Men of God Arise Together

Biblical masculinity has come under assault as never before in our lifetime, fostering enormous confusion regarding a man’s role and responsibility in the 21st Century. God is not confused about a man’s identity or assignment on the earth. His anointed word summons men to step into their prophetic destiny as men of God who reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and invest eternally.¹

God has not called men to be lone rangers. Instead, He calls men of God to arise together as a band of brothers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The Apostle Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 5:7-14 to walk in the light as authentic Christ-followers who reflect the light and life of Christ in this dark world. Paul encourages us with two directives followed by a declaration of God’s covenant promise.   Quoting from Isaiah, Paul says,

The directive is twofold. First, Paul says, “Awake, you who sleep.” Ninety percent of men in the United States say they believe in God. Five out of six call themselves Christians, yet only one out of six attend church on a Sunday. Only one out of four married women will have their husband next to them this Sunday.³  Hence, the great need of the day is for men to awaken from the stupor of sin and the slumber of slothfulness echoed in the words of Joel 3:9 (NKJV), “Wake up the mighty men.”

Men have been abdicating their God-given role and responsibility since the Garden of Eden, when Adam, the first man, fell into passivity, disregarded responsibility, abandoned his post, and sought an earthly reward. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Christ, the perfect man, rejected passivity, accepted responsibility, led courageously, and expected God’s reward.⁴  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12, NKJV).

Second, Paul says, “Arise from the dead.”  It is a call not only to awaken from the stupor of sin but to arise from the slumber of slothfulness into a life energized by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the call Jesus gave to Lazarus in John 11:43 (NKJV), “Lazarus, come forth!”  Lazarus had no appetite, no aspirations, no activity, no awareness, and no ability. He was dead! But Jesus, the resurrection, and the life summoned him from death and darkness into life and light. Indeed, Jesus will do the same for men today who hear His voice calling them to the life He has fully intended every man live for the glory of God and the good of others.

Hence, Paul’s twofold directive is followed by a declaration of covenant promise. He says, “And Christ will give you light.”  The source from which Paul quoted seems to have been an early Christian poem or hymn based on Isaiah 60:1 (NKJV), “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”⁵  Walking and living in the light is not a matter of self-motivation. Instead, it is a response to the light and life of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27, NKJV).

John 11:44 (NKJV) says, “He [Lazarus] who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’” Lazarus was alive! Jesus said, “I am the life” (John 14:6c, NKJV). He is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9, NKJV). Jesus is the source of life and light. He is the one who raises men from the dead and shines the light of His glory upon them. However, He gave two instructions to those who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus said, “Take away the stone” (John 11:39, NKJV), and “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44, NKJV).

We have a responsibility to remove stumbling blocks and obstacles from the path of others who have yet to step into the light, are struggling with matters of faith (Romans 14:13), or are overcome by some sin (Galatians 6:1). Furthermore, when a man answers the call of Christ to awaken and arise, we have a mutual responsibility to “loose him, and let him go.” We are to “unwrap the saints” like “iron sharpening iron” (Proverbs 27:17), mentoring them in those “things that many reliable witnesses have confirmed” (2 Timothy 2:2, NLT).

An ancient African proverb says, “If you want to get somewhere fast, go alone. If you want to go the distance, take a team.”⁶  Our theme in 2022 is “Men of God Arise Together,” reminding us the journey of becoming like Jesus is not a solo venture. It is a race we are running together. If we go the distance, we need each other more than ever! So, let us arise together as men of God who reflect the light and life of Christ in our witness, in our word, in our walk, in our worship, in our warfare, and in our work for the glory of God!