1.MEN: Take Your Proper Position in Your Families Job 38:3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.(NIV) As a result of so much pressure on the men in society, it has apparently been observed that many men have run away from responsibilities in their homes and away from their families. In particular there is what I call Social Pressure and Peer Pressure. As men we need to have the stamina because God allowed us to have these families and He knew very well that we had the capacity to run the affairs of our homes. Men, we need to take back our homes. The Lord has ordained us to be the heads of our households-Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:8-9 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. As men we must fulfill our roles as leaders of our families. This necessitates getting into our Bibles to know God's requirements for us and our families. A man's wife is to be his chief disciple. Her primary care and feeding from the word of God should come from him-1 Corinthians 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. "The blame for the broken homes is placed men who are not willing to take the place of manhood and bear the burdens which God lays on men as heads of families." Hence the scripture says: Isaiah 3:12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.(NIV) Areas of Responsibilities for the CHRISTIAN HUSBAND Man, as his created role in life was given a natural desire to be pre-eminent within the family unit. To be responsible in this position of leadership of his family, man must be held accountable to the duties pursuant to this capacity or office. There are I feel, four basic areas of responsibilities, man must take on in a marriage relationship. These responsibilities were given to him by moral and spiritual right. These areas we are speaking of are as follows. 1. EXAMPLE 2. GUIDE 3. PROTECTOR

2. 4. PROVIDER 1. The husband as Example: Pace setter: 1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.(NIV) Titus 2:7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness(NIV) Man, as being head of the family unit, must establish by exemplification the ways of God. He should portray the characteristics of God and live by them before his family to the very best of his capabilities. This he cannot do without being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Remember this thought, our actions speak so loud they {our family cannot hear a word we are saying}. 2. The husband in his role as Guide: Guide being as intended leader Ephesians 5:22-25 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (NIV) Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."(NIV) When one submits, they must submit to leadership should they have reason to...submit. "For the husband is the head of the wife." As Christ gave himself (for) the church, so are the husbands to give of themselves to their wife. v.25 We are to be sacrificial for our wife as Christ who died and gave himself for the church. One of the first commandments to the woman was, ..Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.". Gen. 3:16. Tell me this, how can a man possibly rule over anything or anybody if he is not willing to lead or guide? The apostle Paul says that the woman is to reverence (her) husband, and submit themselves unto their own husband. 1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, (NIV). So CHRISTIAN HUSBAND, this puts the direct responsibility of us to lead and guide our wives with all diligence, and to attain this type of diligence we must receive it from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. 3. The man as the PROTECTOR. 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (NIV) 3. The wife is the more petite and fragile of the marriage relationship. Man was designed by his very framework (build) or structure to be the protector. Women are fragile "for the most part" in structure. Remember the scripture {one flesh, bone of my bone). We as men must assume this role of protector due to the very nature of our creation, and capabilities. We should use much spiritual insight and wisdom as Godly Christian Husbands, should with gladness, fulfill this responsibility as "protector" of those we love and of those in which we are responsible for in the marriage relationship. 4. The Christian Husband as the PROVIDER 1 Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.(NIV) The above scripture is probably the most direct and non-optional directive given to the husband on the behalf of making provisions for those of his household. The Word makes it very clear regarding the man that would refuse to do this has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Too much of the time, many men are busy providing for themselves, and then........if and when, he will provide for those who are in need. Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. (NIV) As men we are to provide things honest in the sight of all men. I am sure and without doubt, there are times of real and unavoidable trouble, due to unforeseen circumstances that a man would and will have some trouble in this area, in making adequate provisions at some time or other during life's course, but the Word is addressing those men who would make a life style of neglecting their responsibilities of making proper provisions for their family. Finally My challenge to all men is to do all that appertains to the roles as men and husbands. Lets set up role models for our boys. Let the REAL MEN COME OUT AND DO THE NEEDFUL. Lets not run away from our responsibilities. Lets be there for our families