Episode 54 | Act Like Men - The Five Commands of a Godly Warrior – Part 3

From Spiritual Adolescence to Spiritual Maturity

What does it really mean to "act like a man"? The world offers countless answers. Strength. Success. Independence. Toughness. Control. But in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, the Apostle Paul gives a radically different picture of biblical manhood. His command to "act like men" isn't a call to become louder, tougher, or more aggressive—it's a call to spiritual maturity.

In this episode of The Making of a Man, Mike Judd continues The Five Commands of a Godly Warrior series by exploring what Paul truly meant when he challenged believers to "act like men." You'll discover that biblical masculinity is not measured by power, status, or self-reliance, but by growing into the character of Jesus Christ.

Through Scripture, practical application, and personal testimony, you'll learn that true courage isn't the absence of fear—it's choosing obedience even when it's difficult. Whether it's asking for forgiveness, leading your family with humility, telling the truth when it costs you, or trusting God with outcomes you can't control, courageous obedience is where spiritual boys become godly men.

If you've ever struggled to understand what biblical masculinity looks like in today's culture, this episode offers a refreshing, Christ-centered answer. In This Episode You'll Discover:
•What Paul really meant by the command "Act Like Men."
•Why biblical manhood is about spiritual maturity, not cultural stereotypes.
•How Jesus completely redefined strength and leadership.
•Why humility requires greater courage than pride.
•The difference between acting tough and becoming Christlike.
•How everyday acts of obedience shape godly men.
•Practical questions to help you grow from spiritual adolescence into spiritual maturity.

The world doesn't need men who simply look strong. It needs men who look more like Jesus.

The Making of a Man is a Christian podcast equipping men to become who God designed them to be—through biblical leadership, spiritual warfare, marriage, fatherhood, healing, purpose, and Christ-centered masculinity. 

Transcript

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Welcome back to the Making of a Man. I'm your host, Mike Judd, and this podcast exists for one purpose: to help men become who God created them to be. Together, we're learning to live intentionally, lead courageously, love faithfully, and fight the spiritual battles that matter most. Not by relying on our own strength, but by following the example of Jesus Christ, the perfect man. Whether you're a husband, a father, a grandfather, or a young man just beginning your journey, or simply someone who wants to grow deeper in your walk with Christ, I'm honored that you've joined me today. Before we begin, let's invite the Lord to lead our time together. Please join me in prayer. Father, thank you for another opportunity to open your word together. We confess that the world offers countless opinions about what it means to be a man. But only you, our Creator, define who we were created to become. Today, give us ears to hear, hearts willing to receive, and the courage to obey whatever you reveal. Expose the places where we've settled for comfort instead of maturity, pride instead of humility, and self-reliance instead of dependence on you. Shape us into men who reflect the character of Jesus, not merely in what we say, but in how we live, love, lead, and serve. May your Holy Spirit guide every word spoken today and use this time to transform us from the inside out. We ask all of this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Every generation asks the same question. What does it mean to be a man? We can ask ten people today and we'll probably get ten different answers. Some people will tell you a real man is physically strong. Others will say he's emotionally expressive. Some people believe manhood is measured by wealth, success, or influence. Others define it by independence, confidence, or the ability to take control. Some insist masculinity itself is a problem. Others believe masculinity should be reclaimed at all costs. Everywhere we look, people are trying to redefine what a man is. And the result? Confusion, pressure, frustration. Because if everyone gets to define manhood for themselves, then no one really knows what it means anymore. But here's the good news. God has never been confused. Long before social media, long before modern psychology, long before politics, and long before culture started arguing about masculinity, God had already spoken. Near the end of his first letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul gives five short commands that describe the life of spiritual maturity. Listen to them again. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong, let all that you do be done in love. These aren't five disconnected commands, they've they're five characteristics of a mature follower of Christ. We've already talked about being watchful, we've talked about standing firm in the faith. Today we come to perhaps the most misunderstood command in the entire passage act like men. For years I heard those words interpreted as though Paul were telling men to be tougher, to hide my emotions, to dominate, to become more aggressive. But that's not what Paul is saying at all. In fact, in fact, if we misunderstand this command, we can end up pursuing a version of manhood that looks nothing like Jesus. Because here's the truth I want to build this entire episode around. Paul isn't calling men to become more masculine according to culture. He's calling them to grow up spiritually. He's calling boys to become mature men. He's calling immature believers to become steadfast disciples. He's calling ordinary men to increasingly reflect the character of Christ. You see, biblical manhood isn't measured by muscles, it's measured by maturity. It's not about how much authority you demand. It's about how you faithfully submit to the authority of Christ. It's not about becoming harder, it's about becoming holier. The greatest man who ever lived didn't conquer people through intimidation. He conquered sin through humility. He didn't demand to be served, he came to serve. He didn't cling to his rights, he laid down his life. If you want to know what a real man looks like, don't start with culture, start with Jesus. Because the goal of biblical manhood isn't simply to become a better version of yourself, it's to become more like him, and that's exactly what we're going to discover together today. Before we unpack what Paul means by act like men, before we dive into today's command, let's take a minute to remember where we've been. One of the mistakes we can make when reading scripture is treating verses like isolated sayings, as if Paul just listed five random pieces of advice. But that's not what's happening here. Paul is painting a picture. He's describing what spiritual maturity looks like. He's showing us the progression of a godly warrior. The first command was this, be watchful. We talked about how a man who isn't paying attention is vulnerable. The enemy loves distractions. If he can keep us spiritually asleep, he doesn't have to fight very hard. A distracted husband becomes a disconnected husband. A distracted father becomes an absent father. A distracted believer slowly drifts from God without even realizing it. That's why Jesus repeatedly told his disciples, watch. Awareness is the first step toward victory. You can't fight a battle you don't recognize. Then Paul gives us the second command, stand firm in the faith. Because awareness alone isn't enough. Once you recognize the battle, you have to decide where you're going to stand. Last episode we talked about how our feelings are real, but they are not facts. God gave us emotions as indicators. They're like the warning lights on the dashboard of a vehicle. When a warning light comes on, you don't ignore it, but you also don't let the light drive the car. Feelings tell us something may need our attention. They don't determine what is true. Too many men spend their lives allowing emotions to become their compass instead of allowing God's word to be their compass. Faith means choosing to believe what God has said, even when your circumstances argue otherwise. Sometimes standing firm means trusting God while you're waiting. Sometimes it means obeying before you understand. Sometimes it means remaining faithful when nothing around you seems to be changing. That's what faith looks like. And then we arrive at today's command. Because eventually watching isn't enough. Believing isn't enough. There comes a moment when every man must choose whether he will remain spiritually immature or step into spiritual adulthood. There comes a point where what you know must shape how you live, where conviction becomes action, where belief becomes obedience, where faith becomes courage. That's exactly where Paul takes us next. He says act like men. Not because courage earns God's love, but because mature faith always produces courageous obedience. Today we're going to discover that this command has far less to do with masculinity than many people assume, and far more to do with maturity, because God isn't simply asking us to become tougher men, He's inviting us to become men who increasingly look like Jesus Christ. So what did Paul actually mean when he wrote these three words? Act like men. At first glance, it almost sounds unnecessary. After all, Paul was writing primarily to a church made up of men and women. Why would he tell the men to act like men? Was he talking about masculinity, physical strength, personality? No. The phrase Paul uses was a common expression that meant something much deeper than simply being a biological male. It carried the idea of being courageous, standing firm, conducting yourself with maturity in the face of difficulty. In other words, Paul isn't saying be more masculine, he's saying grow up spiritually, move from childish faith to mature faith, move from fear to courage, move from self-centeredness to Christ centeredness. You see, the Bible makes an important distinction between growing older and growing up. Every boy eventually becomes a man physically, but not every man becomes mature spiritually. Age is automatic, maturity is intentional. I've met young men in their twenties who demonstrated incredible spiritual maturity, and I've also met men in their sixties and seventies who were still controlled by anger, selfishness, pride, insecurity, or the need to always get their own way. Gray hair doesn't automatically produce godly character. Time doesn't transform us, the Holy Spirit does. And that transformation requires our willing surrender and obedience. Paul addresses the same issue in another letter. In 1 Corinthians 13, 11, he writes, When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. Notice what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't say that becoming a man is about becoming stronger or wealthier or more respected. He says maturity requires leaving childish things behind. So what are childish ways? A child says, I want what I want, and I want it now. A mature man asks what honors God. A child avoids responsibility. A mature man embraces it. A child blames others, a mature man accepts ownership. A child quits when things become difficult. A mature man remains faithful. A child is driven by feelings. A mature man is led by truth. A child demands his rights. A mature man willingly lays down his rights for the good of others. Doesn't that last one sound familiar? Because that's exactly what Jesus did. Jesus never acted out of selfish ambition. He never manipulated, he never intimidated, he never sought his own comfort above the Father's will. Instead, he consistently chose obedience, even when obedience led to suffering. That's why Jesus is not only our Savior, He's our model of a mature manhood. When we ask what does it mean to act like a man, the first place we should look isn't at athletes or celebrities or politicians or influencers. We should look at Christ. He is the perfect image of what humanity was always intended to become. The world often celebrates confidence. Jesus demonstrated humility. The world admires power. Jesus used his power to serve. The world teaches us to protect our image. Jesus laid down his reputation. The world says winning is everything. Jesus showed us that surrender to the Father is the greatest victory. Brothers, this is where I think we've often misunderstood biblical masculinity. We've spent years asking how can I become a better man? When perhaps the better question is, how can I become more like Christ? Because the goal of Christian life isn't masculinity for masculinity's sake. The goal is Christ likeness. As men, we don't become godly by trying harder to fit the world's image of a man. We become godly as the Holy Spirit shapes us into the image of Jesus. That's spiritual maturity. That's courageous manhood. That is what Paul is calling us to, and here's the beautiful truth. This kind of maturity isn't reserved for pastors or missionaries or spiritual giants. It's God's desire for every man who belongs to him. Not perfection, progress, not pretending, growing, not projecting strength, but allowing Christ to strengthen us from the inside out. Because the strongest men are not those who rely on themselves, they're the men who have learned to depend completely on Jesus. But if that's true, then it raises another important question. If biblical manhood is measured by Christ's likeness instead of culture expectations, why does the world's picture of a real man look so different from the picture Jesus gives us? To answer that we need to compare the two, and the contrast couldn't be more striking. As we continue, I want to ask you a question. When you picture a strong man, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of someone physically powerful or someone who commands respect the moment he walks into the room, someone who's fearless, successful, confident, independent, someone who always has the answers. Those qualities aren't necessarily wrong. Physical strength can be a gift from God. Confidence can be healthy. Leadership is a biblical calling. But none of those things by themselves define a godly man. The problem comes when we mistake outward strength for inward maturity. The world often teaches us that strength means being in control. Jesus showed us that true strength begins with surrender. Think about his life. Jesus possessed more power than any man who has ever lived. He spoke and storms became still. He touched lepers and they were made clean. He called Lazarus from the tomb. He cast out demons, he had the authority to command legions of angels, yet he never used his power to exalt himself. Instead instead he used it to serve others. That's why the night before his crucifixion is so remarkable. The disciples were arguing about who among them was the greatest. They were still thinking like the world. Who has the highest position? Who deserves the most honor? Who has the most authority? And what did Jesus do? He took off his outer garment, wrapped a towel around his waist, knelt before his disciples, and washed their feet. The creator served his creation. The king became a servant. The master humbled himself before his followers. Imagine how shocking that must have been. In that culture, washing feet was the task of the lowest servant in the household. No respected rabbi would have done it, certainly not the Messiah. Yet Jesus intentionally chose the lowest place in the room. Why? Because he wasn't trying to prove his greatness. He already knew who he was. That's something every man needs to hear. When your identity is secure in Christ, you no longer need to prove your significance to others. Insecurity constantly asks, how do I look? Maturity asks, how can I serve? Insecurity fights for recognition. Maturity looks for opportunities to bless. Insecurity protects its reputation. Maturity protects other people. The world says make sure everyone knows your value. Jesus says if anyone would be first, he must be a servant of all. That doesn't sound very impressive by the world's standards, but it is the very picture of biblical strength. You know, I think one of the greatest misconceptions about Christian manhood is that humility somehow makes us weak. But nothing can be further from the truth. It takes far more strength to admit your wrong than to defend yourself. It takes more courage to forgive than to hold a grudge. It takes more character to remain faithful than to chase temporary pleasure. It takes more confidence in God to serve quietly than to constantly seek recognition. Weakness clings to pride, but strength embraces humility. That's why Jesus can endure insults without retaliating. He could remain silent before false accusations. He could pray for those who nailed him to the cross. He wasn't weak. He was perfectly surrendered to the Father. Philippians chapter two tells us that although Jesus was equal to God, he did not cling to his rights. Instead, he emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself and became obedient even to death on the cross. Think about that. His greatest display of strength wasn't calling down the angels, it was staying on the cross. He had the power to come down, but love kept him there. Obedience kept him there. The Father's will kept him there. Brothers, that's strength, not the ability to dominate, but the willingness to obey, not the power to control others, but discipline to surrender yourself and not demanding your own way. But laying down your life for the good of someone else, isn't it that exactly what husbands are called to do? Exactly what fathers are called to do? Exactly what leaders are called to do? Jesus never asks us to become impressive. He called us to become faithful. And faithfulness requires a kind of courage the world rarely celebrates. The courage to choose integrity when compromise would be easier. The courage to tell the truth when Allah would protect your image. The courage to ask for forgiveness, the courage to admit you don't have all the answers, the courage to pray with your family even if it feels awkward, the courage to stand for biblical truth without becoming harsh or self-righteous. That's what mature manhood looks like. It's not loud, it's not arrogant, it's not self-promoting. It's quietly strong because it's firmly rooted in Christ. The world often asks, How powerful can I become? But Jesus asks, How faithfully will you follow me? And in that question, everything changes because biblical manhood is no longer about proving yourself, it's about progressively becoming more like the one who gave himself for you. Now hearing all this can sound inspiring, but also a little overwhelming. You might think, I understand what biblical manhood looks like, but how do I actually live that way on an ordinary Tuesday? How do I become that kind of man in real life? The answer is both encouraging and challenging. God usually doesn't build courageous men through extraordinary moments. He builds them through thousands of ordinary acts of faithful obedience. One of the reasons I think we misunderstand courage is because we've been taught to associate it with extraordinary moments. When we hear the word courage, we picture David standing before Goliath, or Daniel in the lion's den, Joshua leading Israel into battle, a soldier charging into combat, a firefighter running into a burning building. Those are certainly acts of courage, but for most of us, God doesn't build courage through extraordinary moments. He builds it through ordinary obedience. In fact, the extraordinary moments are usually the results of thousands of ordinary decisions made long before anyone was watching. David didn't suddenly become courageous when he faced Goliath. He had already learned to trust God while tending sheep in the fields. Joshua didn't suddenly become courageous when he led Israel into the promised land. He had spent decades faithfully serving under Moses. Jesus didn't suddenly become obedient at the cross. His life, his entire life was one continual yes to the Father. Courage isn't born in the spotlight, it's cultivated in the secret place. It's built one decision at a time, one act of obedience after another, one surrendered heart after another. Most of us won't be asked to face giants, but every one of us will face moments like these. even when I've been deeply hurt? Will I keep my word even when it costs me? Will I open God's word when I don't feel like it? Will I pray with my wife even if I feel awkward? Will I lead my family spiritually instead of assuming someone else will? Will I confess my sin instead of hiding it? Those moments may seem small, but that's where God shapes men. Those quiet decisions made when no one is applauding are where spiritual adolescence gives way to spiritual maturity. I remember one of the most difficult acts of courage God ever called me to. After I gave my life to Christ the Holy Spirit began showing me that there were wounds I had helped create as a father. I love my children deeply and I've always wanted what's best for them. But wanting the best and always giving them the best are not the same thing. God began revealing places where I had failed, times when my pride got in the way, moments when I had been impatient, times when I had a lot of work, stress, fear, or my own selfishness to influence the way I led my family. For a while I wrestled with what to do. Part of me wanted to explain myself, to justify my actions, to remind them that I had done many things right. After all, isn't that what our pride wants? It wants to defend itself it wants to soften the truth. It wants to protect our image but the Holy Spirit wouldn't let me stay there. He wasn't asking me to defend myself he was asking me to humble myself. So I sat down with my children. I looked them in the eye and I simply told them the truth I failed you in some ways and I'm sorry will you forgive me those may have been some of the hardest words I've ever spoken not because I doubted God's forgiveness, but because pride dies hard. I had spent years thinking that a good father always had to appear strong. God was teaching me something completely different. Sometimes the strongest thing a father can do is admit that he was wrong. I wish I could tell you those conversations instantly repaired every relationship. Some brought immediate healing others became the beginning of a much longer journey but here's what I know God wasn't asking me to control the outcome he was asking me to be obedient. And that's a lesson every one of us needs to hear maturity isn't measured by whether everyone responds the way we hope. It's measured by whether we obey Christ I learned that courage isn't always standing in front of a crowd. Sometimes courage is sitting across from someone you've hurt, taking ownership without excuses, and trusting God with what happens next those conversations change me. They remind me that biblical courage isn't about protecting your reputation it's about protecting your relationship with God. It's choosing humility over pride, obedience over image and truth over self preservation. Brothers, I believe that's exactly what Paul is calling us to not a performance of strength, but a life of surrendered obedience because every act of obedience every apology every confession every difficult conversation every choice to forgive every decision to tell the truth is another step away from spiritual adolescence and another step toward becoming the man God is shaping us to be the man who looks a little bit more like Jesus today than he did yesterday. So here's the next question every one of us has to answer. Where is God asking you to take that next step? Not next year, not when it's more comfortable this week. Because courageous men aren't simply hearers of God's word, they're doers. Let's finish today with a practical battle plan that helps us put this command into action. If you've listened to our series for a while, you know that we try to end each episode with a battle plan because information alone doesn't change us. Transformation happens when truth becomes obedience. James tells us to be doers of the word not hearers only so here's your battle plan for this week I want you to ask the Holy Spirit one simple question every morning before your feet hit the floor Lord, where are you calling me to courageous obedience today? Not next month, not next year, today then listen, because I believe God is faithful to answer that prayer. For some of you he may bring a name to mind, someone you've wronged, someone you need to forgive, someone you've been avoiding. For others he may point out a habit that needs to change, a conversation you've delayed, a responsibility you've neglected, a sin you've been tolerating, or maybe he's simply asking you to trust him in an area where you've been trying to stay in control. Whatever he reveals don't negotiate, obey. Remember, courage isn't the absence of fear. Courage is choosing obedience while you're still afraid. So let me give you four questions to carry with you this week. When you're faced with a decision ask yourself first am I protecting my pride or pursuing Christ am I choosing comfort or obedience? Third am I trying to control the outcome or trust God with it and finally when people look at my life will they see a man trying to prove himself or a man becoming more like Jesus those four questions have a way of exposing where spiritual adolescence is still hanging on. Because boys ask what's easiest mature men ask what's faithful here's what I've learned the greatest battles you'll fight this week probably won't be against another person. They'll be fought in your own heart the battle between pride and humility, fear and faith, comfort and obedience, self reliance and surrender. Win those battles and you'll become the man God is shaping you to be not overnight, but one faithful decision at a time. As we close today I want to leave you with one final thought. When Paul wrote these words act like men, he wasn't giving us permission to become louder or harsher or more demanding. He was inviting us to become spiritually mature, to grow beyond childish ways, to put away pride, to stop blaming for appearances, to stop measuring ourselves by the world's standards, and instead to begin measuring our lives against the character of Jesus Christ. Brothers, the world doesn't need more men who know how to win arguments. It needs men who know how to wash feet. It doesn't need more men who demand respect. It needs men who earn trust through humility and integrity. It doesn't need more men who reject strength while hiding their brokenness. It needs men secure enough in Christ to confess their failures, seek forgiveness and keep following Jesus. The strongest man who ever walked this earth didn't conquer through intimidation. He conquered through surrender. He didn't save the world by taking a throne he saved it by carrying a cross and if we are going to become the men God created us to be, then we must follow him there. Not just in moments of victory but in moments of obedience in moments of humility in moments of sacrifice because that's where mature men are made. So this week don't ask yourself how can I look stronger? Ask how can I look more like Jesus don't ask how can I protect my image ask how I honor Christ don't ask how can I prove I'm a man ask how can I become the man God is calling me to be because biblical manhood isn't about becoming more masculine. It's about becoming more like Christ and that transformation happens one courageous act of obedience one surrendered decision one faithful step at a time thank you for joining me for another episode of the Making of a man. If today's episode encouraged you or challenged you I'd like you to share it with another man in your life a husband a father a son brother or friend someone you know who is striving to follow Christ. One conversation one act of encouragement or one shared episode may be exactly what God uses to strengthen another man in his walk with him. As always I'd love to hear from you. If this episode spoke to you if God is teaching you something through this series or if there's a topic you'd like us to explore in a future episode reach out. One of the greatest encouragements in this ministry is hearing how God is at work in the lives of men who are choosing to walk faithfully with Him. Next time we'll continue our journey through the five commands of a godly warrior as we look at Paul's fourth command, be strong. We'll discover that the strength God calls us to isn't self-generated determination or grit. It's a strength that comes from abiding in Christ and depending on the power of the Holy Spirit. We'll learn why the strongest men are often those who know they are the weakest without him. Until then remember this a godly man isn't defined by the world's expectations but by Christ's example. Every day is another opportunity to leave childish ways behind, embrace courageous obedience and become more like Jesus. Thank you for listening to the Making of the man. I invite you to go stand watch, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and next time we'll learn what it truly means to be strong. God bless and I'll see you in the next episode