Way to Go, Men!

Let me give a public shout out to the men of the Ridgway First Baptist Church. This past Sunday was Baptist Men’s Day, with many of the men participating in the service in various ways. Nearly all the men joined in the men’s choir as we sang, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” Indeed, even as we recognized the roles and contributions of men in the church, it is the name of Jesus we honor and glorify!

There’s something special about men lifting their voices together in praise to the Lord Almighty! I remember being in a Promise Keeper’s conference quite a few years ago in Chicago where the men’s choir all wore T-shirts that read: “Real men sing real loud.” I love that line. I still have some tapes I’ll listen to occasionally from PK that feature men singing out such majestic hymns as “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” and “How Great Thou Art.” Fantastic, inspirational stuff!

We also were encouraged to hear four men give verbal testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ, and certainly more would have been willing if time allowed. One young man led in a responsive Scripture reading, another young man closed out the service in prayer, and the older men’s class Sunday School teacher gave a warm welcome and an opening prayer. I get pumped up when men step up in the church!

We also heard a couple of special songs from a men’s duet and a trio that I trust brought a message of encouragement to the church. God has gifted many in the church with the ability to help build up His people through music, and I’m grateful they’re eager to use their gifts for that purpose.

Our men also prepared and provided a fellowship meal for the congregation – not totally without the help of some of the women, mind you. But they came through with a wonderful dinner and were glad to serve. And, yes, they also cleaned up afterwards and left the kitchen spotless!

I’m running the risk here of leaving out somebody who went out of their way to make this a special day, and if so, I apologize. There are some who do so much work behind the scenes that they’d never get noticed by others – and they like it that way. But it’s always good to know that even what is done in secret will be richly rewarded by our Father in heaven.

The message I brought Sunday morning was about declaring our faith in Christ. This coming week’s message is about Christ declaring victory for His church. The Scripture for these sermons if found in Matthew 16:13-20. I’m not going to re-preach that right now, nor give too much away about what’s coming up, other than to say that now is the time for men to boldly declare their faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Our world desperately needs men who are neither afraid nor ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our generation needs men (and women, too) to truly believe in their hearts, boldly confess with their mouths, and faithfully live out the truth that Jesus is the way, and the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)! Our culture needs men willing to stake their lives upon the truth that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

There’s enough foolish disbelief already out there. And because of the stubbornness of men’s unrepentant hearts, they are storing up against themselves the wrath of God on that day when His righteousness judgment will be revealed (Rom. 2:5).

Friend, time is running out. I believe that the time of Christ’s return is very near. And even if in His patience He delays, that only means He’s giving you a chance now – before it’s too late – to repent of your sins and receive the salvation that He graciously offers you in Christ Jesus.

I’m thankful for the men at Ridgway FBC who are not ashamed to confess the name of Jesus Christ! I’m thankful for their servant leadership, their Christ-like love and their encouragement shown to others in the church, in their homes and in their communities. And I’m thankful most of all for the power of Jesus’ name we hail. Join us this Sunday in worship, and come be a part of Christ’s victorious church!