In this sermon titled 'Mangled Manhood and Womanhood,' Carlton McLeod explores the current state of manhood and womanhood and the need for healing in this area. He emphasizes the importance of turning to the word of God for guidance and obedience in order to experience healing. McLeod discusses various reasons why manhood and womanhood are often mangled, including demonic attacks, embracing worldly interpretations of Scripture, fear of offending others, fear of being associated with extreme movements, fear of conflict, and fear of loss. He highlights the commands given to men and women in the Bible, such as leadership and provision for men, and submission and modesty for women. McLeod emphasizes the significance of following these commands in order to live in alignment with God's design and experience healing. He underscores the need for both men and women to study and obey the word of God in order to restore manhood and womanhood to its biblical foundations.

Bless the Lord. It's good to see everybody. Hope you had a good lunch and you are ready to learn more. This afternoon I have been asked to preach just for a few moments on mangled manhood and womanhood and I'd like to take for a thought not necessarily to preach through but a thought Psalms 107 verses 20 through 21 and I hope that'll be evident by the time I'm done as to why I did that. It's a beautiful Psalm of revival, Psalm of thanksgiving connected to the couple of Psalms before it, but there's just something in this Psalm that I think we need in all areas, but particularly in this area.

So mangled manhood and womanhood, Psalms 107, verses 20 through 21. And the Bible says this, he sent his word and healed them. Oh, I love that. And delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.

Mangled manhood and womanhood, let's pray. Father, thank you once again for the reading of holy scripture. And the point here, Lord, is that when we receive the word that you have sent. Increasingly, we are healed. This is true for our marital lives, this is true for our financial lives, this is true even in this much maligned and attacked subject today concerning human sexuality according to your design.

And so we pray over these next few moments that you'd be with us and that your people would be refreshed and revived again and perhaps even healed by the word of the living God. Thank you in advance for all you do in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, so I didn't choose this word mangled. That was given to me.

But I laughed when I initially saw it. I thought, you know what, Let's do what we always do as good Christians. Let's see if we can find this word in the Bible. I didn't find it in the King James. I didn't find it in the ESV.

I found it in a version called the NLT in Hosea chapter 13 in verse eight, just out of curiosity. And it said, this passage of scripture is describing God's judgment upon his hard-headed people and he says in Hosea 13 and eight from the NLT, he says, like a bear whose cubs have been taken away, I will tear out your heart, I will devour you like a hungry lioness and Mangle you like a wild animal so I went a long way to find that word there by the way But you but in the other versions of scripture for example in the ESV He says as a wild beast would rip them open. So the word mangle there is rip. And in the King James that I typically use, it says, I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps and will rend the call of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion, the wild beast shall tear them." And so I thought it was interesting that the topic I was assigned in scripture, words are used for for mangle like ripping and tearing. The Psalm that I originally read, he said his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.

How many of you would agree with me that we need the word of God in every area right now, because there's a lot of destruction and we need to be healed. This particular area of manhood and womanhood is such an area. It is ripped up. It is torn. It is mangled and there is destruction in the land as it relates to this subject.

And I've always found it a little bit of amazing because the word of God is actually much, much clearer as it relates to manhood and womanhood than perhaps eschatology, some other more difficult subjects. Do we need healing in the 2023 right now as it relates to this issue? Absolutely. Friends, we're in the age, and I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime, but we're in the age where people are legitimately asking the question, what is a woman? Like adult, human, female, I guess wasn't good enough, right?

What is a woman? And we're in the era of the drag queen story hour and I'm always wondering every time I see something like that on social media or somewhere I always wonder where are the fathers because I'd probably be in prison right but we're in we're in that age we're in an age of immense confusion and we need the word of God. And lest we get prideful, it's not always just the unbelievers or the pagans. Sometimes we even in the church don't like what God's word says to men and women. Are you with me so far?

And so this idea of mangling, or as the Webster 1828 would define the word to cut, or with a dull instrument and tear, or to tear as in cutting, to bungle, to cut out, chiefly the cutting of the flesh, I think is an apt word. Again, we are in a time where basic manhood, as it has been defined biblically and seen throughout hundreds and hundreds of years, centuries even, has been overthrown. And as sad as that is, perhaps the trajectory concerning our sisters is even worse. It's even more outlandish because much of what is being portrayed as womanhood is nothing of the sort And we're raising daughters and sons in the midst of this. And so why has manhood and womanhood become subject to such harsh ripping and tearing?

There are lots of possibilities. And again, the whole point of reading the Psalm was to apply the word so that we might be healed, and that's kinda why I wanted to read that to you. But there are lots of reasons why this particular and very simple topic is often mangled. I'll throw out a couple for you. Number one, manhood and womanhood by design are truths that are foundational to God's creation.

It's how he made things. He speaks and the universe leaps into existence and he makes everything else and then He decides by his own, for his own purposes and for his own glory to make male and female. And they are central to God's plan. And so God's creation and plan, manhood and womanhood, being so central, naturally attract, as we talked about previously, demonic attacks. So one of the reasons why it is the way it is is because this image of God in men and this image of God in women is always under attack.

Number two, either willfully or ignorantly embracing a cultural or worldly hermeneutic will do it too. Interpreting scripture in other words according to the spirit of the age or according to our own proclivities. We're mangled because we're either misinformed or mutinous. We just don't like what God has said or somebody has mistaught us what God has said. Number three is offending or fear of offending a confused and rebellious culture.

You might be surprised and maybe you wouldn't be at how Often the people of God even are ashamed of what God's word says about marriage or singles or men or women because it sounds so ridiculous into the rebellious ears of the culture in which we live. Number four, fear of being associated with movements that went too far. Oh, I hear this one a lot. Well, if we really structure our marriages this way, people might confuse us for this. But if we really teach our daughters this way, they may think we're this.

And I don't know, or perhaps even, I was in a movement that went too far and and they took Patriarchy and took it to hyper patriarchy or they you know They they did something with the sisters and caused them to feel a certain kind of way about the commandments of God and so we're afraid of it and because we're afraid of it we back up a little bit and so I've actually dealt with that one myself in my local church. Just a couple of reasons why this is so mangled perhaps number five fear of being labeled as someone who promotes abuse you know we live in a day where the A word gets thrown out whenever somebody didn't want to do anything. And it's not always abuse, right? But when it comes to this particular issue, words like submission or words like modesty or words like strength or words like authority, or those kinds of words, they just cause, if you said them on CNN, they'd be picketing your church, right? So, but those things are embedded within maleness and femaleness as God has designed it.

And so fear of being associated with movements that went too far and kind of its close corollary fear of being labeled as someone who promotes abuse or and even this particular movement has seen some of that on in its offshoots in our in our history the family discipleship movement So perhaps we're a little scared of some of these things because of what people did that was actually not biblical. Number six, fear of conflict. You know, this idea of manhood and woman, I tell you, Scott gives me all the fun topics. Fear of conflict, it gets you, you know, fights happen here. People get upset over these kinds of things.

Menhood and womanhood, with all of their beauty, with all of their profit, also directly address the sinful proclivities of both men and women. So God gives particular commands to men because men are prone to do the opposite and God gives particular commands to women because women are prone to do the opposite. And so not only do you have the conflict of the culture and the conflict of demons and devils but sometimes you have personal conflict as well well I don't want to be submissive God just didn't design me that way or I don't I don't feel like working right now why do I have to work you know and so sometimes there's a little bit of that going on even in in Christian homes and then finally fear of loss You know when you go into these areas, you know when you teach on maleness and femaleness, manhood and womanhood that you could lose friends, you could lose family. Some of my, you know those of you raising children and you're trying to raise sons a certain way and raising daughters a certain way. If they have any influence, if they have any friendships or connections outside of your local church circle, you know how difficult this can be.

You know, to raise daughters, to be chaste and modest, and to keep themselves into marriage. And if she's a teenager and she has teenage friends that aren't in your church per se, but she's a laughing stock, or to try to raise young men a certain way, who dresses a certain way and carries himself a certain way because he wants to honor God. Well, that's not how all the boys do it down on the block. And So there's fear of loss, this is real. And whether you say it to yourself or not, it's kind of embedded in our hearts.

Sometimes we know that if we take a certain stand, even if we do so lovingly and gently, and even if we have book chapter and verse, it could mean harm or hurt or loss. And so men, and that may not be all of the reasons, but this particular issue is certainly problematic because of demonic attack, because of ignorance, because of fear of offending others, fear of being associated with something that was off biblically, fear of being labeled as someone who promotes abuse and so forth. But we need the word of God to come and heal us in this area. Amen? Amen.

And so when you join an organization or take a new job, the first order of business is to find out the job description. The descriptions constitute the basics of your assignment, the non-negotiables. Well, Beloved, the precepts of God, as always, form for us a foundational picture of a basic grid, if you will, and give us the guardrails in which we run as men and women. A very healthy hermeneutical technique is to always ask, quote, what has the Lord commanded? Unquote.

What statutes, regulations, or laws has he laid down for us to follow and when it comes to this particular topic man there with the Bible's just jammed with with exhortation for for men and women at different stages of life even. It's just packed with stuff. And so we have to be willing to go to the Word of God to be healed. And to the extent that we won't go to the Word of God to be healed, we will not be healed. We will not be healed.

So as we read a little bit today, what I want to do is just read some verses for you and maybe just comment here and there because it's the Word of God that's gonna heal us here. As we read, remember that God's ways are the ways of pleasantness and all his paths are peace. And if you find yourself out of alignment with what we read We'll talk to your elders and in so forth and see what's going on there But this is how we're healed and these this is what I do at my church when we have a tough issue like manhood and womanhood we just read a bunch of scripture and go okay we're gonna obey that or are we not seeing that or okay let's let's just obey that and let God help us and teach us the Bible says it this way and I love this from the psalmist in Psalms 119 and 127 It says therefore I love thy commandments above gold Yay above fine gold therefore I esteem all of thy precepts not just some but all of thy precepts according to Concerning all things to be right. So everything that God says is right.

God is always right We're often wrong, but God is always right. Amen And I hate every false way that testimonies are wonderful. Therefore doth my soul Keep them all beloved can you imagine in any topic if we joyfully obey what God has said, the revival and the reformation that that would bring to our homes and to our lives and to our churches. Well this is no different. So as we're seeing all the perversion and all the destruction, if we as a people of God decide that we're gonna just do what God has said do, not only will it bless us, but we'll also be the light that we're supposed to be to a lost and dying culture.

It matters, is what I'm saying. It matters. This is not a trivial topic at all. Every place you go, if you're a man, you're a man. And every place you go, if you're a woman, you're a woman.

And everybody that sees you gets a glimpse of the image of God in you. And So if you embrace what God has saying, you're communicating something, just like marriage does in a way, but you're communicating something. So if you're a man as God has laid out and people get to know you, they see that. And if you're a woman as God has laid out, people get to know you and they see that and it's important. And so that the point today is that the Word of God comes and heals us and we want to bring the Word of God to bear in this particular area.

There's the place to start unmangling and detangling is the same place we have to start with any issue. As King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, is there a word from the Lord? Where there's absolutely a word from the Lord. So let's look at it. The foundation we find in Genesis chapter 1 verse 1 says, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth so many implications there you are created by God just as you are blessed the Lord.

But if we went down a little further Genesis chapter one verse 26 says and God said let us make man in our image after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the file of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him and how did he create them? Male and female created he them. Do you ever think that would be controversial to say God created them male and female but there it is and God blessed them and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. So God makes man in his own image.

There's a particular design for men and there's a particular design for women and to the extent that we hold to God's Word in that design we are healed in that area and to the extent that we refuse to do so whether it's through our own ignorance or through our own rebellion we are not healed we are in destruction. Genesis 2 just the very next chapter Verse 18. It's okay to read the bible, isn't it? Everybody? All right.

Okay, and the lord god said it is not good That man should be alone. Praise the lord I will make him and help meet for him and out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and Every file of the air and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called every living creature That was the name thereof and Adam gave names to all the cattle and all the follow the air to every beast of the field but for Adam there was not found and help meet for him and The Lord God closed a deep sleep or caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed the flesh instead thereof and the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made he a woman and brought her unto the man and Adam said this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh and she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh and they were both naked and the man and his wife were not ashamed.

And so here we see in the greater detail given to us in Genesis chapter two, that woman comes from man. Indeed we find out that she was actually made for man. We found out a couple other wonderful details that she was brought to the man by God himself. And as we read in the text, she was actually named by man. In fact, he named her twice.

He named her woman and then over in chapter three, he called her Eve, Right? And so we see this again as Scott was talking earlier about this interplay between authority and headship. Well that's not it. I mean we see the beginnings of it and the foundation of it right here in the Old Testament. And so that's our foundation And I read that because Genesis is always under attack these days So if you don't believe in a literal Adam and a literal Eve and that they were literal people and these and that this literally Happened then you undermine the you know almost everything else in the Bible going forward Certainly maleness and femaleness or manhood and womanhood But we see God confirmed this governmental order in this creation order in the New Testament.

For example, 1 Corinthians chapter 11, in verse number three, the apostle writes, but I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ and the head of the woman is the man and the head of Christ is God. He says to his young protege Timothy in 1st Timothy chapter 2 and verse number 11 he says let the woman learn in silence with all subjection But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence, giving instructions for us here in the local church. For Adam was first formed, there it is, and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Course you know verse 15 is not implying salvific salvation but rather the reclaiming and reflaming in context of the image of womanhood that Eve kind of messed up in Genesis chapter three. You're not saved, ladies, by having babies. You're saved by faith through grace in Jesus Christ alone. Hey, okay, all right, making sure, okay. I'm waiting for the hook there.

Maybe I'm in the wrong place. All right. But so we see then, we see then this governmental order reaffirmed for us in the New Testament. And again, this forms for us a basic grid to understand manhood and womanhood, right? The man being created first, the woman being created by virtue of the man needing someone to help him take dominion and the loving care that he expresses over her.

She is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." There's nothing mean or hyper about that. Those are loving words by Adam. She's now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh and she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man, right? And then even after the fall, Even after the fall, Adam did not put a name on her as it relates to the sin that she committed, but would call her instead Chava or Eve, the mother of all the living. And so you see this kind of love coming from Adam towards his wife, even after the fall.

And you see her called in to submit herself to her own husband as unto the Lord. So, and there are commands in the New Testament for both, for men and women, and again, the Bible's just jammed with them, for example, just focusing on the men for a moment. 1 Corinthians 16 is a wonderful text. Verse 13 and 14 says, "'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, "'quit ye like men, be strong.'" And so we see then in 1 Corinthians 16, this characteristic of watchfulness and perseverance, standing and strength, a man pursuing strength so that he can do the things that God has him to do. But not just that, verse 14 says, let all your things be done with charity.

And so A part of a man's strength then is how he deeply loves as he protects and provides and cares for. We see this command in the New Testament for men to be leaders. 1 Timothy chapter 2 in verse 8, I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and without doubt. He's supposed to lead out in prayer and worship. Also in terms of the elders of the church, 1st Timothy 3 verses 1 through 7, this is a true saying, if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work, a bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife.

I don't know why this is controversial in so many church circles. This is really, really clear that men are supposed to be the church leaders. I don't know where that's coming from. A vigilant, sober of good behavior, given the hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, one that ruleeth his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity, for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? That's a really convicting and good question right there.

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach in the snare of the devil. Many, many high and serious qualifications for men who would lead in the church of Jesus Christ. But men are called to leadership. Titus chapter one also, verse five.

For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed The event he be blameless another list of qualifications very similar to Timothy blameless the husband of one wife Having faithful children not accused of right or unruly for a bishop must be blameless, the steward of God, not self-will, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but a lover of hospitality. Every time I read this I'm convicted because sometimes I don't want people in my house. A lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate Lord help us, holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayer or those who would mock right and so men are called to leadership and this is what we want to train our sons to do or or be able to do even if he didn't become an elder that's an awful awfully good list there of male characteristics right manhood characteristics men are called to provide Somebody say the word provide with me.

Okay, just making sure you're still awake. Okay, it's after lunch. 1st Timothy 5, 8, but if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own household. He's denied the faith and is worse than an infidel, worse than an unbeliever, worse than a pagan. And so a man is called to provide.

If nothing else happens, if everything's crumbling down the house, he has the, he shoulders the burden and responsibility to go out and make it happen. And he, and he has to just go do it this is a call of you know you want to be the leader okay bro go make the money protect this house something goes bump at 2 a.m. Don't send your wife I mean you'd be in marriage counseling next day wouldn't you right something goes bump at 2 a.m. You know where to go and you know what to do, you know, lock and load and let's take care of business and then we'll pray for you after it's all over and done. The Bible commands things for older men, for example in Titus chapter 2 verse 1, but speak thou the things which become sound doctrine, that the aged men be sober and grave and temperate, sound in faith and charity and patience.

And so older men are supposed to exemplify these things as an example for younger men. But younger men are also given, you know, again, the Word of God comes and heals us, right? That's the point. We just, we make sure we know what the Word of God says and then we move towards that, that we might be healed. We walk in obedience.

Younger men are commanded several things. 2nd Timothy 2, N22 says, flee also youthful lusts, young man. Talking there to Timothy, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Titus 2, 6, young men likewise, exhort to be sober-minded or self-controlled. And then that's all it kind of says there, but if you can get younger men to be self-controlled you've got most of it one First Peter 5 5 likewise ye younger submit yourselves unto the elder Yay, all of you be subject to one another be clothed with humility for God resisteth the proud and give his grace to the humble." And so men are given instructions, general instructions, leadership instructions, instructions to provide older men you're supposed to be this way, younger men you're supposed to be this way.

If we would just do these things, we would be walking a greater measure of healing. Men are told or given some instructions as to how they ought to worship the Lord. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 4, every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. We know in the presence of anything great men take their hats off. Scott mentioned the Queen of England, now the King of England earlier.

Well no man would have his head covered in her presence when she was alive. You get rebuked. And we know that even today. National Anthem, things like that. Y'all okay?

Did I lose you? You all right? Okay. 1st Corinthians 14 says it this way, again talking about propriety and worship and your elders are tuned this up for you But how but men are supposed to lead in these things. How is it then brethren when you come together?

Every one of you have a psalm a doctrine a tongue a half a revelation half an interpretation let all things be done unto edifying and it goes on from there but these is this is the purview of men leading in the church and and saying the things that God has given them to say and encouraging their brothers and again I know there are different views on that but nevertheless the leadership piece is what I'm trying to get at there. Men are supposed to lead in these things. There are also commands for women. Ladies you know I'm not gonna let you get away here. Again, we already looked at 1st Timothy 2, but I'm gonna back up a little bit and look at verse 9.

In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, which shame face it in the sense of variety. That's a good old King James word there. It means downcast eyes And we've lost that whole idea of propriety and meekness and how you look people in the eye and doing that certain ways, it carries a certain connotation. That's all gone out of the culture, but It's in the Bible. With shame, facet and sobriety, not with broided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but which becomeeth woman professing godliness with good work.

Scott did a really good message on this for many years ago And he talked about this isn't a total prohibition against jewelry, rather the kind of extravagant thing that would cause attention to yourself, pull attention to yourself. Older women are given great instruction in the Bible as well. 1 Timothy chapter five gives us a nice little grid of the life of a godly older woman. Verse 9 says, let not a widow be taken into the number under three score years old, having been the wife of one man, well reported of good works, if she have brought up children, lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, and if she has relieved the afflicted if she has diligently followed every good work and So as the church was trying to figure out what to do with the widows and how to rightly support them The Apostle gives instruction for the kinds of older women that were to be supported, i.e. This is a really good grid for the life of an older woman.

Titus 2.3, the age of women likewise that they be in behavior as becomeeth holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That kind of crashes against secular wine culture there, but not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That kind of crashes against secular wine culture there, but not given to much wine, teachers rather, of good things. So if you're an older woman, you're looking at these verses because you want to walk in the blessings of God and you want the people that you love and that you influence to walk in those same blessings and you're taking these verses very Very seriously, he sent his word and he healed them Well, I may have already read a couple things that were you know that in many churches people would go out I'm not hearing any of that. Well, that's why we're not healed Because God's Word is laid out for us and we're going I don't know.

Maybe that was just for Paul's day Yeah, I don't know. I think I think we misunderstanding what he means there. Oh, you mean like one plus one equals two? Younger women are given great instruction. 1st Timothy 5, 14, I will therefore that the younger women marry, so that should be a goal for most, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Similarly, Titus 2, very familiar in this context, verse 4, that they may teach the young women to be sober, this is what the older teaches the younger, to be sober or self-controlled, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet. What does that word mean in 2023? Discreet. Does that mean that you voluntarily hold back a little bit and don't necessarily feel like you have to show everybody what you you know who you are chased keepers at home there's another barrel of fish hooks right there the home is it but who's supposed to keep it well you are young lady right good obedient to their own husbands That the Word of God be not blasphemed. What?

Are you saying that the Word of God is talked badly about, is blasphemed when we don't do some of these things. I'm not saying that. Titus saying that. Propriety and worship for you too, sisters. But every woman that prayeth or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.

For that is even all one as if she were shaving. Every time I read this verse I get nervous. Y'all okay? Don't throw a tomato at me. I'm just reading the Bible.

For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. Shorn, shaven hair, and two different covering, two completely different things there. Okay. 1st Corinthians 14 says it this way, verse 34, let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are to be commanded to be under obedience as also say of the law.

And if they will learn anything, so learning is good, learning is very good, let them ask their husbands at home for it is shame for women to speak in the church. Some of you are thinking, have you read these verses in your own church? Yes I have. That's why I'm here with you today. They kicked me out.

No, I'm kidding. And then I love the incredulity of Paul here. Verse 36 he says, what came the word of God out from you? I mean it's almost as if he's anticipating you know kind of the reaction. It came it to you only but then he says in 1st Corinthians 1437, but if any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are commandments of the Lord.

Commandments of the Lord. The unmarried are given wonderful commands in 1st Corinthians chapter 7. Now concerning the things whereof I wrote that ye wrote unto me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman nevertheless to avoid fornication. Let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband. And then there's so much more that you can read there.

Verse eight, for example, says, I say, I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them that they abide even as I am. So there's a contentment in where God has you until until your desire intersects with his will. But if they cannot contain, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn. And so there's practical instruction given to singles and unmarries as well as marrieds. And then of course, Scott covered marriage for us, but Genesis is affirmed by Jesus himself.

Matthew chapter 19 verse 4 and he answered and said unto them have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them how again? Male and female and said for this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh what therefore God hath joined together let not man put asunder And so you see our Lord taking us back to Genesis chapters one and two and helping us with that. And so Scott read Ephesians five, so I'm not going to read that, but Colossians three, wives submit unto your husbands as it is fit in the Lord rather, husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them. Remember when God commands things for us, it's often because we struggle with the very things that he's commanded. And there are bitter husbands out there that need this command.

And there are unsubmissive wives out there that need this command. And these things constitute for us what biblical manhood is in marriage and biblical womanhood is in marriage and to the extent that we receive the word that God sent we are healed. It's amazing how quickly restoration can happen when we decide to do what God says do. But when we have a better plan and overthrow the distinctiveness and the beauty and the clear words of God, can we, Should we at that point expect reformation and revival? Oh, beloved, please be careful of thinking you know better than God or I know better than God.

In this area in particular right now, as you're raising your children, there's so much confusion. What I am trying to do here today is just lay out a bunch of these texts and let you wrestle with them and look at them and know that they're there so that as you're raising up your children they know, okay here's a man is strong and he's this and he's supposed to lead out in this and okay I see that and then this and this and then your daughter's the same and otherwise if we're not doing this what what are we doing? We may end up as we go as we go along well that's how we've we've gotten what we've what we've gotten churches that you know often look you know where the distinctions between male and female are completely broken down. And the beauty and the testimony and the light that that's supposed to share in the midst of the, I mean, think about it. And this is One of the reasons why I love church and family life so much, when you guys are out and about, you're showing something to somebody without even talking to them.

You haven't even gotten to telling them the gospel yet. But just the way the men are and just the way the women are means something. And there's a cost that has to be paid. And I get that part, but please by all means, let the word of God change you. Never think you know it all.

Let the word of God change you. And if you find yourself arguing with the scripture, that's not a God issue, that's a you issue. Amen, amen. And finally, you know, 1 Peter 3, likewise, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may be without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear, whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plating hair and the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel, but let it be with the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorn themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them with knowledge, according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered study that these passages look at them these are these are precepts right They're given to us for a reason. So if we wanna unmangle and untangle biblical womanhood, this quick survey that I've done is kinda how you start, right? You find out what the word of the Lord is for men and what the word of the Lord is for women and instead of arguing with it you just do it sometimes by faith but you just do it first Corinthians 7 says let the husband render unto the wife oh Scott Handle that I'll have to do with that one. So I'll close because my the clock's red God's Word can heal us. Do you believe that?

Okay, God's Word can heal us he sent it Forth to do many things one of which is to be a blessing to his people. May we both praise him for his great goodness, but also obey what he has prescribed. One of the things that I've learned so much from Scott is just that what the Lord has prescribed is what we must do. To unmangle and untangle biblical manhood and womanhood, we must pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us be willing to adjust our lives to the scriptures rather than the scriptures to our lives. Sometimes again, by faith, the rest will fall into place.

Father thank you for these men and women these boys and girls thank you for the privilege to just read the word and remind them of the precious precepts of God. Thank you Lord that your word is inspired and inerrant and infallible and sufficient. It contains everything that we need for life and godliness and this includes this very controversial topic in our day of what it means to be a man, what it means to be a woman, but your word is actually really, really clear. Help us to not just hold to it, but help us to lovingly embrace it, and thereby give you glory and give light to a dark culture in Christ's name. Amen.