Make Me A Blessing (2 Of 3)

But he does not leave him guessing what it takes to be a MAN OF GOD.

In verse 11 he tells him and us as we saw in last week’s sermon…

1) We must FLEE from sin.

2) And today in this sermon he instructs us there are somethings we must FOLLOW after.

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

Illus: A businessman read a little book entitled “Men of God.” He was so impressed with the book that he was determined to secure copies for all of his employees.

• He wired the publisher in Chicago: “Send me 125 copies of ‘Men of God.’”

• The publisher wired back, “Chicago is out of ‘Men of God’ try Memphis.

• He wired Memphis: “Send me 125 copies of “Men of God.”

• Memphis wired back and said the little book called “Man of God” is no longer being published…THERE ARE NO MORE “MEN OF GOD”!

Seriously, there seems to be a shortage of MEN OF GOD in every town in America.

For example...

Illus: If you attend many funeral services as I do, one of the sad things about the eulogies that we hear about the decease…

• Where a person worked.

• How long they worked there

• What position they worked there

• How much he/she is going to be missed.

• How many children and grandchildren he/she has

• How much he/she accomplished in life.

But, very seldom is it stated, “We have come here today to honor and remember a MAN or WOMAN OF GOD”.

How sad so little can be said of some people who lived their life here on earth for decades but who have accomplished so little with their life.

Let me illustrate some of the things written on grave stones that reflect how some folks have lived their life here on earth…

(1) Speaking of one man who lived a wasted life was written “Here lies the shell…but the nut is gone!”

(2) Speaking of another man it was written on his grave stone, “I made some deals and I made some bad deals. But I really went in the hole on this deal”

(3) Speaking of a woman was written, “They all warned her. Never go for a hike in the woods where bears live smelling like meat loaf. If only Ima had listened to their words of wisdom, she’d be here today.

There are all kinds of things written on tombstones of the dead how they lived their life.

Illus: Have you wondered what your loved ones will place on your grave stone.

The greatest thing that can be written on the grave stone of a child of God is…HERE LIES A MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD!

Why?

Because to be a MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD this is a person who did not just live the normal life like the average person but a person WHO HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED A MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD.

In order to earn that prestigious title, there are things:

• WE MUST DO

• MUST NOT DO

To be considered MEN and WOMEN OF GOD.

Let us look at the Word of God to see how we can become MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD.

First, THE MAN OF GOD IS TO FOLLOW.

Follow what?

Look at I Tim. 6:11. We read, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and FOLLOW after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

Notice, Paul gives us a grocery list of six things we are to FOLLOW after.

First we are to...

I. FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Look at this verse again, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things (sin); and FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS...”

Some religious denomination like to refer to themselves as a HOLINESS DENOMINATION!!!

In these denominations their churches refer to themselves as a HOLINESS CHURCH.

But that has become a stigma in some areas of the country because just because a church might refer to themselves as a HOLINESS CHURCH DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PEOPLE WITHIN THAT CHURCH IS HOLY.

Sad to say this is the case in some churches that call themselves a HOLINESS CHURCH.

But the fact is every church SHOULD BE A HOLINESS CHURCH!!!

Why?

Because God wants every child of God to FOLLOW after RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Is holiness and righteousness the same?

Holiness and righteousness are related but there is a difference in their concepts.

For example…

1) Holiness involves being set apart from what is common and consecrated to God such as a holy sacrifice.

2) The word Righteousness in this verse refers to doing what is right in the sight of man.

Holiness and righteousness are the SAME in that you cannot be a holy person and not live the right kind of life before mankind.