"THE CHARACTER OF A MAN OF GOD PART I"

What does your character tell people?

At your job

with your spouse

with your kids

when your at the grocery store

when you get a sales call

when someone doesn’t understand what you are saying.

when you don’t like something at church

Proposition - I invite you to open the most precious book in the world, and turn to 1 Timothy chapter 6. This morning we are embarking on a 2 to 3 week study where we are going to learn about the character of the man of God. We are going to see the first 2 character traits today.

Interrogative question - What does your character say about what you say that you believe?

outline -

The Man of God flee’s the ways of the World - vs. 11a

The Man of God Follow’s the ways of God - vs. 11b

The Man of God Stays in the fight - vs. 12a

The Man of God remains faithful - vs.12b

The man of God stays focused - vs. 13-16

In the first two verses we see four imperative commands -

vs. 11 -

Flee From…

Pursue…

Righteousness

Godliness

Faith

Love

Perseverance

Gentleness

vs. 12

Fight…

Take hold of...

1 Timothy 6:11 NASB95

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

What would people call you? Those who know you really well -

“man of God” - (theos) - noun, genitive, singular, masculine - possessive genitive - God

Sense: man of God - an appointed leader of God’s people; probably one whose life and beliefs are a testimony to the influence of God in his life.

The Man of God flee’s the ways of the World - vs. 11a

“flee from” - (pheugo) - verb, present, active, imperative, second person, singular - finite verb - flee; escape -

Sense: to flee - to run or move away quickly, so as to escape

1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB95)

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

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.

Genesis 39:6–16 (NASB95)

6 So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. 9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”

10 As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. 11 Now it happened one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside. 12 She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside.

13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to make sport of us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I screamed.

15 “When he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.” 16 So she left his garment beside her until his master came home.

The question that we must ask is “what things is Timothy to flee from?” - Think about the previous verses for a minute

Flee -

False Doctrine - vs. 3-5

Love of Money - vs. 10

Pursue -

Contentment - vs. 6, 8

The Man of God Follow’s the ways of God - vs. 11b

“Purse” - (diako) - verb, present, active, imperative, second person, singular - finite verb - pursue; persecute -

Sense: to pursue (activity) - to carry out or participate in an activity.

Acts 26:11 (NASB95)

11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

Romans 9:30–31 (NASB95)

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

Romans 14:19 (NASB95)

19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB95)

1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB95)

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

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.

Hebrews 12:14 (NASB95)

14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

1 Peter 3:11 (NASB95)

11 “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it.

“Righteousness” - (dikaiosyne) - noun, accusative, singular, feminine - direct object - righteousness

Sense: righteousness - adherence to what is required according to a standard; for example, a moral standard, though not always.

1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB95)

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

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.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB95)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

Titus 3:5 (NASB95)

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

“godliness” - (eusebeia) - noun, accusative, singular, feminine - direct object - piety; godliness

Sense: piety - the devout practice for; and appropriate beliefs about God.

1 Timothy 2:2 (NASB95)

2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 3:16 (NASB95)

16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 4:7–8 (NASB95)

7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

1 Timothy 6:3 (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,

1 Timothy 6:5–6 (NASB95)

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.

1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB95)

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

2 Timothy 3:5 (NASB95)

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Titus 1:1 (NASB95)

1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2 Peter 1:3 (NASB95)

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

2 Peter 1:6 (NASB95)

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

2 Peter 1:7 (NASB95)

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 3:11 (NASB95)

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

“faith” - (pistis) - noun, accusative, singular, feminine - direct object - faith

Sense: faithfulness - the quality of being faithful

The word “faith” is used the following ways in 1 Timothy -

Faith - “trust in the gospel” - 8 times

1 Timothy 1:4–5 (NASB95)

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.

1 Timothy 1:19 (NASB95)

19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

1 Timothy 2:15 (NASB95)

15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

1 Timothy 3:13 (NASB95)

13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:1 (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,

1 Timothy 4:12 (NASB95)

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Faith - “gospel content” - 7 times

1 Timothy 1:2 (NASB95)

2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 2:7 (NASB95)

7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

1 Timothy 3:9 (NASB95)

9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 4:6 (NASB95)

6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB95)

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 6:10 (NASB95)

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.

1 Timothy 6:21 (NASB95)

21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.

Faith - “trust” - 3 times

1 Timothy 1:14 (NASB95)

14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:13 (NASB95)

13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

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.

Faith - “faithfulness” - 1 time

1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB95)

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

Faith - “oath” - 1 time

1 Timothy 5:12 (NASB95)

12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.

“love” - (agape) - noun, accusative, singular, feminine - direct object - love

Sense: love (affection) - a strong positive emotion of regard and affection.

It is used 5 times in the book of 1 Timothy -

1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB95)

5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:14 (NASB95)

14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:15 (NASB95)

15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NASB95)

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

“perseverance” - (hypomone) - noun, accusative, singular, feminine - direct object - steadfastness

Sense: steadfast endurance - the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary

Luke 8:15 (NASB95)

15 “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Romans 5:3–4 (NASB95)

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

Romans 8:25 (NASB95)

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Romans 15:4 (NASB95)

4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:5 (NASB95)

5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

2 Thessalonians 1:4 (NASB95)

4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

2 Timothy 3:10 (NASB95)

10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,

Titus 2:2 (NASB95)

2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

“gentleness” - (praupathia) - noun, accusative, singular, feminine - direct object - gentleness

Sense: gentleness - acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered.

This is the only time that this exact meaning is used in all of Scripture -

SO WHAT?

Believer -

What does your character say about what you say that you believe?

Identify particular areas that you need to change in order to live out biblical character -

Unbeliever - come to realize the following -

God is REAL!

Death is GUARANTEED!

Christ is the REMEDY!