Man of God

STUDY: #673-Church in the Houses

Pastor: Edith Cruz

From: March 1-7, 2011

TOPIC: "Man of God" I Timothy 6:11, 12 "Man of God" is a title that was given to a man who was a prophet; this is how a man with a pious conduct was described. It is a way to call a man who lived for God. So those who live for God must walk according to how God wants to lead them. There was Timothy and there was a manner in which he had to move. He was a man who made other men think about God and glorify God. This is the way our lives should be. For one to lead others to think about God and glorify Him one has to become that man of God, a pious person. In his service for Christ, Timothy had to flee from pride, from impurity (I Timothy 4:5), from a spirit of discontent, from foolish and harmful greed and the love for money. You see, all this is the deceit of the world, but you are a man of God, a pious man. Timothy was to cultivate a Christian character that is the only thing that can be taken to Heaven. Our Christian character is one of justice, piety, faith, love, patience and meekness. This is the way a man of God should be. If you lack these elements, you have not yet been formed in the way God wants. 1) Justice speaks of righteousness, rectitude and integrity when we deal with others. We forget that we must walk in justice at all times. God’s Kingdom is justice. You cannot walk like the world, or as others think; we must walk in justice. 2) Piety reflects the character of God in those who possess it. A pious man is the one who is fearful of God and stays away from evil. (Job 1: 1, John 9: 31) Your person reflects God when you are pious. Your acts reflect God. Your way of living reflects God. What you think, by means of your acts, in everything, you are a reflection of God. 3) Faith is to believe the one who has called you. It is fidelity, to have confidence in the one who called you. Follow the faith which moves the one who has called you. 4) Follow the love and leave behind what there is or is not in God’s character. That love is the affection towards your God. It is the affection towards your fellow man; those who love show others that they truly love. It is not enough to say: "They know that I love them", because a man of God follows the love and for such reason he expresses it. 5) Patience follows a man of God. There is firmness and endurance in spite of the trials, not worrying how long it may take. There is rest in the God who sustains us and faith that overwhelms us with patience. 6) Follow the meekness. It is that kind disposition. There is no reason to be so agitated, God will do.

This is why he is called: man of God, because he moves like God. This humbleness can only be found in the person who teaches others to know who God is. As we mentioned at the beginning, Timothy, as man of God, had to flee from pride, from impurity, from a spirit of discontent, from harmful and foolish greed and from the love for money. But he also had to fight. A man of God fights and competes willingly. This is like an athletic competition; it is like competing in everything that we live to gain for God. To compete in the "good battle" is to fight, not to remain still. This "good battle" that is mentioned in 1 Timothy 6: 12 (and in 2 Timothy 4: 7) is the Christian faith, it is the race that is related with it; it’s that battle. Many have remained stagnant, not able to move in this race; they cannot compete in this battle of faith, they cannot move mountains and they have to give up. Then, they do not show God’s character in their lives. A man of God should run and compete well in this race. One must grasp eternal life. Are we going to let go the eternal life? If you do not take hold of eternal life you are in great danger because the devil wants to take it away from you. Run, my brothers and sisters, compete, do not get discourage. You already possess salvation, but one must endeavor so that no one will take your crown. A man of God understands that he is called for eternal life. For such reason, he does not entangle himself in the things of this world. Paul knew what he had to live and wanted his disciple Timothy, in spite of what he had to live, to keep his faith in Christ, “the one who resurrects the dead.” Timothy was destined to be a man of God in every step of his life. Maybe you don’t know who you are or what you are doing here, why you are crying or why you feel peace; but today you should know: that you are called to be a MAN OF GOD, that man who brings others to God’s knowledge in this world. Amen.