Editor’s Note: For the remainder of the year, the men in our program across our prison units will study Kingdom Man by Tony Evans in their small groups. Each week, Memorial Unit team leader Michael Koch will share insights from that journey, giving you a window into what the men are learning and discussing, beginning with the book’s powerful opening chapter.
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We recently began studying Kingdom Man by Tony Evans in our Memorial Unit small groups. Over the years, we’ve found this book resonates deeply with the men in white.
In Tony Evan’s amazing book, “Kingdom Man” he says a kingdom man is a man who, when his feet hit the floor each morning, Satan says, “Oh crap, he’s up!” Cute opening line, but just what or who is this Kingdom Man Dr. Evans speaks of?
We are all kingdom men. We have our work kingdoms, our family kingdoms, our porn kingdoms, our alcohol kingdoms, and especially our “my kingdoms” the kingdom of me. We are the lords of our lives because that’s what men do. Or is it?
A Kingdom man is different. He is a man who puts God first in EVERY area of His life. More than that, he makes God the LORD of all areas of his life. And all means all!
Interesting. So how do you become a Kingdom man? Kingdom men aren’t born, but they are built. How? Well, you start with the raw materials God already created. Man. What kind? Any kind. Black, white, brown or purple. Tall, short, fat, thin. Smart, dumb, introvert or extrovert. It’s where God started in the beginning so that’s the best place to start building a Kingdom Man.
Next you use the nails that were driven into Jesus Christ’s wrists and ankles to hold Him to the cross. You have to go here because Jesus had to go there. Humbly, willingly, sacrificially. Can you hear them?
Next you cover him with the blood that Jesus bled as He hung there on that cross. A Kingdom man is at the foot of the cross as Jesus’ blood flows over him. His blood washes him clean, making him as white as snow before God.
Now this nailed-together, bled-all-over man is ready for the last step. He must submit all of his life to the lordship of Christ. Once again, all means ALL. Daily. He must crawl up on that cross daily and die to himself so he can truly live for Him.
For the next 15 weeks, the mighty men of the Memorial Unit will be walking through Tony’s book. Chapter by chapter, page by page. Each week they will receive another nail or get painted with a bit more blood. Touch up blood if you will.
As they are transformed from men with a kingdom into men of THE KINGDOM, their lives will change. Their families will change. Their relationships will change.
So, pray for them and pray for us. Right after the enemy says, “Oh crap, they’re up!” he will start doing everything he can to make them lie back down, to believe the world and believe the lies in their heads. Kingdom men get knocked down but they get up. Again and again and again. They get called out of their earthly tombs of lust, greed, selfishness, idolatry, pride and, yes, a biggie, comfort.
Jesus stands at the mouth of the tomb and yells, “Come out, Kingdom man, come out! Take off those grave clothes because you’re alive in Christ!”