Godly Advice for Men of God

Introduction

To Pastor Kyles and Minister Blackmon, to Sister Kyles and the First Holiness Church of the Living God, I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to be asked to speak at your annual men’s day program.

As with any message it begins with a question. Lord, what will you say to them through me? Here I am a willing vessel seeking to be filled with your wisdom. As always God has a way of opening our hearts to receive what he has to give. That is if we seek Him.

I was told that your theme this year is “Keeping the Connection” and your scripture verse is Psalms 133:1.

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! KJV

Yes it is good and pleasant when we can dwell together in unity. Someone found the answer, because our dwelling together in unity is dependent upon our connection to Jesus. If you are connected to anything else, your unity will be short lived.

I really mediated on what I could share with you today and in the end it was just to give some Godly Advice to some Men of God. That’s what Paul did for Timothy when he left him Ephesus to provide leadership for the church.

I felt it was befitting for this occasion because God has called all men to a position of Leadership. Men are to provide leadership in the home and in the church and if we are to fulfill our role we must do so in a Godly manner.

Although our subject is “Godly advice to the Men of God!” it does not exclude the women of God. Every man of God needs a good woman of God to walk beside him to be a helpmeet. So this advice is also good for women of God.

In First Timothy Six the advice God gave to Paul to give to
Timothy as a man of God referred to vices, virtues and victories.

When we look at these scriptures the first thing we notice:

First The Vices we are to Flee

Paul in this chapter is dealing with our duties as servants and teachers.

1 Timothy 6:1-4

6 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, KJV

The first vice we are to flee is Pride or Conceitedness.

Pride fills us with a sense of self-importance and we have problems working with other. Pride according to scripture causes envy, strife and railing. Pride does not promote unity in the body. Pride keeps the body disconnected. It is pride that causes some to reject the teaching of scriptures and make up their own rules. Note the results of pride.

1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. KJV

Pride can lead to a corrupt mind and they may be successful by the world standards they think they are right; but not God’s instruction, “…from such withdraw thyself.” We are to flee pride.

Secondly, we are to flee a discontented Spirit.

1 Timothy 6:6-8

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. KJV

For so many of us, we spend more time complaining about what we don’t have than thinking God for what we do have. God has blesses us with a home; but we can’t enjoy it because we want a bigger home. God blesses us with a job; but we are not satisfied because of the hours. No matter how must God has bless us we are not satisfied.

What God reminds us of is that we have more now than we had when we came into the world and when we leave.

1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. KJV

When we complain about what we don’t have we dishonor God.

1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. KJV

We need to flee a discontented Spirit.

Thirdly, we need to flee Foolish and hurtful lusts.

1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. KJV

If there is anything to learn from watching, Entertainment Tonight is that having money doesn’t make you any smarter. If anything it makes you foolish. Looking at some of the things they do and say you wonder what planet they’re living on. Many so-called movie stars are traveling down a road to destruction and if we are not careful we will be following right behind them.

Our uncontrolled passion and desires for more things, bigger houses, bigger cars, bigger jobs all which does not satisfy will lead us down a path which will lead to destruction.

We are to flee foolish and hurtful lusts.

Lastly, we are to flee the Love of Money.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. KJV

The love of money can cause you to turn from trusting in God to trusting in the money. Many followers of Jesus were seduced by money and left their faith. There are many popular singers who were once in the church singing for the Lord that is now singing for the World. As men and women of God we need to be careful.

We need to flee Pride, we need to flee a Discontented Spirit, we need to flee Foolish and Hurtful Lusts and we need to flee the Love of Money.

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. KJV

First, Paul shared the vices we are to flee then he gives us:

Secondly The Virtues we are to Follow

First We are to follow after Righteousness.

We must note we are not talking about the righteousness of man but the righteousness of God.

Romans 3:22-26

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. KJV

It’s the righteousness that comes through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Secondly We are to follow after Godliness

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. KJV

Godliness is not something that just going to happen. We must conscientiously lay aside corruption and incorruption takes its place in our lives.

Thirdly We are to follow after Faith.

This is a call to believe in and be faithful to Jesus. Our faith in God and faithfulness to God are the most important thing in the world.

We are told:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. KJV

And

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. KJV

Not only are we to follow after Faith; we are also:

Fourth We are to follow after Love

One thing we have learned is if we can conquer divine love, we will conquer everything else. Note the characteristic of Love:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, 5 Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 6 Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 7 Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best,

Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

When we follow after Divine Love, we will find patience and meekness. Paul tells us to:

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. KJV

Paul tells us that when we flee Pride, when we flee a Discontented Spirit, when we flee Foolish and Hurtful Lusts and when we flee the Love of Money. Then spend our live following after Righteousness, following after Godliness, following after Faith and following after Love. We will find Victory.

Paul tells Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:12-14

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

KJV

When we fight the good fight of faith we will lay hold to eternal life. When we fight the good fight of faith we will advance the Kingdom of God because there will be many who will witness our walk. When we fight the good fight of faith, we will be without spot and unrebukable when Jesus returns. When you fight the good fight of faith you will be connected and walking in unity. Men when you fight the good fight of faith you will be the Leader in your home and your church that God has ordained you to be.

When you fight the good fight of faith, we will truly be able to say:

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! KJV

You will state connected to one another. Jesus fought the good fight of faith.