The Mighty

The Mighty

Gtoctr/021807

Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7 “…For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Throughout history there have been those who have made their mark and left a legacy for us to remember.

It has taken men and women from all our races, differing cultures and long held traditions working together to make America the proud and strong nation God has used to spread His Gospel message around the world.

Today, in honor of Black History Month, let me share a true story with you about a man who epitomizes the grace, strength, character and determination of what makes a true American truly great.

Willie Kennard: Yankee Hill's Black Marshal

The unlikely tamer of Colorado's wild Yankee Hill was 42-year-old black marshal Willie Kennard.

By Gerald Lindemann

The Colorado gold mining town of Yankee Hill desperately needed a new town marshal, having lost its last three in only a three-month stretch. The reason for the high turnover rate was a hard case named Barney Casewit. Fast with a gun, with no qualms about killing, he had bullied and terrorized the town for two years. The culmination of his vile reign of terror came in 1874. After he raped 15-year-old Birdie Campbell, the girl's father, a bookkeeper at the bank, tried to avenge his daughter. Casewit shot him dead and then did the same to the marshal at the time, a man named Craig, who attempted to arrest Casewit. Ben Reed from nearby Ruby Hill replaced Marshal Craig, but Reed also was outgunned by Casewit. The next lawman the camp hired turned in his badge and shipped out of town one night after watching Casewit gun down two saddle tramps.

Yes, Yankee Hill desperately needed a new marshal. The town councilmen, however, never expected anyone like Willie Kennard to show up in answer to the advertisement they had placed in the Rocky Mountain News. Matt Borden, owner of the Square Deal General Store and mayor of Yankee Hill, and the four other councilmen were discussing town business over their usual cups of morning coffee in Fat Sarah Palmer's Cafe when a gangly 42-year-old black man approached them and said he had read the ad. "You mean you can read, boy?" one of the councilmen asked. Notwithstanding the grim look on Kennard's face, Mayor Borden decided to have some fun with this unlikely candidate for marshal. Before the councilmen could hire anyone, they had to make certain he was up to handling the job. A little test was in order. The job was his if he could arrest a notorious criminal who at that very moment was across the street playing poker in Gaylor's Saloon. That was agreeable to Kennard, who pinned on a star and calmly headed for the saloon to make his first arrest.

One of the councilmen, lawyer Bert Corgan, later wrote in his autobiography, Mining Camp Lawyer (published in 1897 by Pruett Bros. of Los Angeles): "I was perplexed by this darky. He was either, I calculated, an impetuous bunghead or as cold-blooded a gunslinger as ever I saw. With the others, I accompanied him to Gaylor's Saloon, a rowdy place which the miscreant, Barney Casewit, frequented."

After pausing momentarily to size up his quarry, Kennard moved toward Casewit's table. Casewit and his cronies really thought it hilarious when Kennard told him he was under arrest. "I'm just supposed to come with you?" Casewit asked innocently. "Where are we supposed to go?" When Kennard told him it was his choice, either jail or hell, Casewit knew the new lawman was not bluffing. And the way he wore his two revolvers, low and tied down, meant he probably knew how to use them. But Casewit was not about to let himself be arrested. Even if he wasn't hanged, no one would ever respect him again if word got around that he had backed down to a black man.

Casewit got to his feet and, not heeding Kennard's last-chance warning to give up peaceably, reached for the Colt .44s at his sides. The badman had barely gotten his hands on the butts when, according to Corgan, Kennard did something only talked about in legend but never before actually seen by anyone in Gaylor's Saloon. Kennard drew his revolver and fired into Casewit's still holstered Colts. The impact of the bullets knocked the butts out of Casewit's hands. The shots almost ripped the holsters from his gunbelt and rendered his guns totally useless. Two of Casewit's companions, Ira Goodrich and Sam Betts, decided this would be a propitious moment to make their moves on behalf of their friend. They were dead wrong. Kennard dropped them both with clean shots between the eyes as they drew, their guns barely clearing leather. Casewit's hands instantly went straight up. He was taking no chances lest Kennard think he also might try something.

Justice was usually swift in the mining camps and towns of the Old West. The trial was held the next day, with Corgan, the only man in Yankee Hill available who had knowledge of the law, presiding. Casewit was found guilty of raping Birdie Campbell and sentenced to hang. Not wanting to waste time and money building a gallows, Corgan instructed Kennard to nail a crossbar to an old pine behind Glen Ritchey's blacksmith shop. Casewit's hands were tied behind his back, and a noose was looped around his neck. Kennard pulled him up about 10 feet off the ground. Casewit tried to delay his demise by wrapping his legs around the tree trunk and shinnying up it. He only succeeded in prolonging his agony. After about 20 minutes, the strength in his legs gave out. Releasing his grip, Casewit could only dangle helplessly as the rope slowly strangled him to death.

After this astonishing performance, no one on the Yankee Hill town council doubted Willie Kennard's ability to fully execute the duties of the office of marshal; however, they wanted to know something about the man before taking him on permanently. Kennard obligingly filled them in on his background.

During the Civil War he had been a corporal in the 7th Illinois Rifles, a company made up entirely of black volunteers. Having a natural talent for using sidearms, he was made an instructor at the Montrose Training Camp. After the war, having found scant opportunities for civilian employment, Kennard enlisted in a black unit, the 9th Cavalry. He served five years at Fort Bliss, Texas, and then relocated with his unit to Fort Davis in Arizona Territory. He saw action against the Warm Springs Apache and Mescalero Apache. When his enlistment ran out, Kennard drifted about for a few months before responding to the newspaper ad in the summer of 1874 and becoming the marshal of Yankee Hill, Colorado Territory, at the tidy salary of $100 per month.

The town of Yankee Hill had a short but fascinating history. In 1858, pay dirt was struck in Colorado Territory in the area around Pikes Peak. As word spread, another California-style gold rush began. By 1866, hundreds of small mining camps had sprouted. Among them was Yankee Hill, situated about 25 miles west of Denver. Benefitting from its location on the toll road (the so-called Gold Trail) between Central City and Georgetown, Yankee Hill flourished. By 1874 the town had several hundred permanent residents and a few hundred more transient prospectors. Yankee Hill's progress and prosperity brought with it the expected influx of human predators, including men like Barney Casewit who were fast with a gun and totally bereft of conscience. Relying on locals to enforce the laws and maintain order was not good enough anymore. And so it was that Yankee Hill advertised for a professional town tamer.

Willie Kennard's auspicious debut as town marshal earned him instant respect from the citizens of Yankee Hill, who were grateful to be free of Casewit's cruel tyranny. It was inevitable, though, that there would be those who could not accept the concept of a black man as town marshal. Reese Durham, local manager of the Butterfield Stage Station, became obsessed with the desire to run the lawman out of town. On the afternoon of September 2, 1874, emboldened by several glasses of whiskey, Durham challenged Kennard to a gunfight but only earned himself an early trip to the local cemetery.

In the spring of 1875, the town was being plagued by a gang of outlaws preying on the freight wagons and passenger stages that traveled the Gold Trail. The gang was an eight-man outfit led by Billy McGeorge, a 40-year-old fugitive from the Colorado Territorial Prison at Canon City. The town council asked Marshal Kennard to go out and round them up.

Not wanting to chase McGeorge up and down the trails and over half the territory, the marshal decided to set a trap. He had posters nailed to trees, offering a $50 reward for McGeorge's capture "dead or alive." McGeorge flew into a fit of rage when he saw one of the posters. There wasn't another marshal in the territory offering less than $300. It was an insult that could not go unchallenged. On Monday, June 28, 1875, McGeorge and his gang rode into Yankee Hill to secure vengeance.

Alerted to their arrival, Kennard met them at the end of Front Street with a double-barreled shotgun loaded with buckshot. He ordered McGeorge and his men to toss their rifles to the ground. One of the outlaws, Cash Downing, tested the black marshal's skill with a gun and paid for it with his life. The shot also killed the outlaw behind Downing and shattered the glass of the Evans Hardware Store. McGeorge then ordered his men to drop their guns. As Kennard led the gang off to the hoosegow, McGeorge vowed that someday he would get even. However, that day never came for McGeorge. Lawyer Bert Corgan, again acting as judge, had a slew of charges to choose from on which to try McGeorge. The murders of a family of immigrants from Ohio named Stalcup were suitable for the purpose. Found guilty, Billy McGeorge was hanged from the same pine on which Barney Casewit had met his fate just one year earlier.

By 1877, Kennard had thoroughly tamed the once wild and woolly mining town. The population was also declining as the gold began to play out. The traffic through Yankee Hill dropped because mining in Central City and Georgetown had plummeted. Kennard, most likely Colorado's first black lawman, decided it was time for him to move on as well. He handed in his badge, saying he was headed back East to find a wife. Not much is known of his whereabouts or activities after he left Yankee Hill. He surfaced for a time in Denver in 1884, working as a bodyguard for Barney Ford, a wealthy businessman and former slave who became known as the "Black Baron of Colorado." Where Kennard went after that remains a mystery, as does the date of his death. As for Yankee Hill, it is gone and all but forgotten. Only remnants of a few buildings remain.

Legendary lawmen such as Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Wild Bill Hickok are well remembered today, but most Western lawmen, like Willie Kennard, toiled and died in obscurity after bringing law and order to an untamed land. Bat Masterson described them as "just plain ordinary men who could shoot straight and had the most utter courage and perfect nerve--and, for the most part, a keen sense of right and wrong." Well, in Willie Kennard's case, maybe not so ordinary.

---

This article was written by Gerald Lindemann and originally appeared in the February 1996 issue of Wild West.

Marshal Willie Kennard was truly one of America’s Mighty Men

Marshal Kennard reminds me of a man in the bible named Gideon whom God deputized to clean up the town. (Judges 6ff)

In the bible there are several heroes just like Marshal Kennard. People who stood up in the face of adversity for little or no guaranteed reward to right wrongs, protect the innocent and challenge injustice.

2 Samuel 23 (KJV)

8 ¶ These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

David’s Mighty Men stood and fought in the face of great challenges.

Times come to test us, our character and our resolve.

The hard times that test our commitment but the good times test our character.

Those who leave a legacy of character and commitment are those who, like David’s mighty men, choose to stand and fight, even in the face of:

Insurmountable Odds

800 against 1, Adino engaged the fight

Indefinable Fatigue

Wearied by the battle, Eleazar fought on

Insignificant Reward

Alone and for beans, Shammah stood his ground

Perhaps like Queen Ester and David’s Mighty Men, Marshal Kennard, the first black lawman in Colorado, was born for such a time. He prepared himself, mustered the courage and engaged in a cause he believed in. A cause worth living for, and if necessary, dying for.

He did this against all odds, often alone in the heat of the battle and for a whole lot less money than what it was worth.

Where are America’s Mighty Men and Women today?

Many of them are serving in our military, and in our communities as policeman, fireman, as nurses and teachers, coaches and clergy, as foster parents and CASA workers, in family practice and community projects, giving their lives to right wrongs, protect the innocent and challenge injustice.

Where are God’s Mighty Men and Women today?

Right here in front of me!

You are the ones whom God has called to stand for Him even when you may be standing:

Against Insurmountable Odds

In The Face of Indefinable Fatigue

For Seemingly Insignificant Reward

Man may not see the potential inside of you but God does. God looks after the heart and not after the outward appearance.

The Angel called Gideon a, “Mighty man of valor”, before Gideon did anything heroic. (Judges 6:12)

Won’t you take your stand this week.

Stand up for what is right.

Protect the innocent.

Challenge injustice.

Colossians 3:17 (Do everything you do for God’s glory.)

God Bless America and God Bless You!

The Family Series: Part 5 - Marriage

The Family

Series: Part 5 - Marriage

Gtcotr/ws021407

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Key Scripture: Psalms 68:6 God sets the solitary in families …

Tonight we continue our study of the Family as God Intends it to be by looking at the subject of marriage in a much broader perspective.

Instead of looking at marriage in it’s familiar context, we are going to boil it down to it’s most basic element. Tonight we will use marriage to discover the root of God inspired, God ordained, God given relationships.

What is the basic element of marriage?

What is the root of God ordained relationships?

What holds two people together in a special spiritual relationship that weathers the good and the bad, for better or for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?

What is it called when God joins us together with another in His basic family plan?

Covenant

The basis for marriage and all other God ordained spiritual bonds of relationship including man’s very relationship with God is covenant.

Covenant is the solid rock foundation upon which God builds the family. All other ground is sinking sand.

Let’s look in the Gospel of Mark at what is written in red and review the basics of relationship based on covenant.

Mark 10 (KJV)

2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Here are some things we learn from a simple outline study, going verse by verse in this passage. What did Jesus want to teach?

1. (v3) “What did Moses command you?”

a. Jesus asked about the law, Moses’ commandments.

b. (v4) The law gives instructions on how to divorce

c. (v5) “Because of the hardness of your heart …”

The law allows covenant to be broken when two people can’t agree.

2. (v6) “God made them male and female.”

a. Different and complimentary to one another

b. One is not productive without the other

c. It has always been this way by God’s design

We differ on purpose and for purpose by God’s design.

3. (v7a) “For this cause”

a. Because God intended us to be and made us different

b. Because we cannot be productive without someone different adding that difference to our life.

c. Because God made it this way and intends it to be this way

i. (v7b) “… leave … cleave …”

ii. (v8) “Two shall be made one”

Our differences complete us in covenant relationship.

4. (v9) “What God has joined … not man put asunder.”

a. God is in the covenant business or joining lives

b. God joins people who complete His purposes

c. Don’t destroy covenant because of differences

d. Don’t allow differences to make you hard hearted

Law demands/commands/allows separation in God given relationships.

It was not God’s original intent and Jesus expects more.

Law divides us, grace completes us.

Where contract divides us, covenant unites us.

Where Moses made a way, Jesus made a better way.

The weakness of marriage is a weakness of keeping covenant. It’s the cut and run mentality. Many people think that because they have differences they can just up and leave relationships. However, what God has joined together, He intends to stay together until He does the separating at death, with a few exceptions.

The exceptions are in drastic cases and not entered into lightly or just because of differences, likes, dislikes or arguments, especially when the differences complete the purposes of God.

Given that covenant is the basis for spiritual relationships, including marriage between a man and a women, which is the foundation of family, perhaps we can find the application of this truth in other arenas as well.

Remember, Covenant means, “Your good at my expense.”

1. Christ and the Church

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

2. People and the Church

Psalms 68:6a God sets the solitary in families …

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.

3. People and People

1 Samuel 18:1 ¶ Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

1 Samuel 20:16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David

Philemon 1 (The account of Paul and Onesimus to Philemon)

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

Perhaps the greatest expression of covenant between two people, two unmarried people anyway, in which one person voices the spiritual bond between two people when God joins hearts and futures for His purpose and plan, is seen in the life of Ruth.

Ruth is so very different than Naomi, her mother-in-law. With no reason but God’s will, Ruth recognizes covenant and acknowledges her commitment.

Ruth 1

16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.

17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."

18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.

Do you live a covenant life?

Are you a cleaver?

Are you in a committed God given relationship with someone who is different from you, who is meant to be complimentary and complete God’s purposes?

Are you committed to Jesus?

Are you committed to a Church Family?

Are you committed to others beyond what’s good just for you?

It’s covenant that holds family together and accomplishes God’s will.

Be a covenant person and let God be God.

Don’t break covenant.

Perspectives

Perspectives

Gtcotr/ss021107

Our text for today will come from the book of Revelation, Chapters 20 & 21.

Revelation 20 NKJV

10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 ¶ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21

1 ¶ Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."

What a liberating experience it is to see through the eyes of eternity and realize that God has a plan and that He has it all under control.

Corrie Ten Boom said:

“Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” (Corrie Ten Boom)

Every person we meet, each encounter is designed by God either for our benefit or for the benefit of others. Oh to glean from the eternal mindedness of God and shower this temporal realm with everlasting sprinkles of life.

C S Lewis, in his classic sermon Weight and Glory, reminded us that “…we are seated next to immortal beings. We eat with, work with, disagree with and live with immortal beings.” (Weight and Glory, a sermon by C.S. Lewis)

David Shibley says in his book, Heavenly Incentives for Earthly Living, “Every person you have ever known will live forever - somewhere.” “His or her destiny is either eternity with Christ or eternity without Him. So we should wrap arms of love around people. We should extend evangelistic warmth and compassion to non-Christians, and nonpartisan fellowship and love to fellow Christians.”

Somewhere a Spirit of Evangelism must again be planted and take precious root in our churches and in the everyday lives of common Christians.

Who will look past the present pressures of life and position themselves to impact eternity?

Who will deny themselves, take up their own cross and follow Jesus?

Who will obey the Great Commission out of a passion for the Great Commandment?

Let me tell you who …

* Who will leave the pursuit of success and rather seek significance

* Who will discover their purpose and pursue their destiny

* Who will uncover satan’s lies that riches satisfy and that power and position bring pleasure and security

* Who will enter heaven with a “well done good and faithful servant” welcome from God Almighty.

Who? Those who dare to:

1. See the Invisible (The servant of Elisha 2 Kings 6:17)

2. Hear the Inaudible (Sheep John 10:27)

3. Embrace the Imperishable (Eternity 1 Peter 1:4 & Matthew 6:20)

4. Can do the Impossible (Destiny Luke 18:27 possible with God)

We were created with an eternal purpose in mind. (Jeremiah 1:5)

We were created for something we cannot possibly do. (John 14:12)

Often if all we are doing is all we can do, then God is doing nothing in our life.

A precious lady named Pearl Goode began to read and hear in the early 1950’s that God was raising up a national evangelist. This Methodist laywoman was impressed by God to assist a young preacher, not so much with money, although she did give, but mostly by prayer. Perhaps she saw the invisible, maybe she heard the inaudible and embraced the imperishable in her attempt to accomplish what might have seemed to some as impossible.

Pearl Goode wrote to Billy Graham’s office in Minneapolis and requested his crusade schedule. Then, for the next several years, unknown to anyone, she would travel to the crusade city, check into an inexpensive hotel and lock the door. Throughout the days of the crusade she would pray down God’s power and blessings on the young upstart evangelist, asking God to give him a national anointing and return our country to God one crusade, one family, one soul at a time.

Pearl Goode was committed to an eternal perspective.

What is a life committed to an eternal perspective?

A life committed to an eternal perspective is a life:

1. Committed to Prayer

Without prayer one may never see the invisible and hear the inaudible.

2. Committed to Praise

Without praise one might never sense the awaiting imperishable mansions, streets of gold, angels singing and immortal saints gathering. Heaven awaiting us!

3. Committed to People

Without a commitment to others what would be the motivation, inspiration or reward of attempting impossible dreams

One seldom serves Jesus in this life without serving people.

Allow me encourage you this morning to:

* Look for the invisible hand of God which others do not see

* Listen for the inaudible voice of God which do not readily hear

* Envision the imperishable things of God which others cannot imagine

* Endeavor to accomplish impossible things for God which others will seldom attempt

Let’s pray for us.

The Family Series: Part 4 - The Man

The Family

Series: Part 4 - The Man

Gtcotr/ws020707

Key Scripture: Genesis 2:18 ¶ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (KJV)

18 ¶ And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." (NKJV)

18 ¶ The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (NIV) (NAS95)

18 ¶ And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." (NLT)

Two things for sure:

1. It’s not good that man be alone.

2. He needs help.

One of the basic understandings about this helper God decides to make for man is that she would be a stabilizer. He evidently needs someone to stabilize his life.

Throughout the word of God we find God tasking the man with certain duties and specific responsibilities. The man is given responsibilities to:

Provide

Love

Leadership

Life Needs

Protect

Heart

Home

Defend

Faith

Family

Fortune

From the word of God we also draw some conclusions as to the man’s weaknesses. Satan has discovered and has historically used man’s weaknesses against him to deceive, destabilize and ultimately defeat man. These evident weaknesses can be grossly broken down into three main categories:

I call them the 3 G’s:

Gold

Glory

Girls

Lets look at some scripture and see if we can better understand the man.

Ephesians 5 NKJV

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

God gives us insight into how he intends this woman to stabilize the man --- Respect him!

Man, in his world, filled with pride, ambition, a drive for success and a need for significance, is on a quest for respect.

Respect from:

Others important to his life

Self respect

God’s respect, if I may put it that way.

God’s respect comes in the form of being noticed and perhaps noted or in some way known by God. Much like we see Abraham getting from God when God said:

Genesis 18 NKJV

17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,

18 "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."

Enoch also was noticed by God as was the Roman Centurion of Acts 10 and the man in Matthew 8:5.

Man is on a quest for respect and satan knows this. In the world’s system, respect is often given to those who have achieved apparent success. This is where these 3 major pitfalls come into play.

Man in his quest for respect and satan in his quest to destabilize and defeat man both meet together in the three temptations I call the 3 G’s. Remember them?

1. Gold – Perhaps this is how satan was able to defeat Judas or the young rich ruler in Mark 10

Mark 10:22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This is also what defeated Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, when he went after Naaman and went for the Gold.

Remember Achan at the battle of Jericho. He was tempted by the gold and it cost Israel their victory at Ai and it also cost Achan his very life.

Joshua 22:20 When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things, did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’" (NIV)

2. Glory

The I, My, Me, Mine Syndrome

Look what I did!

My dog’s better than your dog …

It’s all about me …

It’s all mine.

King Saul had his glory problems. He could not stand to share the spot light with anyone else, especially someone whom the people loved like they did David.

He mistakenly thought that if he tore down or destroyed the competition that it would somehow make him more glorious.

David did not care much for the Glory and he seemed not too bothered by living in a cave so perhaps Gold was not his weak spot either.

Reckon what satan used to temp David?

3. Girls

Satan did the same thing to Samson.

Solomon’s mother spoke a great bit of wisdom to him when she realized that he had an evident problem. He has accumulated hundreds of wives and several hundred concubines, sex slaves.

Before his mother taught him about the virtuous woman, she also spoke to him concerning the temptations of man and warned him:

Proverbs 31:3 Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. (NKJV)

The Message Version of the Bible says:

Don’t dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women, promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.

Men, let me quickly give you 3 signpost on the road to defeat:

1. No Personal Prayer or Bible Reading

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path

2. No Spiritual Covering

Proverbs 18:1 ¶ A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment

3. Believing That You Are Invincible

* The, “It can’t happen to me” syndrome

Mark 14:29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."

* it can’t happen to me --- not me --- never me!

Mark 14:71 Then he (Peter) began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man (Jesus) of whom you speak!"

Don’t be so foolish to think it can’t happen to you … we need to stay close to Jesus instead of following Him at a distance