The only way REAL men are powerful is because they are clear about what really matters. It is self-control and being sound in faith that make them powerful. Please notice that does not say anything about position, muscles, or activities. What controls his mind is the difference maker.

Before we move into this topic, it is important to talk about the previous podcast (Easy to Respect). If you are a REAL man, you are easy to respect, but you are not focused on being respected. Instead, you focus on being respectable. That means you are not trying to get people to respect you—that's a fickle and dangerous game to play. You will end up being controlled by other people's values in order to gain their respect. Worse, the game's rules are ambiguous and arbitrary because what is respected today may not be tomorrow.

Additionally, if you want to focus on the things of the world that demonstrate power, you will be weak and controlled by the things of the world. No REAL man is controlled by anything but God. A REAL man is powerful when his mind focuses on God and His Word. That is not powerful in the world’s definition but in God’s.

Clear Minded (Sober)

Real men are powerful because they are clear about what really matters. It is always great to be reminded about what God sees as valuable. God’s lists are non-material items that designate what is valuable to Him. Nothing in the Titus 2 list is material, and yet most men and women tend to focus on material things as a measure of value.

Are you a clear-minded man with godly priorities? Most importantly, are you clear about the Fundamental Decision (trust God or trust something other than God), the PROBLEM, and the SOLUTION in relationships, forgiveness, confession, and freedom?

A clear mind implies you are wise in your decision-making and careful when making judgments. You use your God-given talents, gifts, time, money, and energy unsparingly for God, and your motto for life is clear and simple: “Trust and please God.”

The only way for any man, or person, to be clear-minded is to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11). At the core of clear thinking is thinking about others first, just like Jesus. REAL men are willing to serve others and not require others to serve them.

Self-Controlled (Temperate)

Self-control is a key message for both men and women. A form of the word is used for each group mentioned in this Titus 2 passage. That makes sense because God is interested in the Holy Spirit controlling you – not your flesh.

Temperance is when you have your passions under control, and control of self only happens if you walk with the Lord. Now remember, where do you get the power to have self-control or control of self?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

Self-control is from the Holy Spirit

There is a limited amount of self-control available in your own energy, but an inexhaustible supply is available as you walk with the Spirit. Research in books like Willpower by Roy Baumeister shows how your self-control is limited and, typically when used in one area of your life, does not show up in other areas.

REAL men rely on the Spirit of God for victory. Do not underestimate the importance of that daily time of reading God’s Word and praying. Without depending on Jesus' life in you, control of self is limited!

When temperate or self-controlled, you are careful and wise (not careless or foolish) with your words and behavior. Every communication, whether important or mundane, is monitored by the Holy Spirit. Instead of conforming to the world, you are being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ as you renew your mind with Scripture (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5).

Self-controlled men actively engage in the battle for the mind because they know correct thinking is the key to life. Control and discipline in the thought life, energized by the Holy Spirit, win the battles.

Sound in Faith

Faith is the key to whether your life will be founded on the perfection of God or on something else. Your faith is the initial step in your transformation process, as shown in 2 Peter 1:5-7. Without sound and healthy confidence and trust in the power and perfection of your Lord Jesus Christ, you WILL fail!

Faith is provided to us as a divine allotment (2 Peter 1:1), and every believer has the same allotment as the Apostles (2 Peter 1:1). The difference between each individual believer’s faith is not the amount but how their faith is exercised. Consider the muscles in a man’s body. Each man has the same number of muscles but is not equally strong. Why the difference? The amount of exercise of the muscles.

Your faith is similar. If you are immersed in the Scriptures, have a daily walk with God your Father, and continue to develop an intimate knowledge of Jesus your Lord, then your faith is becoming stronger.

The Object of Your Faith Is CRITICAL

Faith is only as valid as the object on which it focuses. If you have faith in yourself, that is a flimsy faith based on a fickle, variable, and fallible object. However, if it is based on what God tells you in His Word, it will be firm and immovable. Know what you believe and why. Know who you believe! Most importantly, know your PERFECT Father God and the power of Jesus' name!

A right faith in God’s Word encourages both love and endurance.

Even when I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart. – Anonymous