Monday, August 3, 2009

A Man of God

I had the pleasure of sharing this past Saturday with the Faith Chapel men's group on being "A Man of God". There were about 100 of us who gathered for a great breakfast and fellowship. I love being in front of smaller groups, and get especially charged when speaking to men.

"Man of God" is an expression that continues to amaze me about Godly men in the Bible. They would show up and people would say, "There is the man of God." What a wonderful reminder of how our lives are to reflect the image of our Maker. So when people see us they know and feel that they have been in His presence.

2 Tim. 3:1-5 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

We know first hand the perils of living a godless life. The results are all around us. There is something in us that intrinsically knows right from wrong. We have to make living a Godly life a priority.

Priorities of Godly Living

1. God has set apart the Godly for Himself- Ps. 4:3

2. God listens when the Godly pray- John 9:31

3. Godly men mourn when injustice is executed - Acts 8:2

4. Godly sorrow brings repentance- 2 Cor. 7:10,11

5. Godliness provides present and future blessing- 1 Tim. 4:8

6. Godliness produces contentment- 1 Tim. 6:6; 11

Plan for a Godly Life

A Godly life must be pursued

1 Tim 6:11 “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

Godliness is conformity to the character of God, and obedience to His will. How committed are you because of your love for God to becoming a godly person? What areas of your life are needing attention in your pursuit of God?

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