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A New Vision for Men part 2

A New Vision of Men - part 2

Last time we considered reviewing how we look at men. We must begin considering them not as the men or those men, but “My men”. Here are some follow on ideas for you.

Isaiah 43:4 MKJV Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.

As leaders of individual bodies of believers, we must receive these words as a promise. We are precious in the sight of God and because of that, He honors us and loves us by giving us men. That’s right. Having men in your sphere of ministry is a gift from God. He is excited about men and He has blessed us with them. He is looking for them in order to set them on fire and release them on the world.

The question becomes what do we do, what is our part? One of the possible answers is to give them purpose. Every man wants his life to have a purpose, something more than having a good job, being a good provider and loving husband and caring father, a faithful church member, in other words just being a nice guy. Each man has inside of him a sense of adventure, a need to arise to the challenge, to conquer and overcome, the Spirit of Violence that is necessary to apprehend the very Kingdom of Heaven. When God created Adam, the command in the garden was “subdue it and rule over it”. That calling still beats vibrantly in the heart of every man. His heart cries out to “make a difference”. Our task as leaders is to awaken that call, to affirm that call, and to train and release men to live that call - fully and passionately.

So, where to begin? Give this possibility a try - go through the Bible and pick out 52 men who were not well known - Judges has several - David's mighty men – 8 of the Disciples - Paul's companions to name a few. Some are even unnamed - Centurion - one borne by four, you get the picture. Then in a short segment (Call it the Men's Minute) give the verse - the character - his struggle - how God moved for Him or used him to move – The point is God uses all kinds of men in all kinds of circumstances to accomplish His purpose - Do this weekly for a year and I will find "My Men" wanting to know more. Once "My Men" begin responding as sheep with a shepherd it is time to again expand the vision.

1Pe 2:4 ESV As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

Sometimes I have to remind myself "I am chosen and precious in the sight of God." There are many days this old rescued sailor (with all the forgiven history that the word could imply) just needs to remember and accept that I am His chosen, precious vessel. If I, the pastor, need to hear this, how much more do all those in my care need to hear it as well.

During the next season, about another year, - move the "Man's Minute" focus to God's reclaimed failures - there are plenty of those as well. We men like to know we are not alone. Use Paul's writings about his life - Peter – John Mark - David's fall - Moses insecurity - Elijah's cave – almost any man in the book of Judges and more. Impress on the men that all the Biblical heroes we hold in awe, had feet of clay. They all failed to measure up and yet, God chose to use them to advance His Kingdom.

2Ti 2:1-2 ESV You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, (2) and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Finally, realize that Ministry to Men in particular is not just a nice thing to do, it is a divine directive.

I must envision "My Men" as faithful men and empower them in that manner for them to become just that “Faithful Men”. Take time to entrust them with the Word and then to draw it out of them again and again through testimony – prayer for other men - men's group studies - personal conversation and so on. This three year path will begin to cement men to the Lord and to grow the spiritual maturity of your church group.

In addition to the above, ELIM Men’s ministry is geared to help you develop “Your Men”. We have available ideas about individual and group ministry. We can suggest how to structure a weekend getaway, or a mini conference as well as short term Bible studies. We have a list of men with proven ministry available to speak to “your men”, to call out the glory that God has planted in them. We schedule area and regional meetings to minister and share ideas. One we would recommend is this fall’s conference “Receiving the Father’s Blessing”. Men will be encouraged in worship and word and then those who desire are going to be personally blessed by Godly leaders speaking words of promise into their lives on a one to one level. Hope to see you and “Your Men” there.

Blessings,

Bob Grant

A New Vision of Men - part 2

A New Vision for Men

Near the beginning of each year, the Elim Men's Council meets to discuss and plan upcoming events. At this years meeting (2011), one of the questions that arose was "What is Elim’s corporate vision for Men's Ministry?" This article is prompted by that question and the discussion that ensued.

What is the vision of Men's Ministry? Some of you have heard from me before on the subject of Men's Ministry and you know my passion for it. Many of the men's specific writings on the ELIM website are penned at my desk. What you don't often hear is my frustration when I ask pastors to engage their men in an area event or to publicize our annual Men's Conference at Lima. So today I am writing to pastors as a pastor, a fellow laborer with a church and a board and a budget and a family and all the limitations that we might share in common, and I am pleading with you to give more consideration to Men's Ministry.

When I talk to pastors about men, I often receive such replies as - the men are too busy - the men are not really engaged - the men are just not interested - they don't care - they are spiritually lazy - but, when I talk to men I hear - I don't know where I fit - I don't know how to help - I can't preach - There is nothing for me to do - church is for my wife and kids - and so forth. During my years of following the Lord, I have not only said such things myself, I have lived on both sides of this argument.

Why is there such a disparity in these two viewpoints of men and church? In my opinion, it is because there is a disparity of vision between pastors and men. I believe the best way to resolve this is for us to get a "New Vision" of Men's Ministry.

Pro 29:18 ESV Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

When I consider these pastoral opinions of men, I would suggest that perhaps I must first change how I, the pastor, view them, I need a new vision. How can I develop a new vision of men? Here are some suggestions.

Mar 6:34 ESV When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

If I begin by seeing the unruliness, the discomfort, the unwilling to submit, reluctant to engage attitudes as a lack of shepherding (I know that word may provoke bad memories to some, but it is truly a scriptural concept when properly applied), I can begin to change my vision of men. Jesus response was that He began to teach them.

To have a new vision of men, I must ask myself some hard questions. Here are a few suggestions:

Do I see men as "My Men"? The ones God has placed in my charge to train, equip, and release into battle with the enemy.

Do I teach and preach messages that ring in the hearts and minds of men? These types of messages call them to live a life of challenge and adventure and battle in the service of the Greatest Warrior King of all.

Do I show them how to live Godly in an ungodly world, to take a stand for family, purity, honesty, and so forth?

As I sit before the Lord and seek God for each message do I pray "God I am desperate for You to give me something for "my men"?

Do I refuse to let go of His Garment until He has given me that word for them?

When I can answer each of the questions in the affirmative, then I am beginning to see “My Men” as God sees them.

Remember brothers, Jesus spent His three year ministry largely investing His life into the 12 men who would launch the Church (and one of them was a devil). He was personally involved in their lives - they ate together - prayed together - celebrated together - Commit yourself to this pattern faithfully, bathe it in prayer, and call on the members of the Men's Council for prayer, suggestions and help. God is for us and "Our Men".

In His Service and willingly available for yours.

Bob Grant

Men's Ministries Overview

One of the most often asked questions is “Why men’s ministries?” Our society has diluted, disparaged and desecrated the role of men in the family, in the community and often even in the church. Just think of the advertisements and the programs that are seen on TV. Men's Ministries

The man is made to look like the fool, the idiot who doesn’t know his right from his left—certainly not a person who should be the leader and guide for his family. This may be the profile the world would like to project but God’s design is much loftier than what we are being fed by the media and the entertainment industry. God created men to be the leaders, providers, defenders and mentors to their wives and their children. God forbid that the church should accept the anemic character given to men by those who would like to undermine their God-given role.

It is the desire of Elim Men’s Ministries Department to assist pastors in developing men of valor for Elim Fellowship churches, men who have the character, integrity and purity of Christ. Webster’s dictionary defines “valor” as “courage and bravery, especially in battle”. Most men are aware of the battle that we are currently in. Not the one being fought in the Middle East but the one being fought every day in our homes, our marriages, for our children, at our places of business, and even in our churches.