Today is the final installation of a three-part message of exhortation to men, built on this quote from Pastor Tullian Tchividjian’s sermon last Sunday: “When we apply the Gospel to our relationships—by loving one another, by serving one another, by laying down our lives for one another—the power of God is unleashed in our relationships.”
Tullian asked the congregation: “Where was Adam when the serpent tempted Eve?” The answer to this question is the key to understanding the failure of men in the church to “man-up.” The Bible says, “Eve gave some [of the forbidden fruit] to her husband who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6). Tullian emphasized that “The Scriptures do not say Eve threw the fruit across the garden to Adam, but instead she gave it to her husband who was with her.” So, if Adam was with Eve as she was being beguiled by Satan, I can come up with only one answer to the piercing question―“Where was Adam?” HE WAS STUCK IN HIS SILENCE!
Adam was silent with his wife Eve and he was silent with the serpent. He refused to encourage his wife and to engage the Serpent. Far too many men in the church today remain silent when they should speak up: speak up for their faith . . . speak up for their family . . . speak up for their future . . . and ultimately they grow into only a fraction of the man God is calling them to be. Their silence and inaction forces their wives to step into the vacuum and lead, when the woman was designed by God to follow the loving leadership of a godly husband (see Ephesians 5:22-27). This may sound jarring in today’s age of “feminism,” but it is a fact that the heart’s cry of every daughter of God is for their man to lead as the spiritual head of the household should.
Tullian explained that biblical spiritual headship looks like Christ’s love for the church. He said, “In Ephesians 5:26-27, we read that Christ gave Himself up for the church so she would be sanctified, cleansed, and presentable.” When a man refuses to “man-up,” everyone is affected. When a man is stuck in his silence, all those he is commanded to lead shrink spiritually. You see, in God’s economy, when it comes to biblical manhood and masculinity, silence is not golden, it is sinful! It is high time for men in the church to stand up, speak out, serve sacrificially, and shine brightly for the glory of the King. If not you . . . who? If not now . . . when?
In closing out this message to men, let me say that men will never become real men simply by being involved in a “men’s movement” . . . and I am a leader in the PCA Men’s Movement! I love the singing, the speakers, and the slogans. But Christian music and challenging seminars will never be enough to fix what is wrong inside men. Even the accountability that is so essential to growing in grace will not, in and of itself, produce a godly spiritual leader. Sin-filled hearts can only be healed by the sinless Savior: Jesus Christ. Only when the Living God becomes more important than life itself will men begin living for God. Only when God is at the center of our story will His story direct our lives. Tullian has explained it with brilliant clarity: “The only way to overcome sin long-term is to develop a distaste for it through a superior satisfaction with the Gospel.”
Men, let this be a word of encouragement to you today. Jesus loved you to death, even death on a cross. He is calling you to man-up and speak up for your wives and your children! Speak the words of life that Scripture contains, and LIVE those words out in front of your family! When you do, Satan is silenced. I’ll leave you with this video that drives the point home from Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 
Awesome series right on target! Thanks for all you do Tommy.