Man of God

Man of God 1 Tim 6:11 “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” Christian life is unique. There is always something which we need to run away from and at the same time we are pursuing something in life. This is not a single event but whole life. Paul called young Timothy as Man of God, the one of God or possessed by God. Man of God is not of the world. A man of God will live only for God and will proclaim for God alone. The verse begins with “But” and it is a contrast with the former verses. Paul is talking in the earlier verses that there are many false teachers who are talking about this world, how to get rich and how to have success in this world. They are telling people to run after worldly richness. Contrast to those people, Paul calls Timothy Man of God and gives him the requirements of man of God. When John Wesley preached in the Church of England, his intention was not to begin a new denomination, but to see change in the Anglican Church. He knew that there are many people, including church leaders, who are talking about nice things about Christianity, teaching and preaching the Word of God and talking about the need of new birth. However, their lives were not matching with what they preach or teach. Many church leaders corrupted and they were working in the church for money. Ordinary Christians were also not doing what God pleases but they attended the church because the law requires and they gave money to the church because they wanted to be well-known. Likewise, there are many similar things happening in our churches today. Church leaders are following after worldly richness and they are working in the church for their own benefits. 1. We need to flee from all this Paul is telling the young Timothy that a man of God must flee from certain things that he mentioned. Paul says in the letter that Man of God needs to flee from love of money and false teachers. In Myanmar, students have to recite three duties of a student: Flee from bad people, befriend with good people and approach the wise man. It is true that we need to run away from bad people, false teachers who teach false doctrines. Sometimes they might teach the biblical doctrines but for their own benefit. In Myanmar, there are some people who go around the churches for fund raising by showing pictures and videos. Some people run orphanage ministry or Bible school for getting money. We need to run away from those who teach and preach the false teachings. Especially, today we need to be very careful to choose even Bible schools. There are some Bible schools where we can get scholarship but the way they teach, the subjects which they offer are not really good. At the same time, we can see discriminations and abuses too. Some Bible schools neglect the spirituality of the students. Sometimes, Bible students do not read the Bible, do not pray and do not even want to preach the gospel. However, as John Wesley remained in the church to transform the church, we need to be men of God in the midst of this world. We are not saying that we should live in isolation from those people. Although Wesley lived in the society, he himself was not a part of the problem. He always finds ways to change the church. His mind is always thinking about how to transform the church and the people. In this text, Paul is encouraging Timothy to flee from such worldly things, such worldly people and such worldly pleasure. The word “flee” means to keep from doing something by avoiding it in view of its potential to tempt.” We know that many people fail 2. We need to pursue Paul says that a man of God must pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. I think a man of God needs all these rather than one of these. These all things are required from a man of God. However, there must be some reason for Paul mentioning these things. Actually, many preachers preach that a Christian needs basically believing God, good morality, spirituality, and even giving offering. Prayers, attending bible studies, morning prayers, reading the Bible regularly, be kind to people, behaving like a good man are essential for a good Christian life. Normally, we think that a Christian is also the one who perform such things: attending church regularly, taking time for prayer and bible study, and giving offering, and helping other people. However, here Paul encourages us to pursue something. He use the word “pursue.” When we read commentaries, it is similar to the word chasing someone, especially in the battle if someone runs away, we need to chase him and kill him. This is the picture. We need to chase it. We need to get it. This is not an option, but it is a must. For me, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness, which Paul mentions in his letter can be used in one word. It is holiness. The message version says, “Pursue a righteous life – a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy.” Like Wesley’s teaching on holiness, these things are essential in a Christian life. It is not said that we need these things to be God’s children or to be accepted by God. But these things are qualities or the nature of a Christian. In other words, without holiness, no one can see the face of God. No one can approach God without these things. At the same time, these things are not man-made qualities. For example, if it is not God’s gift, or given by God, our righteous is very selfish righteous. Although we can have love, genuine love, but that love will also be for our benefit. Many times, we hear people saying that “If you are like him, I will love you more. If those students are like us, they will get scholarship. If my wife is like them, I can love her more.” We love others for our benefit. It is very clear that Paul is not asking Timothy which is not there in Christian life. At the same time, Paul is not foolish to ask Timothy which is not possible to achieve. Paul is strongly encouraging Timothy to pursue the perfection of Christian life. Christian life always ups and downs but we need to pursue it. We need to move forward and we need to reach to the goal. Paul says that we need to fight a good fight; we need to run the race. Christian life is a long journey rather than perfecting in a moment. In conclusion, Paul is saying about a Christian life, to be a man of God. A man of God needs to run away from certain things and need to pursue others. This basically means a holy Christian life is not only adding some thing in our life but leaving something behind us. We need to leave our old nature, as John Wesley preaching about the new birth. I want to conclude my sermon with a joke. There is a man who wants to take water baptism. The pastor tells him about Christian life and he also understands it. When he takes water baptism, the pastor baptizes him in the water. But he raises his right hand up. The pastor holds his right hand and pushes it down to the water but the man denies it. Then, the past asks the reason. That man said, “Please do not let my hand to take baptism because I need to revenge that man. After that I will take whole baptism.” Although this is just a joke, it is true. Many Christians want to give their whole life to God, and they also pray, but in reality, they find difficulties to give all to God. When we give offering in the church, we sing “I surrender all” but we are looking for the smallest notes in our pocket. Paul is encouraging us to give all to God. As John Wesley preached many years ago, But you, O man or woman of God, regard them not; don't be moved by any of these things. You know in whom you have believed. See that no man take your crown. Where you have already attained, hold fast, and follow, till you attain all the great and precious promises. And you who have not yet known him, let not vain men make you ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Don't be terrified by anything, by those who speak evil of the things which they know not. God will soon turn your heaviness into joy. O let not your hands hang down! Yet a little longer, and he will take away your fears, and give you the spirit of a sound mind. He is near "that justifies: Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes, that rose again, who is even now at the right hand of God, making intercession" for you. “John Wesley, The Way to the Kingdom”