Manhood has four stages – Phase I – Boyhood

The Four Stages of Manhood

I am going to produce a series of short, Biblical articles on manhood, and the four stages that I see from the Word of God, we grow through, both naturally and spiritually. These four stages are:

1.Boyhood

2.Manhood

3.Fatherhood

4.The Age of the Patriarch

Today, we will look at spiritual and natural boyhood.

 

Boyhood

This is going to be a fairly short article for this simple reason: I want men to actually read it!

Over the years, as I have developed as a man of God, and more importantly as a man…Today we are going to talk about spiritual childhood, and growing through it, to become men of God….

In a perfect world, a child would be born into a Christian household, filled with love, nurture, the fruit of the Spirit, with boundaries of protection set around your world by the holiness of the Word of God.

There would be no drama, trama, or heartbreak, but parents would lovingly grow you up in the Word of God, until the day came that you, a fully responsible adult, would be launched out into your particular gifting and calling, deeply rooted in the Word and love of God, with wings to fly!

Yet, this is a fallen world, and not all of us grew up in a Christian home, furthermore, even those of us that did, could only be instructed in what our parents knew about the Word, and to the degree our parents were willing and able to recognize and respond to the giftings God had placed upon our lives, so that they might train us up in the way ‘we should go’.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it

 

 

 

There is responsibility of spiritual adults to care for new Christians; spiritual babies are characterized by Innocence, Ignorance, and sometimes, irritability.

 

Babies are easily distracted, easily hurt, and easily frustrated. God wants us to grow up to the place where we become single minded, not easily hurt, and not so easily frustrated. Where you can give our word, and keep it!

 

Well let’s look at God’s Word on this topic today, and then let’s see spiritual childhood, boyhood, and how to grow through it.

 

1 Corinthians 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are born-again, new creations in Christ Jesus.

God Himself has come to live inside our recreated human spirit!

Jesus did not come to make bad people good, nor good people better, rather dead people: ALIVE!

We are born not only to our natural parents, but more importantly into the kingdom of God.

Just as the first thing a natural baby requires is to nurse, so in our heart of hearts, our recreated spirit also needs food to grow, the sincere milk of the Word of God!

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

The truth is, no matter how good or bad your upbringing was, as we decide to walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit will bring the appropriate Word to make us more like Jesus, to bring us to completeness as human beings.

^{Romans 8:29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren

There may have been accidental parents, but no accidental children. God planned for you. He has given you and your life as a gift to this hurting planet, and He has an eternal plan being worked out for you, and in you.

You have been redeemed, adopted into God’s family:Ephesians 3:15 of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

No matter how great our earthly family may have been, we are now part of the royal family of God, training for reigning with Jesus!

1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things

We are to be conformed to be like Jesus

Romans 8:29 (AKJV)

1. In a perfect world, in a perfect family (none exist on earth), a child would develop naturally, intellectually, and spiritually, in a wonderful cocoon of God’s love, grace and protection.
2. Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Galatians 4  (AKJV)

4 :1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; ² but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. ³ Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: ⁴ but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵ to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

You have been adopted into the family of God, with eternal rank and privilege!

Ephesians 1:5

having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 

So what is the job and responsibility of a child? To grow!

Have fun! Fall in love with Father God, let Jesus love you, receive His grace, goodness, and continually diet of instruction in the Word of God. Learn to feed your heart, your human spirit, and to allow the Word of God to grow within you, setting boundaries upon your heart, teaching you truth from lies, right from wrong, good from evil, holiness from profanity, true love from mere human sentiment. Grow!

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Let’s pray:

 

Father, thank you for adopting me and making me Your child. Reveal Your great love for me, and show me Your holy ways of love, that are always greater than the love of even my earthly parents. Bring into my life the sincere milk of Your Word, and cause me to grow in the character and likeness of Jesus, falling more in love with Him every day. Show me the things I have been taught by my parents, my teachers, society, and even church, that are not in line with Your Word, or Your particular calling and destiny upon my life, and show me truth that makes me free. I choose to separate myself fully on the purpose and plan You have created me for: grant me courage to walk in it, without compromise. I ask this, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

Two By Two!

Two by two
Luke 10 Deut 3, 4

Luke 10:1 ¶ After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest

Many of you already know, that I am a certified commercial diver, having graduated Seneca College Underwater Skills program, in King City, Ontario, Canada, in 1980.On long drives, or during campfires, my children often get me to tell them ‘fish’ stories, and we have fun sometimes going on Youtube and looking up cool fish or sharks that I have seen diving.

In this pic, I pray to God, the dive buddy taking the picture is holding more than a camera! Like a speargun, pull spear, or bangstick would be more comfortable!

In either scuba, or any untethered diving, the number one rule of safety, is never dive alone, always dive with a buddy.

Seems the principal works in construction really well too, when we ran the carpentry company, we generally sent out an experienced carpenter or journeyman, with a helper, or apprentice. I tried to pair them up according to personality and experience, but some interesting things happened over the years. Several two man teams, enjoyed working together so much, that instead of raising up seasoned men, to go apprentice another helper, we simply bumped their payscale up to pay them what they were worth (not actually, we paid them what the industry could bear, in my mind, they were worth far more than I was able to pay them), and these guys continued working together. Billy and Jim, two of my lead guys, ended up together for seven years, and even after I closed the company, they still work together!

We see this in marriage too . I believe God calls not just individuals, but families,
Ephesians 3:15 (AMP)
For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

I believe that when a husband and wife team up in the call of God, to accomplish the work of the ministry, tremendous things occur!

Think of great marriages in the gospel: Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty, TL and Daisy Osborne, Ken and Lynette Hagin, Gordon and Freda Lindsey, John and Dodie Osteen, to name a few. Examples of how the call, commission, and power of God can flow through a husband and wife team, into their families, to radically impact the earth, for generations!

Gen 2:18 ¶ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

When an authentic vision or mission statement from God is released in the earth, marriages become alive. Sure, the man is responsible to hear God and implement the visions clearly in his family, but suddenly, his family comes alive! There is no tyranny in the home, only love, as Holy Spirit distributes to each family member their part in the plan of God, and a husband is free to love His wife and children, prayerfully protecting them in the plan, and there is peace, joy, and fulfillment in every area of life.

I see the submission required by wives, somewhat different than many preach it.

“Sub”, means under. Mission, is the vision or mandate of God for the home. When a man is going for it in Jesus, and taking the time to lovingly explain what God has placed in his heart for the family, it is generally (if not always), something far bigger than he can presently accomplish. The family starts running with the vision, and helping each other, in love to both grow spiritually, but to accomplish what God has said. Then the wife comes under the mission, not under his tyranny, and together, as joint heirs to the graces of life, they work towards building the kingdom of God. Forgiving, instructing, loving, supporting, and humbly working with each other, to build something far greater than themselves.

A legacy, that should the Lord tarry (based upon the signs of the times, not sure that will happen), that will last for generations to come! Love never fails!

It is for life! Heard this quote that I thought was cute:
“An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her.”
Mystery author Agatha Christie, who was married to one.

God has a helpmate for you. You are not generally designed to work alone. He sent them out two by two. Question is, who is the other person to work with during this season of your life and ministry?

Let’s pray:
‘Father, please make your vision for my life crystal clear, and help me to understand and communicate it lovingly and clearly to those around me. Show me who I am supposed to work with in it, and may I not chase wrong relationships that are contrary to Your specific calling upon my life, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen”

Father’s LEAD!

Saw this Video, and it made me tear up, so I got inspired to write my 7 things for husbands. What are yours?

/ http://skitguys.com/videos/item/fatherhood

Husbands, Lead!

 

Ephesians 5:23
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.

Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

2Ch 34:33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Ps 127:1 ¶ «A Song of degrees for Solomon.» Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you.” – Desmond Tutu

As I read through these few verses, and this wonderful quote, I am reminded again, that my family, my wife, my life, are gifts from God, that I am responsible to constantly love, provide for, develop, bless, lead, empower, teach, snuggle, and walk with God with.

Today I heard Rev. Tom Leding make the statement: We were never designed to live in this world without God. In fact, the very problems that infuriate you today, may well be the problems you are called of God to solve as you cry out to God in frustration, your deliverance, and solution may well help many others to find freedom!

Serving Jesus as a husband and father in today’s generation is no small challenge, and will take a close walk with Him, humbly seeking grace, strength, wisdom, and direction as we grow through life.

Yet, husbands, we are heads of our homes, there is nothing more to say in this other than we need to man up, step up, and accept our responsibility, and walk it out in the power of God!
Here are some thoughts on leadership responsibilities:

1. Lead in family devotions. Seek ye first the kingdom is still in the book, and as a father, we need to include our wives and children in daily devotions and Bible reading. We need to be the ones to get up for church in the morning, and remain faithful in the house of the Lord.

2. Protect – Sure we need to protect our homes from home intruders, and our children from the local bullies, and drug dealers, but we also need to keep our homes safe spiritually. Monitoring internet usage, our children’s friends. Our wife should help in this, but we are required by God to set a standard of holiness, purity, and honor in our home.
3. Discipline – I have learned that 90% of my time with my children is spent loving them, playing with them, and answering their questions. Yet, if, at any point, any child directly defies my or my wife’s command, there must be instant consequences, either a time out, or the board of instruction applied to the seat of higher learning. I cannot throw this off on my wife.
   
   
4. Provide – Whether in ministry or the work-place, I need to be bringing home the bacon. In Proverbs 31 we see a godly wife contributing to household support, but we are the one’s who must bust a move and put bread on the table. If this is all we do, it is not enough, but this is the first responsibility.
   Yet, money alone is not provision. As seasons have changed in our lives, we have been wealthy, and very poor. Seems that in the poor times, we have had to stick together really tight and press into Jesus if we wanted to eat that day.
5. Love our Wives – sounds simple right?1 Peter 3:7
   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 prayersAnyone who has been married more than a couple of years knows that this will take a prayer life, and the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. 
6. 
   Set the Vision for our home – I believe that each family in the earth is ordained of God, and has a specific mandate from heaven to fulfill. It is usually too great for any man, so that is why he is given a wife to help him with it. Submission, means to come under the mission – easy for a wife to do (she is wired that way) when a hard working man of God is following his God given dream.
7. Set the atmosphere of love in your home – Life is hard. Our homes need to be a place of refuge from the storms of life, places of peace, where we can rest, laugh, love and enjoy each other. Keep the battles outside your four walls, but make your dwelling a place of peace. It is here that children can be raised in the training and nurture and admonition of the Lord, for we serve a God of love!
8. 
   Let’s Pray!
   ‘Father, I see my place as head of my home, to set an atmophere of love, honor, holiness, joy, peace, provision, and respect for authority. I submit to your authority in this nation, determined to do right, in obeying the laws of this land, and in doing my job, supporting your work in my church, and any other ministry you call our family to. I see my responsibility to hear you and your vision for our family, recognizing that you have called us, this family, and named us, and given us a place before your throne, in your kingdom. As for me and my house, we will serve you Jesus, trusting that you are building our house, that our work, done in obedience and in worship of you, produces the reward of our inheritance, both in this life, and eternally. I thank you for this privilege Father, and ask you for courage, strength, and faithfulness, to continue to lead, guide, direct, encourage, instruct, train, equip, and bless my wife and children, in your love and light, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.’

The Place Where We Were Was Supernaturally Shaken!

Acts 4:31 When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.

Had this happen today. While pastor Richard fixed an elderly lady’s toilet, I visited with her and her grown daughter. She told me she was 87 years young, and had been faithfully serving the Lord all her life in her Baptist church. She had played the keyboard in her church, and she really loved Jesus, her children, and her grandchildren. So, before we packed up to leave, we decided to pray for one another. As I prayed for her, I literally felt the wind of God come into her dining room, and like a power surge out of my hand into hers while we prayer. I prayed ‘Fill her Holy Spirit, give her fresh oil, and reveal the fire of Your presence!’ She began to scream, and speak in other tongues, and pray for me and my family, and I failed to notice her daughter and pastor Richard run into the kitchen. The glory of God was so evident, I began to laugh in the joy of the Lord!

After we wished each other good-bye, Richard said: ‘Did you feel that when you prayed?’ “I sure did I exclaimed” He said ‘Did you hear what happened in the kitchen? I asked what he was talking about: He said that as we were praying, the house shook, so violently, that all the pots and plates in the kitchen began banging so loudly, that he and the woman’s daughter, ran in there to see what was going on. Everything was shaking supernaturally, making a loud clanging, that neither the woman or I even heard.

She insisted on having us sing with her: Heavenly Father, I appreciate you…’

Truly the final chapters of the book of Acts have yet to be written, and God is on the move in the United States of America.

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, we do appreciate you! Send Your power again. Come Holy Spirit, and breath Your love, Your power, presence, and passion. Fill us with fresh oil, new wine, the fire of Your love, in Your name I cry out Lord Jesus, Amen’