The Point of Purity Podcast

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 Helping men and women find hope, help, healing, restoration and redemption
leading to lasting victory over sexual addiction through a growing, vibrant, powerful relationship with Christ.

Episode #129 - "How to Be God's Man of Steel" 

Transcript

Do you desire to please God with your life? Do you also struggle with sinful thoughts and habits? There’s a conflict going on there, right? On the one hand there’s a desire to please God. Yet on the other there’s a strong desire to please self.

In Gal. 5:17 Paul reminds us that the flesh is in conflict with the spirit – and the spirit is in conflict with the flesh. They are opposed to each other making it difficult to do what is right. Can you relate?

Well welcome to today’s episode of the Point of Purity Podcast. A weekly study filled to the brim with the all the tools from Scripture you will ever need to build a lasting life of Biblical purity. I’m your host, Steve Etner, Author, National Speaker, and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry. This is Episode #129 and, in this episode, we continue a new series taking a fun look into the fictional story of Superman and begin to talk about: “How to Be God’s Super Man!”

Alright guys let’s face it: Life can be confusing, even frustrating at times! We think we’re doing okay; life is coasting along fairly smoothly. We believe we’re making the right choices. In fact, at times we feel like we could rip open our shirt and reveal that big red “S” on the center of our chest. We feel on top of our game; indestructible and safe. We’re almost convinced everything is going to be alright when suddenly – Kryptonite! It came out of nowhere, and we get slammed hard. Been there – right? Not fun.

You’re trying to do everything right; you want to be a Super Man of God. You’re having your devotions and you’re trying to have a consistent prayer life. You painstakingly struggle through Scripture memory, and you’re going to church more than just once a week. You faithfully put your offering in the plate as it’s passed; and even though poopy diapers just aint your thing, you’re serving in the nursery department complete with rubber gloves, a clothespin on your nose, and a smile on your face. You lead your family in devotions. You massage your wife’s feet, and you even help out by folding your own clean underwear.

In spite of all that, the job seems to have stalled; you’ve been passed up once again for that promotion. The economy has taken yet another turn for the worse, your house got broken into while you were out buying the third pair of shoes for the kids this year (and it’s only May). The car conked out on you just two blocks from home. Gas prices are climbing – again; the electric bill has skyrocketed, the refrigerator just died leaving a puddle on the floor that is now leaking into the basement, and you have to run a child to the hospital to get a bone set and casted. On top of all that, the neighbor lady is sunbathing in a skimpy bikini right outside your bathroom window. Stressed and discouraged you toss your hands up in the air and shout, “There’s got to be more to life than this, right? Otherwise, what’s the point?” Hey, it’s tough being a Super Man of God!

Let me introduce you to a guy named Solomon. You’ve heard of him. He’s the guy who asked God to give him a boatload of wisdom. He’s the guy who had King David as a father and Bathsheba as his mom. He’s the guy who wrote the books of Proverbs and Song of Solomon. He’s the guy who built a magnificent temple to the Lord. Oh, and he’s also the guy who had 700 wives and 300 concubines – not so sure about the wisdom in that decision.

The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes tells the story of Solomon’s massive quest to find a sense of purpose and meaning to his life. Let me lay out the plotline for you. Bored and frustrated with where he’s at, Solomon utilizes his position and power, along with every resource he could get his hands on, in an attempt to find happiness and significance. Yet, no matter how much money he put in the bank, how many things he accumulated, how many friends he made or how many different types of pleasures he pursued, he wasn’t happy. It just wasn’t enough. He couldn’t find true meaning to his life.

In fact, at one point in his search, exhausted and discouraged, he pulls out his journal, sharpens his quill, dips it in ink and summarizes his feelings of emptiness by writing, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever wondered, at the end of the day, “What’s the point? Why bother with this endless, mind-numbing routine?”

As Solomon continued to write, documenting his failed attempts at manufacturing and managing a constant state of happiness, he penned these words: “when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

Interestingly enough, a few years earlier, King David, Solomon’s father, ran into the exact same frustrations. David summarized it this way: “Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.” (Psalm 39:6) Wow. What kind of a life is that? Doesn’t that sound satisfying? “Hey, put all your energy, time, attention and effort into acquiring lots of stuff because in the end, it won’t be yours anyway!” Sure, makes me want to swing my feet out of bed in the morning, how about you?

One might hope that Solomon would learn a valuable lesson from dear ol’ dad. “Son, it’s just not worth it to pursue life without God. Stuff won’t make you happy – trust me, I know!” But Solomon, like so many of us, chose not to listen. He had to learn the hard way. Always the hard way.

Near the end of his search, frustrated with his lack of results, it begins to dawn on Solomon that he had wasted his life by looking in all the wrong places. I can just see him in the palace, sitting on a throne inlaid with gold and decked out with all kinds of precious stones and jewels. He is surrounded by dignitaries who had come from all over just to pick his brain in the hopes of hearing some great, wise tidbit fall from his lips. Sighing he rises from the throne and strolls past the large, hand-carved cedar doors that lead to his extensive library. Once outside, deep in thought, he ignores the beauty and grandeur of the massive, unparalleled garden he recently built, and continues on past the winery.

Walking down the winding path that leads toward the lower pool, he hears his friends laughing and having a grand time. Wanting to be alone with his musings, he turns north and strolls along a path surrounded by blooming Asphodels, Hyssop and Blue Lupines. The pungent scent of the flowers and the multi-colored butterflies flitting from blossom to blossom are lost on him as he agonizes over his thoughts.

Stopping at the edge of one of his orchards, he plucks some fruit from the nearest tree. You can hear the crisp snap as his teeth sink deep, and the juice flows freely down his beard. However, in his melancholy, the exquisite taste is lost on him. He stands there for a moment, head cocked to one side, listening to the bleating of his large flock of sheep off in the distance. Glancing to his right he can just see over the top of the trees a glint of gold as the setting sun shines off the cupola of his enormous treasury. A faint sound of giggling briefly jerks him out of his reverie. As the conversation grows louder, a small group of women from his harem walk past him, smiling as they go by. He doesn’t smile back.

Standing there, Solomon comes to the stark realization that spending his life trying to find things that would make him happy did not produce the final results he had anticipated. After all he had done, after all he had accumulated, and after everything he had accomplished, he was still coming up empty-handed. He wasn’t the Super Man he thought he would be.

Back in his private chambers, he pulls out his journal and makes this one, final, powerful entry: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Laying the quill down, he sits back, folds his arms across his chest, slowly shakes his head in frustration, and just stares at those words. How could he have been so foolish?

Solomon could have saved himself a lot of heartache and frustration, if only he had started his quest with God instead of self. Could it be that there’s a lesson here for us to learn as well? We could certainly save ourselves that same heartache and frustration if we would just listen to Solomon’s wisdom and the experience of his father David. Start with God instead of King Me.

OK. Let’s hit the pause button until next week’s episode as we continue to look at some snippets of my book “Are You A Super Man?” If you would like to learn more about today’s study, or if you’re interested in learning more about The Pure Man Ministry, be sure to visit our website to see the multitude of resources we’ve made available to you – you can find our website at ThePurityCoach.com

Let me take a moment here and tell you about the book this current Podcast Series is based upon entitled, “Are You a Super Man? How to Become God’s Man of Steel.” You can purchase a copy on Amazon.com.

Here’s what I want you to know: If you’re a man looking for a 12-week men’s Bible study then this book is a must. “Are You a Super Man of God? Becoming God’s Man of Steel” is a fun, tongue-in-cheek look at what it means to be God’s Man of Steel in a world that is Anti-God, Anti-Christ, and Anti-Bible. Let’s face it: As Christian men we try to be the Super Man of God that others want, need, even expect us to be. We do fairly well most of the time at presenting the “spiritual man of steel” persona to those around us, yet inwardly we know we are far from being the godly man we want to be.

As a Super Man of God your strength, your ability to effectively live a life that honors and glorifies God, comes directly from the SON. The closer you are in relationship to Jesus Christ, the greater your power to resist the archenemy of your soul (the devil) and watch him flee from you (James 4:7).

Yet, truth-be-told, you also have a weakness. It’s your Kryptonite, that radioactive element of your life before Christ that your spiritual archenemy uses to his advantage. The fact is, when you play around with your Kryptonite, it weakens your will and ability to stand firm and fight the fight of faith.

In this 12-week men’s Bible study you will learn how to identify your Kryptonite, steer clear of it, find your super-spiritual strength as you daily draw closer to the SON, and be the man of steel God has called and equipped you to be. So, let me encourage you to go to Amazon.com today and purchase your copy of “Are You a Super Man of God?”

And if you have not yet subscribed to this Point of Purity Podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes!

So, until next time this is Author, Speaker, and Purity Coach Steve Etner reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.

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