Posted on Fri, May 8, 2009
A Good Man is Hard to Find (Men's Day Message)
Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)
Key Text - Jeremiah 5: 1
A Good man is hard to find – by Lay Pastor Ayo Adesina
Jeremiah 5: 1
The subject of this message is probably a buzz phrase for most women no matter her race or background. Whether educated or not, cultured, sophisticated, gangster, activist or liberal, many women agree that “A good man is hard to find”. One may feel this kind of phrase would probably only come from women who have been hurt by some men and to some extent this may be true. You see, you cannot expect to find a good man hanging out on the street corner at night, or whilst you sit with your female friends, drinking and lambasting men. Some have ideas of finding good men only in the church and those who think that way may not be too far from the truth; however you may be disappointed if all you are looking for is a man that attends Church regularly and not one that is born again and Holy Ghost filled.
Truly in our Societies today, we can no longer trust even those in leadership roles to be examples of good men. There have been many instances where preachers have let down their congregation in diverse ways, many politicians have let down their constituents having lied to many, even many of the law enforcement agents have had their share of corruption and lawlessness. Do you know that statistics have shown that black African, Caribbean, Pakistani, Chinese men have the highest rate of unemployment in the UK? What is wrong with the world today? Christians don’t pray like before, men want to be women, women want to be men, the short want to be tall and the tall want to be short, the blacks want to be white and whites want to be black.
To be a man, one must agree that childish ways must be put away, in Jesus you can find how to become a real man, you can walk and think like a man, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Ellen G White rightly opined that the world is not so much in need of great minds but of great men who would impact their families positively. This brings to mind the children of Israel, God had blessed them mightily both spiritually and materially, but along the way, they began to worship other gods, they stopped loving one another. In our history also, black folks survived slavery, humiliation and stereotypes, we have been brought from being the tail to headship. However, we also have stopped loving God. There is so much iniquity and injustice seem to rule everywhere. God told Jeremiah in our key text if He can find one just man, then He would spare the city. Let’s look at four traits that show a real man:
- A real man rejects passivity – Boys have a natural tendency to initiate action and achieve. It is natural for boys to be constantly active, teaching their younger sisters to run, jump and play football. Boys would toughen their younger brothers and encourage active play. Boys do not have to be taught this sort of play, they have an innate behaviour of aggression, and this remains a part of them even to adulthood. However today, a lot of men are passive. Let us check out what happened to our first parents: Adam and Eve. Satan pacified Eve that if she ate the forbidden fruit she would be liberated. But as naturally aggressive as men are, when it time for Adam to come to the rescue of his wife and stop her from falling into sin, Adam became passive! In Gen 3: 6, the Bible shows us that Adam was right by Eve when she was being propositioned to eat the forbidden fruit. He stood there and watched his wife contemplate spiritual suicide. He became passive and instead of initiating an action against Eve’s suggestion, he didn’t. This pattern of passivity could grow wilder than expected. Today, families are crying out for Dads who would provide moral guidance, protection and models of responsibilities. A natural man does not want to change nappies, or cook, he just wants to laze around and be passive. However, Jesus, the second Adam, rejected passivity by driving out the traders in the Temple; He rebuked the scribes and Pharisees and even spoke up when his parents tried to detract him from His mission. Today, we need men who would call sin by its name and reject it. Studies have shown that children who had involved fathers are better able to have higher grades, confidence, and are more sociable than those whose fathers are passive.
- A real man accepts responsibility - when they had eaten the forbidden fruit, God asked Adam and he blamed it on the woman and then on God (Genesis 3: 11) as if there was nothing he could have done. There is a blaming culture today as well, statements like “it’s not my fault”… Jesus like the first Adam, was also given specific duties, He had the church to love and the law of God to obey. Jesus accepted these with enthusiasm. It is the father’s responsibility as the priest in their homes to ensure the children are interested in the things of God. Children whose fathers are active in the Church have been shown as more active than those whose fathers are not. As fathers, when last did you lay hands on your children to bless them? Because there is power in a father’s blessing. Fathers must take responsibility in their homes. They must show their children how to love by modelling it. Children need to hear their fathers pray? They need to see their fathers in God’s House every Sabbath? They need to see their fathers reading the Bible? Fathers must teach them how to worship and serve God. It is the fathers’ responsibility to discipline and disciple their children. Both boys and girls need a dad to be a role model. Boys need a dad to teach them how to be a man; girls need a dad who would be their first hero.
- A real man leads courageously – In 1 Kings 18: 21, Baal worship had become common in Israel, and Baal was believed to be the god of rain but Elijah had declared that there would be no rain and there was no rain for three years. Then Elijah went before the people and challenged them to take a stand to worship and serve Baal if it truly is God, or if it is the Lord Almighty. No one was ready to stand by Elijah but he stood courageously against the 850 false prophets of Baal and Ashorah. At the end of the contest, Elijah overcame the false prophets and all Israel saw that there is no god like the Almighty God. The world has seen a lot of fake Christians who do all sort of things from Sunday to Friday but on Sabbath, shout ‘hallelujah’! This is why many teenagers fall away from the Church as they reach the age when they can no longer be fooled. God showed Himself strong through Elijah. Joshua also led courageously and declared in Joshua 1: 4, ‘As for me and my house, we would serve the Lord’. We all should make this our theme.
- A real man expects the greater reward from the Lord - For hours, the prophets of Baal prayed and even cut their flesh. However Elijah prayed a 63-word-prayer asking that God be glorified. Elijah wanted the people to know that God is the Almighty. God caused fire to come down and His glory was truly seen. Real manhood was never intended to be burdensome. Jesus came to model what it should be. The Bible says that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. Jesus, though torn apart in the flesh, endured the cross. A lot of men fail in their duties to their wives and children because they seek cheap glory. A real man looks beyond the present and look at the joys ahead. If the only reward you strive to achieve is your paycheck at the end of the week or month then it is a pitiable plight. There is more to life than a paycheck but this is why many men are absent at home. There are lots more rewards more satisfying and gratifying than a paycheck, like making a difference not only on earth but also in eternity.
In conclusion, looking into the Bible to find out if there is a real man who can save us from our plight, we discover that the first man, Adam, was created perfect but when it came to the point of making a difference, he stood by passively. Then there was Noah who found grace in God’s eye, but he loved to drink, even to the point of being naked, he became the forerunner of today’s drunkards. Then there was Abraham, God’s friend, but he too had a problem with telling lies. Isaac his son was no better, repeating the same lies told by his father years before him. Isaac also preferred one child above the other, and showed it. Then there was Joseph, the dreamer, who came from a dysfunctional family and was abused greatly. Surely a real man is hard to find.
Then there was Moses, the meekest man, but he had stuttering problems. Then Gideon who was afraid to take a leadership role. Then Samson who despite his bulging biceps and power was a womaniser. Then there was David, a mighty king and warrior but also a murderer and conspirator and you just couldn’t trust your sister with him. Truly, a real man is hard to find.
Then there was also Elijah, who despite the great ways God had used him was suicidal, always moaning and groaning and asking for pity. Then Isaiah who went around preaching naked, representing some of today’s bible bashers. Then there was Job who always feared the unknown, then John the Baptist who ate bugs and won’t take a bath. Then along came Peter, Jesus closest friend, who denied the man he loved, just like many of us are ashamed to be recognised as Christians among our friends. Truly a real man is hard to find.
Looking high and low, there seemed to be no real men, not even in the Church and as I began to pray and look to heaven, the voice of God said ‘My grace is sufficient for thee’. When there seemed to be no hope, God provided from above, this man called Emmanuel – Jesus, the Rose of Sharon, the Prince of peace, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, coming down from 42 generations to identify Himself with our sins. He was born of a virgin birth, He was named Jesus – because he will save the people from their sins. He raised the dead, healed the sick, and lived a perfect and sinless life. Jesus is the authentic man, the real man. After the long search, I found Jesus who took our burdens upon Himself and through whom all men can become real and authentic me!
Dear brethren,
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. It is my hope that you are under good care of almighty Father above.
It is good from you on how you are carrying on the lord’s work and that you are serving the Lord around the world and you are enriching God’s people with the wonderful word of hope in there hearts.
As a pastor from Kenya I am very much eager to see you and to share with you the word of God and I’m very much inspired by your message. As a church pastor I could like to request you to come here in Kisii-Kenya with your team so as to meet with my people and share with them as the Lord directs you. We also need you to teach us and to share with you much.
We are also a church which needs to have a founder because it started with a small fellowship and God is going on blessing it, so I call upon you to come over and re-open it in an official way and to ordain the church leaders under you ministry. I will be praying for you for the word that you have planted in the hearts of men.
The church also holds 20kids who needs prayers so that they can meet their daily needs in life. This the gift that the lord Has given us to care for and to look after them, so I ask you to remember them in your prayers.
I pray the Lord to assist you in what you do so as to bring His people to His kingdom.Looking forward to hear from you soon.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Ronald
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