Men – Keys to God’s Kingdom
Living Life Inside Out
Sunday,
Text
" After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the
"21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 5:21-6:4 NIV)
Review
Core concepts concerning the kingdom.
· God created the world “right-side up.”
· God designed humans to live “inside-out.”
· Sin turned the world “upside-down.”
· Sin causes people to live “outside-in.”
· Jesus came to turn the world “right-side up!”
· Jesus came to help us live “inside-out!”
This is the “Gospel of the Kingdom…!”
· The kingdom is spiritual (living “inside-out”)
· The kingdom is tangible and powerful.
· The kingdom is beneficial (reflects character of its king).
· The kingdom is accessible (“at hand” – KJV; “near” - NIV).
· The kingdom is valuable (worth prioritizing above all else).
Today, on this father’s day, i want to focus on the important role men, especially fathers, play in God’s kingdom.
What kind of fathers are kingdom men?
1. Men with submissive hearts who acknowledge the King’s lordship.
In God’s Kingdom, we can only have authority to the extent that we are under authority.
"6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”" (Luke 7:6-8 NIV)
Before speaking about God’s plan for order and structure in the home, Paul first speaks of “submitting one to another in the fear (reverence) of God…” The husband is only described as the “head” of his wife in the context of Christ’s lordship over his own life as a member of the church!
God’s plan for husbands and fathers has nothing to do with any kind of supposed innate superiority over women…!
The term, “…weaker vessel…,” is used in the context of Christ’s suffering under Roman authority in a godly way and Jesus was NOT weak or inferior to those who mistreated Him…!
" 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2:13-17 NIV)
" Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." (1 Peter 3:1-8 NIV)
God made men and women different, but He also made them equal in value in His sight….!
"28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:28-29 NIV)
" 28 In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. 29 Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises." (Galatians 3:28-29 The Message)
"12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." (Colossians 3:12-21 NIV)
A man’s role as “head” is to protect his wife from spiritual temptation so that she is not exposed to forces she is not designed to deal with. Cf: God’s command to Adam to “keep,” i.e., “protect,” the Garden of Eden and the fact that that the serpent was a beast of the “field” that Adam should have kept out of the Garden. Had Adam been doing his job, Eve would never have had to face the temptation brought to her by the serpent…! Furthermore, as what Paul calls the “first” Adam, imagine how the outcome of Eve’s sin would have been different had Adam fulfilled his high priestly/intercessory calling, entreating Eve to repent and God to forgive her when she did…!
2. Men with sensitive hearts who reflect the King’s character.
Authority flows down from the King and all His laws reflect His character.
"13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:13-17 NIV)
"7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV)
Important to cultivate trust in our children.
Difference between discipline and punishment.
"4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4 NIV)
"6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)
Need for both justice and mercy.
"15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15 NIV)
Foolish – the belief that there are no consequences to my actions…!
“Way he should go” does not only refer to righteousness, but also to the discovery and development of God’s giftings within that child.
Important to know our children.
Jean-Marc “artist” of football game
“Hair” story –
3. Men with courageous hearts who are committed to the King’s causes.
" 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. " (Matthew 6:25-34 NIV)
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