Warden Assembly - Band of Brothers

10/24/2025

Let's talk about manhood!

What is being a man? When do you become a man? What was the original design for manhood?

Some cultures in the world have rites of passage for males to do our accomplish before attaining manhood!

In the old Spartan way of life boys were removed from their household around age 7 and then for years after they would go through rigorous training. Then at age 12 was their first test where they would only get a cloak and would have to survive sleeping outside in harsh conditions for a set amount of time making being and shelter and were encouraged to steal for food. If they passed this then they would go back for more training. Then around 15-16 they would go through another test period where they would have to live in secrecy in the mountain side and live off of the land. They were challenged to kill the slave population without being seen with only armed with a dagger.

I get this and extreme example of a rite of passage but what I'm getting at is that in our culture we don't have anything really, why is that? In the earlier years people would say when my father told me I was a man is how I knew. We only have one problem with that in today's world and that is the amount of fatherless homes.

Today when I ask this question to people I get typical answers of I became a man at 16 when I had s*x, or when I started drinking at 18-21 is when I became a man. People say this because their friends assured them that these are what makes them a man. I've even heard that I had a kid at 15 and that is when I became a man.

So I ask you when did you become a man? How did you know?

Did you know that men were created for a purpose. We were created to be stewards, protectors, teachers, providers, leaders, and multipliers.

From the beginning God created man to work and keep the Garden. We were called to productive labor and guardianship over creation!

We were called to be husband's, to protect, lead our family, and bring up our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

We are also told to be self-controlled, hospitable, and respectable.

1 Corinthians 16:13 tells us to act like men being strong and courageous. What was said right before that is what we will focus on it says to "Be on guard and to stand firm in your faith"

1 Corinthians 13:11 says "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things."

Being a man isn't about confirming to societal norms, or about when you first had s*x or how many people you had s*x with. Being a man is about responsibilities for our actions and for the actions of those under my umbrella. Being a man is about stability and the ability to provide. Being a man is the ability and courage to do the right thing in the face of adversity.

Does this sound a like like being courageous? You do not need to run into burning buildings, fight in a war, or wear a cape with an S on your chest. Some of the most courageous people I know were the ones that took responsibility for themselves and their household and set the example of reflecting the image of Christ. It's easy to abandon and walk out run away from challenging situations but staying in the midst and facing problems head on is what sets people apart. Knowing when to ask for help or guidance and living outside of our comfort zones to grow spiritually.

So I ask you again, what does it mean to you to be a man? When did you know you were a man? And how can we be courageous?

God bless you all today!

05/13/2025

As men of God we need to set the example for our families, friends, communities and everyone we encounter.

Though we should never be ashamed of our faith we also don't need to wear a billboard saying that we are Christians. If we act accordingly through our speech, our conduct, how we demonstrate love, stand strong in our faith, and remain as pure as possible then everyone we encounter will be touched and blessed and yearn for the grace that God has extended us.

This word is for all men; old, seasoned, new, young. Don't think that just because you are young in your faith that you cannot impact the world as we all have what it takes to impact and that is the living God inside of us. The royal blood of Christ that covers us.

In the Bible Paul talks about a young man that he mentored, Timothy. In a letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, he was concerned that Timothy would be discouraged from preaching due to his age. That his youth would make it difficult for him to be respected or listened to so in Paul's letter he writes encouragement and we can read that in 1 Timothy 4:12

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.

Father God, thank you for your inspired word, the instruction manual for life. I pray that you be with us in all we do and to use us how you see fit. That we would be that light on the hill shining your light from our speech and conduct. That we will reflect your love for us to everyone that we encounter that your grace, goodness and rewards are so plentiful that we will be overflowing and that everyone we meet will yearn for what we have and that is you. Father God, thank you for your grace and mercy and giving us the gift of an eternal walk with you. I pray these in Jesus' holy name, Amen!

Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.

05/12/2025

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
[13] Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. [14] Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

Men, if you allow him God will mature you in Christ so that we may be rooted in the gospel. Everything that we do, let it be motivated through love.

This is the time and the season for us men to stand up and take back our families and communities.

Father God, thank you for loving us unconditionally and being with us in everything that we face. I pray for the strength that we need to stand firm in you in times of adversity. Father God, we ask that you guide us in leaving our old self and forming us into the courageous, mature, and strong men that you desire us to be. I pray, Father God, for wisdom and a compassionate heart that we will see not through our worldly eyes but that we may see through your eyes, that we may see the brokenness of this world and that everything we do be inspired by the unconditional love you have for us. I pray these things in Jesus name, Amen!

Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. [Ps 31:24] Let everything you do be done in

05/04/2025

Revelation 4:8
[8] And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy [is the] Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], who was and who is and who is to come [the unchanging, eternal God].”

Here in the book of Revelations we are talking about the Throne of the Creator. It says that around the Throne there were 4 living creatures. They are described as having many eyes in front and behind them. It also says that each one had 6 wings and that the wings were full of eyes and that day and night they continue to say Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God The Almighty who was and who is and who is to come!

The description of the creatures echo that of the Seraphim from Isaiah. They can also be seen as symbolic of God's attribute and creation. The wings can signify the readiness to serve God. The many eyes can be symbolic of their wisdom, insight and knowledge. They reflect God's ability to see everything.

I love reading this as it shows just how different God is from man and how awesome he is. I mean day and night God is surrounded by angels singing Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God The Almighty who was and who is and who is to come!

I mean think about it as you are reading this that is happening. As you are laying down to sleep at night this is happening. Day and night it says.

We see they say holy holy holy as a tribute to the Trinity paying tribute to each part of the Holy Trinity.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. We join the heavenly chorus in praising your unending holiness and majesty. Help us to see you as you are – perfect in power, love, beauty, justice, and majesty. May our lives be a reflection of your holiness, as we strive to live in your presence and anticipation of the day we will sing this song with you in glory. Thank you for your grace and for allowing us to glimpse your holiness in this life. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen!

05/03/2025

Jeremiah 17:5-8
[5] Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the Lord. [6] For he will be like a shrub in the [parched] desert; And shall not see prosperity when it comes, But shall live in the rocky places of the wilderness, In an uninhabited salt land. [7] Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord And whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord. [8] For he will be [nourished] like a tree planted by the waters, That spreads out its roots by the river; And will not fear the heat when it comes; But its leaves will be green and moist. And it will not be anxious and concerned in a year of drought Nor stop bearing fruit.

Here in Jeremiah we see him talking about the heart of man saying that the man that trust in man and depend on the flesh turn their hearts away from God are cursed, but those who put their trust in God, puts their confidence in Him and their hearts rest with the Lord are blessed.

He describes the cursed man like a bush in the desert where there is no steady water supply, much like the man always living on the edge of existence, always thirsty for more, and always on the brink of dying, but a blessed man is like a tree next to a river that never goes dry, is roots are deep in the spring of the living water.

Just like we read in John chapter 4 where Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well Jesus tells her that whoever drinks the well water will thirst again but whoever drinks the water he gives them will never thirst as he is offering living water and the water he provides will become in then a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Are we going to be a bush in the desert or a tree by the river?

Father God, thank you for all of your promises. Help us to be like a tree planted by the water, sending our roots deep into your love. When trials and storms come, may our faith be strong, and our leaves remain green, bearing fruit for your glory. We choose to trust in you, the source of all life and sustenance. May our hearts be firmly rooted in you, not in the transient things of this world. Amen!

05/02/2025

Daniel 3:17-18
[17] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. [18] But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”

Here we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel who were taken captive to Babylon and placed in positions of authority. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, built a golden image and directed everyone to bow down and worship it.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to comply defying the king's orders facing the consequence of being thrown into a fiery furnace.

In this passage you see their decree and their declaration of their faith in God.

As they would not obey the orders of the king they were thrown into the furnace. The king was so mad though before throwing them in there he had the heat of the furnace turned up seven times hotter than normal. It was so hot that the guys who tied them up and threw them in were killed by the heat. As the king looked into the furnace he didn't see three men in there but he saw a fourth that he described the fourth person looking like the Son of a God. The king then immediately pulled them out and they were unarmed.

This passage highlights the importance of faith, courage, and the unwavering loyalty to God, even in the face of danger. It also demonstrated the power of God to protect and deliver his faithful servants.

Father God, we praise you for your unwavering faithfulness and the steadfastness of your people throughout history, like the courageous Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. We trust in your ability to deliver us from our trials, just as you delivered them. But if, for some reason, you choose to test our faith in another way, know that we will not falter. We will not compromise our faith in you, nor will we bow down to anything other than you, our God. We will trust you, obey you, and serve you, even in the most challenging of circumstances. Thank you Father God, we pray this in Jesus name, Amen!

05/01/2025

Exodus 23:25
You shall serve [only] the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and water. I will also remove sickness from among you.

Here in Exodus we are seeing the laws and instructions the Israelites receive emphasizing justice, kindness, and proper conduct in the land God will give them.

God freed the Israelites from Egypt, led them through the wilderness and over time he gradually drove out the enemies, clearing of the land of Canaan to give to the Israelites.

Right before this verse God tells the Israelites that his angel will go ahead clearing the land. He tells the Israelites to not worship any other gods or idols and to destroy any then encounter.

This is God's promise to the Israelites that is they worship Him and Him alone that He will bless them with sustenance and health.

This is our lesson that faithfulness to God is directly linked to blessing in our lives. That we can have assurance that when we live in obedience and devotion to God, He will bless our lives with spiritual and physical well being.

Father God, thank you for your promise to bless our food and water and to take away sickness among us. We worship you and trust in your provision for our needs. We pray that you will continue to bless each of us and our families in our daily lives. In Jesus' name we ask this, Amen!

04/30/2025

Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).

King Solomon, was a very wise person. Most of the stories attributed his wisdom. Solomon really knew the importance of sensible planning and recognized the wisdom of consulting with others to make the best decision. Other than his father King David Solomon was the last king to rule over a unified Israel.

In the story of Solomon we see his wisdom and God's favor upon Solomon leading to great things, but then Solomon got too smart for his own good. Due to his wisdom and his ability to rule, all gifts given to him by God, he accumulated great wealth and power, but he also accumulated great temptations of the world which led to his fall.

In the Bible through many people we see that if you trust and submit to God, allowing him control over our lives it will lead to positive outcomes, but if we misuse or stay from God it will lead to negative consequences just as we see in the story of King Solomon.

As we read in the verse it emphasizes that we can make numerous plans, but the ultimate outcome is determined by God's will and purpose.

This should encourage us to be humble and rely on God's power and authority. As believers we should be seeking God's guidance and have faith that His purpose will be accomplished.

Father God, thank you for your continued guidance and influence in our lives. We may not know or understand fully why it is you do what you do but we have full faith in you and submit to your power and authority that in everything we do it is your will and not ours. You know what is best for us and we understand that you are pushing, stretching, and enlarging us for a reason. We thank you for closed doors and open doors. We believe that you have something bigger, something better, and something more rewarding for us. Thank you Father God, in Jesus name, Amen!

04/29/2025

1 John 5:4
For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].

Here, John is emphasizing our victory as believers and that victory is our Faith in Jesus. John emphasizes that because of our Faith in Jesus that we are victorious over the world and its influences, meaning the system of values, beliefs, and desires that are opposed to God and His will.

John goes on to say in the next verse that whoever believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the son of God that they will be victorious and overcome the world.

You see John isn't saying that as a believer that nothing bad will happen to us or that we won't be tempted but what he is saying is by keeping our faith in Jesus that we will be victorious and conquer. The two words I want to look at here are victorious and conquer.

Have you ever heard these two words without there being a battle or a challenge of some sort? When someone conquers something, it usually contains many victories.

So what John is saying is that by keeping our faith in Jesus that we will have victory after victory after victory, a continuous state of overcoming the negative influences of the world, including sin, temptation, and the evil one. That we will not be defeated by worldly forces but that we are empowered by our faith in Jesus to live victoriously.

Father God, thank you for the victory that we have in Christ through faith. Help us to truly believe that we are born of You and that Your love is our greatest strength. Help us to overcome the world, not with our own power, but with Your grace and guidance. Grant us the strength to live a life that reflects Your love and truth, and to be a beacon of hope in this world. Thank you Father God, in Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

04/28/2025

Psalms 118:6
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can [mere] man do to me?

This verse expresses a powerful message of confidence and trust in God's presence and protection.

The Lord is on my side, this is attesting to God's presence and security. It signifies that God is just not present but actively involved in our lives.

I will not fear, this is a declaration of our submission to God's protection and the rejection of fear.

What can man do to me, this is an acknowledgement that humans are limited compared to the divine power of the living God.

Father God, I thank you for being on my side. Your presence is my shield, my protection, and my source of unwavering strength. I know that you are with me, and I will not be afraid. What can any human or any challenge do to me when I am covered by your grace and love. I trust in your unwavering support and your promise to always be with me. Help me to live with this assurance in my heart, knowing that you are my refuge and my strength. In Jesus' name, Amen.

04/27/2025

Jonah 2:9
But [as for me], I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I shall pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is from the Lord!”

Here is the last part of Jonah's prayer as he is sitting inside a great fish. You see Jonah was charged with a mission from God to go to Ninevah to warn the people of their wickedness but instead Jonah tried to runaway. He boarded a ship that was heading the opposite direction.

On the ship they experienced a great storm and the only way to calm the storm was to throw Jonah into the ocean where he was then swallowed by a great fish and carried for 3 days and 3 nights then he was spit up on the shores of dry land.

It is during the travel inside of the fish that Jonah offers up a prayer to God.

In this prayer he says he will "sacrifice with the voice of thanksgiving". This was old testament times and back then they would offer up sacrifices to atone for sin and to express dedication to God, but God not only desires the outward ritual of sacrifice but the sincere and grateful heart of the worshipper. With his words of sacrificing with the voice of thanksgiving he displays the importance of genuine and heartfelt worship.

In the second part Jonah says "I shall pay that which I have vowed". Jonah here is saying that he vows to uphold all of his promises that he has made to the Lord. This speaks to the keeping of one's word and the promises made to God.

Jonah concludes with " Salvation is from the Lord" this is highlighting the fundamental truth that deliverance and redemption are not achieved through human efforts or good deeds, but through God's mercy, power, and divine intervention.

Father God, I thank you for your salvation and your mercy. I recognize that my deliverance is a gift from you alone. I vow to honor my commitments to you and to live a life of grateful praise. Salvation is truly yours. Amen!

04/26/2025

Isaiah 9:2
[2] The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.

Here, Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel conveying a message from God. This message is about hope and deliverance, more importantly about the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and the light that he will bring to the people that have been walking in darkness.

This verse symbolizes darkness as sin and oppression and means not only physical darkness but spiritual darkness. He then talks about a great light that will shine on then talking about the coming of the Messiah, who will bring salvation, justice, and peace.

This is an early prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. If you read a little more into this chapter you can see a more in-depth Messianic Prophecy where Isaiah talks about the coming of a child, a prince who will rule with justice and righteousness, the one who will bring everlasting peace!

This is our hope and promise of Salvation!

Father God, thank you for giving us the Bible that is written by man by given to us through your inspired word. Thank you for being the light to the darkness of the world that everyone may see your glory and presence in all that we do. We thank you for sending your son to pay all of the debts that we could not pay. I pray for your continued blessing and favor among us all. I pray that you help us to step into your light today and the days ahead, and remind us that we are no longer in darkness. Thank you Father God, Amen!