MEN APPLYING GRADUATE LEVEL CHRIST-LIKENESS
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The Power of a Husband
I’m going to start this article with Ephesians 5:25 where Jesus is clearly instructing us:
“25 Husbands, love your wives, (in the exact same manner) as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her (because He stopped living His life for His own aspirations instead to be completely obedient to God), So that He (Christ, setting the example for a husband that that husband) might sanctify her (his wife because he submitted to), having cleansed her (setting the example for a husband to cleanse his wife) by the washing of water with the Word, That He might present the church (correlated to a wife) to Himself (as the husband is to do) in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she (the church — and a man’s wife) might be holy and faultless].” (All paraphrases and underlines mine.)
Ok, does that clarify some of the power God places within a husband?
Let me continue moving out of the physical realm and into the spiritual realm as found in the Amplified Version of the book of James. I’m only going to focus on the pertinent portions of each verse that especially convey the point I’ve determined I would hold myself to 45 to 50 years ago.
As a husband, James instructs us/me in chapter 1 verse 19, “Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone (that includes you Ken Nair) be quick to hear (and to spiritually) [be a careful, thoughtful listener], (and be spiritually alert to doing so, and) slow to speak (being) [a (spiritually alert and careful) speaker (while being spiritually focused) of carefully chosen (spiritual) words and], (allowing you to be) slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; 20 for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the (spiritual) righteousness of God [that (spiritual) standard of behavior which He (God) requires from us] (and each husband is to thoroughly understand God’s purpose for the anger He created [and there’s only one Creator — God]).
1:26 “If anyone thinks himself to be (spiritually) religious [scrupulously (and Scripturally) observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own (spirit) heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).”
2:20 “for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the (spiritual) righteousness of God [that (spiritual) standard of behavior which He requires from us (husbands)].”
3:1 “Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving (as a husband and the spiritual leader) in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we (husbands) [who are teachers*] will be judged by a higher (spiritual) standard [because we have assumed (spiritually a) greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach (speak) incorrectly] (in the position as the spiritual leader of our wife).” *(See Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 6:7, 11:19 and many more.)
3:3 “‘Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. 4 And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. 5 In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.”
3:17 “But (a husband needs to operate on the premise that) the wisdom from above is first (spiritually) pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], (spiritually) gentle, (spiritually) reasonable [and willing to listen], full of (spiritual) compassion and good fruits. It is (spiritually) unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].”
4:1 (Keeping all that in mind,) “What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] (unspiritual, sin nature’s) desires that wage war (against you, attacking your spirit) in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? ”
4:5 “Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? 6 But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud and haughty (husbands), but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the (spiritually) humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].’”
4:17 “So any person who knows what is (spiritually) right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.”
The Bible is a Spiritual document — relayed by the Holy Spirit — to the spirit of each of its writers. Therein, let me conclude this topic with Proverbs 18:21 (AMP). Let me also preface with this truth: Although there are indeed cases where the tongue of a man has caused physical death, this Scripture is not talking about physical death — it’s talking about: “(Spiritual) Death and life are in the power of the (husband’s) tongue, And those who love it and indulge it (by not demanding of themselves Christ-likeness) will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” (Their marriage will suffer spiritual damage.)
I’m going to finish with Psalm 19:14 (ASV), “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.”
Nancy is God’s Helper for me, an incredible resource for helping me in taming my tongue!
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MY SPIRITUAL UMBRELLA/CUP RUNNETH OVER
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Fishers of Men? Not me...
Remember, in Matthew 4:19 (ASV) Since those men were fishermen, “…he (Jesus) saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Well, here’s my story.
On multiple occasions I’ve shared my testimony where I’ve recalled that in the first orphanage I lived in, at 3 years of age, I was completely separated from my mom and my twin brother as well. It didn’t take long for me to feel completely alone and so isolated that one night, as I layed in bed in the dark dormitory where I was placed with 8 or 10 other kids while the hall light shone on my bed. Being desperate, I acted like I fell out of my bed and was laying on the cold cement floor, hoping that the lady in charge of this domatory would discover me, pick me up and hold me in her arms, and tuck me back in bed. But, I waited and waited and waited and waited but no one came. At that age, I wouldn’t have known how to use these kinds of words — but I realized no one cared, so I got up and got back in bed. As a result my sin nature devised the remedy for what I discovered about no one caring. That’s the same sin nature the Apostle Paul (the guy who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament) struggled with and we are all born with. This sin nature’s remedy decided for me that I would NEVER allow myself to be vulnerable to anyone ever again! I grew up with that set of ethics. So all through my growing up years I didn’t have, nor did I want, any friends!
At the age of 14 my mom was back in my life and bought 2 ½ acres in a rural area. That opened the door for me to venture into a new phase of life. And even though I had shut my spirit off to all human beings that was not the case with livestock. That source of joy made it easy for me to decide I wanted to be a farmer!
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All of these pictures illustrate how deeply I got involved, so I joined the FFA when I got in High School. These pictures only show three of my 13 goats wherein I milked the adult goats to feed the 2 Holstein calves. Please remember too, in high school I was only 5’ 2” and weighed 125 lbs.
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I also had a Guernsey cow who I milked at 5am and 5pm for us to drink and sold some of her raw milk to several customers in a small community nearby. I also had two Hampshire pigs, nearly a hundred rabbits, two ducks named Quack and Quack-Quack. About 12 chickens, a Thoroughbred horse and a Tri-colored Collie, who my brother Lennie and I had trained so well to respond to our specific orders, that people thought he spoke English.
During that time, while being totally occupied with loving the livestock, (which I’m sure God used to open my spirit from my sin nature’s determination that I would remain closed to the realm of love) it dawned on me that since I was not farming, therefore I was not actually a farmer.
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I was ranching! I was shepherding! So, if Jesus were going to invite me, He would be saying “…he (Jesus) saith unto (me)them, Come ye after me, and I will make you a shepherd of men.” And that’s what I have the honor of accomplishing as I switched from livestock to live men in the last 45 years, and lately with my son-in-law Tim through the CQI Fellow Warrior classes.
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Well, the countertop has not arrived yet. So, it’s a good thing I had that piece of wood so she can use the temporary countertop. But everyday Nancy emphatically, verbally, lets me know how much she enjoys the extra 24 square feet of kitchen space she has now.
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TO QUENCH YOUR SPIRITUAL THIRST
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Let’s Reproduce This Spiritual Mind-set
Luke 20 “And looking toward His disciples, He began speaking: “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever]. 21 Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied. Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are you who weep now [over your sins and repent], for you will laugh [when the burden of sin is lifted]. 22 Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people hate you, and exclude you [from their fellowship], and insult you, and scorn your name as evil because of [your association with] the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for their fathers used to treat the prophets in the same way. 24 But woe (judgment is coming) to you who are rich [and place your faith in possessions while remaining spiritually impoverished], for you are [already] receiving your comfort in full [and there is nothing left to be awarded to you]. 25 Woe to you who are well-fed (gorged, satiated) now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now [enjoying a life of self-indulgence], for you will mourn and weep [and deeply long for God]. 26 Woe to you when all the people speak well of you and praise you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. (Underline and all embolden mine.)
27 “But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you, 28 bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 Whoever strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one also [simply ignore insignificant insults or losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity]. Whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
Notice and consider all the emotions expressed.
So how do I accomplish those attitudes? Surrender to the Word of God and discipline my spirit to become Christ-like and gain spiritual maturity. He demonstrated to me/us self-discipline as illustrated by His words, “Nevertheless not My will but Thine.” Which included a spiritual mind-set containing the attitude of, “Whatever You want from Me and for Me Father, I will obey.”
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CHECK OUT UPCOMING CLASSES
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NEW CQI+ ONLINE CLASSES COMING IN FEBRUARY
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| Discovering the Narrow Gate
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The primary purpose of this learning course is to shine a light on an often-overlooked issue that quietly impacts far too many unsuspecting marriages. I am calling this subject “EMOTIONAL DIVORCE.” While a couple may remain legally married and appear outwardly committed, emotional divorce occurs when connection, intimacy, and genuine partnership have eroded beneath the surface. It is the slow drifting apart, the unspoken distance, and the gradual loss of vulnerability that can take root over time if left unaddressed. This course is designed to help couples recognize the signs, understand the underlying causes, and take intentional steps toward healing, reconnection, and renewed unity before the damage becomes permanent.
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