I Timothy 6:11-12 11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

I Timothy 6:11-12 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

This “Test” Involves More Than “Test”-osterone Larry Cline, Hardin Valley Church Of Christ, 4-9-2017

Max Jukes 440 lives of outright debauchery 60 habitual thieves 55 victims of impurity 310 paupers and vagrants 7 murderers 190 public prostitutes 130 convicted criminals 100 alcoholics

Jonathan Edwards 300 clergymen, missionaries, or theological professors 30 judges 14 presidents of universities 120 college professors Numerous giants in American industry 110 lawyers 3 U.S. congressmen > 60 physicians 1 vice-president of the United States > 60 authors of good books

Anthropologist, Margaret Meade “The central problem for every society is to define appropriate roles for men.” Anthropologist, Margaret Meade

Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18 – KJV)

45So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47 – NIV)

Two different ways of life. Two different destinies. Two different masculinities.

HOW DOES THE BIBLE DEFINE BEING MALE?

1. A Real Man Rejects Passivity. Testosterone 90% of major crimes 100% of rapes 95% of burglaries 91% of domestic violence 94% of drunk drivers

Genesis Serpent Approaches Eve The Proposition (3:5) “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis Serpent Approaches Eve The Responsibility (2:16-17) 16The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

God had given man three primary responsibilities: A will to obey (don’t eat the fruit) A work to do (cultivate the garden) A woman to love (Eve)

What was Adam doing while Eve was being propositioned? When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)

Jesus was not passive, He was spiritually and socially engaged.

2. A Real Man Accepts Responsibility. Like Adam Jesus was also given three specific responsibilities: A will to obey (His Father’s) A work to do (Redeem the Lost) A woman to love (The Church)

Jesus accepted these enthusiastically! 7Then I said, behold, I come;  In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:7-8)

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” (John 4:34)

His responsibilities defined Him as a man, they gave Him vision & direction.

3. A Real Man Leads Courageously. I Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Men were created to lead.

Temptation: 40 days Taken to a high mountain Shown all the Kingdoms “Do this, and you can have it all!”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” (Matthew 4:10)

He makes decisions not by feelings but truth. He calls it stewardship which means He owns it all.

4. A Real Man Expects the Greater Reward.

Jesus did it all with His eyes set on the joy before Him. Hebrews 12:1-2 1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and [also] for the [life] to come. (1 Timothy 4:8) But godliness [actually] is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. (1 Timothy 6:6)

What to expect: Honorable name. Respect & admiration of wife. Well adjusted respectful children. Respect of community. Blessings. Growing satisfaction with life.