Something Every Man Should Know

For all the guys out there, let me ask you a question (ladies, I will ask you something next week). 

Do you remember as a boy, wanting to be Spider-Man or a Jedi Knight or (insert your favorite hero)? 

And why did every long stick become a sword and every short stick a laser firing blaster?

I would suggest that there was something deep going on the formation of the heart of that young man.

The firemen who ran up the stairs of the World Trade Center on 9/11 when everyone else was rushing down in panic—what made them do it? 

The young men who so bravely put themselves between the gunman and their fellow students during those school shootings—what enabled them to do it? 

 

The Warrior. 

 

It is hardwired into every man.

 

You see, every young boy wants to grow up and be strong; every man wants to live a powerful life. Because every man is made in the image of God, who is the Great Warrior. Like Father, like son. God gave you a warrior heart because you were born into a world at war. 

 

Surely you are aware of this—

 

Your life is opposed. 

 

Your love is opposed. 

 

Your hope is opposed.

 

Your dreams

 

Your friendships

 

Your joy

 

Your family

 

—all fiercely opposed.

 

How much hardship a man will endure, how long and tenaciously he will persevere, is determined by the warrior within him. 

A man can have a job he hates under an arrogant boss, but if he sees it as warrior training, he will endure. 

A man in a difficult marriage can persevere only if he finds the warrior inside. 

The heart of the warrior says, “I will put myself on the line for you. I will not let evil have its way. There are some things that cannot be endured. I’ve got to do something. There is freedom to be had.”

Isaiah 50:7 says this, 

“For the Lord God will help Me;

Therefore I will not be disgraced;

Therefore I have set My face like a flint,

And I know that I will not be ashamed.

It's time to quit asking, “Why is life so hard?” and take the hardness as the call to fight, to rise up, face it down, set your “face as flint,” as Jesus had to do to fulfill his life’s greatest mission

You are a warrior, and your destiny is to join the Great Warrior in his battle against evil.

Christianity does not ask men to become altar boys; it calls them up as warriors to fight against the Evil One, our enemy.

If you want to find out more about the Warrior Heart, check us out this Sunday at Next Level Church!

Clay Monkus

Clay has devoted nearly three decades to reimagining what church can be. As a pastor and leader, he's dedicated his life to creating authentic spaces for people who've previously walked away from faith and church. His passion isn't found in building traditional religious structures, but in fostering communities where every person's story is safe and no one faces judgment.

Clay has consistently pushed against the conventional boundaries of church culture, choosing instead to focus on what he believes matters most: helping people discover the full and meaningful life Jesus offers.

Through his authentic approach and genuine care for others, he's helped countless individuals find hope and purpose, particularly those who thought they'd closed the door on faith forever.

With more than 30 years of pastoral experience, Clay leads with a simple mission: everyone's welcome, no perfect people allowed. His approach to ministry emphasizes creating safe spaces where real conversations happen and genuine community flourishes.

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