Gmen newsletter august 2013

News The Wilderness Experience Remember how the Lord led you in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

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Deuteronomy 8:2

builds our faith in Him is the wilderness!

Whether it was Jacob wrestling with the angel, the Israelites in the dessert, or the place of Jesus’s temptation from Satan, it

od’s calling men out to the deep! He

wants you and I to get away from a safe place, and move into a faith place! Faith takes

stands that every time we see the wilderness in scripture God is training His sons!

Wikipedia says, “The

courage. Faith takes risk. Faith takes

word wilderness derives from the notion of

fearlessness [Luke 8:50]. And one way God

"wildness"—in other words, that which is not

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God is calling His sons to the wilderness.

God uses the wilderness to 2

bring us to perfection. Every soldier needs boot camp.

controllable by men. The most intact,

for that’s going to demand the proper

undisturbed wild natural areas left on our

environment. He needs a setting that’s not

planet—those last truly wild places that men

controlled by the limitations others have

do not control” It goes on to say, “The

superimposed on you. For that reason, it’s a

word's etymology is from the wildeornes,

place where your faith grows and your fear

which in turn derives from wildeor meaning

shrinks! Contrary to popular teaching, God

wild beast (wild + deor = beast, deer) From

wants to turn us into lions, not sheep! He’s

this point of view, it is the wildness of a place

calling you to be alone with Him!

that makes it a wilderness” Think about that for a moment. The

wildness of a place, natural processes, and not controlled by men. It would appear that God wants to get you away from the influence of people, to be empowered by Him! Why? There is something only He can prepare you

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You may be saying, “I’m blessed! God doesn’t want me to experience the wilderness”. Scripture would disagree.

Every champion needs training.

Every fighter needs to spar.

Every soldier needs boot camp.

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Likewise, God uses the wilderness to

The wilderness message isn’t popular

bring His sons to perfection. Look at this

today. People love to hear about the end

verse, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy

result. It’s not so cool to discuss the process.

Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led

But if you’ll get a hold of this, you’ll use every

by the Spirit into[a] the wilderness, 2 being

adversity life brings to develop, not

tempted for forty days by the devil. “ [Luke

deteriorate.

4:1-2]. Notice the statement, “…led by the

It amazes me how great fighters of

spirit into the wilderness”. It wasn’t the devil. It

today often choose not to train in state of the

wasn’t a demon. It was the Holy Spirit that led

art boxing gyms. Many of them go to a farm

Jesus to be tempted by the enemy! Before

or their old housing project in the city. Why?

God puts you in the ring, He wants to know if

I’m convinced it’s because they want to pull

you can fight. No, He’s not going to tempt

upon their wild side! They want to get in touch

you. No, He’s not going to hurt you. Rather,

with the part of them that’s not limited by what

God wants to train you for what’s up ahead.

others think. This is a place of development.

It’s a place where God is coaching you, much

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like Rocky Balboa’s trainer Micky Goldmill did

And what does God tell Moses when he’s

in the hit series.

finished training him in the desert? It’s the

So how do we as men respond to the wilderness experience?

same thing he tells Peter to do after he endures his trails, - strengthen your

1) Accept the challenge

brothers! Realize that your promotion is not

Remember God is looking to train, not

for you, but to uplift and empower other

bring pain.

men.

2) Do the Word The Israelites took 40 years, Jesus took 40 days. What’s the difference? It’s how they responded. This is training and like any general God wants his cadets to use their weapons.

3) Strengthen your brothers

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So the next time you pray that God takes you to another level, don’t be surprised if He leads you to a wilderness instead of a wetland.

Why? Because if you want to stay where it’s safe, you won’t grow! Be fearless! Step out into the wild! Go beyond the limits others have placed on you. God is calling!

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10.8.2013

The

Weapon Of Praise 6

Onslaught Begins

Bulletins  You can now register for our men’s conference online! Just click here.  If you’re a commissioned man and want to do more to advance the men of our church and community, contact us at Gmen@mobcc.org. What are you waiting for?  The church’s women’s ministry needs our assistance for their up and coming women’s conference, if available, please email us at Gmen@mobcc.org.

nd?

 If you’re interested in undergoing the commissioning process for 2013-2014 contact us at Gmen@mobcc.org or call Jamiel Cotman at 804-833-7628

Events  Our Men’s Conference is on Friday August 16th at 7:00 P.M. and Saturday the 17th at 8:00 A.M.  Join us for fun and fellowship on Saturday, August 10 th at 11:00 A.M for our trip to the Redskins Training Camp!

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Q: My son is portraying homosexual traits. How do I respond?

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A: I

n spite of the many attempts, there has been no clear evidence that supports the fact that someone is born gay. That being

said, it’s safe to proceed upon the notion that

gender or act like the opposite[Gen 1:27: Deut 22:5].

Be sure to expose him to healthy Christian men and young men first, under your guidance. And be sure to minimize his being around the opposite sex if you find that he is beginning to mimic the gender specific things they do.

it’s a learned behavior.

Remember, it’s not just what we say, but While you should never be cruel, you must be firm in allowing your son to understanding what is acceptable for a boy and what is not. He should know that the

what we allow that is imparted into our children. Structure an environment of biblical gender behavior for your son. And the bible promises he will not depart from it. [Prv 22:6]

bible says God created us male and female, and that one should not lay with the same If you have9a question pertaining to manhood that you would like to submit to the Pastor, to be answered here in our monthly Q and A, segment E Mail us at Gmen@mobcc.org

Scripture

1 Corinthians 16:13

KJV

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong!

Thought A year from now you’ll wish you started today!

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