A Man of God

A Man of God


One Fathers Day more than a year ago I was given a pen, this pen had an inscription on it that said "man of God" and I began to wonder what is a man of God? I looked in every Bible concordance, and dictionary, and even on the Internet for a man of God, and I could not find a reasonable definition for that phrase.
I decided to take a trip to the Bible and see if I can figure out who was a man of God.

Was Abraham a man of God? Let's see he had a child out of wedlock because he thought that was the right thing to do, and he nearly sacrificed his own son on an altar because God told him to. I'm glad my mother wasn't around back then she would have been yelling at him "if he told you to jump off a bridge would you". I don't know how Abraham knew that it was God and not the devil is a shape shifter that was telling him to sacrifice his son and I will agree that Abraham was a very obedient man so let's put a point in his corner.
Was David a man of God? He wrote Psalms, and he had his best friend killed in war so he could marry his wife. David was inspired and a very brave man when he went up against Goliath. So I'll give him a point also.
Was Jabez a man of God? There is two short versus in Chronicles Chapter 4 versus 9 and 10 that read And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. Jabez did what God expects of us, ask and thou shalt receive. I'm sure the Jabez asked with the most sincere faith that what he asked for he would receive. I can remember telling my Pastor that I never get what I pray for and his response always was "that's because you either do not believe you deserve it or you do not ask with child like faith that you will receive it."
Was Moses a man of God? First he was the master of the Israelites, and then at God's command he was a leader of the Israelites. He went up on a mountain and received the 10 Commandments written with the finger of God. He led the Jewish people out of Egypt and into the promised land.
But that's not what I was looking for when I was looking for a man of God. I went through the apostles one by one, I looked at some women like Mary of Bethany whose brother Lazarus was raised from the dead because of her faith.
None of the people the Bible that I looked at answered my question, What is a Man of God? I was just about to give up on ever finding the answer when on Palm Sunday this year my current pastor gave a sermon on Luke 19: 28-40. His sermons are to moving for me to try to put it in writing here. I believe they are actually inspired by The Holy Spirit. His main focus of that sermon was who was the best witness for Jesus that day. It wasn't the Pharisees who did not want him there and were going to end up condemning him to death within a week, it wasn't the multitudes of crowds that were praising him as they would trade him for Barabbas within a week, it wasn't even the apostles, some of whom like Thomas would doubt his resurrection or those that would not even show up for his trial. I will let you read the passage and then I will tell you what I got out of it.
Luke 19: 28-42 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes
My Pastor's main point was that the colt was there waiting for Jesus right where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there, when he needed him. And the colt came without question when it was called. And the colt carried the load that he was told to carry. All that donkey was required to do was to lift Jesus up and carry Him to the people.
Now there is no way I can be anywhere near as eloquent in this writing as my Pastor is in his inspired sermons so not going to try to be. But I will tell you what I got from that sermon. Jesus requires that for salvation we be ready, willing and able to lift him up and carry him to the people.
A man of God is someone who is willing to lift Jesus up and carry him to the people.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.
If you would like the blessing of hearing this sermon you can, (1) Drop me an eMail at myebook@mail.com and I will send you a link so you can download the sermon (at my expense) in mp3 format in a zip file, or (2) You can write to the church at Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 9714 Ridge Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32208. And ask for the CD for Palm Sunday 2010. I am sure they will send it to you and they would also appreciate a small donation to cover the cost of creating the CD and mailing it. And of course you are always welcome to come by on Sunday at 11 am to hear Pastor Dr. Mike Castle give another of his inspired messages.
God Bless and Have a God Filled Life


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