Manhood and Guns 4 of 4: God's S.W.A.T.

I would contest that God created our manhood to be used everyday. We shouldn’t be absent. We aren’t meant to be empty men walking around on display. Our power shouldn’t be destructive. I believe that God is calling all men to carry their manhood like those guns carried by the police or military personnel. If you think about it, this is the ultimate purpose for all guns, right? Guns should be used in the hands of a trained operator who knows when to pull it out and is confident about when and how to use it. I am not a huge reader, I know some guys who read nearly 20 books a year, I am lucky to get through four. When I do read a book I like action and suspense. Recently, I read the book “House to House” by SSG David Bellavia. It is a first hand account of a group of soldiers who were among the first to enter the city of Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. One thing that amazed me about some of the fire fights that they were involved in is how every man in the platoon had a specific gun. He was trained better than anyone else in the platoon on how to use his weapon. At one point in the take over of Baghdad the platoon is pinned to a roof top in the middle of the city. At dawn a huge fire fight breaks out with nearly every rooftop around them covered with insurgents. The Sergeant, David Bellavia, has to direct his men like a conductor directs a symphony. He had to order the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) to fire one direction, while ordering the PKM in the other direction, simultaneously directing the AT4 (an anti tank weapon) to fire in other precise locations. These men trained for years with these weapons, they knew how to use them and when to use them. When they all used them as their sergeant directed they survived even brutal direct fire from the enemy. The fire fight lasted for nearly and en entire 24 hours. At times the incoming fire and counter fire was so intense that men could not stop shooting even to go to the bathroom. Most men in the platoon had to relive themselves right where they stood. This is the picture of manhood that I see when guys use it properly. They are intimate with their weapons; they know the ins and outs of their manhood. They have spent time understanding how God has designed them and know what their specific purpose in this life is. Most of all, they use their manhood when and where it is most needed and never let up. Even when distractions come, their manhood is so focused on protecting the ones around them that personal needs and desires are ignored. Sometimes this costs them comfort and dignity. This is the manhood that Christ has called us to. I believe that Christ describes this in Matthew 10. Jesus tells us some very hard things to hear starting in verse. 28:


28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[j] 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin[k]? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’[l]

37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Jesus tells us that God our Father loves us more than we can imagine; that God our Father made us perfectly the way that we are. WE ARE SPECIAL! But in the same passage Jesus tells us to BEWARE! There is something bigger going on in this world. He came to not bring peace but a sword…If you don’t take up your cross and follow him you are not worthy of being his. I believe Jesus is telling us, “Beware! I gave you special talents, special skills; I made you and your manhood. You have to submit them to me and let me show you how to use them right. I will train you. This fight is not easy; it pits brother against brother, father against son.” When we do submit our manhood to Jesus by taking up our cross he will give us life and we will have life eternal!

Think about this, how can we take up our cross with our manhood? This week ask Jesus to show you. Beware of areas in your life where you need to “take up your cross” and grab hold of the gun, the manhood that God gave you. If you have been using your manhood as a destructive tool, give that up to Christ, lay that at the cross. He will show you how to use your manhood properly. He will train you to use your weapon properly. If you have been afraid to use your manhood, Jesus will give you the strength to pick it back up. Dig that gun from the closet and learn to use it again. If you have been abusing your manhood, Jesus can help you with that as well. Jesus told us before he left the earth that he was sending us his Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit can give us the strength to change the way we use our manhood. Our manhood, when used correctly, can save lives, protect the innocent, rescue our families, and restore the kingdom. So our challenge as men is to pick up our cross by picking up our manhood. I pray that God, through the Holy Spirit and the power of Christ, will show you how to pick up your gun and use it properly.