The Man of Steel and Velvet

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-16

Introduction

He was never a wimp. He was a man of strength, courage and power. He stood against the injustice, harshness and abuses of his day. He surrounded himself with outdoorsmen, businessmen and activists. He modeled the characteristics that God created man to show.

I. The character of Jesus

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

A. Action

Matthew 21:12-13 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, {It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.}

B. Integrity

John 18:4-8 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, {Whom seek ye?} 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, {I am [he].} And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, {I am [he],} they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, {Whom seek ye?} And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, {I have told you that I am [he]: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:}

1. Honesty

a. Transparent

Mark 14:32-34 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, {Sit ye here, while I shall pray.} 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, {My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.}

b. Confrontational

John 8:44 {Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.}

2. Self Control

Matthew 4:1-4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, {It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.}

C. Compassion

John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, {Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.}

II. What Christ enables us to become

2 Peter 3:11-12 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

A. Act on what we know to do

B. Take a stand for right

C. Exercise self control