The Measurement of a Man...

This past weekend I heard one of the best messages on "Biblical Masculinity" I've ever heard...I can't wait to share it with all the "men in my life." Ha ha!!! No seriously, I don't want to nag or push anyone too seriously, but this is good stuff. However, it's not just a challenge for the men - it's a challenge for us girls too!!

During the sermon - the speaker talked about God's call to Biblical masculinity and the progression of growth that should be seen according to the Biblical mandate. He went through what He called the 10 Degrees of Manhood. He admonished us woman to be careful WHO we choose to marry. "You don't marry a Zero" He told us... "Nor do you marry a one or two...there aren't many 10's out there - so you don't have to wait for a 10 because you may be waiting a looooong time....but you should get past 3 - someone who has been bucked off his horse a few times, but He still keeps getting back on.....He is IMMOVABLE in His God! Only by this time is a man safe to marry! Only then, can you trust He is of the stuff that will carry through!"

So anyway, to give you an over-view - Here's what the 10-degrees were!

Level Zero - The Zero

{This man has no discernment. He does not know between truth and error, life and death...He has not been captured and converted by the spirit of God, but is just going on his own merry way trying to make a good life for himself! Danger! Stay away...not a man to make alliances with in business or in marriage!}

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. - Proverbs 16:25

And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding . . . (The “strange woman”) With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. - Proverbs 7:7, 21-23

Level One - The Gripped

{This man realizes the call that God has on His life. Great manhood starts when one realizes He is weak and nothing apart from God...but He chooses to look to God and stand in His Strength! He is set free from the power of darkness and He strides into the light...}

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. - Psalm 18:6

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me . . . He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. - Psalm 18:16-17,19

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: - Col 1:13 KJV

Level Two - The Given

{This man has followed the call and poured everything out for Christ - He has broken the spikenard at Jesus feet and said, "Here am I - take all!" His life manifest a complete abandonment and un-reserved surrender to Christ.}

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. - Matthew 16:24

Level Three - The Immovable

{This is a man that is unshakeable, he stays on his "white steed" - the one that God has called him to ride. He may get bucked off, but he keeps getting back on! He is a rock and he is going the distance. He is unwavering in trust and faith in His God! No matter the storm or tempest, he will not be moved!}

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God - Romans 4:20

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; - Psalm 46:1-2

Level Four - The Harnessed

{This man has begun to realize that there is more to the "Call" then He had yet realized. He is learning to walk by the Spirit and to relinquish his right to to position, possessions, and pride. Many men in Christianity today can quote scripture and give a Bible study by heart, but they don't quote it in their lives. "One is not truly holy until He is holy at home and with those nearest." This man is well on the way to being "holy" - He quotes scripture IN his life in action by the abiding strength of the Holy Spirit.}

And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. - Ezekiel 1:12

These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth . . . Revelation 14:4a I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Level Five - The Misunderstood

{In order for God to prove that He has the man, He must allow him to be misunderstood, humiliated and broken. It is then that you prove while you may not appear to be a man to the world, you are a true man to God. And despite being absolutely misunderstood, you keep pressing on! This man has real strength of character and is a rare gem in the making!}

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? - John 11:37

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. - Psalm 22:6-8

Level Six - The Hero

{This man serves the weak and needy. He's not worried about exalting himself or his status, but seeks the lowest place. He works only for the approval of God. He sees the orphan and poor as NOT equal to himself, but as MORE valuable than himself. It's important to note that THIS is God's caste system! Most christianity today teaches that we should treat the orphan and widow and poor as good as ourselves, but in scripture we are told, we should actually treat them better then ourselves. So a true man of God is a hero to the weak, to the destitute, to the struggling, even when no one is looking!}

. . . I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. - Job 29:12-17

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. - Duet 15:11-15

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will God pay him again. - I Jn 3:17-18, Prov 19:17

For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall . . . He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. - Psalm 18:29, 33-37

Level Seven - The Chief

{This is the man that has reached a level of authority and leadership, not by self-promotion, but by simply doing what God has commanded Him to do. He has lived in obedience, and now He leads others to obedience. To often today we have clowns in the pulpit and in the places where a "Chief" should be standing. Men must be measured by scripture and not by charismatic ability or worldly degree or status. Only the men that have proven themselves - like the Caleb's and Joshua's - should be in this rank!}

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. - Hebrews 11:34

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: - Job 29:7-11

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. - Job 29:25

Level Eight - The Dead Man

{When we start out as Christians we think we are dead, and we may have crucified a few areas of our live, but usually still much of us is alive. This level a man has become completely dead - He does not defend himself, his reputation, his authority or his name. He stands only to defend others in Christ.}

. . . Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. - Luke 22:42

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. - Isaiah 53:7

Level Nine - The Mighty Intercessor

{This man has become strong in God to be poured out for others. This is the kind of man that does not just stand in the gap for friends and family and a few in his church - He has become strong to stand in the gap for Nations. He will even wish himself accursed that others may be saved. Radical abandonment and poured out life in hours of prayer...think of Rees Howells or Praying Hyde!}

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: - Romans 9:1-3

He hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. - Isaiah 53:7,12

Level Ten - The Measure of Perfection

{This is what a man ought to be...are any of us there yet - probably not - yet this is what we aim for. This is what the church should be about, raising the standard, aiming high. When Christ died to make us a 10, how dare we settle for being a one or two???!! If you know who Jesus Christ is, you don't stay where you are, you go higher....you grow, you grow and you keep growing! This is our goal - we might not reach it this side of Heaven, but this is what we are aiming towards. How dare we settle for mediocrity, living in the wilderness when God has called us to Canaan!}

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: - Ephesians 4:13

WOW! I get goosebumps again, just reading through this! Not just because of the strength I pray the men in my life (my fathers and brothers) will continue to grow into IN Christ, but because it also challenges me to what God has called me to! And by looking at this list, I see there is still FAR to go! But in Jesus NAME, I press on...