God's Man

Man of God. Only used in the NT here. But in the OT it is used often.

Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, David, Hanan

4 Marks of a Man of God

A Man of God is a man...

1. On the Run from Sin

a man on the run from sin

1 Timothy 6:11 NASB95

11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

φεύγω — Flee (Fugitive) - Imperative. You must flee! Active voice. You must flee continually!

Flee

2 Timothy 2:22 NASB95

22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

John Flavel, the Puritan writer: “It is easier to cry against a thousand sins in others than to mortify one sin in ourselves.”

2. On the Run for God

a man on the run for God

1 Timothy 6:11 NASB95

11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

Pursue — also and active imperative. You must continually chase after these things.

A. Righteousness

Just. Right. Do the right things. Behavior

When you see someone drop money from their wallet or purse, what do you do? The right thing.

B. Godliness

Reverence to God. Piety. This is the attitude in which we do righteous things.

C. Faith

Trust or belief. Used in business as credit.

D. Love

Love of God to man and the love of man for God.

E. Perseverance

Remaining behind. Patient endurance.

F. Gentleness

Strength under control with an attitude of humility.

Compare this to the false teachers that Paul has mentioned.

1 Timothy 1:3–7 NASB95

3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

1 Timothy 4:1–4 NASB95

1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;

1 Timothy 6:3–10 NASB95

3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

3. In the Fight

a man in the noble fight

1 Timothy 6:12 NASB95

12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Fight — agonize. Imperative, middle voice

faith — the body of the truth of God’s words, the Bible.

When you make a stand on the Bible you will be maligned, misunderstood, ridiculed, looked down upon, and mocked.

4. Holding On

a man holding on to eternal life

1 Timothy 6:12 NASB95

12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Take hold — Aorist, not continuous. Once you have done this it sticks with you. Middle voice which makes it personal. This is tenacious, proactive, and aggressive.

Eternal life — view you life with an eternal perspective. Fully embrace that you will endure hardship and persecution as a result of you faith.

We don’t live our lives to have people like us, but to proclaim the truth with eternity in view. Our one goal is to please our Lord who saved us and we will endure all manner of inconvenience and self denial to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant enter into the joy of my rest.”

Maybe Timothy was getting tired. Maybe he was going to give up with church at Ephesus because it was too hard.

Maybe you too get tired of having to defend the God and Bible.Why does my life always have to be a battle? Why does it seems like a losing Battle? Because God’s man (woman) has an enemy who is out to destroy and devour you.