Shadow Warriors

Father's Day  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 23 views

Authentic Men must reject passivity, take responsiblility, lead courageously, and invest eternally if they are to walk in the shadow of the 2nd Adam.

Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Pray

Scripture Reading

Romans 5:17–19 ESV
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Joshua 24:15 ESV
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:45–47 ESV
45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.
1 Cor 15:45-47
Joshua 1:9 ESV
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Intro

Societies Epidemic = Sin Epidemic > Man Sin Epidemic. A plague of...

Passive men - insecure, scared, defeated, content to let the women in their lives do what God has designed and called them to do.
Irresponsible men - denying, blame shifting, sulking
Cowardly men - judgmental, demanding, disengaged.
Worldly men - with misplaced priorities and no vision for eternity, focused more on building their own kingdom on earth rather than seeking first the kingdom of God

The Call to Authentic Biblical Manhood

Is a call to:
Understand
Reject Passivity
Take Responsibility
Lead Courageously
Invest Eternally

The Beginning of Manhood

Jesus

Jesus

Disclaimer: To be an authentic man means to be the man that God (as your creator intended you to be), which begins by coming into a right relationship with God by faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ. You have no capacity or power to be the man you are supposed to be without the life giving spirit of Jesus/the Holy Spirit indwelling you, teaching and guiding you, and empowering you!

Man’s Design

A Work to Do
Genesis 2:15 ESV
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
A Will to Obey
Genesis 2:16–17 ESV
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
A Woman to Love
Genesis 2:18–24 ESV
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Man’s Responsibilities

Gen 2:18-24

The First Adam vs. The Second Adam

Every man will walk in the shadow of one of these 2 men, as Shadow Cowards or Shadow Warriors
Romans 5:17–19 ESV
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Rom 5:17-19
One man [Adam’s] Trespass
Failed to pursue the work he was given to do - to create and to cultivate
A Rejection of, and failure to be the man God designed and called him to be
Adam

Manhood Definitions/Traits - Reject Passivity, Accept Responsibility, Lead Courageously, Invest Eternally

1. Reject Passivity

Adam was passive in the garden

Genesis 3:6 ESV
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Adam was there the whole time!
He was not deceived, he heard God’s command first hand
Since he was there he could have and should have protected Eve and stopped her from eating the fruit!
Men today
How do you follow in the shadow of Adam?
What are you passive about?

Jesus Rejected Passivity

Philippians 2:5–9 ESV
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
Phil
He was proactive
He was assertive
He was assertive/aggressive
He was resolved
How can you better follow in the shadow of Jesus?
How can you be more proactive?
What spiritual resolves do you need to develop?

2. Take Responsibility

Adam Failed to Take Responsibility

Adam Failed to Take Responsibility

Didn’t pursue the work he was given to do
Disobeyed God’s will, not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
Did not protect the woman God gave him to love.
Genesis 3:8–12 ESV
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
Gen 3:8-
Genesis 3:10–12 ESV
10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
How do you follow in the shadow of Adam?
How are you not pursuing the work to create and cultivate?
Gen 3:10-12
Genesis 3:16 ESV
16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”
Genesis 3:12 ESV
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
Is it your will or God’s will that you’re obeying?
Are you still obeying your will?
Are you still hiding, making excuses, blame shifting?
When you fail to do

Jesus Accepted Responsibility

For a work to do
John 4:34 ESV
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 17:4 ESV
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
Luke 22:42 ESV
42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
For a will to obey
John 4:34 ESV
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Luke 22:42 ESV
42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
For a woman to love
Ephesians 5:25 ESV
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:24 ESV
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
How can you better follow in the shadow of Jesus?
What work do you need to start doing, or be more focused on?
What can you do to be seeking and following God’s will more?
What more can you be doing to love your wife as Christ loved the church?

3. Lead Courageously

Adam failed to Lead Courageously

Adam had the opportunity to:
Provide direction declaring God’s command and goodness to Eve and the serpent, and telling Eve to follow him in following God.
Provide protection by having the courage to lop off the serpents head or taking Eve away from the serpent or tree.
Provide life for others - the human race would not know corruption and death had he lead courageously
How do you follow in the shadow of Adam?
How do you follow in the shadow of Adam?
Are you confused, influenced by the world, or afraid to lead your family in following God?
First, do you know how God calls you to lead? Have you spent time getting to know God so that you can lead?

Jesus Lead Courageously

By providing direction
by example
Matthew 4:19 ESV
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19 ESV
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
through grace
Matthew 11:28–30 ESV
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
through grace
Matthew 11:20–28 ESV
20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt 11:20
Matthew 11:28–30 ESV
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
By providing protection
John 10:11 ESV
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:11
By providing life for others
1 Corinthians 15:45 ESV
45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
How can you better follow in the shadow of Jesus?
Do you lead by dictatorship or by example? What specific ways can you lead by example more?
Does you
Would you
Would your loved ones say that your leadership is characterized by graciousness?
What kind of protection (especially spiritual protection) do you provide for your family?
Does your leadership provide a life-giving presence?

4. Invest Eternally

Adam Failed to Invest Eternally

Instead he:
“exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images...”
He invested in the temporary, choosing what would satisfy him in the moment.
How do you follow in the shadow of Adam?
How do you exchange the glory of God (and the eternal perfection of all he intends for you) for cheap temporal imitations?

Jesus Invested Eternally

Matthew 6:19–20 ESV
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Jesus not only taught this but he lived it.
1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV
13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
How can you better follow in the shadow of Jesus?
What will remain from all the things you’ve invested in?
How can you invest eternally more with your time, relationships, resources?

Closing Reflections

Every man will either follow in the shadow of the 1st Adam or the 2nd Adam- Jesus
Many of you are
If we’re going to follow in the shadow of Christ, we must:
Which one will you be
Reject Passivity
Accept Responsibility
Lead Courageously
Invest Eternally
Most of you are becoming shadow warriors because you have trusted in Christ atoning work
continue to walk in his shadow
never stop assessing
be killing sin, the old man/false-self
pursue Christ
Church (Mother’s, Wives, Children, Friends) - The men in your lives need you to pray, challenge, encourage and support them to be authentic men.

Pray

Benediction

Jude 24–25 ESV
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Joshua who said “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
Young David who demanded to know the name of the man who defied the armies of the living God, and proceeded to
Failed to obey God’s will
Failed to protect the woman that God gave to him
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more