The Heart of the Issue
The classic male mistake is working hard to control or manage our actions without going after the source of our actions. Jesus said “You have heard it said ‘Do not commit adultery’ but I say to you if man looks upon a woman for the purpose of lusting for her (i.e., using her visual presence as a means of savoring a fantasized act) he has thereby committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). He was confronting typical men of God of his time who were notorious for making the same mistake men of God today make: thinking that behavioral goodness is different than actual goodness. Jesus made a habit of seeing past this inaccurate and unreliable way of measuring men. He was constantly dealing with the source (the heart) versus dealing with the symptom (adultery).
His point? Obsessive lusting reveals wrongness in the inner self that exists even if no outward act of adultery has been committed. He “outs” men where they really live versus where we believe our integrity is protected. He looks past appearances of outer goodness because he knows that they can always betray a reservoir of inner evil.
The big idea today: outer goodness does not achieve the goal. Separating ourselves completely from the presence of women is not the answer either. Women aren’t the problem. Our hearts are the problem. That is why our purpose at EMM is to help you receive the pervading and powerful love of God in your heart so that other forms of evil get crowded out and eliminated. So focus on filling up on, dwelling on, and accepting the love of God and the positive love from others and watch what happens to your heart.
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Men Are Like Icebergs: You Only See The Tip
Inner Obsessions, Fantasies, and Thoughts Our Real Stories |
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Our shock and surprise when a person we thought we knew gets caught doing something we thought they would never do is the first indicator we are prone to measure the wrong things. I have stopped counting the number of men perceived as leaders, role models, and mentors who get served up in the news cycle as sexually untrustworthy, deviant, undisciplined, or a mixture of all three. The curse of the public figure is that he has a swarm of media hyenas salivating over a good public image going morally and sexually south. Think Tiger. Think Weiner. Think Petraeus. Think Clinton. Think post humus Kennedy. All of them had a thought life racing around on the inside while their public personas, popularity, and the paparazzi swirled around their outsides. The dots outlining their “good-bad splits” were never connected and no one was asking them any questions about their inner life. Too much power and pedestal going on to do that. Too much private obsession of our own going on to feel justified in asking. Too many core aspects of a man’s life going unexamined and unchallenged. |
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What’s the “Scouting Report” on You?
Going into the NBA Finals, World Series, Super Bowl or any other sports finale, both teams “study film” and look for chinks in the armor of the other team. It got me thinking about the “scouting report” the enemy has on me, and on God’s man. If I were the enemy, how would I seek to destabilize or destroy my life? Answering this question, can help God’s man see life through a different set of lenses and be prepared. |
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Help The Movement
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I am praying for you each week during the month. Next month, I’m going to ask for your help with a few things. Again, take courage and live as God’s man, flaws and all. Don’t let your struggles keep you from doing good. Come to the site and share your comments and thoughts, and encourage others! Until next week…
YOU ARE THE REVOLUTION!
Kenny Luck
Kenny Luck is the founder of Every Man Ministries and the men’s pastor at Saddleback Church. His 20th book – SLEEPING GIANT: No Movement of God without Men of God – is the proven blueprint for men’s ministries, and was recently released through B&H Publishing. Leadership kits and church resources published by LifeWay. Watch and read more of Kenny’s teaching here at EveryManMinistries.com.
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July 2013 Volume 2
Are You Struggling With Any Of These?
Connect With Us
Tell other men to sign-up for the Every Man Ministries News Letter, just tell them to text emm to 22828
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