoke. AMAZING! And more than that, the King was so amazed that he ended up praising God.
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully clothed. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames leaped out and killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in! So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell down into the roaring flames. But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, "Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?""Yes," they said, "we did indeed, Your Majesty." "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!" Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the princes, prefects, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke! Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (Daniel 3:14-28)
Sometimes we wonder how we can lead our unsaved friends to God. The answer may be in the very lives we are living. When we live lives that is in accordance with God, that is pleasing and blameless before Him, our lives may become the very instrument God will use to lead people to start believing in our great God.
God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
Unfortunately, there are times when temptations come in beautiful packages. Most of the time, the enemy presents himself to be very nice, to be very desirable, and pleasurable. This video is a proof of this fact. (see Vios Video, YouTube)
...Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
God already has planned a wonderful future for us (even before we were born). He wants to give us a great family, a good wife for the men and a good husband for the women. God wants to bless us immensely in our lives. The Bible is full of His promises and beautiful dreams for us. But the enemy would do everything to steal, kill and destroy and even to devour all those beautiful dreams, blessings, plans, so that we will lose everything and turn away from God.
The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy... (John 10:10)
For these reasons, we have to always be on guard. After all we have to prepared in all circumstances whether man or woman, we are equally tempted and attacked by all sorts of testing of faith, sufferings, and temptations.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:8-10)
It is also a reminder for us that we are warriors. We are to flee from his traps, and we must always be ready as warriors to be fully equipped and armored to face the battle.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith...
(1 Timothy 6:11-12)
REAL MEN say NO to SIN!
Fleeing from temptations is not easy, but it is not impossible. It is always easier to say YES that NO to temptations that is why ONLY REAL MEN CAN SAY NO TO SIN! ONLY MEN OF GOD!
Some people would reason out that they will change when they already become husbands or wives, or when they graduate they will start setting straight their lives. However, we have to realize that what we are doing NOW, will determine what will do and will be in the FUTURE. Your NOW determines your TOMORROW. That is why we must START NOW! Start living pure and holy NOW!
Real Men Fear God
Fear of God is not about being scared rather it means you respect, revere, and even love God. For example, if you love someone or if you highly respect someone, you will not do something bad or hurtful to that person. That is what it means to fear God.
We have such a loving God, in John 3:16, it is written that He loved us so much that He gave His one and only son for us. Put yourself in HIS place. If you have a son, would you be able to do that for someone, a stranger even? I doubt that any good father could do that. But because of HIS LOVE for US, He did that for US.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
God's love for us is more than enough a motivation to turn away from sin. What more can you ask for? He already gave us so much. He loves us so much!
It's never easy to turn away from sin. But we have an encouragement from God, that when we choose Him above all else we are already victorious. For we are conquerors, we are winners! We can refuse sin because of what Christ has done for us.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
As Christians, we already can move beyond those sinful natures because they have been crucified with Christ. Now we should be led by the Spirit that we may not sin against God.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24-25)
The time for us to say NO to SIN and YES to GOD is NOW!
REAL MEN say NO to SIN and YES to GOD!
