"Give Me A Man" I Samuel 17:10 I. Introduction. A. What the world needs now is men. 1. Men who will stand up for righteousness. 2. Men who will oppose unrighteousness. 3. Men who will respect God and the things of God. 4. Men who are humble enough to admit wrong and change. 5. Men who are tender and loving; caring and concerned. 6. Men who believe the Bible and stand up for God's word. 7. Men who lead and guide in the paths of righteousness. 8. Men who have the courage to walk in the ways of Christ. 9. It was said: I Samuel 7:10. II. Body. A. In answer to Goliath's challenge, they gave the Philistines a man: I Samuel 17:45-47. 1. A young man, not yet tried in battle. 2. A young man who trusted in God. 3. A young man who was prepared to fight for right. 4. A young man who had faith, confidence and courage. 5. A young man who put the older ones to shame! B. "Give me a man": 1. Who will follows the teachings of Christ. a. It is not always an easy path to walk. b. When Stephen preached the gospel, he paid with his life: Acts 7:59--but he was man enough to say: v. 60. c. A man who would change stood by him(Saul of Tarsus). d. The demands of Christ are different from the ways of the world(and their ideas of men). 2. Who will stand for what is in the word of God. a. Not influenced by what is popular. b. Not guided into practices because others do it or approve it. c. One who dares to be different because it is in the word of God: II Timothy 1:13. d. Uses the truth to set an example: I Timothy 4:12. c. One's age does not alter one's stand for truth. 3. Who turns from evil to good. a. Having enough courage to say, "I was wrong."(as David) b. Who not only professes that he wants to turn from sin, but learns to abhor it! c. Saul of Tarsus changed when he learned better! d. It does take much strength and determination to give up sin! 4. Whose morals are beyond reproach. a. Bombarded with immorality. b. Our society accepts and approves what is repugnant to our forefathers(and to all Christians). c. Paul said it: Colossians 3:5-11. 5. Who is willing to stand---even when he must stand alone. a. David did; Paul did: II Timothy 4:16. b. If you were the only one: would you be a Christian? c. Being alone is not comfortable: feel safe in numbers. d. Jesus died alone(explain) for you and me even though he had two thieves, soldiers, and the crowd beside and around him. 6. Who leads his family in the paths of righteousness. a. Remembers these instructions: Ephesians 6:4. b. Be man enough to love, to lead, to punish, to teach, to care, and to give time to your loved ones. c. Practice this: Ephesians 5:33. d. The broken families of today are caused, too many times, by the failure to be a man! 7. Who uses the armor and equipment that God provides. a. Men often accumulate tools and toys for their own personal joy and satisfaction. b. The equipment God wants in a man: Ephesians 6:10-11, 13-18. c. Only the proper armor and equipment can make and keep one strong! 8. Who is humble enough to know his place in life. a. Paul did; the apostles did; Stephen did; Timothy and Titus did. b. Humility has no place in some lives: they do not know what it is or the value of possessing it. c. Note: I Peter 5:6-7. d. The way worldly men act, dress and appear: humility is foreign to them. 9. Who grows and prepares for the Lord's service. a. Increases faith, knowledge, and participation each day. b. Timothy grew and Paul observed his growth: I Timothy 6:11. c. Grow to be teachers, deacons, elders--to serve the Lord at one's fullest ability and capacity. 10. Who puts the Lord's kingdom and His righteousness first. a. Above all secular pursuits and interests. b. One who is willing to make sacrifices. c. One who has the proper view of life and its meaning (consider Solomon). 11. In fact--give me a man--give me a woman--who will follow the paths of Christ all of their lives! III. Conclusion. A. What kind of man or woman are you today? B. Obedient to Christ and walking in His paths?-jy