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man up - A father's day sermon Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship 1 Timothy 6:11 June 21st, 2009
INTRODUCTION – Man Up! 1 Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Advice to men. Wives need to listen to encourage, help and pray for their husbands. Children need to obey and pray for their fathers. Future men (boys) need to listen and take advice. Future women need to look at the this type of man to marry. 1. Man Up and BE MEN OF GOD. We must begin with the first things – and that is your relationship with God. You cannot be a good father or husband if you are not a godly man. 1 Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Have you been truly born again! Have you truly understood the Gospel, repented of your sins and turned to Jesus. If so, it is continuing. Your families need you to be a man of God more than anything else. KNOW GOD LOVE GOD – Deut 6:4-5 FEAR GOD – TRUST GOD OBEY GOD The prayer life of John Paton – Illustration Care less about the money you will leave your kids and more about the legacy of godliness that you will leave them. They need to see a dad who walks with the Lord. A Man of God is a man of the Church! A man of God learns that He can only become a man of God through the means that God has said He would make men of God. We have no reason to believe that God will make us men of God without the body of Christ. 2. Man Up and BE MEN OF THE WORD. If you are going to be a man of God, you must be a man of the Word. Various Passages: Psalms 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; (2) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, (26) that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; (8) the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; (9) the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. (10) More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (11) Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Joshua 1:8-9 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (9) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Psalms 119:9-18 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. (10) With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! (11) I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (12) Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! (13) With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. (14) In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. (15) I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. (16) I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. (17) Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. (18) Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Fathers, you need to read, study, meditate, memorize and know the Word of God for your kids, your wife, your family – your soul! You need to take advantage of Berea, Discipleship Groups, the preaching of the Word, mentorship, etc. If you don’t know, ask for help. You are called to an intentionality in the Word that requires discipline! 3. Man Up and BE MEN OF RESPONSIBILITY. Fundamental to be a father and a husband is headship! Ephesians 5:23 – men are heads of their wives and (implied through the Bible) we learn that fathers are the heads of their kids. Fundamentally, this means that we are RESPONSIBLE! We live in a world where men are acting like boys far into marriage and fatherhood. Our culture is a culture of irresponsibility – there is one thing I agree with president Obama. Take Responsibility We need to take responsibility for our wives and kids. - church, spiritual, souls - education - finances - decisions - protection - time - priorities We are called to an Inescapable Headship Difference between being responsible and being guilty. Hold Responsible We must hold ourselves, our wives and our kids responsible. We must be in charge of discipline – that which is in the Lord. Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Beware of Bully Bob Syndrome and the Nice Guy Syndrome. 4. Man Up and BE MEN OF GRACE. Men of God, men of the Word and men of responsibility must be seasoned by being men of grace. I mean – mercy, love, kindness, gentleness. There must be a humility that understands one’s own sinfulness. 1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you... Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (14) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Philippians 2:5-7 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. |
