A Man Of The Master

“Men of the Master”

1Timothy 6:11-14

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

First:

I. He is a converted man – “…man of God…”

A. His possession

What does it mean when we say that someone is a man of something or another? For instance, when we say someone is “man of the world” we are saying that he has experienced the things of this world. The same would be true of a “man of God.” He has had an experience with God and it shows!

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

11 Biblical Tests of Genuine Salvation - Links

By John MacArthur

1. Do you enjoy Fellowship with God and Christ?

2. Are you Sensitive to Sin in your Life?

3. Do you Obey the Scriptures?

4. Do you Reject this Evil World?

5. Do you Love Christ and eagerly await His Return?

6. Do you see a Decreasing Pattern of Sin in your Life?

7. Do you Love other Christians?

8. Do you Receive Answers to your Prayers?

9. Do you Experience the Ministry of the Holy Spirit?

10.Can you Discern between Spiritual Truth and Error?

11.Have you Suffered on Account of your Faith in Christ?

ILL - Donald Gee tells the story of when he was young and tried to plant tomatoes. That particular summer was not very good for growing plants. His tomatoes never developed on the plants, not even little green tomatoes. He was thrilled when he came outside one day to find big red ripe tomatoes on his vines. When he got closer he realized they were tied on by his mother. Sometimes, we also try to fake the fruit of the Spirit. We try to tie it onto an unchanged life.

B. His profession

Notice that Paul says that Timothy has “…professed a good profession before many witnesses.” The man who has had an experience with God will not hesitate to let others know about what God has done for him but equally important is what the people whom you come in contact with say about you.

C. His practice

If we as men are “…new creatures…” in Christ Jesus then there will be evidence of that experience in our lives and lifestyle. The NT in particular if filled with verses that testify to this truth. John MacArthur writes:

ILL - “…if a person is genuinely saved, his life will change for the better (2 Corinthians 5:17). He is saved "for good works" (Ephesians 2:10), and there is no way he can fail to bring forth at least some of the fruit that characterizes the redeemed (cf. Matthew 7:17). His desires are transformed; he begins to hate sin and love righteousness. He will not be sinless, but the pattern of his life will be decreasing sin and increasing righteousness.”

ILL - Someone has written that there are four kinds of bones in the church.

The WISH BONES who spend their time wishing someone else would do the work;

The JAW BONES who do all the talking, but very little else;

The KNUCKLE BONES who knock everything that anyone else is trying to do;

The BACK BONES who shoulder the load and do the work;

Those who are genuinely saved will be the kind of person that God can use!

Second:

II. He is a consecrated man – “…flee these things…”

A. His peril

Notice also that the man of God will “…flee…” certain things. What has Paul mentioned that requires our attention? In verse 9-10 Paul warns Timothy about the perils of an inordinate attachment to wealth and riches. He does not say that wealth is inherently evil but he does say that to “…love…”riches opens us up to great danger and even destruction!

B. His purity

Purity is by and large a forgotten word in the language of the church. You won’t hear many sermons or Bible studies on this subject either. And yet, purity is so important that without it no man can see God! Jesus said:

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

ILL - "Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fancy, wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk that strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh." – John Stott