LESSON 1: Men, live by the word of God, not for 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.”
Matthew 4:4 KJV
Men today are controlled by their appetite. Many are led along the path of indisciplined behavior because they fail to acknowledge the creator as the guide of their lives. Jesus clearly states, quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by the words that are spoken by God. The word of God is his spoken word unto humanity through writing. We should never allow appetite to take the place of God because that will ruin our lives. Men should always pray, fast, read, and study their bible, especially with family members. The word of God must be applicable in his life. When men follow the word of God, they are taking heed to instructions that come directly from the maker of life. The conception of sin into this world was caused by disobedience through a conversation in the Garden of Eden. Man should never have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God said he should not touch. Satan allowed both man and woman to fall into the trap of darkness. However, Jesus used the word of God to resist the devil in the wilderness after fasting for 40 days and nights. At this point, Jesus was hungry and wanted something to eat, but because he knew the word, He was able to resist the devil. An active spiritual walk with God allows a man to prosper in all his endeavors. Men must constantly pray. Men must learn how to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. When a man walks with God, he becomes a target for the devil, but the Lord will always be his guide and protection. Men must train their minds to be disciplined and obedient to God. This is only possible through seeking God by reading his word and praying. Men should seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and not seek to fill their appetites with fleshly desires. Men should aim to have self-control, learn the importance of humility, and this is only attainable by seeking God and his righteousness. Through this, men can become governors over their appetite and practice the word of God in their daily lifestyle.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33 KJV
“And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.”
Deuteronomy 11:13-14 KJV
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, And delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
Psalm 34:17 KJV
“Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV
“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”
Deuteronomy 8:3 KJV
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
2 Timothy 2:3 KJV
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
1 Timothy 4:16 KJV
LESSON 2: Men, eat less/ no meat and more fruits and veggies.
When we look at the creation story, Adam was fully involved in naming the creatures and also experiencing a blissful life in the Garden of Eden. All that came from the soil was to replenish the health of men and to restore their mind and their outlook each day as he walked and talked with God.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”
Genesis 1:29 KJV
The meat for man was the food from the ground; however, today we see many men diving into a lifestyle of over-consuming food that is unhealthy. The majority of what is presented to us as men to consume weakens the physical, mental, and spiritual faculties of the mind, depreciates and ages our bodies faster. This, in the long term, creates a variety of illnesses that destroy our well-being and eliminate perfect health. The stomach is being pressured to break down food that the body was not created to handle. God’s ideal for man is to eat the food of the soil and to take better care of his vessel, which should be preparing for the life to come. As men, let us do better to take care of what the Lord has given us. When we eat healthy, we meet the requirements of good health, we are better equipped to be used for the master purpose, and also to live a life according to heavenly standards. All of our bodies' organs will function properly, and we will develop a rock-solid immune system. We will be able to make better decisions with a sharper brain to resist the influences of Satan in this world and support our families, leading them with the word of God. The devil aims to attack the mind, but through diet, your mind can become more powerful by allowing natural law to govern your lifestyle. Therefore, you will eventually develop a character that submits to God and resists the devil, and he will flee. Diet is able to heal the tissues in the body and also develop more positive behavioral traits. We are not here to satisfy our desires by eating junk, but to feed our bodies with the nutritional goodness from trees and plants that come from the earth that God created. It is an act of disobedience if we continue to eat excessive and unhealthy food when God has designed a perfect diet for humanity. If we do not allow the trees on earth to be our food today, then how can we partake in the tree of life that is to come?
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:21 KJV
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 KJV
“ Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:11-12 KJV
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Revelation 22:14-15 KJV
"(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"
Philippians 3:18-19 KJV
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
3 John 2
LESSON 3: Men must toil, do not be lazy, do not compromise.
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
Genesis 2:15 KJV
From the creation of the world, God allowed man to have an occupation. His job was to take care of the garden. We can see from this that men must be able to care for their families and the community by providing assistance and also caring for others. Men must work honestly! Men must always be developing and helping themselves to become better individuals by using their brains and hands for good deeds. Dressing the garden was surely new for Adam, and likewise, men should always seek to learn something new and expand their knowledge and skill sets. Men should also learn the importance of financial discipline. Men should conduct their life’s responsibilities with integrity. God never allows man to be useless; He gave men a purpose, to be the priest of the home and the backbone of every society that exists. Today, we see men losing their values and moral standards. The explicit demonic content through music, fashion, entertainment, and all media platforms has indoctrinated the minds of men to become dishonest, senseless, and ruthless icons in society. Satan has designed society for men to constantly fall into sin and be comfortable with riotous living. However, we are thankful for the word that leads us back to the blueprint of what God intended for men. God placed Adam in the garden to toil the soil, maintaining each plant by molding, cutting, and watering using agricultural techniques with his hands. Physical activity when working also helps to improve blood circulation throughout the body and helps the brain's cognitive functions. To make this devotional a reality, perhaps you can start a home garden in your backyard or in pots. You could also help establish a garden space for your neighbor or start that new opportunity that you've been thinking about, but before doing all of this, consult God first. This is the type of honest living God required of us. Men should allow themselves to be content in whatever the Lord has provided for them and their family, and not compromise their moral integrity and values for the pleasures of betterment. Men should learn how to prepare healthy meals for themselves and their families. Men should always learn to be satisfied and thankful for all the blessings that God has given them. Men are supposed to be God’s servants on earth to help build better societies, but most importantly, to prepare their families and others for eternity.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
1 Timothy 6:6 KJV
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10 KJV
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
2 Timothy 2:3 KJV
LESSON 4: Men must only be MARRIED AND DEDICATED to one woman.
“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Genesis 2:20-23 KJV
God made a woman for Adam himself. If one desires to have a partner, God will prepare that spouse for Him if he asks and it’s according to God’s will. Through the creation story, we see that God made all things good except for the loneliness of man. God stepped in and allowed a woman to be provided for Adam. God made a specific woman, Eve, for Adam in the creation story. God is very intentional when it comes to relationships, and through prayer, men must ask God for direction when seeking a wife. Men must understand that marriage is a sacred relationship between man and woman, but most importantly, God. God held his first wedding in the Garden of Eden. Today, marriage is not even classified as being holy and sacred in this world, but it is used as a method of business for citizenship and other unscriptural and unspiritual means. These things reject the very concept of marriage that God created. We ought to visit God's blueprint to understand that for a marriage to be successful, both parties are called to be faithful and dedicated to each other. However, most times our marriages fail today because men allow selfishness to prevail over their hearts, and they fail to be the representative of God in their homes. When men walk with God, they become more selfless. Men tend to fall to the desires of the flesh and follow their appetite into having sexual affairs, and reject the covenant that he made with his wife and God. This is the indulgence of sin, which today damages the very institution of marriage and also damages the minds of children when they only see single-parent structures within the homes. Men should not abuse, cheat, and lie to the help that God made for them. Men must be an example of righteousness, understanding that the works of the flesh lead to the destruction of their lives and death. Men should aim to be a supportive and dedicated husband to their wife and also love and care for their family. This not only builds a better home for the family but also prepares our characters for the life to come.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
Ephesians 5:25 KJV
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
Hebrews 13:4 KJV
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 KJV
LESSON 5: Men, unlearn the ways of the world and reject satan influences.
The influence of satan constantly tries to destroy the mind of the righteous. Through many media, we see how the devil and his agents persistently work to destroy the righteous to keep and bring them into bondage. The truth is that to every evil influence, Satan is working full-time to deceive the people of God; WE CANNOT BE PART-TIME CHRISTIANS. In these last days, scripture reminds us that men will turn from the truth and follow false doctrines.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
1 Timothy 4:1 KJV
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
The outlines below represent most of the influences that the devil uses to deceive the world, particularly men, along with bible references.
- Appetite - “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8 KJV
Truth: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22, 24-25 KJV
- Media (Films/Movies, Music, AI, Advertisements, News Media, Secular Books) - “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 KJV
Truth: “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.”
Deuteronomy 5:6-7, 33 KJV
“Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.”
Joshua 23:11 KJV
- Money - “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10 KJV
Truth: “For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.”
Ecclesiastes 7:12 KJV
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24 KJV
- Power - “All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months, he walked into the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:” Daniel 4:28-34 KJV
Truth: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; And his enemies shall lick the dust.”
Psalm 72:8-9 KJV
“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Luke 14:11 KJV
- Pride - “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:13-15 KJV
Truth: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
James 4:10 KJV
- Sex - “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:19-25 KJV
Truth: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
Hebrews 13:4 KJV
“I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”
1 Corinthians 7:8-11 KJV
The devil attacks these important institutions created by God:
Your Faith in God
Your Family/Marriage
Our aim as good soldiers for Jesus Christ is to correct, reproof, and guide others in instructions of righteousness, that Christ will be the foundation to their lives and future.
The scripture states that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
Quotation from Ellen G. White
It is Satan's work to discourage the soul; it is Christ’s work to inspire with faith and hope. ~ Desires of Ages, pg. 24
Every true Christian will have control of his appetites and passions. Unless he is free for the bondage of appetite, he cannot be a true, obedient servant of Christ. The indulgence of appetite and passions blunts the effect of truth upon the heart. ~ Counsels on Diet and Foods, pg. 427.
with the word of God, men can be the difference that this world needs.
Be apart of this wonderful experience as we live the truth from the word of God to become better men for our families but most importantly for God.
