Declaring Your Name

Focus today is on MEN but the content/application = ALL!!

How important are Fathers?  Dads? 
Some Stats - Dads and sons
1)  71% of H.S. dropouts come from fatherless homes
2) 90% of homeless runaways come from a fatherless home
3)  7% of all juveniles in state reform schools come from a  fatherless home.
4)  85% of imprisoned youths grew up in a fatherless home
5)  43% of adult inmates grew up in a single parent home - generally w/o a dad
6)  80% of rapists come from fatherless homes
7)  Crime rates in ALL categories are highest among those raised w/o a dad
8)  boys raised in a single parent home are twice as likely to commit a crime that leads to incarceration
9)  boys raised in step-families are 3times as likely to commit a crime that leads to incarceration
10) 95% of men on death row HATED their fathers

Dads make a difference.

Dads and daughters
1)  teenage girls living in a fatherless home are 60% more likely to be involved in premarital sex than those in 2 parent home
2)  90% of girls with anorexia (nervosa) lack a close relationship with their father
3) girls growing up in a home where dad is absent are far more likely to exhibit:
       A.  low motivation for achievement
       B.  a tendency to choose immediate gratification rather that self=discipline for later rewards
      C.  greater tendency toward group influence/peer pressure
      D.  lower self esteem
4)  A woman's self esteem largely determined by 2 men in her life - ie:  her dad and her 1st. husband

On one hand, stats may vary, however, the pattern is consistent!

In other words, kids growing up in a home with father present have a distinct advantage!!
They are less likely to live in poverty, less likely ot abuse drugs and alcohol, do jail time, be sexually active as teens, even be obese!!

There are always exceptions, but this is generally true.

They do better in school, have a larger vocabulary!!  (this doesn't mean curse words)
         are willing to take healthy risks - which translates - confidence in abilities
This is true of more than in childhood.   = adolescence and adulthood

The point is NOT that moms can't   (many do well!!)
Doesn't mean kids without fathers can't achieve...  moms can raise excellent children!

Point = dads Make a Difference!!

Conversion stats:
when a child is the first to convert, family will convert 4% of the time
when mom is first, 17% of the time.
when dad is first, 93% of the time.

Church attendance as adults

If only mom attends church, 30% of children will attend as adults
If only dad attends church, 70% will attend as adults

This is not to say moms are less important!!
The point = dads Make a Difference!!!  Which adds gravity (weight) to 1 Tim. 5:8

So --- Paul ..... "Rise Up" - 1 Cor. 16:13

Call = "rise up and become what are created to be, called to be.  - If have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, there is a great call on your life.

Yet ..... we often mostly fail..... why????

(1)  Sin and selfishness
an obvious and universal condition  - Rom. 3:23
NOT due to 'male-ness' but to 'Human-ness'

(2)  fear of God's calling - what might He ask of me?  to give up?  take up?  "I'll lose control" -
(this is true of all people, but especially grown men!!)

(3)  uncertainty - ie   what exactly to do?  how?  because sometimes = unclear!  confusing! 
Especially if didn't have a role model to look up to growing up

(4)  despair - "tried and tried and failed repeatedly"  so why bother?  (unspoken defeatism)

Question:  Is this every man's battle?  - don't know, maybe
BUT for sure = every Christian man's battle!! - every Christian man wants to do better!!

So.... illustrations and some help from Bible Story - Jacob - 2nd. born of twins
Gen:  32:22-31

On one hand, the story = mysterious
However, clearly Jacob ... (1)  wrestles with God
                                        (2)  wrestles with himself

Focus  Gen. 32:27 - "what's your name?  declare your name!!!"  - forcing Jacob to confess what he's like.

The significance  declaring/ confessing Name = declaration, an admission of:
(1)  Character - Jacob meant supplanter, trickster, manipulator, a dishonorable man!!

(2)  failure = on one hand = he had financial success
                   however, had relational failure w/father, w/brother, with 1st. wife, w/father-in-law, with God!

(3)  predicament - fleeing father-in-law, facing brother's wrath, had NO home, has BAD name - all own doing!!

(4)  inability to fix any of this!! - no way he can make this right
 He = morally and relationally inadequate!!

Therefore,
(5)   need (of divine assistance) - He admits to his need
Jacob has spent 30 years climbing the ladder of success only to realize he's been sliding down in what really matters!! Because he needed God, therefore, "won't let go until you Bless Me!!"

Result = turning point!!!  Jacob => Israel  

This is NOT immediate, complete transformation, BUT it = the 1st. VITAL STEP in the Process!!

Lessons/Application here = Very Simple!!

(1)  declaring your name is the 1st. step in 'Rising Up'
because we don't fix what ain't broke.  This doesn't mean are broken and failing in Every WAY!!
rather = broken and failing in most important areas!!

(2)  declaring your name is merely admitting and confessing
to... (A)  your flaws (faults/conduct)   Question:  Why is this so hard?
(B)  Your inability to fix this   ("I've tried and I've tried")   therefore,
(C)  Your need of Divine Assistance

(3)  declaring your name is designed to raise you UP, not press you down!!
Points = see the truth, seek God, correct behavior and therefore, RISE!!

(4)  declaring your name is only the 1st step.   Is important step, vital step, (example:  salvation/sanctification)
but is NOT the cure = the beginnings of the cure!

(5)  declaring your name is not a 1 time event - examples:  1 Tim. 1:15, Phil. 3:12-15
example:  Abraham still being tested at 115 years of age
This can be discouraging , ... Phil. 1:6 - goes on lifelong, but He will keep on with you
Gen. 32:31 - Jacob didn't look blessed but he WAS!! and he Knew it!!

You (like Jacob) will never reach perfection (in this life) but CAN (like Jacob Rise up and Move toward what God created you to be/ calls you to be, AND what wife, kids, family, church, community, NEED you to be!!

Is never too late to Start
Never too late to Re-Start!!! - Can teach an old dog new tricks!!

Closing Scripture:

1 Cor. 16:13