Some of you may have heard of Kenny Luck.  He is the head of a men’s ministry entitled “Every Man Ministries.”  At a recent “Ignite” conference he gave this challenge  to men.  “The world doesn’t need any more men that are simply “affiliated” with God or the Christian faith.”  What the world needs are men who are “activated” for Christ.  He challenged men to move from the audience in terms of their relationship with God to that of an army.  The big difference  being in an audience versus being in an army, one is in the fight and one is not.

He quotes Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:35, “Good things come out of the good man because of the good that is stored up in him.  Evil things come out of the evil man because of the evil that is stored up in him.”  “Faith is seen,” explains Luck, “by what faith does.  That is why men of God ignited, catching fire, is important – particularly the younger men – because there is such a crisis around the world when it comes to men.  The world is wondering where have all the good men gone?”  When Godly men get together there is something that is ignited.  Men begin to catch the fire from others.  Something is being “caught”  in the process

I believe this is an important point.  Men who become energized in their walk with God will have an influence on others.  It is the old principle of “iron sharpening iron.”  Men are “rising up” to take back  their communities for God.  As Luck observes, “Pain and suffering  caused by a  broken male culture creates a need and longing for men who bring hope, help, and health to the social darknesses plaguing them.”

Men are being called by God to rise above culture, self and evil  with a desire to be more Christ-like.  The way Luck puts it, men are being called to, “empower health in every space and in every relationship they can be means of a living and active faith in Christ.”  In  other words, men are going about their every day lives wanting to bring healthy change, as they attempt to reflect the love of Christ.  They are activated.

So the challenge is for us to be activated in our faith.  As we relate to other men who are “ignited” for God, we will be motivated to take back our culture for God.  We acknowledge that men have brought much darkness into our culture.  This we do not deny.  But we want to be agents of light.  I close with these words for Hebrews 10:24-5, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another..”  Look for men who are “activated” and join them on the journey