Man of God

Deuteronomy 33:29- Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”

Numbers 23:9- From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.

Isaiah 40:29-31- 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

1. A Man of God soars to New Heights- Isaiah 40:28-31, 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
2. A Man of God has New Flights- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
3. A Man of God has New Might- Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
4. A Man of God has New Sight- Matthew 20:29-34 29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” He crowds rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
5. A Man of God has New Fight- Ephesians 6:10-18 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
6. A Man of God has Worship- Romans 12:1-2 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
7. A Man of God has Service- Ephesians 2:8-10  8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
8. A Man of God has Encouragement- Romans 15:1-7 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 6 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God
9. A Man of God has Involvement- Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
10. A Man of God has Mentoring Abilities- Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
11. A Man of God has Leadership- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
12. A Man of God has Relationships- John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
13. A Man of God has Financial Strength- Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
14. A Man of God is Fun- John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
15. A Man of God leaves a Legacy- 2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
16. A Man of God Overcomes Challenges- Read Psalms 46: 1-11
17. A Man of God can Change- Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change. So, you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
18. A Man of God can Overcome Temptation- Psalm 31:1-5 1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
19. A Man of God can be a Success- Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
20. A Man of God can Witness- Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
21. A Man of God can Relax- John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
22. A Man of God has Friendships- John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
23. A Man of God has Laughter- Psalm 126:1-3 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Reflections from me: Prayer and Bible Study

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1. A. Torrey once bluntly noted, “Every Christian who does not study, really study, the Bible everyday is a fool.” Martin Luther once wrote, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” And Dwight Moody counseled, “In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we better let God due much of the talking.” As we soar to new heights as Men of God, we will make Scripture study more and more a priority. Psalm 119:105 reminds us: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Our Savior also calls us to pray continually, in both words and actions (1 Thessalonians 5:17;    Ephesians 6:18). God’s response to our prayers doesn’t depend on our eloquence or efforts. Instead, he has promised that even when we don’t know what to ask, the Holy Spirit will take our petitions and shape them into perfect prayers, presenting them to the Father in Jesus name (Romans 8:26-28).

Here are some practical ideas to keep you steadfast in God’s Word and faithful in prayer. Ask the Lord to reveal other, specific approaches that He would want to use as He grows your faith in Jesus. Enjoy your time with the Lord.

• Commit to set appointment each day for Bible reading.
• If you are a husband or father, lead you family in regular devotions and prayer.
• Memorize Scriptures, carrying them with you.
• Use triggers as reminders to pray, perhaps traffic jams, work breaks, or TV commercials.
• Use computer passwords that remind you of Christ’s presence and care, such as “forgiven” or “Romans8”.
• Pray Scripture for yourself and others (for example, “Create in me/name a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me/him/her”. (Psalm 51:10).
• Take your Bible to Church and take notes during the sermon.
• Use the acronym P.R.A.Y. (Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield to God’s will) as an outline for your prayers.