“Maximized Manhood” by Edwin Cole

1. “Maximized Manhood”by Edwin Cole

2. “Maximized Manhood”by Edwin ColeTalk given to the Lawton Optimist Clubby Steve Wilkinson26 April 2002

3. “Maximized Manhood”by Edwin ColeTalk prepared for the Greater Gallilee Brotherhoodby Steve Wilkinsonon or about 27 July 2019

4. Question: What are some reasons for failure in the lives of men? Answer: Lust Idolatry Fornication Tempting Christ Murmuring

5. Question: The text said that sex Sins will be the problem of the Church in the 80s. (e pg 2) What do you think 37 years later (2019)?

6. CommandIf you are here tonight and committing adultery, fornication, homosexuality, incest, or habitual masturbation; indulging in pornography; gratifying yourself with sexual fantasies or any other kind of sex sin, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to repent, and be restored to a right relationship with God the Father by being reconciled through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. (e pg 4)

7. Canaan Land A land of promise where God wants you to live by faith today. (e pg 4)

8. 1 Corinthians 10:6-10 (KJV).  “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as     it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

9. Question: Why did the Israelites fail to reach Canaan land? Answer: Lust Idolatry Fornication Tempting Christ Murmuring (epg 4-5)

10. Pg. 17, quote – “Those five reasons are the same reasons why men today do not get their Canaan Land fulfillment in life. God wants men to have Canaan Land marriages, businesses, parental relationships, and educations. (epg 5)

11. Lust – self wantsLove gives – Lust getsEx: Man married but lusts his wife sexually.Ex: Young man professing love for sex.Ex: Wife running up bills her husband can’t pay. (epg 5)

12. Idolatry – Esteeming something to be more worthy of our devotion than devotion to God.Examples: Pornography Sacrificing Family for the job. Self worship(epg 5)

13. Fornication – Includes every sex sin. (epg 6)

14. Tempting Christ – Demanding that God do what is contrary to His will, or inconsistent with His character.Ex: When the crowds demanded that Christ come down from the cross.Ex: Lying and cheating in business and demanding that God bless and prosper it.Ex: Pursuing promiscuity though knowing it is wrong.Ex: Believers wanting to enjoy the benefits of salvation and the pleasures of sin at the same time. (epg 6)

15. Murmuring – “negative confession.”1 Cor. 5:11 – “Railer” – a slanderer, a blasphemer, a reviler, and God requires us to deal with them in vehemence and discipline. (epg 6)

16. 1 Cor. 5:11 – But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

17. Summary – Canaan Land God wants men to enter into Canaan- that place of rest, blessing, success, ability, and authority – where he desires them to be. (epg 7)

18. Chapter 3The Playboy Problem

19. Anecdote: ePg. 8 – Youth minister who reads pornography.Anecdote: ePg. 8-9 – The divorced woman who committed adultery.

20. Sins Problems

21. Quote (epg. 9): If anyone calls himself a brother, Paul wrote, and maintains a lifestyle of habitual pattern of sin don’t keep company with him – don’t even have lunch with him. No fellowship. 1 Cor. 5:11 – But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.Question: Is this an act of love? Why or why not?

22. Quote (epg.9): Our modern doctrine, stemming from lives devoid of God’s life, tell us that I’m all right and you’re all right rather than, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God …

23. Anecdote (epg. 9-10): The pastor who nearly lost his church because of his stand against the homosexual minister of music.

24. Human Wisdom wide gap Divine Wisdom“our own thing” “maximized potential” We must call sin “sin”

25. Joke (epg. 11): The Texan who thought he was in Heaven.

26. Chapter 4 Moses and the Ten Invitations

27. God’s Commandments are absolutes.God commands us to love.Question: Is love and lust the same thing?Question: Do you think love is a feeling?Anecdote (pg. 12-13): The miracle marriage.

28. God commands us to repent.Anecdote (epg. 13): Commanding or inviting sinners to repent.Acts 17:30 - God now commandeth allmen everywhere to repent.Question: What are the benefits of obeying God?

29. Obedience to God’s Commands brings peace.Anecdote (epg 14-15): The Christian who left his wife and family after committing adultery.

30. God commands confession.Question: Why is unconfessed sin, unforgiven sin?If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

31. Truth and reality are synonymous.The text states on epg.15 that some people are afraid of hurting others or loosing their love. They don’t realize that truth, spoken in love, is the only way to show real love.Backwards loving -- best affections.Anecdote (epg. 16): The husband who wouldn’t let the minister lead his wife into a confession of faith.

32. Hebrews 12:11 - Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.God never stops loving us. - God loves the sinner, though He hates the sin.Anecdote (pg 17): The wino who was white-washed instead of being washed white.

33. Chapter 5There’s a holein the door

34. Anecdote (epg 18-19): Dr. Cole provoked his son to wrath; then asked for forgiveness.

35. ForgivenessAnecdote (epg 19): The former alcoholic who had to ask his son’s to forgive him for the son’s good.

36. Question: What is the relationship between unforgiveness and hate?

37. Answer: Hate binds you to sin.

38. Anecdote (epg 19-20): The woman who had to forgive her mother to get her relationship with her daughters right.Anecdote (epg 20): Church that went thru pastor after pastor because of their unforgiveness of their first pastor years before.Anecdote (epg 20): The angry business man that continued to have problems in business until the night he forgave his first partner for running off with all the money, leaving him to pay the debts.

39. Anecdote (epg 20): The man who had to forgive his dead father before his relationship with his own daughter could be righted.

40. Question: How important is it to give and receive forgiveness?

41. Question: Are sins hereditary?

42. Song (pg 21): “Cats in the cradle” By Harry Chapin

43. Chapter 6Tender and tough

44. Anecdote (pg 22): The female talk show host’s response to Dr. Cole’s statement, “men must be both tender and tough”…”the man must be the leader in the home, and sometimes that requires toughness. Not roughness, but toughness.”Christlikeness and manhood are synonymous.

45. Luke 13:9 - and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.God expects fruit from our lives.John 15:2 - Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.That fruit is - “Manhood”

46. Anecdote (pg 24): Business man who needed to fire his relatives to save his business.

47. The mark of a man:Decisions. Toughness. Leadership.Anecdote (pg 25): While Dr. Cole was praying his wife asked, “are you asking or telling?”

48. Question: is it important to make decisions?

49. Questions: What does scripture say about the “double-minded man?”

50. Answer: James 1:8 - A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.