Old Testament Reading – Deuteronomy 6:1-9
New Testament Reading – Ephesians 5:22-6:4
“A Portrait of a Godly Man”
1 Timothy 6:11-14
Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor
According to every sociological study, society is in desperate need for godly men who will become godly husbands, and then assume the responsibility of being the godly fathers to their children.
- Fathers are the visible link children have to the Heavenly Father. In many ways, our children will develop their view of God from their father. Therefore, the importance of a godly father cannot be overstated.
- Consider the impact Jonathan Edwards, an early American pastor, writer, and one-time president of Princeton University, had on his 11 children.
- Of his known male descendants, more than 300 became pastors, missionaries, or theological professors; 120 were professors at various universities, 110 became attorneys, 60 were prominent authors, 30 were judges, 14 became presidents of universities or colleges, three served in the U.S. Congress, and one became vice president of the United States.
- Despite Jonathan Edwards’ busy schedule of writing, teaching, and pastoring (he was known to have studied 13 hours a day), he made it a habit to come home and spend an hour each day with his children.
“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you,
and were helped by you, will remember you. . .
carve your name on hearts and not on marble.” —C.H. Spurgeon
According to the statistics, about 60% of males will become husbands, fathers, grandfathers, and even great-grandfathers.
- Therefore, as Solomon said, a wise man will study God’s Word to learn what a godly man should do in each of those areas and then evaluate every life decision on the basis of God’s Holy Word.
1. A Godly Man – 1 Timothy 6:11 – “But you, O man of God.”
- In the Old Testament, the term “Man of God” is used to describe those through whom God spoke to the Israelites; Moses, Samuel, the Prophets, Rehoboam, Elijah, Elisha, and David.
- In the New Testament, the term “Man of God” is used only once, and that was by the Apostle Paul in his description of Timothy.
- Paul said a “man of God” is known by that from which he flees.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 – “Flee sexual sins.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:14 – “Flee idolatry.”
- 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee youthful lusts.”
- 1 Timothy 6:9- “Flee greediness.”
- Paul said a “man of God” is known by that which he follows after; “Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and meekness.”
- To be fully conformed to the image of our Savior, we must purge ourselves from the desires of the flesh and pursue those things that would perfect our holiness.
- Paul said a “man of God” is known by that which he fights for.
- The Christian life is not a playground but a battleground.
- Godly men must battle the flesh and the devil in their own lives, as well as the encroachment of sin in the lives of their families, and then the rise of heresy, apathy, and lethargy in the Church.
- Paul said a “man of God” is known by that to which he is faithful.
- A godly man knows the Word of God and who lives by that Word. He is to love the truth, live the truth, defend the truth, and proclaim the truth, even if it costs him his own life.
According to Numbers 32:11, a young man was expected to be completely mature by the age of twenty.
- Spiritually, he knows what he believes about God, and he has received Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.
- Mentally, he has a biblical worldview. He knows he is to live in this world, but he is not to be of the world or, in any way, dependent on the world for his well-being.
- Emotionally, he knows he is loved by God the Father; therefore, rather than looking for someone to love him, he wants God’s choice of a woman with whom he can share his life.
- Physically, he has conquered the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes; therefore, rather than looking for a woman to meet his physical needs, he wants God’s choice of a woman with whom he can partner in the procreation of life.
2. A Godly Husband –
- Genesis 2:18 – “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’”
- 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 – “It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.”
- Marriage isn’t for everybody, for there are those whom the Lord calls to be totally devoted to Him. The essential evidence of that call is the gift of celibacy, and that is a very rare gift.
- Paul was not saying that singleness is better than marriage, nor that marriage was better than singleness. However, God established the marriage relationship between a man and a woman to solve man’s problem of aloneness.
- Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (KJV). “Cleave” means to “bond” together – inseparable.
- 1 Corinthians 7:3 – “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.”
- Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.”
- 1 Peter 3:7 – “Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel.”
- Joshua 24:15 – “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
3. A Godly Father – Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “These commandments that I am giving you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
- In the Hebrew family, the father was responsible for the biblical instruction of the children. He was obligated to teach his children the Torah and to instill within them, a love for the Law. The father was the role model for his children, demonstrating how to live a life that honored God by following the principles in God’s Word. The father led family worship and prayer, sharing the scriptures and teaching the children about God’s ways.
- Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
- 1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
- Proverbs 23:24 – “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.”
“When, on his knees and all of us kneeling around him, our father poured out his soul with tears for each one of us, and when we went to bed, we felt the presence of God with us, and we learned to know and love Him as our Divine Friend.”
John Patton, Missionary
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Wayne and Jill Rogers were a part of our youth group in the late 70’s. We were delighted to assist in their wedding in 1982. Today, they have three married children with six grandchildren, all who are involved “Grace Church” – in Lexington, S.C., where Wayne serves as an elder, and his son, Jacob, a deacon.
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“So, there are 14 of us in our clan…all part of the ripple effect of God’s ministry through you into our lives 35 years ago.” Wayne Rogers
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