Act Like Men!

Grace Community Church just completed a men's weekend conference at the Master's College. Nathan Busenitz blogged about it here. The first address was delivered by John MacArthur on Acting Like Men before God. Among other things he pressed home the truth that as men we must begin with knowledge of the word of God, then truly believe that knowledge deeply and finally love the Word of God and its truth wholeheartedly. He outlined this process as knowledge, information and affection.

He asked, "What is it to be manly? It is to stand firm in the principles and purposes of God, to go forward for the sake of the kingdom, knowing that God has given us the strength and promised us the victory."

True men are courageous, but courage doesn't flow from mere knowledge or principle, it flows from affection. At one point he remarked, "In many ways today, we are watching the emasculation of the church. We have a church without courage, without conviction, in which the Word of God is de-emphasized. What we need is men who love Christ, love the truth, and stand boldly for what they love."

Yes, Lord, give us men men who stand firm on the Word, who are informed by Scripture, who act courageously, who live counter-culturally, and who are strong in Christ! Give us Davids who rally others by stating, "Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”(2 Samuel 10:12)