With all the crime, terrorism, school shootings, gang violence, and an immeasurable sea of iniquity that abounds, the struggles between good and evil have continued since Satan was thrown out of heaven.

It is our God-given responsibility as men of God to Protect ourselves, our marriages, our families, our churches, and our nation, against both physical, and spiritual threats.

Protect Yourself

Satan is actively scheming to tempt you into sin against God. He lies and manipulates and discourages us in a bid to destroy us. The devil is cunning and subtle and will do anything to undermine and destroy you.

We have to be ever watchful and guard against this darkness.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

We are all vulnerable to sin. We battle with our sinful nature as the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Temptation causes us to doubt the goodness of God and forget all that God has done for us and shifts our focus onto ourselves.

Temptation brings out the selfish and self-righteous nature in us, by making us believe that we are right, and whatever we do is harmless.

However, the world, the flesh, and the devil are not your friend. As biblical men, we must protect our heart, mind, and spirit, and keep them always consecrated to God.

When an emergency first responder arrives on the scene of an accident, he must protect himself first. Otherwise, he may become a victim himself in need of rescue. That only complicates the situation.

Keep your guard up brother! Put on the armor of God…

Ephesians 6:11–18 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”

Protect Your Marriage

As a married man, you see that woman at work, who is all dressed up nice for the day and shows you some attention and admiration. Meanwhile, you and your wife have been arguing lately. DON’T DO IT!

As men of God, learning to resist the wandering eye of temptation is vitally important. If you fall, your marriage and Family will also tumble, like dominoes. Your sin will be discovered, you will be exposed, and the damage will be lifelong. Not just for you, but for everyone that you love.

We must be vigilant, and keep the desires of our flesh in check. Don’t follow your heart, lead it!

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Anticipate and avoid situations where you are likely to face temptation or leave you vulnerable to committing sin, and if it is unavoidable, prepare for how you will handle those temptations should they arise.

Be careful how close you get to “friends” that are the opposite sex. Don’t be fooled into thinking that your wife is ok with it, no matter what she says. Most likely she will not say anything, for fear of being called too jealous.

Have the right kind of friends; believers who will support you in your faith, because as the Bible says if you walk with the wise, you will be wise.

Associate with people who share your moral convictions and will help you avoid temptation and are there to help you up if you stumble or fall.

However, all these will not help you if your convictions are not strong and can easily be swayed. Your faith in Christ must be unshakable and unmovable because our Lord does not want us to sin and with His help, we will be able to do so.

We should do as Jesus commands and must not cease in prayer and use the Word of God to counter temptation. We need to proclaim the word of God at every turn as God is our only savior.

The Word is clear on this; “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:26-27).

Protect Your Family

As we endeavor to protect ourselves from sin, and our marriage, we must also protect our families. We are made by God to be physically strong and capable of defending ourselves and our loved ones.

But, being a protector goes beyond giving physical protection. We must also give spiritual protection. This comes with the knowledge and understanding that this is our duty.

A godly husband protects his wife and Children by helping them flee from sin. He seeks to guard his family against the sins of others. Making himself the barrier whenever possible. Of course, we cannot shield them from everything, and shouldn’t, lest they become weak in their own faith.

At the same time, the sin of this world often reaches into the lives of most children when they are far too young to resist it. It is our responsibility to protect the hearts of our children from the poison of sin.

With the internet, social media, television, and entertainment industry always competing for the attention and affection of ourselves, our family, and our children, we must be the ones that build the spiritual barrier of protection at every level.

A godly man protects his family from these influences and prepares them to deal with it as mature Christians when it is the right time. He does not let the lost world dictate how he raises his children.

Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

As a biblical man, you must be selfless in service to your family. Know that your sins go beyond just you and impacts your entire family. Out of compassion, love and your duty to them, flee from sin, live a godly life and pursue holiness.

Standing against the evil of this world, the temptations and seduction of sin and Satan are our responsibility. Biblical men must take this seriously, as the danger of complacency and living by default is the easy route.

It is not always the immediate spiritual threat that must be guarded against, but the slow-growing spiritual virus that slips in and eats away at our families, churches, and nation, like cancer.

We must not grow lethargic in our service to Christ but be empowered in the Word and confidence that God is everlasting and will stand by us in everything.

We must have enduring faith; that even though we may struggle, stumble or even fail, our loving Father will lift us up into His arms and raise us up in our faith.

The post Roles of Biblical Manhood – The Protector appeared first on Active Manhood.