Man Up Ministries

A Man UP Man knows how to cover a woman. What does it mean for a man to cover a woman (Ezekiel 16:8)? It means  he takes responsibility of caring for her needs, protecting her, and ensuring her overall well-being, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Modern tradition says a wedding ring should cost a man three months of his income. From God’s viewpoint the wedding ring costs a man his very life! God takes vows very seriously and expects us to control our feelings and honor our vows.

In our world of instant gratification we expect instant remedies to our problems, but that is not reality of life. Spectacular victories are given to those who fight with their lives to honor their covenants.

A man must seek God in prayer and cultivate intimacy with Holy Spirit to know the way to a woman’s heart and to discern her needs. Then he pursues her and fights for her and ALWAYS protects her!

When a man loves a woman (not lusts her) he no longer says “I” but “we”. One of the first words a child learns to say is “mine!” A real man knows how to say “ours” or, if need be, simply “yours.” Concessions have to be made for the benefit of the other person or it is lust and not love. Each partner must learn how to give and take in a way that is pleasing to God.

God has reserved sexual intimacy for the marriage bed because it is the seal of the covenant that a man and a woman has made. If a man knows, he has no plans to make the woman his wife; he should protect her heart by not touching her body. This is the rule until after the marriage ceremony! Self control is something you prove to your mate before marriage, not after.

Listen to the wise words of Solomon in Song of Solomon 2:7, (my paraphrase) There is no need to rush; allow love to take its rightful course. In God’s perfect order, the time for sexual intimacy is the wedding night. Women honor men too much to reduce sex with him to something that is not sacred and special.

Dr. Cliff, what if I have already blown it (who hasn’t)? The wonderful thing about God’s grace is that it covers our mistakes and gives us a new beginning. Cultivate intimacy with Holy Spirit and discover abundance of life and the power to enjoy it victoriously.

God so loved the world that he gave (John 3:16-17). He gave his most precious possession – his son – as a ransom to gain his bride. He washes her in His Word. He dresses her in robes of righteousness and crowns her as His first priority. He forgives...and forgives again. He constantly reaches out to her when she strays and forever seeks reconciliation. He constantly woos her to His side and shields her from enemies. He maintains her purity until the wedding day and prepares a place for her. Love is costly even to God, but it is a price He gladly pays!

Some money comes from labor. It is called wages or earned money. Some money comes from dead relatives it would be called inherited money. Some money comes from gambling we call that chance money. There is also stolen money, lost money, dirty money, old money and etc. Have you discovered miracle money? It is the money that God miraculously gives to His children. Peter received some miracle money. Jesus told him to go fishing and the first fish he caught, when he opened its mouth, he would find a piece of money. I call that miracle money (Matthew 17:27).

A survey revealed that 72% of Americans are fighting anxiety or depression over their economic situation. They are making changes in their style of living trying to cope. This same people believed that if they could make only 50 dollars more per week than they were currently making they could be happy.

Happiness can not be bought. Happiness or joy is a state of mind. The Apostle Paul said he had learned the secret to contentment (Philippians 4:11-12). What is contentment? It is knowing you will be okay and as productive as you desire to be. It is being full (none lacking) of joy or confidence. This joy and confidence are the result of knowing that God loves you and is with you.  Take courage God is for you not against you.  Today may be the day God reveals to you where miracle money can be found.  He will not allow the righteous to be forsaken or their children to beg for bread (Psalm 37:25).

There is a popular TV commercial for a medical alert device that features an elderly lady who cries out, "Help! I've fallen, and I can't get up!" She wants to get up but she needs help.

At times we fall off track because life knocks us off balance and we need help to get back on track. Help is available. Help is part of the plan of God. Holy Spirit is our Helper. God named Holy Spirit "the Helper" because He knows we need help to stay on track (Hebrews 13:6/John 14:16 & 26-27).

When we fall off the track, Holy Spirit will get us back on track and empower us to persevere until we overcome and prevail (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Are you wondering about your footing on life’s track? Do you feel you should be further along than you are?  Don’t worry. Even if we stumble we shall not be destroyed because Holy Spirit has us by the hand (Psalm 37:23-24). We can run the race without fear of getting off track because we have the inside track.  What is the inside track?  The inside track is the Holy Spirit living in us.  He makes us more than a mere man. He makes us a Superman that cannot be defeated!