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Friday Night Men's Fellowship

Study: Gird Thyself Up Like A Man

Jay Hunemuller

God told Job twice, "Gird thyself up like a man". There were a lot of things that Job didn't understand. A lot of bad things were happening, and he didn't know whether it was God or something else. God helped him get over a little of his self-righteousness. So God helped him get an understand both the battle and his adversary. We know that Job maintained his integrity through the whole ordeal.

Is there a lot of sin and transgression against the Lord in our country right now?

Ezekiel 14:13-14
  1. Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
  2. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

It says that their righteousness will only save themselves.

Acts 2:40
  1. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

We don't know what is coming, but we do know the signs of the times. We know that sin abounds and the love of many will wax cold. But though men sin, God's ways remain the same.

Tonight, God will challenge us in the way we think about some specific issues. I hope we go home being more aware of our thoughts and how we choose them. Just because a thought enters our mind doesn't mean we own it. We have to claim it, whether the thought is positive or negative.

What does "gird" mean?

  • To cinch or bind up
  • Especially about the loins
  • Keep yourself together
  • Strengthen yourself
gird
The process of tucking up the long Eastern robes through the girdle to prepare for energetic work, thus figuratively, to prepare for action.

War takes a lot of preparation. When someone is in a war, they constantly have to prepare for action. In life, we have this constant cycle of preparing, then action. Are we at war? Yes, we are.

What kinds of things do you have to prepare for?

  • evangelism
  • answer peoples' questions
  • stand your ground
  • teach a Bible study
  • eat
  • fight, as a boxer
  • walk in the spirit
  • heaven, eternity, Jesus coming back

That last is the biggest thing we have to prepare for, because we all need to be saved, stay saved, and see others saved.

1 Peter 1:12-13
  1. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
  2. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

That scripture summarizes all that God has done for us through the Old Testament and the apostles.

1 Peter 1:14
  1. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

We need to be conscious of how we think. We need to not be blown around by every wind of doctrine. The easiest way to tell a counterfeit is by knowing the real thing. We have a promise in the word of God that we can bring every thought into the captivity of obedience to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6
  1. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
  2. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
  3. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

We're not talking about a revenge against other people, but putting the devil in its place. Even Jesus did it to Peter. He was angry at the devil who was causing Peter to look at things from a worldly perspective. We also read just a little bit ago about the basic things, "not according to the former lusts."

Let's look at something that can help us to put all of our thoughts into perspective, not just "is it sin or is it not?" There are thoughts that frustrate us. Fill in the blank:

Oh, ___ will never change!

The truth is, you can choose to own that thought, and allow yourself to be frustrated, but I don't recommend that. Why should you be frustrated? The truth is, things won't change only because you won't change them, or because you won't change yourself. First, you need to evaluate the need for change. "Maybe I just need to change my perspective. Maybe I'm just frustrated by something that doesn't really matter." Or if it is a change that needs to be made, "What are my resources?"

Galatians 6:9
  1. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Don't worry about being too old. How old was Caleb? He was eighty when he said, "I'm going to kick those giants out of my land."

You can't change another person, but you can change how you react to that other person. And maybe that will help change that other person. There's no guarantee, but if you give a positive reaction, negativity will flee, because you give it no place. But if you react negatively, you will activate the world accordingly.

Here's another thought:

I'm the only one!

Again, you can choose to own that thought, but I don't recommend it. First of all, it's false. But what if you were? Did God lay that on your heart? If so, and you don't want your crown or your blessing, God will eventually give it to someone else. God may be patient with you for a time, as he was with Jonah, but how do you know if it was for such a time as this?

How about:

Nobody else cares about ___.

How do you know, unless people tell you what they care or don't care about. It's not wise to compare ourselves. All any of us really knows is what God put in our heart.

Does this help get the juices going? Does this help you evaluate your thoughts? Do you have one that you want to share?

Why this battle?

Whatever the thought, you need to put it into context and consider, "Do I really want to own that thought?"

I can never get help with...

You can seek help. God said, "Ask and it will be given." You can also evaluate how much you're helping the people you're asking for help. Maybe they can't help you because they're too busy doing the things that you won't help them with.

If we don't want to do something, what is it that we do?

  • Do other things
  • Procrastinate
  • Turn it over to someone else
  • Complain
  • Rationalize (make excuses)

There are a lot of reasons why we may want to do things or not do things, and they're not always bad. But how many excuses does it take to absent ourselves from something? How many excuses does the Devil have for us?

So when it comes to choosing what the spirit has for us, it's all about our priorities. Jesus really doesn't like excuses.

Hebrews 13:8
  1. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

We know that he is a mighty God.

Luke 14:16-24
  1. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
  2. And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
  3. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
  4. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
  5. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
  6. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
  7. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
  8. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
  9. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

So hear that last line. Which ones were they who would not taste of the Lord's supper? They were the ones who made excuses. I can't look at you and know what God has laid on your heart, but we know what God has laid on our heart. He said in another place,

Matthew 22:14
  1. For many are called, but few are chosen.

We have received this saying from our founding pastor:

If it's going to be, it's up to me.

You and I don't need worry about what anybody else is doing. Each of us need to do what God has called us to do.