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Faithful Men Series
Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Jun 20, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: A Father’s Day Message
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PP0322 DATE 6/18/06
FAITHFUL MEN!
2 Timothy 2:1-4
2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: Today is “Father’s Day”. A small boy said, “Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day, only you don’t spend as much on the gift.” That’s right isn’t it, fellows? Some would say, “What gift?”
If both father and mother go to church, 72% of the children will also go to church when they grow up. If only the father goes to church, the percentage drops to 55%. However, if only the mother goes to church, only 15% of those children will go to church when they are grown.
Paul gives us some information concerning faithful men. We must prove ourselves faithful. He tells Timothy that faithful men must endure hardness. It takes strong intestinal fortitude to be a faithful man for the Lord today. If there were more faithful men willing to serve God in any and all areas there could be much more done for the cause of Christ.
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
The word “hardness” has to do with afflictions. That tells us we will have times of hardships – yet we are to remain faithful through the hard times.
Our land needs some fathers who will make up the difference. God to Ezekiel that he was looking for a man to stand in the gap and make up the difference. That same need still exists this very day. The void of our country today is nothing that more dedicated and committed men could fulfil.
I. FAITHFUL IN PRIVATE LIFE
What you are in private says what kind of character you have. What you do when no one can see you speaks of who you really are.
A. Faithful In Your Thoughts. What do you think about? As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. If your thoughts are vain then you life will be vain also. You will become what you think about. All the great men of the past were great thinkers. They thought things through before the acted. May God give us some mighty thinking men. Men who are faithful in their thoughts.
B. Faithful In Your Ideas. All of our ideas should be authenticated by the Word of God.
If your motivation in life is always birthed by the word of God you won’t go wrong. Don’t let your ideas take you beyond the plan of God for you life. Too many men try to out think God and to come up with something He hasn’t thought of and then try to outsmart God. You won’t succeed at such a vain idea. Men of that nature are either in prison or in the poor house.
C. Faithful In Your Actions. The Book of James deals with our actions. It gives instructions to our behavioral system. He tells us our belief and behavioral must agree else our faith is void.
D. Faithful In Your Plans. All of your plans should always include and be based around God’s will and word. I’m seeing more and more men who’s plans omit the will and word of God. Many are motivated by things of this world. When you plan something that takes you out of the will of God you are heading for a great crash. Sometimes such plans will consume you and you never get back to a normal place in life.
1. Plan to serve God and your home with you. “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
2. Plan to live holy. Holy lives in our men are such a necessity.
II. FAITHFUL AT HOME
Being faithful doesn’t make you the “king” of the home. It molds you into the leader.
Leadership is not given or granted – it is earned. It can be lost with one deed.
A. Faithful To Your Wife.
1. Fulfill your wedding vows over and over. Men, if our performance at work was like it is at home – most would lose their job.
2. You show you love for her by your actions. If you will treat her like a queen she will make you king of her heart.
3. Your behavior around your wife should never cause her to question your loyalty to her.
4. The lack of trust from a wife is caused by her husband’s actions.