Are You Really Awake? By Brother Curtis Hansen

         This morning, we will be reading from 1 Corinthians 16 and verses 13 and 14. I wanted to start this off by saying first this is primarily for the men. There are separate messages about women as well as the family, but this one is about men, their duties and roles. We are going to really focus on the words the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth for the next two weeks.

        What is a man? There are characteristics and abilities as well as general stereotypes many use to answer that question. You get your peace when you allow Jesus in your life through all of life's seasons.

        13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

        14 Let all your things be done with charity.

        There are 3 primary points that I wanted to touch on this morning. There is 1) Identity 2) Awareness and 3) Conviction.

        You need to be aware and attentive of your surroundings. A simplistic way of viewing life as a whole are there being a white side, a dark side, and then there's the in between the gray side. There are parts of your life where you're in the white. There is no issue or problem. Your faults and the things of your character you need to work on is more in the gray.

        So, I ask this morning to you, who are you? Who are you in Christ?

        A characteristic of identifying a godly man is that he stands firm. He never wavers from what he knows because he knows who he is in Christ Jesus. The one thing you always need to be aware of is your anger. You should be in between flipping tables and washing feet. In the gray area is where grace resides.

        To be watchful is to be spiritually awake. Not everything is from the devil. Be watchful in your home, at your job, and even in your car. Men are called to be alert and not to sleep. Passivity is the enemy of purpose. What you ignore will end up controlling you. As a man, it's important to go and sin no more. What you ignore will eventually control you. An example in scripture is Adam in the garden. Another example is the judge Samson from the Old Testament. If you are called into position to get to thinking you were the best candidate think on what have you checked out? What have you allowed? You can't win battles without any engagement.

        You can't stand firm if you can't stand on the truth. Your house can't be clean if your vessel is dirty. 

        God gave Adam and man 3 things for life 1) Work to enjoy 2) a will to obey 3) A woman to love. These things are criteria for you as a man to follow. Times can change but the truth doesn't. Conviction and courage are built before the battle. Everyone has a love that should not be cross. Truth doesn't change but we can be susceptible because of our emotions. 

        Are you grounded in scriptures or opinions? Learn to trust and verify your situations. Where do you verify? You do it with scripture. You are either defending truth or in lies. 

        Identity before action. There's no conclusive rite of passage in our country. There's nothing practiced where you transition from boyhood to manhood. You become a man when you receive the Lord's spirit. What is God calling you to be? 1) Prophet- you speak the truth to your house 2) Priest- you are the leader spiritually of your house 3) King- You are to take all responsibility. 

        Are you leading or merely existing? Men should be the leading repenter of their house. That example should be seen by your family. You are not a man until you bend a knee in humility to God.