Are You a Man (of God)?

By: Elton C. Green, Sr. and Erika L. Green                                                                          

The question is …Where are the men? Are we in front of the television watching the football game? Are we in prison? Are we on the corner? Or Are we sagging our pants even at a late age?

The fact of the matter is we are in all these places. But I realize and recognize all men are not doing those things. I believe a percentage are growing to be leaders in their communities, jobs, family, and church. That’s where we should be! Why?

Genesis 1:26 states Then God said, “ Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Basically, God desires that we, as men, be like him. We’re made in his image and likeness. Therefore, we should present ourselves in a spirit of excellence especially in appearance. Dominion… He wants you to have power but not with a ruling spirit or dictator attitude.

Notice he created man FIRST.  So his choice is that man be FIRST. Lead first, walk first, speak first, hear first (from God), love first, and PRAY first.

Next, God gives some straight talk in James 4:9 about the leadership standards of a good man. He should be humble when leading his wife, girlfriend, and family. He wants the man to resist evil and turn away from things of the world. This calls him to be an example. Lastly, be friendly which is self-explanatory.

God has charged men to be leaders. As you ponder on you role as  man, keep the pages turnin’ by meditating on the above scriptures.

Are You a Fifth Sparrow?

 By: Erika L. Green

Have you ever felt insecure, unimportant, undervalued or had low self-esteem?  Have you ever been afraid of the future? Have you ever felt that because of the current negative circumstances in your life even God himself did not care?

Well be not discouraged, be not afraid, and most of all, know that God cares for you.  See you are what my pastor, Dr. Rayford T. Iglehart, has deemed a “Fifth Sparrow.”  Don’t stop reading this blog it is definitely for you. It was dropped in my spirit as I listened to the sermon that is actually an offset of a book entitled ‘The Fifth Sparrow”, co-authored by Dr. Iglehart. It provided me not only with encouragement but a sense of self-assurance in my identity and worth in God.

Why the fifth sparrow?  Remember the song His Eye is on the Sparrow? God watches over the sparrow; and he is a reminder that God is with you always.  Need more reasoning? The sparrow  has  an “insatiable appetite”.  Have you ever noticed he always finds food?  God provides.  The sparrow is independent at best, but frequently observed in large groups. Thus, he can, many times, go unnoticed.  He is, according to Matthew 10:29, inexpensive and worthless. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny.  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies.” Luke 12:6.

Dr. Iglehart explained that if you look at the scriptures and attempt to determine the mathematical value of the fifth sparrow, you will notice that he has no value.  If  two cost a penny, then logically five would at least cost more than two pennies. Yet, the Bible gives the value of five as two pennies. Thus, the fifth one is thrown in for free.  But that one is still just as valuable as the other sparrows.

Now, the great part of the sermon drew on the facts that I strategically left out. The fact that both scriptures listed above had more information regarding “The Fifth Sparrow.”  Matthew 10:29-31 added, “Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  Luke 12:6 adds, “Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.” Well, it’s just that simple, even the most worthless animal is both known to God and important enough to him that he still cares about him. So then… who is the fifth sparrow? Its apparently all who have seemingly been forgotten by the world or experienced situations that has caused him to be separated from others. But just as the scripture instructs, such people should not be afraid because God cares for even him.

Fifth Sparrows, according to Dr. Iglehart, are those that:

1)      have been forsaken,

a.       See story of Joseph: A man from a nuclear family who was forsaken by his brothers who planned to kill him, then forsaken by his overseer but the Lord stayed with him. He eventually became in charge of Egypt. Genesis 37-50

b.      See story of Jephthah: An illegitimate child rejected by his siblings and the community but the Lord raised him up to be a leader and to reclaim the community that rejected him. Judges 11

2)      divorced,

a.       See story of Woman at the Well: married five times, shacking with another woman’s husband, and labeled by society but the Lord stayed with her.

John 4:1-26

3)      and handicapped.

a.       See the story of Mephibosheth: the son of Johnathan that lived in Lodebar whose  life was spared and was rescued from despair because of the covenant his father had with King David. 2 Samuel 21

What an awesome God! He loved them all as if they were perfect creatures and stood by them even at their lowest. Do you see yourself having any of those above labels? Have people talked about you and rejected you? Be encouraged, Fifth Sparrow! God will be with you, too. He will cause you to be raised up to be the leader of your enemies like Jephthah; give you favor with someone you don’t even know like Mephibosheth; or grant you a new reputation like the Woman at the Well.  So now all I ask of every Fifth Sparrow that has lost his or her way is to reclaim your Glory!  Learn you worth through scripture. And as always, Keep the Pages Turnin’.

-EG.

P.S. The sermon can be purchased at Gloryland Baptist Church. Just call and state it was preached on January 16, 2011. (shameless plug)