Article: Peaceful dwelling places
2009-11-10 | Bert Pretorius
It is when we change our homes that we can impact our communities, provinces, this country and ultimately this continent and it all begins in our own homes. It is when we have established the peace of God in our.... - Read More
Men Of Courage
As men in this exciting time and age, we fully understand why God instructed Joshua, to “be very strong and courageous!”. With the manifold challenges and opportunities we face in life, we cannot be effective as fathers, sons and men without being very strong and courageous! Not only are our communities and the world crying out for real “Men of courage” to take their places, but this is also the essence of who we are as men in Christ. God did not ask or suggest to Joshua that he should be strong and courageous; He commanded him to be strong and very courageous. Just as God didn’t request light to be, but commanded it to be, we should take this call up and just be very strong and courageous!
As men in this exciting time and age, we fully understand why God instructed Joshua, to “be very strong and courageous!”. With the manifold challenges and opportunities we face in life, we cannot be effective as fathers, sons and men without being very strong and courageous! Not only are our communities and the world crying out for real “Men of courage” to take their places, but this is also the essence of who we are as men in Christ. God did not ask or suggest to Joshua that he should be strong and courageous; He commanded him to be strong and very courageous. Just as God didn’t request light to be, but commanded it to be, we should take this call up and just be very strong and courageous!This nation and the fullness of it is available for the taking - spiritually, socially, economically, in the sports arena and politically. It is up for grabs. The question therefore is - who will take it? Since the beginning of time the battle over marriages, families, relationships and nations has been raging. In the end the word says that “violent men take it by force!” We can only look around us to see that the enemy uses this same strategy to destroy what rightfully belongs to God’s people. But the word also says that when the enemy comes in like a flood, God raises up a standard against it. We know that God is raising the standard, His standard is us!
Men are stepping up to the plate in the same way that Joshua did. He was a man of courage, faith and victory. In Joshua 24:15 we see the conviction and attitude of a brave-hearted man .
Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil for you today to serve the Lord, choose for yourself whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Real men are coming back to the basics of Gods’ word. In Psalm 127 Solomon in all his wisdom declared: “Unless the Lord builds the builds the house, we labour in vain and unless the Lord protects the city, we guard in vain.” We are fully persuaded that man without God cannot be successful! Courageous men are those men who bow their knees under the Lordship of Christ. We understand that when we humble ourselves under the MIGHTY HAND of God, He lifts us up and that He comes and does something in and through our lives that we cannot do ourselves. He is the God of the second mile and where we used to retire, now with God on our side we just re-fire.
Men of courage, like Joshua are not born with courage. Courage is something that should be developed. Being a man is a matter of choice, not birth! Joshua sat at the feet of his leader Moses and served for many years. He caught the spirit of the man which God appointed to save a nation. Being trained and taught in the ways of God by Moses, we see that Joshua became a man of courage and stature much quicker than his leader. We look at the life of Elisha the servant of Elijah and see that he did twice more miracles than his master. Jesus spoke to His disciples and said “Greater works than these will you do because I go to my Father.”
The model of discipleship has always been God’s strategy for raising men of courage and therefore we see the same principles in the great commission. The great commission should be the foundation on which we build our lives, marriages and families as men of courage.
Matt28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
His presence is what makes us “Men of Courage” It is in Him that we live, move and have our being!
“Men of Courage” is who we are!
Men of Courage
This is who we are, “Men of Courage!”
We were commanded to be Men of Courage!
We are the standard that God raises up when the enemy comes in like a flood.
God’s standard! Men of Courage!
As Men of Courage,
Our love for God and His people consume our lives.
Our passion is Christ, the hope of all magnificence!
Our hearts are set on godliness, character and integrity.
Our goal is to please Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
It is in Him that we live and move and have our being!
We are fearless and courageous men of faith,
We are valiant men, boldly taking our place in this day,
We are determined, diligent men of prayer.
As Men of God, We love and trust God. We choose to lay down our lives for His purpose. We joyfully serve Him in our marriages, families, communities and nation. Applying His Word is our foundation, His Spirit our Helper, His Son our Lord. We treasure the Apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, living by Devine conviction. We love, fight and labour for His cause. We honour God and protect the church. We pursue peace with all people; we love the brother-hood and honour our leaders.
As Husbands, We choose to love our own wives extravagantly as Christ loved the Church. We cherish and honour our wives as daughters of the Most High. We give them the security and support they need, to fulfil their calling as wives, mothers and women of God. We know that their victories are our victories. We will prayerfully lead our wives in integrity and moral excellence.
Men of courage love their wives!
As Fathers, We understand that God has called us to father our children, to instruct them in the fear of the Lord and to lead effectively by example! We are engaged fathers, leaving a legacy that cannot be replaced by material gifts and phoney excuses for being absent. We understand that Godly fathers set the pace for godly children to grow from strength to strength.
As Men in the work place, our call is to establish God’s justice at work and to transform our companies and economy. We are the voice that protects the innocent and the weak. We apply God’s unchanging standards and values in our everyday life. We will reflect the love of Christ as we treat our employees with respect and dignity, honouring our leaders. By God’s grace we will lead with accuracy and precision, being effective witnesses of God’s mercy and truth.
As Fathers of nations we serve our call with excitement and enthusiasm. Unwavering in reliability and uprightness we will establish His government in our homes, families and spheres of influence.
Being focused and intentional, with Godly vision and impartation; we will take this nation! Fruitfulness and multiplication is our destiny. We serve God with all our strength. With diligence and faithfulness His vision is our mission!
Men of Courage!
The battle is on. We wrestle…. we fight!
We run! Not in vain! But to finish the race!
We beat not in the air, but aspire at the prize of the upward call
Our aim is to please God in every aspect of our callings as: HUSBANDS - FATHERS –– MEN IN THE WORKPLACE – FATHERS OF NATIONS
God is raising the STANDARD!
Men of Courage!
“It takes just one spark to start a fire. One man with courage can light up thousands.
Be the man who answers the call!
Be the man who unleashes their power to help others!
If you see a vacuum that needs to be filled, step into the breach!
You only realise the full extent of your gifts when you are forced to use them”
Mr Mike Lupkin.
We, the men of 3C are proudly called “Men of Courage”
It is our honour to serve you, our wives, children, our communities and this beautiful nation with the living Christ!
M.O.C
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