This message targets men, and in particular Christian men. Men, before God, you are responsible to lead in the home. This is your God given responsibility. You may be a bad leader or a good leader, but before God you are the assigned leader in the home. We can't escape this responsibility. We might be irresponsible, but we are still responsible and will give an account to God.

In this time of pandemic crisis people are asking: "What can we do?" Men, one thing we can do is MANUP for God in the home! Right now people are confined to home. People are working from home. People are pretty much relegated to spending time at home and with family. This is the PERFECT TIME to focus on home and being the man of the home that God intends for you to be.

So often family and FUN (entertainment) go together in the minds of professing Christians. It's all about having a good time. But what about GOD? Nothing wrong with "fun" but fun shouldn't be God or take the place of God. Sadly, it often does because the man of the home doesn't make God THE priority. Instead of fun and family, the priority should be God and family. The last days are characterized by professing Christians being "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:4). Peter warns us, "beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked" (2 Pet. 3:17).

Of course, fun is important, but it should be the dessert and not the main course. Often "fun" is treated like the main course of life and God is the "dessert" reserved for special occasions like Sunday - that is unless FUN also takes priority on that day. MANUP FOR GOD! Unless God is the priority in your life every day don't expect your version of Christianity to make much of an impact on your family. Does your life indicate God is your ULTIMATE PRIORITY? Life is about GOD!

God chose Abraham, but why and to what end?

Genesis 18:19 (ESV)
19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Abraham is the premier example of FAITH in the Bible. As men of faith God expects us to lead our families. We set the tone for God in the home! So, often it is the women (in practical reality) who are the spiritual leaders. Where are the men? MANUP! It is required of elders and also deacons that they manage their own households well (cf. 1 Tim. 3:4, 12). The point is that what is necessary for leaders in the church is to be followed by ALL the men in the church. Elders lead by EXAMPLE, starting with how they manage their own home (cf. 1 Pet. 5:3).

Men we are responsible to "shepherd" our own homes. Elders are to "shepherd the church", but that reality doesn't cancel out personal responsibility (cf. Acts 20:28). The HOME is always PRIMARY and the man of the home bears the FIRST responsibility regarding the spiritual welfare of his family. Everything starts at home. That is why elders must FIRST prove themselves in the home and then on that basis serve as overseers in the church.

Good "shepherding" involves leading by example (cf. 1 Pet. 5:3). Good shepherds are not "lords over those entrusted to you", but rather they lead by "example" (cf. 1 Pet. 5:3). They are not bullies or dictators. Shepherd leaders are gentle and self-controlled. They model godliness - Christ-likeness. As gracious leaders we treat our wives with honor and understanding. We treat them as "heirs together of the grace of life" (1 Pet. 3:7). We are loving leaders who are commanded to love our wives "just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Eph. 5:25). We are to be sensitive to our children, not provoking them to wrath, but bringing "them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Eph 6:4). And of course if we truly love them we will administer proper discipline (cf. Proverbs 3:12; Heb. 12:7).

In practical reality this emphasis on you being the LEADER of the home that sets the tone for family may be new. Very possibly your wife has been taking the lead in many respects and you need to step up. She is your helper, but you cannot abdicate your responsibility to lead. It is interesting that Paul across the board instructs that women instead of being disruptive at church says, "if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husband at home" (1 Cor. 14:35). The MAIN spiritual input into the wife's life should be the husband. Why are they having to run to every else to all sorts of teachers trying to find answers? Where is the husband? MANUP! Well, you say the husband doesn't know enough to answer his wife's advanced questions. Well, get in the WORD! Seek God! Study hard to answer wisely. Ask God for wisdom and if you ask in faith, He will show you what you need to know (cf. James 1:5-8). MANUP! This is your responsibility!

Being a man of God who sets the tone for God in the home is a whole LIFESTYLE thing. So many have a "compartmentalized" view of Christianity where God has His slot, but He doesn't govern the whole of life. Men God needs to be a WHOLE LIFE reality - every day in every way all along the way. To breath is GOD! We wake up to God, we walk with God, we live, breath and eat God. For us it's all about GOD! That reality can't help but impact your family for time and eternity.

The old saying, "The family that prays together stays together" is a good starting point. Pray at meals. And don't just have little Johnny pray. He always wants to pray because he likes the attention, but is it really praying or performing? Don't get me wrong there is a place for Johnny to pray, but how about you be the KEY PRAYER LEADER. Let your family hear you pray! MANUP! How about family devotions? They don't have to be long, but they must be. TURN OFF THE TV! Open the Bible. Bring the family around and center on God and His Word for a few minutes. Discuss the issues of life and what we are going through and how God wants us to respond. Let them see how you are taking it to God in prayer. Let them see your attitude of submission to governing authorities. Let them see Christ in you when family tensions mount in the confines of home life.

The last verse in the Old Testament describes "revival" by saying, "he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers" (Mal. 4:6). Revival begins in the home! What's wrong with our country? Look no further than the HOME! Look no further than a lack of godly leadership in the home! So goes the home so goes the country! At core it's all about the HOME! I recently read about an interview with atheist Richard Dawkins. What was so surprising is that this atheist observed that Christianity is losing its influence for good in society and he was concerned about what will fill that vacuum. Revival begins in the home with men assuming their God given role. MANUP for God in the home!

What can we do during this time of quarantine and home confinement? We can MANUP and get our priorities straight in the home! Even though we can't go to church we can still SHEPHERD our family for God. God help us to MANUP for God in the home - for such a time as this!

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 (ESV)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV)
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.