How to Be a Godly Man

If Proverbs 31 is the Biblical reference for a godly woman, what is the Biblical reference for a godly man? Amid a culture war over what a man should and/or should not be, can we look to the Word of God and find his guidance? I want to offer Psalm 112. I believe it shows us the desires of our Father for every man to fully embody the righteousness of their Creator and Lord.

Psalm 112 (NKJV)

Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

Who delights greatly in His commandments.

2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;

The generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,

And his righteousness endures forever.

4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5 A good man deals graciously and lends;

He will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he will never be shaken;

The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is established;

He will not be afraid,

Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

9 He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever;

His horn will be exalted with honor.

10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;

He will gnash his teeth and melt away;

The desire of the wicked shall perish.

It’s clear, we should Praise The Lord! This is a nonnegotiable for all creation. We also see that a godly man has fear of the Lord. This fear is not being scared but a holy trembling that His ways are the only ways, or as this verse says, those who delight in His commandments. Proverbs 9:10 teaches us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The Lord is teaching us that having fear for Him will lead us into wisdom and a better understanding of how to live life. Verses 2 and 3 teach us that this wise man will have a blessed family, generationally, and that wealth and finances will be a part of his legacy. He is also a man of graciousness and discretion in all of his interactions with people. Because he fears the Lord he is not shaken or bothered by evil, rather his heart is established. The Lord declares that this man’s righteousness endures forever and his life will be exalted with honor. Verse 10 highlights the impact that this man will have on his culture. The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The Desire of the wicked shall perish. This man of righteousness will be a total disruptor of the evil on the earth and the enemy will be overwhelmed and grieved, eventually perishing.

I want to urge every man, and every woman that speaks into a man, to press into this Psalm. What would happen if all the sons of God feared the Lord and delighted in His commandments? What would happen if he dealt with his affairs with grace and discretion, rather than Facebook or Twitter?

We have an opportunity to establish a Kingdom culture in our homes and families that have a ripple effect into our workplaces and communities.

Pastor Joshua Ogle

The Eyes of the Next Generation are Upon Us

Shalom Aleichem, Beloved.

As Caite and I have prayed into the season ahead, we are keenly aware of this fact:

“The eyes of the next generation are upon us.”

Yes, they are upon us as leaders of the youth group, but they are also upon each and every individual who, for the season, calls The Tabernacle their home. What is the next generation going to observe?

Here’s the hard question:

If we return to a mask mandate, lockdowns, virtual lifestyles, is the next generation going to see an older generation rise up, spiritually discerning the season that we are in, or are they going to see us wither away and collapse because the dry season proved our foundation too weak?

I truly believe now more than ever in this season of uncertainty that how we choose to respond is going to shape the framework for how the next generation responds when the heat is turned up and they are under crisis.

Beloved, what are they going to see?

Are they going to see a generation who falls on their faces and implores our heavenly Father to tune our hearts and spirits to discern His will for the moment that we are in? Are they going to see spirits that remain joyful especially as we are forced to abide in a season of strife and contention? Are they going to see us lay down our preference for the sake of setting an example that models the heart of the Father and the life of his Son?

Or are they going to see us fall into despair and depression because the extent of our relationship with the Father and Jesus hasn’t been cultivated in a secret place but is merely sustained by the emotional spiritual high of an experience?

We are believing for this next generation to have an encounter that sustains, not an experience that fades.

Beloved, I implore you: find yourself in that secret place and present yourself before the throne room and ask of the Lord, 'how do I model your heart in a season where the upcoming generation has their eyes intensely fixated upon my life?'

In the love of Christ,

Matt & Caite Kunkel - Youth Ministry Directors

Reflecting the Grace

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

“Essentially, there are two perspectives through which we can view every situation in life. One is the “heavenly”; the other is “worldly.”

Did you know that we have the power to transition our thinking out of the worldly perspective and into a heavenly one?”

Christine Caine

Take on the mind of Christ. Jesus walked among us and took on flesh that He might bear our burdens. In this, He also understands the weight of the world AND the walk of the flesh. The higher road is not self-righteousness nor an air of what I think I ought to say and do.

Instead, it is basking in His Word and becoming one with Christ. Covered by His Grace and full from a meal of digesting His Word, we then approach life from a new perspective. It no longer becomes one or the other— heaven or earth— but a perfected blend of Christ in me the hope of Glory lived out in my submitted flesh.

Lord, let my words reflect Your grace and compassion today. May the haughty interpretation of faith from my flesh be replaced by the sweetness of Your Holy Spirit dwelling and flowing from me. Cover me, God, I’m going into today. Let them see Your grace as I live out my life and faith.

Yours for the Kingdom,

Pastor Sharon Baldwin

Preschool Ministries

Southwestern Daycare Director