August 4, 2025 • 30 mins
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong, let all that you do be done with love." These five imperatives from 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 form the backbone of Pastor Timothy Mann's urgent message to Christians—particularly men—living in a culture of compromise and confusion.
Drawing from military imagery of a watchman on the wall, Pastor Mann calls believers to spiritual alertness, challenging them to guard their hearts, homes, and worldviews against enemy infiltration. "A lion doesn't need hours to strike," he warns. "All it takes is one careless moment, one unguarded heart, one spiritually drowsy man." This potent reminder underscores the vigilance required in spiritual warfare.
The heart of the message addresses what Pastor Mann calls "a crisis of Biblical manhood" in both church and society. Most striking is his examination of the command "be brave"—literally translated from Greek as "act like men"—which offers a redemptive vision of masculinity neither toxic nor passive. True manhood, modeled after Christ himself, takes responsibility, faces hard things, and leads with sacrificial love rather than domination or indifference.
Through Biblical examples like Daniel, Peter, John, and ultimately Jesus, we see courageous faith that stands immovable on truth while remaining respectful and self-sacrificing. This isn't merely about personal spiritual development but about the future of our families, churches, and society itself.
Are you spiritually awake or drowsy? Firmly planted on Biblical truth or drifting with cultural currents? Taking responsibility or abdicating leadership? These penetrating questions invite all listeners—but especially men—to embrace God's call to mature, courageous faith. It's time to stand like men, because our future generations depend on it.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Foundations of Truth with Pastor
Timothy Mann from ProvidenceChurch in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Join us now as we let God'sWord illuminate our lives and
guide us into His truth today.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And here's Pastor Timothy Mann 1 Corinthians,
chapter 16, new Testament book 1Corinthians, chapter 16, verse
13 and 14.
These are not just good ideas.
This is not just good advice.
It's not mere suggestions.
They are orders from Godthrough a seasoned soldier of
(00:35):
Jesus Christ to the church ofGod.
So lay your eyes on verse 13and 14.
Follow along as I read from theNew King James Version of the
Bible.
The Bible says watch, stand fastin the faith, be brave, be
(00:57):
strong, let all that you do bedone with love.
Let's read that again Watch,stand fast in the faith, be
brave, be strong, let all thatyou do be done with love.
(01:19):
And this is God's Word.
We've just read Now these fiveimperatives, these commands.
They are addressed to the wholechurch, to every Christian, for
sure, but they reverberate withspecial relevance for men.
In fact, the third command, bebrave, is actually one Greek
(01:46):
word in the original language,one Greek word meaning act like
men.
That's the literal meaning ofthat one Greek word Act like men
.
And so God, through the ApostlePaul, is calling the church To
maturity and courage, but he'sdoing so here With the language
(02:10):
of biblical manhood, notPoisonous machismo, not cultural
Revato, not passiveindifference we have a lot of
that?
Certainly not passiveindifference.
We have a lot of that.
Certainly not passiveindifference, but strong,
courageous, christ-like, maturemanhood.
(02:37):
Listen, I would say to you thismorning that churches don't need
more programs.
Churches don't need moretechnology.
Churches don't need moreattractional eventses don't need
more technology.
Churches don't need moreattractional events.
They need men of God.
They need men of God, men whowill stay spiritually alert, men
(02:58):
who won't compromise theirconvictions, men who lead their
homes with courage, men whodon't rely on their own strength
but on God's, and men who doall of this in love.
If you studied the book with uson Wednesdays, you know that
(03:19):
the church at Corinth wassurrounded by compromise,
surrounded by temptation andconfusion, and, in fact, was
influenced by it all.
Sound familiar?
Hey, this is not a time to bespiritually sleepy.
This is not a time to bemorally timid.
(03:40):
It's time to stand like men.
And so today we're going towalk through these five commands
.
Each one is a call to standfirm, to live boldly and to lead
with love.
These are not five separatetasks.
(04:00):
They are five distinguishingmarks of a mature, godly life
for all Christians, men or women, but especially godly manhood.
We're going to talk about whatit means to stand like.
So let's begin with the firstword.
(04:22):
Are you ready?
Watch, verse 13.
Watch, be spiritually alert.
Watch, the apostle's first wordhere is a military term.
It's the word used for asoldier on the night.
Watch.
(04:46):
When I was in my years in theUnited States Army, I had this
responsibility many times Guardduty, watch, stay awake, stay
alert, keep your eyes open.
I'm telling you this morningthat your life, your family,
your church, your future dependson it.
Jesus used the same word in theGarden of Gethsemane on the
(05:09):
night.
He was betrayed when he toldPeter, james and John and I
quote Jesus, matthew 26, verse41, watch and pray, lest you
enter into temptation.
The spirit, indeed, is willing,but the flesh is weak.
You know what they did.
They fell asleep and justmoments later, judas arrived
(05:30):
with soldiers.
That's what happens when wedon't watch.
Spiritually speaking, we fallasleep and the enemy gains
ground.
So to watch means to bespiritually awake, to be aware
of what's happening in yourheart, to be aware of the
(05:58):
schemes of the devil, to beaware of the spiritual condition
of your home, to be aware ofthe needs and the dangers around
you.
Well, what should we watch over?
First of all, I would say youneed to watch over your own
heart.
The Bible says in Proverbs 4,verse 23,.
It says guard your heart, keepyour heart with all diligence,
(06:25):
for out of it springs the issuesof life.
No one else can watch yourheart for you.
You must guard it.
Let me ask you what are youletting in through your eyes?
What are you feeding your mind?
What bitterness is growingunnoticed?
What temptation is lurking atthe door?
(06:48):
Because a man who doesn't watchover his own heart will fall
into the same sins he thought hehad never commit.
You watch your own heart.
I would also say watch your home.
Watch your home, man.
God has made you the spiritualwatchman of your home, men.
God has made you the spiritualwatchman of your home.
Now, it doesn't mean youcontrol everybody, but it means
(07:12):
you protect, you provide and youshepherd.
Don't sleep through yourfamily's spiritual battles,
Don't.
Are your children?
Maybe your grandchildren areyour children, whether adult
(07:33):
children or children still athome?
Are your children hearing thegospel from you?
I'm talking about from you, notthe preacher, not the Sunday
school teacher, not your wife.
Are they hearing the gospelfrom you?
Are you praying for your wifeand leading her in following
(08:01):
Jesus see.
Watching means knowing whatyour family is facing and being
present not just physically butspiritually.
Watch your home.
I would also say you need towatch your world.
Watch your world.
Be aware of the culturalmessages creeping into your life
(08:25):
.
Be aware of the temptationsaround you.
Be aware of false teaching andspiritual deception.
Don't be naive.
Be discerning.
First.
Peter, chapter 5, verse 8, saysbe sober, be vigilant, because
(08:46):
your adversary, the devil, walksabout like a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour.
Listen, a lion doesn't needhours to strike.
All it takes is one carelessmoment.
One One careless moment, oneunguarded heart.
One, one careless moment, oneunguarded heart, one spiritually
drowsy man.
(09:06):
That's all it takes.
Where do you need to wake upspiritually In your life?
Where have you grown carelessor distracted?
What is God calling you towatch over?
More intentionally, I say thismorning it's time to get back on
(09:27):
the wall.
It's time to get back on thewall.
Take the night, watch To seewith your spiritual eyes.
Watch Because you can't standfirm if you're not awake.
You can't be brave if you'respiritually asleep.
You can't be strong if you'reunaware of the battle and you
certainly can't love well ifyou're spiritually asleep.
You can't be strong if you'reunaware of the battle and you
(09:51):
certainly can't love well ifyou're not paying attention.
So, church, we need to rise up.
Rise up, men of God, and watch.
Second imperative Stand fast inthe faith.
Stand fast in the faith, standfast in the faith, that's be
(10:13):
doctrinally grounded.
Be doctrinally grounded, standfast in the faith.
See, the second command buildson the first.
After the Holy Spirit, throughthe Apostle, paul, is calling us
to stay awake.
Now.
He says stand fast in the faith.
In other words, don't move,don't waver, don't back down.
(10:36):
This is the language of asoldier again, who has taken his
position and refuses to give aninch.
He's planted his feet, hisweapon is up, his grip is tight,
his eyes are fixed and he willnot retreat.
I want you to notice what Paulsays.
He says stand fast in the faith.
(11:02):
In the faith, not just standfast in your opinions, not just
stand fast in your preferencesor in your faith.
Not just stand fast in youropinions, not just stand fast in
your preferences or in yourpersonality, no, in the faith.
This refers to the unchanging,life-giving truth of the gospel.
This is referring to the bodyof Christian doctrine rooted in
(11:23):
the Word of God and centered onJesus Christ.
This is the gospel that saves,this is the truth that
sanctifies, this is the messagethat sustains every church.
It sustains the church in everygeneration.
And so to stand fast in thefaith is to plant your life.
(11:43):
To plant your life on the truthof who God is, what Christ has
done and what the Scripturesdeclare and refuse to compromise
.
I don't know if you've noticedthis or not Maybe you have but
we live in an age of shiftingstandards.
(12:04):
Have you noticed that we livein an age of shifting standards?
Truth is treated like a buffetline.
You take what you like and youleave what makes you
uncomfortable, what wants you tobe uncomfortable?
Culture pressures us to bend,to adapt, to soften the edges of
(12:34):
Scripture in order to fit in.
But I want to tell you thismorning God is not looking for a
soft-edged church.
God is not looking forsoft-edged men.
He's looking for anchored men.
He wants an anchored church.
He wants men who will standfirm when others fall away.
He wants men who will speaktruth even when others stay
(12:57):
silent.
He wants men who know what theybelieve and why.
Some biblical examples ThinkDaniel.
Daniel who stood fast inBabylon.
He refused to eat the king'sfood or bow to a false god, even
under the threat of death.
(13:17):
He was respectful but immovable.
He was respectful but immovable.
Think, peter and John, when theystood fast before the Sanhedrin
, the Supreme Court of thenation of Israel.
They stood fast after they hadbeen told stop preaching this
one named Jesus.
(13:37):
And they declared in Acts,chapter 4, verse 20, we cannot
but speak the things which wehave seen and heard.
Who should we obey, god or you?
Jesus stood fast in thewilderness, answering every
temptation from Satan.
With.
It is written.
(13:58):
It is written these weren't menwho loved conflict, but they
were men who loved truth morethan comfort.
And because they stood fast inthe faith, god used them.
And so well.
Stand fast in what?
(14:18):
Well?
First of all, the gospel ofJesus Christ.
That's first, the gospel ofJesus Christ.
First, corinthians 5, 15,verses 1 and 2,.
I declare to you the gospel bywhich also you are saved.
If you hold fast that word,church men, don't move on from
(14:43):
the gospel.
Let your heart and your life beanchored in the finished work
of Christ, his death for yoursin, his resurrection for your
hope and His return for yourfuture.
Stand fast, stand firm.
What else do we need to standfast in?
(15:03):
I would say to you, theauthority of God's Word.
We need to stand fast in theauthority of God's Word.
Listen, this book is notoutdated and, on top of that,
it's not optional.
You can't have a Christian lifewithout it.
It's not optional.
(15:24):
It's not optional, it's theauthority, it is the truth of
God, living and active, and I amhappy to say this morning that
it will outlast every culturaltrend, it will outlast every
political movement and it willoutlast every ungodly society.
The Word of God will and itwill outlast every ungodly
society.
The Word of God will the Bible,the Apostle Paul told Timothy
(15:45):
in 2 Timothy 3, verses 14-17,.
He told him to continue in whatyou have learned.
Continue in what you havelearned, because Scripture makes
us wise for salvation andequips us for every good work.
Stand fast on the Word, notjust in public but in private,
(16:13):
not just with your lips but withyour life.
What else do we need to standfast on?
We need to stand fast on thedoctrines that guard the church.
The doctrines that guard thechurch Salvation by grace alone,
through faith alone in Christalone.
The deity of Jesus Christ.
(16:37):
The authority and thesufficiency of Scripture, the
sanctity of life, the goodnessof creation as God designed it,
the reality of judgment, thehope of eternal life.
These are not fringe issues,they are foundational and we
(17:00):
must stand fast, not just forourselves but for the next
generation.
Where are you tempted to drift?
Where are you tempted to drift?
Maybe in your convictions.
You know softening truth toavoid offense.
Maybe in your own disciplines,neglecting the Word and prayer.
(17:31):
Maybe in your own identity,letting the world define you
what a man should be or a womanshould be or a family should be.
Letting the world define youinstead of the gospel?
Ask yourself what truth am Istanding on right now?
(17:52):
If your life were on trial,would there be enough evidence
to convict you of standing fastin the faith Church?
Let's be Christians, men.
Let's be men who are unmoved,not because we're stubborn, but
(18:16):
because we're surrendered.
Let's be men who are unshakable, not because we're proud, but
because we're rooted in Christ.
Let's be men who stand fast inthe faith, because the faith is
worth standing for.
Watch, stand fast in the faith.
Next comes be brave.
(18:40):
Be brave, literally.
Act like men.
Be brave.
This is embrace, mature,courageous manhood.
Embrace it.
The New King James translates itbe brave or, as the English
(19:03):
Standard Version translationrenders it, act like men, which
is what the Greek word literallysays Act like men.
I think this command may be themost striking of the five.
It is a direct call to mature,courageous manhood, not defined
(19:26):
by culture, but by Christ, byGod's Word.
The Greek word here is from aroot word meaning man.
It literally means act like aman, conduct yourself with
courage.
That's why, here it'stranslated be brave, conduct
yourself with courage.
That's why here it's translatedbe brave, conduct yourself with
courage.
This Greek word is actuallyused in classical literature as
(19:50):
a call to soldiers before battle.
It doesn't mean be macho ordon't ever cry.
It means take responsibility.
Take responsibility, showcourage, rise to the moment, be
(20:19):
brave.
This isn't the Apostle Paulpromoting some kind of cultural
stereotypes.
He's calling the church, menand women.
He's calling the church,especially its men, to step up,
to not shrink back.
The church doesn't need moreaggressive men and the church
(20:44):
suddenly doesn't need morepassive men.
We've had too many of those.
It needs brave, godly men, menwho reflect the courage and the
strength and the sacrifice ofJesus.
I mean, let's be honest, can wejust kind of get real Across
(21:10):
the spectrum in the evangelicalchurch of America and across the
spectrum in America.
We are in a crisis of biblicalmanhood.
It's a crisis of biblicalmanhood.
Many men don't know what godlymanhood even looks like, and
(21:44):
others are stuck in extendedadolescence I mean grown in age,
but not in character.
You know what I'm talking about.
And too many men have simplyabdicated responsibility In the
home, in the church and in theirwalk with God, and part of
(22:05):
that's because women won't letthem be the man they're called
to be.
It's a constant fight, it's aconstant struggle, and so men
just abdicate theirresponsibility and say it's too
much trouble and they go with.
Well, mama ain't happy, ain'tnobody happy, and I can either
(22:35):
be right or I can be happy.
Abdicated your responsibilityin the home, in the church and
in the world, and this isn'tabout being loud or domineering.
Courageous manhood means youlead when it's uncomfortable.
(22:57):
It means you speak truth whenit's costly, when it costs you
something, you speak truth andyou serve others, even when it's
costly.
When it costs you something,you speak truth and you serve
others even when it'sinconvenient.
So what does courageous manhoodlook like?
(23:19):
I referenced it already, but itlooks like taking
responsibility.
Real men don't pass the blame,they take ownership.
Adam failed not just because heate the fruit, but he failed
when he stood silently by whileEve was deceived.
(23:42):
A courageous man a courageousman doesn't say that's not my
problem.
He asks what has God entrustedme with?
What am I a steward of?
(24:03):
So are you takingresponsibility for the spiritual
condition of your life?
Are you taking responsibilityfor the spiritual condition of
your life?
Are you taking responsibilityfor the spiritual condition of
your marriage?
Are you taking responsibilityFor the spiritual condition of
(24:26):
your children?
Are you taking responsibilityFor the spiritual condition of
your church?
What else does be brave?
Look like Well.
It looks like doing the hardthings.
Doing the hard things.
See, courage is revealed whenwe obey God, even when it's
(24:51):
costly.
I mean, think of Joshua.
Joshua who was told to leadIsrael into battle and he was
reminded repeatedly by God.
Be strong and courageous.
Be strong and courageous.
Think of David, who faced thegiant Goliath while others
cowered.
Think of Stephen, who stood fortruth, knowing it would cost
(25:16):
him his life.
True courage isn't reckless,it's faithful.
It's faithful.
This question is for all of us,but the men especially.
What hard thing have you beenavoiding that God is calling you
(25:39):
to face with courage.
What hard thing have you beenavoiding that God is calling you
to face with courage in yourlife.
To be brave also looks likeleading with sacrificial love.
It looks like leading withsacrificial love.
(26:01):
It looks like leading withsacrificial love.
This is not brute force orselfish ambition.
The model is Christ, who laiddown His life for His bride, the
church.
Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 25,says Husbands, love your wives
(26:21):
just as that's in the same way,just as Christ also loved the
church and gave himself for it.
Courageous manhood iscross-shaped.
It's cross-shaped.
(26:43):
It's cross-shaped.
It leads by laying downpreferences, by laying down your
ego, by laying down yourcomfort and choosing what is
good, what is holy and what iseternally right.
(27:04):
Who in your life needs yourleadership through courageous,
sacrificial love right now?
Listen, manhood is not toxic.
It's transforming when it'sredeemed by christ.
Culture.
(27:25):
What culture does?
Culture wants to either justerase manhood or caricature it.
Right, but scripture redeems it.
Jesus redeems it.
Jesus is the ultimate man, fullof grace and truth.
He showed courage in thewilderness.
He showed courage in the temple.
He showed courage in the gardenand he showed courage on the
(27:49):
cross.
He didn't use his power topersecute.
He didn't use his power to takeadvantage, but to serve and to
save and to sacrifice.
He himself said, and I quoteour Lord Jesus Christ, mark,
chapter 10, verse 45.
Jesus said the Son of man didnot come to be served, but to
serve and to give his life as aransom for many.
(28:12):
That's our model, men.
The church doesn't need you tobe impressive.
Your family doesn't need you tobe perfect.
Sir, god isn't asking you tohave all the questions.
I have all the answers to allthe questions.
(28:35):
He's not calling you to haveall the answers, but he is
calling you to act like a man,to show up, to grow up, to speak
up, to sacrifice, to stand, toserve and to love with courage.
Be brave, act like men.
(28:56):
I would say.
Today it's time to live likeChrist and it's time to lead
like Christ.
The Bible says.
The apostle wrote in 1Corinthians 13, 11,.
He said this.
He said when I was a child, Ispoke as a child, I thought as a
child, but when I became a man,I put away childish things.
(29:18):
It's time some of us put awaysome childish things.
When I became a man, I put awaychildish things.
Listen, guys, let's not bespiritual boys in a world that
desperately needs men of faith,men of courage and men of
conviction.
Let's be brave, because Christis worth it, your family is
(29:43):
worth it, your church is worthit, your grandchildren's future
is worth it.
Be strong.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Be strong.
You've been listening toFoundations of Truth the Bible
teaching ministry of PastorTimothy Mann at Providence
Church, ormond Beach, florida.
The grass withers and theflower fades, but the word of
God stands forever.
That's Isaiah 48.
Thanks for tuning into theFoundations of Truth podcast
with Pastor Timothy Mann fromProvidence Church in Ormond
(30:14):
Beach, florida.
Join us next time and untilthen, keep building your life on
God's eternal truth, the Bible.
Welcome to Foundations of Truth with Pastor
Timothy Mann from ProvidenceChurch in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Join us now as we let God'sWord illuminate our lives and
guide us into His truth today.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And here's Pastor Timothy Mann 1 Corinthians,
chapter 16, new Testament book 1Corinthians, chapter 16, verse
13 and 14.
These are not just good ideas.
This is not just good advice.
It's not mere suggestions.
They are orders from Godthrough a seasoned soldier of
(00:35):
Jesus Christ to the church ofGod.
So lay your eyes on verse 13and 14.
Follow along as I read from theNew King James Version of the
Bible.
The Bible says watch, stand fastin the faith, be brave, be
(00:57):
strong, let all that you do bedone with love.
Let's read that again Watch,stand fast in the faith, be
brave, be strong, let all thatyou do be done with love.
(01:19):
And this is God's Word.
We've just read Now these fiveimperatives, these commands.
They are addressed to the wholechurch, to every Christian, for
sure, but they reverberate withspecial relevance for men.
In fact, the third command, bebrave, is actually one Greek
(01:46):
word in the original language,one Greek word meaning act like
men.
That's the literal meaning ofthat one Greek word Act like men
.
And so God, through the ApostlePaul, is calling the church To
maturity and courage, but he'sdoing so here With the language
(02:10):
of biblical manhood, notPoisonous machismo, not cultural
Revato, not passiveindifference we have a lot of
that?
Certainly not passiveindifference.
We have a lot of that.
Certainly not passiveindifference, but strong,
courageous, christ-like, maturemanhood.
(02:37):
Listen, I would say to you thismorning that churches don't need
more programs.
Churches don't need moretechnology.
Churches don't need moreattractional eventses don't need
more technology.
Churches don't need moreattractional events.
They need men of God.
They need men of God, men whowill stay spiritually alert, men
(02:58):
who won't compromise theirconvictions, men who lead their
homes with courage, men whodon't rely on their own strength
but on God's, and men who doall of this in love.
If you studied the book with uson Wednesdays, you know that
(03:19):
the church at Corinth wassurrounded by compromise,
surrounded by temptation andconfusion, and, in fact, was
influenced by it all.
Sound familiar?
Hey, this is not a time to bespiritually sleepy.
This is not a time to bemorally timid.
(03:40):
It's time to stand like men.
And so today we're going towalk through these five commands
.
Each one is a call to standfirm, to live boldly and to lead
with love.
These are not five separatetasks.
(04:00):
They are five distinguishingmarks of a mature, godly life
for all Christians, men or women, but especially godly manhood.
We're going to talk about whatit means to stand like.
So let's begin with the firstword.
(04:22):
Are you ready?
Watch, verse 13.
Watch, be spiritually alert.
Watch, the apostle's first wordhere is a military term.
It's the word used for asoldier on the night.
Watch.
(04:46):
When I was in my years in theUnited States Army, I had this
responsibility many times Guardduty, watch, stay awake, stay
alert, keep your eyes open.
I'm telling you this morningthat your life, your family,
your church, your future dependson it.
Jesus used the same word in theGarden of Gethsemane on the
(05:09):
night.
He was betrayed when he toldPeter, james and John and I
quote Jesus, matthew 26, verse41, watch and pray, lest you
enter into temptation.
The spirit, indeed, is willing,but the flesh is weak.
You know what they did.
They fell asleep and justmoments later, judas arrived
(05:30):
with soldiers.
That's what happens when wedon't watch.
Spiritually speaking, we fallasleep and the enemy gains
ground.
So to watch means to bespiritually awake, to be aware
of what's happening in yourheart, to be aware of the
(05:58):
schemes of the devil, to beaware of the spiritual condition
of your home, to be aware ofthe needs and the dangers around
you.
Well, what should we watch over?
First of all, I would say youneed to watch over your own
heart.
The Bible says in Proverbs 4,verse 23,.
It says guard your heart, keepyour heart with all diligence,
(06:25):
for out of it springs the issuesof life.
No one else can watch yourheart for you.
You must guard it.
Let me ask you what are youletting in through your eyes?
What are you feeding your mind?
What bitterness is growingunnoticed?
What temptation is lurking atthe door?
(06:48):
Because a man who doesn't watchover his own heart will fall
into the same sins he thought hehad never commit.
You watch your own heart.
I would also say watch your home.
Watch your home, man.
God has made you the spiritualwatchman of your home, men.
God has made you the spiritualwatchman of your home.
Now, it doesn't mean youcontrol everybody, but it means
(07:12):
you protect, you provide and youshepherd.
Don't sleep through yourfamily's spiritual battles,
Don't.
Are your children?
Maybe your grandchildren areyour children, whether adult
(07:33):
children or children still athome?
Are your children hearing thegospel from you?
I'm talking about from you, notthe preacher, not the Sunday
school teacher, not your wife.
Are they hearing the gospelfrom you?
Are you praying for your wifeand leading her in following
(08:01):
Jesus see.
Watching means knowing whatyour family is facing and being
present not just physically butspiritually.
Watch your home.
I would also say you need towatch your world.
Watch your world.
Be aware of the culturalmessages creeping into your life
(08:25):
.
Be aware of the temptationsaround you.
Be aware of false teaching andspiritual deception.
Don't be naive.
Be discerning.
First.
Peter, chapter 5, verse 8, saysbe sober, be vigilant, because
(08:46):
your adversary, the devil, walksabout like a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour.
Listen, a lion doesn't needhours to strike.
All it takes is one carelessmoment.
One One careless moment, oneunguarded heart.
One, one careless moment, oneunguarded heart, one spiritually
drowsy man.
(09:06):
That's all it takes.
Where do you need to wake upspiritually In your life?
Where have you grown carelessor distracted?
What is God calling you towatch over?
More intentionally, I say thismorning it's time to get back on
(09:27):
the wall.
It's time to get back on thewall.
Take the night, watch To seewith your spiritual eyes.
Watch Because you can't standfirm if you're not awake.
You can't be brave if you'respiritually asleep.
You can't be strong if you'reunaware of the battle and you
certainly can't love well ifyou're spiritually asleep.
You can't be strong if you'reunaware of the battle and you
(09:51):
certainly can't love well ifyou're not paying attention.
So, church, we need to rise up.
Rise up, men of God, and watch.
Second imperative Stand fast inthe faith.
Stand fast in the faith, standfast in the faith, that's be
(10:13):
doctrinally grounded.
Be doctrinally grounded, standfast in the faith.
See, the second command buildson the first.
After the Holy Spirit, throughthe Apostle, paul, is calling us
to stay awake.
Now.
He says stand fast in the faith.
In other words, don't move,don't waver, don't back down.
(10:36):
This is the language of asoldier again, who has taken his
position and refuses to give aninch.
He's planted his feet, hisweapon is up, his grip is tight,
his eyes are fixed and he willnot retreat.
I want you to notice what Paulsays.
He says stand fast in the faith.
(11:02):
In the faith, not just standfast in your opinions, not just
stand fast in your preferencesor in your faith.
Not just stand fast in youropinions, not just stand fast in
your preferences or in yourpersonality, no, in the faith.
This refers to the unchanging,life-giving truth of the gospel.
This is referring to the bodyof Christian doctrine rooted in
(11:23):
the Word of God and centered onJesus Christ.
This is the gospel that saves,this is the truth that
sanctifies, this is the messagethat sustains every church.
It sustains the church in everygeneration.
And so to stand fast in thefaith is to plant your life.
(11:43):
To plant your life on the truthof who God is, what Christ has
done and what the Scripturesdeclare and refuse to compromise
.
I don't know if you've noticedthis or not Maybe you have but
we live in an age of shiftingstandards.
(12:04):
Have you noticed that we livein an age of shifting standards?
Truth is treated like a buffetline.
You take what you like and youleave what makes you
uncomfortable, what wants you tobe uncomfortable?
Culture pressures us to bend,to adapt, to soften the edges of
(12:34):
Scripture in order to fit in.
But I want to tell you thismorning God is not looking for a
soft-edged church.
God is not looking forsoft-edged men.
He's looking for anchored men.
He wants an anchored church.
He wants men who will standfirm when others fall away.
He wants men who will speaktruth even when others stay
(12:57):
silent.
He wants men who know what theybelieve and why.
Some biblical examples ThinkDaniel.
Daniel who stood fast inBabylon.
He refused to eat the king'sfood or bow to a false god, even
under the threat of death.
(13:17):
He was respectful but immovable.
He was respectful but immovable.
Think, peter and John, when theystood fast before the Sanhedrin
, the Supreme Court of thenation of Israel.
They stood fast after they hadbeen told stop preaching this
one named Jesus.
(13:37):
And they declared in Acts,chapter 4, verse 20, we cannot
but speak the things which wehave seen and heard.
Who should we obey, god or you?
Jesus stood fast in thewilderness, answering every
temptation from Satan.
With.
It is written.
(13:58):
It is written these weren't menwho loved conflict, but they
were men who loved truth morethan comfort.
And because they stood fast inthe faith, god used them.
And so well.
Stand fast in what?
(14:18):
Well?
First of all, the gospel ofJesus Christ.
That's first, the gospel ofJesus Christ.
First, corinthians 5, 15,verses 1 and 2,.
I declare to you the gospel bywhich also you are saved.
If you hold fast that word,church men, don't move on from
(14:43):
the gospel.
Let your heart and your life beanchored in the finished work
of Christ, his death for yoursin, his resurrection for your
hope and His return for yourfuture.
Stand fast, stand firm.
What else do we need to standfast in?
(15:03):
I would say to you, theauthority of God's Word.
We need to stand fast in theauthority of God's Word.
Listen, this book is notoutdated and, on top of that,
it's not optional.
You can't have a Christian lifewithout it.
It's not optional.
(15:24):
It's not optional, it's theauthority, it is the truth of
God, living and active, and I amhappy to say this morning that
it will outlast every culturaltrend, it will outlast every
political movement and it willoutlast every ungodly society.
The Word of God will and itwill outlast every ungodly
society.
The Word of God will the Bible,the Apostle Paul told Timothy
(15:45):
in 2 Timothy 3, verses 14-17,.
He told him to continue in whatyou have learned.
Continue in what you havelearned, because Scripture makes
us wise for salvation andequips us for every good work.
Stand fast on the Word, notjust in public but in private,
(16:13):
not just with your lips but withyour life.
What else do we need to standfast on?
We need to stand fast on thedoctrines that guard the church.
The doctrines that guard thechurch Salvation by grace alone,
through faith alone in Christalone.
The deity of Jesus Christ.
(16:37):
The authority and thesufficiency of Scripture, the
sanctity of life, the goodnessof creation as God designed it,
the reality of judgment, thehope of eternal life.
These are not fringe issues,they are foundational and we
(17:00):
must stand fast, not just forourselves but for the next
generation.
Where are you tempted to drift?
Where are you tempted to drift?
Maybe in your convictions.
You know softening truth toavoid offense.
Maybe in your own disciplines,neglecting the Word and prayer.
(17:31):
Maybe in your own identity,letting the world define you
what a man should be or a womanshould be or a family should be.
Letting the world define youinstead of the gospel?
Ask yourself what truth am Istanding on right now?
(17:52):
If your life were on trial,would there be enough evidence
to convict you of standing fastin the faith Church?
Let's be Christians, men.
Let's be men who are unmoved,not because we're stubborn, but
(18:16):
because we're surrendered.
Let's be men who are unshakable, not because we're proud, but
because we're rooted in Christ.
Let's be men who stand fast inthe faith, because the faith is
worth standing for.
Watch, stand fast in the faith.
Next comes be brave.
(18:40):
Be brave, literally.
Act like men.
Be brave.
This is embrace, mature,courageous manhood.
Embrace it.
The New King James translates itbe brave or, as the English
(19:03):
Standard Version translationrenders it, act like men, which
is what the Greek word literallysays Act like men.
I think this command may be themost striking of the five.
It is a direct call to mature,courageous manhood, not defined
(19:26):
by culture, but by Christ, byGod's Word.
The Greek word here is from aroot word meaning man.
It literally means act like aman, conduct yourself with
courage.
That's why, here it'stranslated be brave, conduct
yourself with courage.
That's why here it's translatedbe brave, conduct yourself with
courage.
This Greek word is actuallyused in classical literature as
(19:50):
a call to soldiers before battle.
It doesn't mean be macho ordon't ever cry.
It means take responsibility.
Take responsibility, showcourage, rise to the moment, be
(20:19):
brave.
This isn't the Apostle Paulpromoting some kind of cultural
stereotypes.
He's calling the church, menand women.
He's calling the church,especially its men, to step up,
to not shrink back.
The church doesn't need moreaggressive men and the church
(20:44):
suddenly doesn't need morepassive men.
We've had too many of those.
It needs brave, godly men, menwho reflect the courage and the
strength and the sacrifice ofJesus.
I mean, let's be honest, can wejust kind of get real Across
(21:10):
the spectrum in the evangelicalchurch of America and across the
spectrum in America.
We are in a crisis of biblicalmanhood.
It's a crisis of biblicalmanhood.
Many men don't know what godlymanhood even looks like, and
(21:44):
others are stuck in extendedadolescence I mean grown in age,
but not in character.
You know what I'm talking about.
And too many men have simplyabdicated responsibility In the
home, in the church and in theirwalk with God, and part of
(22:05):
that's because women won't letthem be the man they're called
to be.
It's a constant fight, it's aconstant struggle, and so men
just abdicate theirresponsibility and say it's too
much trouble and they go with.
Well, mama ain't happy, ain'tnobody happy, and I can either
(22:35):
be right or I can be happy.
Abdicated your responsibilityin the home, in the church and
in the world, and this isn'tabout being loud or domineering.
Courageous manhood means youlead when it's uncomfortable.
(22:57):
It means you speak truth whenit's costly, when it costs you
something, you speak truth andyou serve others, even when it's
costly.
When it costs you something,you speak truth and you serve
others even when it'sinconvenient.
So what does courageous manhoodlook like?
(23:19):
I referenced it already, but itlooks like taking
responsibility.
Real men don't pass the blame,they take ownership.
Adam failed not just because heate the fruit, but he failed
when he stood silently by whileEve was deceived.
(23:42):
A courageous man a courageousman doesn't say that's not my
problem.
He asks what has God entrustedme with?
What am I a steward of?
(24:03):
So are you takingresponsibility for the spiritual
condition of your life?
Are you taking responsibilityfor the spiritual condition of
your life?
Are you taking responsibilityfor the spiritual condition of
your marriage?
Are you taking responsibilityFor the spiritual condition of
(24:26):
your children?
Are you taking responsibilityFor the spiritual condition of
your church?
What else does be brave?
Look like Well.
It looks like doing the hardthings.
Doing the hard things.
See, courage is revealed whenwe obey God, even when it's
(24:51):
costly.
I mean, think of Joshua.
Joshua who was told to leadIsrael into battle and he was
reminded repeatedly by God.
Be strong and courageous.
Be strong and courageous.
Think of David, who faced thegiant Goliath while others
cowered.
Think of Stephen, who stood fortruth, knowing it would cost
(25:16):
him his life.
True courage isn't reckless,it's faithful.
It's faithful.
This question is for all of us,but the men especially.
What hard thing have you beenavoiding that God is calling you
(25:39):
to face with courage.
What hard thing have you beenavoiding that God is calling you
to face with courage in yourlife.
To be brave also looks likeleading with sacrificial love.
It looks like leading withsacrificial love.
(26:01):
It looks like leading withsacrificial love.
This is not brute force orselfish ambition.
The model is Christ, who laiddown His life for His bride, the
church.
Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 25,says Husbands, love your wives
(26:21):
just as that's in the same way,just as Christ also loved the
church and gave himself for it.
Courageous manhood iscross-shaped.
It's cross-shaped.
(26:43):
It's cross-shaped.
It leads by laying downpreferences, by laying down your
ego, by laying down yourcomfort and choosing what is
good, what is holy and what iseternally right.
(27:04):
Who in your life needs yourleadership through courageous,
sacrificial love right now?
Listen, manhood is not toxic.
It's transforming when it'sredeemed by christ.
Culture.
(27:25):
What culture does?
Culture wants to either justerase manhood or caricature it.
Right, but scripture redeems it.
Jesus redeems it.
Jesus is the ultimate man, fullof grace and truth.
He showed courage in thewilderness.
He showed courage in the temple.
He showed courage in the gardenand he showed courage on the
(27:49):
cross.
He didn't use his power topersecute.
He didn't use his power to takeadvantage, but to serve and to
save and to sacrifice.
He himself said, and I quoteour Lord Jesus Christ, mark,
chapter 10, verse 45.
Jesus said the Son of man didnot come to be served, but to
serve and to give his life as aransom for many.
(28:12):
That's our model, men.
The church doesn't need you tobe impressive.
Your family doesn't need you tobe perfect.
Sir, god isn't asking you tohave all the questions.
I have all the answers to allthe questions.
(28:35):
He's not calling you to haveall the answers, but he is
calling you to act like a man,to show up, to grow up, to speak
up, to sacrifice, to stand, toserve and to love with courage.
Be brave, act like men.
(28:56):
I would say.
Today it's time to live likeChrist and it's time to lead
like Christ.
The Bible says.
The apostle wrote in 1Corinthians 13, 11,.
He said this.
He said when I was a child, Ispoke as a child, I thought as a
child, but when I became a man,I put away childish things.
(29:18):
It's time some of us put awaysome childish things.
When I became a man, I put awaychildish things.
Listen, guys, let's not bespiritual boys in a world that
desperately needs men of faith,men of courage and men of
conviction.
Let's be brave, because Christis worth it, your family is
(29:43):
worth it, your church is worthit, your grandchildren's future
is worth it.
Be strong.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Be strong.
You've been listening toFoundations of Truth the Bible
teaching ministry of PastorTimothy Mann at Providence
Church, ormond Beach, florida.
The grass withers and theflower fades, but the word of
God stands forever.
That's Isaiah 48.
Thanks for tuning into theFoundations of Truth podcast
with Pastor Timothy Mann fromProvidence Church in Ormond
(30:14):
Beach, florida.
Join us next time and untilthen, keep building your life on
God's eternal truth, the Bible.
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