Rugged, Manly Men

Scripture:
 Ephesians 5:1-17 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5For £this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the £Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14Therefore He says:  “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” 15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Introduction:
 Most men want people to think of them as rugged and manly. However the world’s way of acknowledging ruggedness or manliness is not the way the Bible identifies these men. David was a rugged, manly man even though his brothers nor Goliath could see him that way. Joseph’s brothers only saw a dreamer, not the manly man that Joseph was destined to be. Nathaniel asked if anything good could come out of Nazareth. His preconceptions did not allow him to see Jesus as a rugged, manly man. But Jesus went on to face demonic powers and bring the kingdom of God to the earth. What does it take to be a rugged, manly man?

I. A rugged, manly man is a man of love.
A. A rugged, manly man understands who his model is.
1. In verse one, Paul says that, in the light of God’s love, we should imitate Him.
2. God is a lover. ( see John 3:16 )
3. Because of love, we have become the Sons of God.
Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
B. Because our Father is love, we reach out in love to those around us.
II Corinthians 5:18-19 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
1. God is love, and all things are of Him.
2. Jesus Christ is the supreme example of Father’s love and we have received the same ministry of reconciliation that He had.

II. A rugged, manly man is devoted to his family.
A. The father of the prodigal loved him so much that the prodigal was restored to the family even though he wasted all his rights with riotous living.
B. Our heavenly Father wants the absolute best for His children.
Ephesians 3:14-19 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father £of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
1. Christian fathers will trust God to help them to bring strength to their children.
2. Christian fathers are an example to their children and their wives that encourages them to be all they have been called to be.
3. By leading the family with love, a father prepares his family to be filled with all the fullness of God.
C. Dedicated fathers know the value of having a home based on the love of God.
Psalm 127:1-5 “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed,”
1. Rugged, manly men give their best to their children.
2. The wife of a rugged, manly man is blessed because her husband brings godly leadership to the home.
3. As the rugged, manly man follows God he is able to see dangers that may be ahead and trusts God to help him safely lead his family through to the other side.

III. A rugged, manly man is a man of integrity.
A. Integrity has more to do with our actions than it does with our words.
B. Rugged, manly men give themselves to God in order that their words will be words of life.
Matthew 12:34-35 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”
C. Men of integrity are the same at home as they are when they are in church or any other place in the world.
D. Children learn about living through the example of their father.

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then.

IV. A rugged, manly man keeps covenant and honors his word.
A. Man is being restored to the likeness and image of God and God’s word will always come to pass.
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
B. Rugged, manly men will also keep their word and fulfill their responsibilities.
I Peter 4:10-11 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.”
C. Calling all rugged, manly men to stand up and take their place in the body of Christ.