Man of God

The Man of God

Genesis 1:26–27 “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Pic of Dad

Literally made in my father’s image.

Ran from it didn’t like being told I looked like someone else, especially my dad.

Spent a large portion of my life making sure I was different.

I can’t say exactly when but my view began to shift.

The one I want to be so different from is a good example of who I WANT to be

He stood by me when he shouldn’t have

He taught me that hard work means something

He taught me kindness to others

He taught me that no matter what God comes first.

I Didn’t Want to Look Like Him

Through this journey of my life I realized my relationship with my earthly father also reflected my Heavenly Father\

I wanted distance

I didn’t want to follow His rules.

I didn’t want to be associated

I didn’t want to LOOK like Him

But my Heavenly Father and earthly father both waited for me until the prodigal came home.

How To Be A Man

When I finally woke up I realized my Father’s had a lot to teach me about being not just a man but a man of God

And later what it was to be a father

Here is the biggest revelation I found........The words of a Godly man and father mimic the words of our Heavenly Father.

So today we are going to look at what I call the 3 phases of manhood.

Being a man

Being a Husband

Being a Father

1 Timothy 6:9–12 “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

All of these are so important but I’m going to pull three today

Godliness

GODLINESS - The practice of conforming to the law and wishes of God.

2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Do as I say not as I do........How hard is that?

Before I tell you how to be a man of God I better BE a man of God.

Practice what you preach!

Gentleness

GENTLENESS - Free from harshness or violence

Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

This is hard for me. I have a soft heart for girls. I definitely get that from my dad.

Being gentle to my daughters is TOO easy. In fact I go a bit too far with gentleness to you can walk over me-ness.

What we especially as men have to learn is gentle is not weak.

Carrying a 200lb mirror requires strength, but it also requires gentleness.

Actually with that example I would argue you can not be gentle without strength

Your wife and your children need you to be the strength in the home, but they also need your gentleness.

Men are to stand watch against the wolves of this world with the understanding that the sheep are in their home.

Gentleness requires the ability to be dangerous.

It Gentleness is not a trait if it is the only option.

We mistake these days with wanting weak men and call them gentle. Toxic masculinity

BULL!

Endurance

Finally - ENDURANCE - The ability to withstand hardship or adversity.

Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

The true calling of a man is to endure.

Special Forces selection in my opinion asks only one question

but they ask it over and over and in such creative ways.

Will you endure?

God is asking the same question......

Will you endure?

How awesome would it be if every time we pray we get a response?

It’s happened I’ve seen it.

But I’ve also seen that father praying over his sick child for hours, days, weeks, and even years.

I’ve seen that husband crying out saying God I do not have the means to take care of my family without you.

I’ve been the man saying God I am not enough.

And sometimes we get an answer that seems to be the worst answer ever...........endure.

Keep going. I am not going to fix it right now, but you need to keep moving.

God allowed Job’s family to be destroyed, his livestock which was his wealth to be removed. God even allowed Job’s health to be attacked.

This to a man that was described as having no faults according to GOD!

And while he was not perfect in his response, Job endured. He never cursed God. He may have cursed the day of his own birth, but his pleas were always to his God. And he endured.

And God moved.....…He restored his health. Gave him more livestock and riches than he could have ever gained before, and even blessed him with children to the point of having daughters who were known across the land for their beauty.

But none of that would have come had he quit.

The Charge

This I truly believe

To be a good father you must first be a good husband

To be a good husband you must first be a good man.

Men, we have a responsibility and a charge.

We are first and foremost to be godly men. Whether we are married, have children, or anything, seek ye first the kingdom of God.......

We are to be gentle, but remember gentleness requires strength or else it IS just weakness.

And we must endure!

When our wives want us to just curse God and die we endure.

When our children take their inheritance and run away to squander it we wait with open arms for them.

When satan comes after our home, our finances, our health, and we have done all we can do...… we stand!

End

I heard this some time ago but it really changed my outlook.

May not know I’m a step-father. 3 of my kids have a biological father.

I can’t say this for certain because honestly I treat all of my children as my own and so I like to think I treat them well.

But I would be willing to bet if I were abusive to them. If I were hurtful to them, he would have some things to say or do about that.

My wife and her father had a tough relationship, but I would guess that before he went to meet his Savior had I hurt his daughter he would have something to say about that. And he might have found some people to do something about that.

I say all of that to say this. No matter if you are a husband, father, step-father, god-father or any other combination.....

Your wife had a Father long before you even thought of proposing. Before you even knew her name.

Your children had Abba long before you were picking out baby clothes.

Your wife and children were loved by perfect love long before you.

And with that knowledge comes the expectation that you will treat them just as their Heavenly Father does.

1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

Proverbs 22:6 “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Treat your people as if you are taking care of God’s children.....because you are!