"God's Plan For A Godly Man"

“God’s Plan for a Godly Man”

Father’s Day – 2008

June 15, 2008

1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

One of the most important things we can realize about life is that God has a plan for us. Life is not just random and haphazard. Before you were born – God was thinking of you. The bible says,

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Psalm 139:15-16

God has a plan for your life. And He is guiding you, leading you, urging you, influencing you toward that plan. Of course one of the most important things to Him (our free will) often hinders that plan from happening perfectly. We have a part in the fulfilling of that plan. But the plan is there. God says,

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

This morning I would like to talk to you about a part of that plan.

If you are a man – God has a very special plan for you life. God desires certain attributes and abilities in your life. And God has a plan to make you a godly man.

The first part of that plan is to make you a spiritual leader. What is a spiritual leader? The perfect example is Jesus – in fact God wants us to become Christ-like. The bible says,

“And we… are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory…”

2 Corinthians 3:18

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” Romans 8:29

Men you need to understand that God wants you to be just like Jesus – not like Mike or Tiger or even Billy. Your heavenly Father wants you to be transformed into the image of Jesus. You need to ‘get’ that. Write it down. Tape it to your mirror. “Today I will strive to do things the way I think Jesus would do them.”

To find out what you are to become you need to read the Bible and study the life of Jesus and learn the fruit of a Spirit-filled life. You need to be in a Bible study at least weekly. How are you going to become Christ-like if you don’t know what Christ is like?

What our families need of us is to be Spiritual leaders. Of course we can’t be spiritual leaders even if we want to – if our wives won’t allow us to be the leader. God has to put it on our hearts to be spiritual leaders –but He also has to put it in our mate’s heart to allow us to be the leader. It takes two to make a leader.

Most people don’t even know if they are the leader or not. The test of leadership is easy. Who do the kids go to when they want something? Who signs the report card? Who decides if we go to church or have family devotions? Whoever leads in those actions is the spiritual leader.

Most men don’t do it because it takes work and creativity. They would rather do their own selfish thing and go their own selfish way. A spiritual leader – above all – is sacrificial. The bible says,

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:1-2

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25