A Faithful Man (2)

I have really been desiring to encourage the men in this series, but honestly this is a truth for all of us.

Are we faithful? Are we true? Can we be depended upon?

We can trick ourselves into thinking we’re faithful when that’s not the case.

Lord, Please help me to not think I’m something that I’m not.

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth

Are you someone that can be depended upon.

Lord, I have a great concern that we be eternally minded that we might be faithful.

Help the single men, the married men - to be faithful

Ask yourself serious questions

the psalmist said - search me and see if there be any wicked way in me

Ask others

ask them their honest opinion and dont be critical of them

Learn to follow

are you willing to follow before you lead

children must learn to obey - they are disqualified when they dont follow

follow the Holy Spirit

Develop Spiritual Discipline

“A man without spiritual discipline to reign his being will be taken captive.”

Proverbs 16:32 KJV 1900

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Proverbs 25:28 KJV 1900

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

If there is no spiritual character developed anything will be able to control you.

We must learn to control ourselves before we can lead others.

We need to stop operating under the flesh to have the power of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 KJV 1900

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We need to run to attain

We have weights that can weigh us down

Temperate in all things - that means being spirit controlled

In all things

It’s not that we ran and fell - its that we fell and didn't get up

Some here have been so hurt - you have been through

Faithful men aren't those who don’t go through the fire - they go through the fire, and trust the Lord they come out of the fire

Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever

Some think that they can conquer the world - they can change the world; but not conquering themselves or making the necessary changes in themselves - they fool themselves.

The wise man conquers himself

Spiritual discipline is doing what is right even if no other human being knows

It is doing what is right when no one else is watching

Spiritual discipline is doing what is right even if it causes you to be alone

Doing what is right even if there is no platform

Whether you are in the spotlight or not doesnt matter

4. Develop Patience and Mercy

There is no such thing as instant growth

No such thing as instant victory

People have baggage

People have problems

It will take you to develop with God’s help to help them

There are people with different convictions

Standards

Philosophies

Backgrounds

Positions

Be patient - that’s a character trait of faithfulness

My children are all different

be patient

We are so controlling as people

People have gotten mad at me because I didnt get mad at another person

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV 1900

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Some may think youre a compromiser if youre patient and show mercy

you will reap what you sow

you will want mercy

Matthew 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Be thou and example unto the believers

1 Timothy 3:1–3 KJV 1900

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

There will be people that irritate you - they are there to build you

James 3:14–18 KJV 1900

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

God is not the author of confusion

Wicked works of the devil

Peacable - I want you to have peace near me

gentle - Kind

easy - approachable

As faithful leaders, our goal is not to cross the finish line first, but to take as many people with us across the finish line.

Faithful men take their family along with them.

Take your family with you.

Are you connected to your family spiritually?

Are you a faithful man taking others with you across the finish line?

5. Faithful Men Seek Accountability

People who lead themselves know they cant trust themselves

they understand they have blind spots

Power deceives - leadership is seductive

enticement, temptation lurk in the shadows of leadership

People that had a lot of charisma, a lot of strength have fallen because of a lack of accountability

To run from accountability is dangerous.

When people are young, they think they have everything under control

have children

children grow

Can others critique you?

My wife is such a blessing

Without accountability you’re lost

you are not your own measure of what’s right

We dont like accountibiilyt because we dont like what others will find

Luke 16:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

You will give an account

it is appointed unto men once to die

Wouldnt it be good to be accountable now?

time, talent, treasure

1 Corinthians 3:11–13 KJV 1900

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

What sort it is - your work will be checked

After the fire what is left will be rewarded

everything in the flesh will be burned

Romans 14:12 KJV 1900

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Faithful Men Soberly Realize They Are Nothing But For The Grace Of God

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Romans 12:3 KJV 1900

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The smallest crowd you will ever lead is you, but that crowd is the most important.