Men of Steel 6-9-25

This evening, we started the meeting with a table discussion on Ephesians 5:15-20. Specifically, we focused on the second part of verse 18, “Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,” and we discussed what it means to each of us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
15. So be careful how you live.  Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  16. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  17. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  18. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19. singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.  20. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Greg King started a new class of New Beginners’ with a group of men eager to deepen their faith and their connection in fellowship with Men of Steel. At the completion of the class, the men will be given the opportunity to share their testimony with the rest of the men and talk about how they learned and grew through pursuing the Word in the class.

The message this evening was delivered by Will Adams. The message was centered around finding strength through surrender to God and His will, proving strength through integrity and character, showing strength through service to God and to others, self-discipline through prayer and studying the Word, and building and refining strength through enduring trails in the name of your faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 6:10 NLT
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Judges 16:17–20 NLT
17. Finally, Samson shared his secret with her.  “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth.  If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
18. Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers.  “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.”  So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands.  19. Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair.  In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.
20. Then she cried out, “Samson!  The Philistines have come to capture you!”
When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.”  But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.

II Corinthians 12:9 NLT
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

I Corinthians 16:13 NLT
Be on guard.  Stand firm in the faith.  Be courageous.  Be strong.

Daniel 1:8 NLT
But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.  He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

Daniel 6:10 NLT
But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem.  He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

Genesis 39–45
(The faith through persecution and forgiveness through perseverance of Joseph.)

James 1:12 NLT
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.  Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Mark 10:43 NLT
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

John 13:12–17 NLT
12. After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?  13. You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.  14. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  15. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.  16. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master.  Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.  17. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Nehemiah 2–6
(Nehemiah led courageously with compassion and resolve.)

Matthew 23:11 NLT
The greatest among you must be a servant.

I Timothy 4:7 NLT
Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

I Corinthians 9:24–27 NLT
24. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?  So run to win!  25. All athletes are disciplined in their training.  They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.  26. So I run with purpose in every step.  I am not just shadowboxing.  27. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.  Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Matthew 4:4 NLT
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

James 1:2–3 NLT
2. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  3. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Job 1:20–22 NLT
20. Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.  21. He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.  The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.  Praise the name of the Lord!”
22. In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Job 2:10
But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman.  Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”  So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

Luke 22:42–44 NLT
42. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  43. Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.  44. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

Joshua 1:9 NLT
This is my command—be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”