Being a Man of God

Text: 1 Timothy 6:11-12

Thesis: To learn how to be a man of God.

Introduction:

(1)    “Man of God”

(a)    In the OT, this term was reserved for leaders of Israel.

(b)    In the NT, this term refers to mature Christians (cf. 2 Tim. 3:17).

(2)    Let us look at 3 things needed to become a man of God:

Discussion:

I.                   Flee

A.    ‘Flee’ (Gr. feuge) is in the present active imperative, “which for some indicates that there is continuing action involved; it is not enough to flee from these things once, but to flee from them constantly, that is, over and over again” (UBS Handbook Series).

B.     What do we flee?

1.      In the context (vv. 3-10), Paul is discussing error and greed.

2.      However, this broadly applies to all sins and stumbling blocks.

II.                Follow

A.    ‘Pursue’ (Gr. dioke) – “to seek eagerly” (Wuest 96)

1.      This word is used in Philippians 3:14 to represent an athlete pursuing the goal.

2.      Here, the man of God is to pursue various traits that “represents a must

      to insure Timothy’s effectiveness in his ministry” (Lea and Griffin 171).

3.      “One does not overcome the desire for things unless one’s heart is set on a

      higher goal” (Thompson 80).

4.      Basically, the man of God seeks a heart like Jesus.

B.  What does this heart look like?

- A heart of righteousness –

1.      We are to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6).

2.      Righteousness is “in itself the standard which a judge is required to uphold, and which it must be his aim constantly to restore” (Brown 3:354).

- A heart of godliness –

1.      Godliness is a “reverential attitude and lifestyle” (Moss 122).

2.      This reverence “profoundly alters behavior” (Lea and Griffin 172).

- A heart of faith –

1.      Here, faith means our personal trust in God.

2.      Biblical faith is an active faith (cf. James 2:17).

- A heart of love –

1.      We are to love God and our neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40).

2.      We are nothing without love (1 Cor. 13:1ff.).

- A heart of endurance –

1.      Endurance is the “staying power for a different task” (Lea and Griffin 172).

2.      We are to keep going always (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10).

- A heart of gentleness –

1.      This is “consideration for others and a willingness to waive an undoubted right” (Mounce 354).

2.      Endurance has more to do with patience in difficult circumstances while gentleness has more to do with patience with difficult people (Stott 155).

III.             Fight

A.    ‘Fight’ (Gr. agonizou) – an allusion to the Grecian games

1.      It is used generally in reference “to any struggle, outward or inward”

      (Vincent’s).

2.      Here, it refers to a battle “against Satan, the world, and the flesh” (JFB).

B.     Lay hold (Gr. epilabou) on eternal life – I.e., keep your prize ever before you and do not stop until you attain that prize.

Conclusion:

(1)   Are you a man of God?

(2)   If not, will you start to become one today?