Man of God Top 10 – #5 Prayerful

A man of God is prayerful.

I have mentioned it a few times now, prayer.  Ephesians 6:18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tell us to pray about everything, all the time, in all situations (heck, Jonah prayed while inside a fish!).  It doesn’t matter that you don’t have all the fancy lingo, or that you don’t pray in a specific format; there are no rules!  Just pray.

Jesus did give us some guidelines for our prayer in Mathew 6:5-13.  These are not rules about how and what to pray but rather he is showing us what the true purpose of prayer is.  He says not to pray to be seen by men (6:5).  The purpose of prayer is not to prove that you are a christian or to exalt yourself as a prayerful man.  Prayer is to talk to God.  To worship God.  To thank God for all that he has done for you and to ask for guidance and help in your life.  Jesus tell us to pray in secret (6:6) so that it is just between you and God, your family and God, or a body of worshippers and God.  Prayer is not to be a public spectacle.

And don’t think that a prayer has to be drawn out and long to be good – no babbling! (6:7)  The best prayer is the one that is from the heart.  It could be as simple as “Thank you God!”.  I often get caught in the thought that what I have to say to God is not important enough to bother him with.  Wrong!  God wants to hear our prayers.  Jesus died so that we would be able to have that direct line of communication with God.  If you don’t know what to pray just start talking to God.  Remember, this whole christian “thing” is about a relationship with God.  When you are in a relationship with someone you talk to them right?

Pray with your families.  Husbands, pray with your wives.  One of the best ways to ensure a lasting and strong marriage is to pray together.  Fathers, pray with your kids.  What better way to show them that God is an integral part of your family’s life than to pray all the time and about all things.

Men of God are the spiritual leaders of the family.  Lead in prayer!

Man of God Top 10 – #6 Faithful

Faithful: steadfast in affliction or allegiance; firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.

Men of God are faithful.  First and foremost, faithful to God.  We should be steadfast in our allegiance to God.  God is faithful to us, no matter what, even though we don’t deserve it.  How much more does God deserve our faithfulness.

Men of God are faithful in prayer.  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12  We should be firm in our daily prayers.  Pray for everything, don’t ask for everything, pray.  When you have a decision to make, pray.  When you are feeling down, sick, stagnant; pray.  When you are driving, eating, or doing anything that doesn’t require your full attention; pray.  “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers.” Ephesians 6:18  “Pray continually” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Men of God are faithful to their wives and families.  God has made you the head of your family, act like it.  Be steadfast in you allegiance to your family and firm in observance of your duty to them.   Be faithful to your wives, don’t go looking for someone else and don’t let problems go unresolved, talk (I know that is hard for some of us guys, but just do it!).  Be faithful to your children.  They need a father who is strong, who will show them the way to live.

Be faithful out there men.  Don’t get distracted by something else that is easy or appealing, but stay strong and faithful to following God, praying in all things, and to your family.

The Problem with Christians Today.

My wife read a passage to me last night from the book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (the book is supposed to be really good, the movie just so-so).  The passage summed up what is basically wrong with Christians today.  It said:

“I want to have a lasting experience of God…Sometimes I feel like I understand the divinity of this world, but then I lose it because I get distracted by my petty desires and fears.  I want to be with God all the time.  But I don’t want to be a monk, or totally give up worldly pleasures.  I guess what I want to learn is how to live in this world and enjoy its delights, but also devote myself to God.”

That is a slippery slope!  I don’t think that you have to live like a pauper and shun all the things of the world, but I know that you can’t necessarily have your cake and eat it too.  You can’t have the all pleasures of the world, and be fully devoted to Christ.  You can’t have two masters.

Just a quick post for today, but we will come back to this topic.  For now think about this; are you devoting your life completely to God, or are you trying to pick and chose some of the worldly delights and add them into your relationship with God?

Man of God Top 10 – #7 Gentle/Humble

Being a man is not about being rough and tough.  Real men are strong, and at the same time gentle.  Real men are confident, while still being humble.

“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle…”  Ephesians 4:2

As men of God we are called to a higher standard.  We cannot be the bullies and the tough guys on the playground anymore.  We have to step out of that sterotype and show the world that real men are gentle.  Jesus tells us that we will be known by our fruits; those being love, joy , peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)  Don’t hide your gentle side, or only let it out in your home.  “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”  Philippians 4:5

Too many men think that they have to be proud and arrogant, to show that they are in total control and that they can do it all.  Without God, we can do nothing; but through God all things are possible.  Remember that it isn’t you that is responsible for the good things in your life; God makes it all possible.   Be humble, show God the respect he deserves by not taking credit for the things that he does.

Go out and show the world what a real man is; humble and gentle.  A real man of God!

Bored?

Do you ever have those times when it is just not exciting to be a Christian?  When you don’t feel like you are getting anything out of reading the Bible?  Does this mean that you are doing something wrong?  Shouldn’t you be on fire for God all the time?

The answer is no, and yes…

Think back to last Wednesday.  Do you remember what you had for lunch?  No!  Ok, how about what you had for dinner two weeks ago Thursday?  Still nothing!  Even though you can’t remember what you ate for every meal of every day, that food still nourished and strengthened your body.  It is the same with God’s word and with being a Christian.  We may not remember everything that we read in the Bible.  We may have days when it feels like we are just going through the motions, when there is no spark, no epiphany, no fireworks; days when being a Christian is kind of boring.  Let’s face it, the world throws out a lot of things that seem like they would be way more fun than walking the straight line and following Christ.

Shouldn’t we be living each day with the same high that we had when we first came to Christ?  When we truly felt like we were on fire for God and nothing could distract us?  That would be nice wouldn’t it!  But the truth is that you can’t live every day of your life pumped up on adrenalin, it would kill you!!  We have to pace ourselves, and it is in these down times when your true character comes out.

Just like those meals that you can’t remember, those daily bible readings that seem insignificant are feeding you, strengthening you, bringing you closer to God.  The main thing is to just keep doing it.  Keep reading in the Word everyday.  Keep living your life for Christ no matter how boring it seems.  Do not start looking for fullfillment or excitement outside of God, He is right beside you, everyday, and He is the one that will provide every good thing for you.

Even soldiers in a war aren’t actively engaged in battle every minute of everyday.  Much of their time is spent planning, preparing, maintaining their tools and their bodies so that when the time comes for them to fight they are ready.  Do the same in your walk with Christ.  When there are down times, prepare yourself for the coming battles.  Pray, read in the word, focus on God and what he is doing in your life.

The excitement will come, will will you be ready for it?

Man of God Top 10 – #8 Fight

There is something about men that makes us think that we can solve problems with our fists.  While I don’t think that this is exactly the best method, God does tell us to fight.  Not our fellow man, but to “Fight the good fight of faith.” 1 Timothy 6:12

A strong man of God is in a fight everyday.  Not a physical one that may result in a black eye or bloody nose, but a spiritual fight that can influence eternity.  I am talking about spiritual warfare, and it is real.  Satan is out there everyday fighting against God and against God’s people.  The last thing that he wants is for the men of God to step up and start fighting the good fight of faith because he knows that he will lose.  We know that the end of the battle has already been determined, our side wins!  But in the process there will be many casualties.  There are no innocent bystanders in this fight.  Everyone has to make a decision; with God, or against God; there is no middle ground.

As men of God we need to stand on the front lines and show the world that we are not afraid to fight for God.  Show that we are not afraid to get a little beat up for what we know is right.

I know that I would be willing to fight anyone who threatened my family, and I’m sure you would do the same.  But will you take the same stance when someone is threatening God, threatening the church?  These threats come in many forms but they all work to undermine God’s message, to turn people away from faith.

We know that no one can harm God (obviously!) but they can harm his children.  Go out and fight the good fight of faith today.  Fight for God’s children as though they were your own.  Go out and be a strong man of God!

Man of God Top 10 – #9 Pursue God

Alright, I told you we would get to the pursuing part didn’t I (aren’t you glad you came back?).

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”  1 Timothy 6:11

I love this because God, through Paul, is giving us this dual directive; flee and pursue.  What he is really doing is pointing us in the right direction for our lives.  It is like saying, walk out of the dark room and into the light of day.

There is a lot in this verse, and we will cover more of it in some of the top 10 to come.  Right now let’s focus on the pursuing part.  This is all about pursuing God, pursuing the things of God that he has set out for us.  These are the things that will set us apart as men of God!  How great is it that God gives us one verse that lines it out for us, like marching orders for men of God.  I will add one more pursuit to this list, peace (Psalm 34:14, 1 Peter 3:11).

So what does God mean by pursue?  The definition of pursue is: to find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish; to proceed along; to engage in.  All of these parts of the definition are what God is asking us to do here.  Find a way to accomplish these things in our life, proceed along the path that God has set out for us by pursuing these things, and engage yourself in the pursuit of these things.

For those of you that hunt, especially bow hunters, it’s like when you are stalking a bull elk.  You know what your goal is, you can hear the elk bugling and making noise, and you are completely focused on the hunt.  Every one of your senses is on high alert; eyes, nose, ears all working overtime.  The adrenaline is kicked in and you can think of nothing else but the thing that you are pursuing.

That is what God is talking about here.  This is not an academic exercise where you go to the library, do some research on these words and concepts, find out their Greek origins and meanings so that you can regurgitate them at some bible study later.  Come on!  Really pursue these with everything you are!  Everyday!  This is what God wants his men to be like.

Look at the list, really look at it and think about what it would be like if more men were to spend their time pursuing these things, instead of the things of the world.  I can think of nothing greater for my sons than if they were to earnestly pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness, and peace.  Obviously we have obligations and thing that have to get done; work, chores, taking care of our families, balancing the checkbook, education, etc.  But how many of these things could you fit into one of those pursuits?  How many of those things could you be doing with an eye toward pursuing God and how many lives could you touch for Jesus in the process?

Men, your mission today and everyday: Pursue God!

 

Man of God Top 10 – #10 Flee from the World

What is a man of God?

God gives us an outline of what he wants us to be, and what he wants us to focus on as men of God.  I will try (in hopefully not to clumsy a way) to show you what this plan is for us.  I guarantee that I will not do justice to God’s desires for us and I will not be able to include all that God wants for men of God, but I will hopefully get you started.  If you want to know all God want for you; pray, get in the Word, and listen!

#10 – Men of God flee from the things of the world.

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11

Here Paul is writing to Timothy, and to all Christian men, to build him up so that he can be strong and equipped to help the church, to lead, and to be a strong man of God.  This verse is directed at men of God and the first thing it tells us is to “…flee from all this…” (we’ll get to the pursuing part later, just be patient!).

Obviously we have to back up a little, flee from what?  In verses 3-10 Paul talks about men’s pursuit of money and false doctrine.  We all know the verse “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Tim 6:10.  We all know that there are more important things to life than getting more money.  But the world tells us that our life would be so much better if we just had [fill in the blank].  If we had more money, a bigger house, a nicer car, a boat, went on more vacations, whatever the thing is we need it because our life is not complete without it.  1 Tim 6:9 says it pretty clearly, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”  Sounds fun huh.  Flee.

Another thing God tells us to flee from is sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:16).  On the surface this seems like a no-brainer.  Of course we would avoid immorality (sexual or otherwise), what man wouldn’t?  But again, the world steps in and bombards us with sexual images, slogans, and innuendos.  Sex sells just about everything these days and we run the real risk each day of becoming immune and numb to the fact that what we see in magazines and billboards encourages us towards sexually immoral thoughts and those can lead to actions.  Flee.

Flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14).  Again, easy right!?  We don’t generally make it a habit to bow down to a golden calf statue on our way out the door to work.  Our idols are much more subtle; money, cars, our job, our body, drugs…  Sometimes it is hard to see that we have put something like this on a pedestal, that we have put it before God.  Step back and look at the things that you spend your time in pursuit of.  Have you made an idol of something without realizing it?  Flee.

This all comes back to fleeing from the things of the world.  I’m not trying to say that you should lock yourself in your house or give away all your possessions and find a cave somewhere and live off the grid!  We have to be in the world but not of it (easier said than done, I know).  We have to be that light in the middle of a fallen city (wherever you live) that people see and can come to.  Don’t get distracted by the things that the world says are important, cool, or necessary.  Flee.  Focus on God (that’s where the pursuit part comes in later…), and the more you have your focus on the things of God, the less important and enticing the things of the world will seem.

“I’m Not Called”…the ultimate Christian cop-out?

“That’s great for you, but I’m just not called…”  “I just don’t feel led to do that.”  “Some people just aren’t called to…”

Since my wife and I made the decisions to homeschool and to adopt we have heard these phrases more times than we can count.  People saying how great it is to adopt, or to stay home with our kids, but that they just couldn’t do it, they just aren’t “called”.

That phrase, “I’m not called.”, has become the ultimate excuse for any Christian who does not want to do something!  I realize that it is sometimes legitimate, that not everyone is called to do everything.  God does call specific people to do specific things; teaching, healing, evangelizing, etc.  However, there are also some things that He calls all Christians to do.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  Matthew 28:18

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

These are two of the classic example of what Jesus is calling all Christians to do.  Yet when you ask someone what they are doing to spread the Word or to help orphans and widows you will undoubtedly hear, “I’m not called to missions.” or “I just don’t feel led to adopt.”  To these people I say, “Great!  But what are you doing to spread the Word and to help the orphans and widows?”

Spreading the Word of God does not mean that you have to give up everything you have and live in the jungle, or travel around the world preaching.  It means being bold in your workplace and when talking to your neighbors.  It means supporting missionaries and outreach programs.  It means talking to your friends about Jesus’ love for them, and not just your mutual love of football.

In the same vein, looking after orphans does not mean that everyone is in the position to adopt 10 kids.  But anyone can sponsor a child in need.  Anyone can pray for the more than 143 million orphans in the world (and this may be an old number).  Sometimes the only thing keeping a child from having a family is the cost of the adoption.  If every Christian pitched in some money to help cover these expenses how many more children would have a home?

My point is not to try and say that everyone is called to everything that God says is good, or to imply that I am doing everything right (far from it!).  My point is that before you take the easy way out of something by saying “I’m just not called.”, stop and think about it.  Have you actually prayed about that specifically to see if you are called?  Have you actually listened to what God is calling you to do?  Sometimes we aren’t “called” because to admit that would be to admit that we aren’t doing what we know God is asking us to do.   And sometimes God asks us to do some pretty hard things.

Just because something is hard, uncomfortable, expensive, or intimidating doesn’t mean that God isn’t equipping and calling you to do just that.

Men’s Group

There is something about a group of guys getting together; having coffee, eating lunch,playing golf, going for a hike, or just hanging out, that just lets us relax and be ourselves.  When we find a group of like-minded men that we can really talk to, bounce ideas off of, and get encouragement from, it is a great thing.

I strongly encourage you to find such a group of men.  If there is a group in your church that meets regularly see if you can join them.  If not, start your own!  Call a couple of the Christian men that you know and see if they want to get together for lunch once a week.  It is an easy thing and can be a great source of accountability and fellowship.

You can find a book to read through and discuss, work through books of the bible, or keep it free form and just talk about the things that you are going through in life, the challenges you are encountering, and where God has been taking you lately.

Now that you know how easy and encouraging is can be to get a men’s group together, what are you waiting for?  Get on the phone and call your buddies.  You no longer have any excuse!