Tony Evans - Kingdom Men Rising Devotional

Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Genesis 1:26

God created the man prior to creating the woman, like pouring a foundation first, because the success or failure of Gods created purpose of building His kingdom in history would be directly related to a mans relationship with and submission to Gods rule over his life. Foundations dont have to be fancy or pretty, but they do have to be strong. When a foundation is weak, everything resting on it is at risk. God holds the man ultimately responsible for holding up what He has entrusted to his care while simultaneously advancing His kingdom program.

If God can get His men to pursue an intimate relationship with Him while simultaneously representing Him in all we do, He will reverse the downward spiral of the culture. God is waiting on His kingdom men to rise from our spiritual slumber and accept the responsibility of reversing the decay and disunity that engulf us.

Just as the first Adam brought defeat to the human race, the last Adam, Jesus Christ, came to bring victory. Its time for Gods men, under the lordship of Jesus Christ, to change the trajectory of our culture as we submit ourselves to Him and His kingdom agenda.

ACTION

1. Assess your personal foundation on a scale of 110.
2. What practice can you put in place to strengthen the foundation you provide to those around you?
3. Name one thing you are willing to do this week in order to start heading in that direction.

PRAYER

Jesus, open my eyes to the truth of where I am strong and where I am weak as a man. Help me to have the humility that is necessary to shore up the foundation and fill in the cracks where it is needed most. I ask for greater wisdom and strength as I pursue You and Your role for me to rise up as a kingdom man so that I can have a positive impact on the culture and on those I love. In Your name, amen.

Bear one anothers burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Awakening our biblical manhood requires the commitment and the discipline to honor God in all we do. But what we often forget is that this determination is frequently formed in us over the course of our lives. It doesnt just appear out of nowhere. We are in this together. Nothing difficult we overcome ever rests solely on our own shoulders. Thats one reason God emphasizes unity and the power of fellowship and discipleship throughout Scripture.

If you saw the film series The Lord of the Rings , you likely remember one of the most famous scenes. It comes toward the end of The Return of the King . The main character, Frodo, whose role it was to carry the burden of the evil ring to its destruction and thus save the world, had lost all strength. He lay unable to move forward. If he didnt make it to the top of the mountain to throw the ring in the fire, the quest would be lost.

Thats when his companion, Sam, made a bold move. Scooping Frodo up in his arms and lifting him onto his Similarly, we as men may not be able to carry each others burdens, but we can do our part to lift, encourage, support, and draw near to those in need to help them finish the task of overcoming any evil that seeks to defeat them.

ACTION

1. Identify hesitancies you have toward helping other men carry their burdens.
2. In what ways can you overcome these hesitancies in order to fulfill your role as a kingdom man?
3. What are some hindrances that keep men from accepting someone elses help, and in what ways do you identify with these?

PRAYER

Jesus, I want to be a greater help to other men in need. Show me how I can strengthen my own walk with You in order to be better positioned to help someone else. Give me wisdom on how I can use the gifts and grace You have given to me to support, encourage, and lift up men around me. In Your name, amen.

For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus sake.

2 Corinthians 4:5

We need kingdom men who are willing to invest not only in their own personal growth and opportunities, but also in others. We need men who are willing to sacrifice time and effort to unleash someone elses potential. We are in this thing called life together. Thats how we make it. Thats how we man up. Thats how we change the world for God and for good. We do it by living out the definition of a kingdom man: a male who visibly and consistently submits to the comprehensive relationship and rule of God, underneath the Lordship of Jesus Christ, in every area of his life.

A kingdom man accepts his responsibilities under God and faithfully carries them out. These responsibilities include caring for his family, serving in his church, and being present to positively impact others around him. When he is faithful to do these things, and more, God moves even pagan powers and other forces on earth to support him in advancing the kingdom agenda. God brings upon him the blessings and favor He promised to Abraham years ago.

When a kingdom man lives according to his designed purpose, he joins with other men in influencing culture, politics, entertainment, and more through intentional discipleship. This process produces kingdom disciples who then go and do the same. The process becomes cyclical, leading to multigenerational impact.

ACTION

1. Write the definition of a kingdom man where you can look at it over the course of the next week. Seek to memorize this definition.
2. What are some practical examples of consistently submitting to Gods comprehensive rule over every area of life?