I like what the New Living Translation says in relation to this first trait. "For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against." 1 Tim.3:2 This, as John Stott says, "does not mean he is without sin". It simply means that those who know him, know that he is one who can be trusted because his life has been one of honesty and integrity.
Someone has said, "I lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter". The man of God described by Paul will stand for what matters in this life. He will speak up when the poor are being taken advantage of in this world. He will speak up for the unborn because they can't speak up for themselves.
Gene Wilkes, the author of, Jesus On Leadership, has said, "A follower of Christ who seeks to lead like Jesus must be willing to be treated like Jesus. Some will follow. Others will throw stones". Paul understood this. He was left for dead. He was whipped. Wild animals chased him. A snake bit him. He was ship wrecked. All these things happened because he was willing to stand for Jesus.
As I write this, there is a minister of the gospel in prison in Iran who is to be put to death because he refuses to renounce Jesus as his Lord and savior. He is taking a stand.
Christian men need to speak up today as never before. We must speak the truth. But we must also do it in love. Those that know the man of God will know if he meets this criteria. His reputation will be known and respected.
I have been preaching for over thirty years now. I remember at the out set of my preaching many were concerned about leadership. Today nothing has changed. We are still in a leadership crisis.
Men, are you men of God. We need to standup like never before. Not just in our churches or homes but also in our communities. It is past time to stand up.
Just as I recommended a book last week. I would refer you to a new movie that has just opened up around the country entitled, COURAGEOUS. Google it and blessed. It is about being the man of God that God wants us to be. It is made by the makers of Fireproof, Facing The Giants and Flywheel. Do a Google and be blessed!
God bless,
Gerry Parker
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Man of God
The Man of God
(For Men Only) :>)
Every job that I have ever heard of takes some kind of training. It could be college, farming, the military. It may come in the form of a classroom or it may be on the job training. Whatever it is, there is training.
Even being a man of God takes training. God wants the man of God to be properly "equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17). In Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, we are given what some call qualifications of elders. To be sure, these are traits we wish to find in our church leaders. But upon further and deeper examination we should also conclude that all men of God should aspire to have these traits in their lives.
In this day there is a great shortage of men who will step up as Joshua did (Joshua 1:9). God wants men who are not afraid of what the world thinks of them. God wants men who will strive to do the right thing as Peter and John did in Acts 4 and 5. Even if it means being arrested as in their case.
Let's consider these traits that Paul wrote about to Timothy and Titus
1. A man of God should be above REPROACH 1 Tim 3:2. That is, he should have a good, godly reputation. The man of God does not get this by being concerned with Political Correctness. One does not get this by trying to please everybody. Further this reputation comes about as the result of putting God first. Not man. Even ungodly people will respect you to a point.
This reminds me of a young man in high school who wanted to go out with a girl. They had a date planned. The young man was looking forward to the date. But for some reason the girl broke the date off. The girl was asked why she broke her date and her reply was, "I wanted someone who would do certain things with me and he will not because he is a Christian." Word got back to the young man as to why she broke the date. He was thankful. A reputation, once ruined can be difficult to regain. Even the godly man will stumble and fall. But when he does he must regain his courage and stand for God again. It may take time but the reputation will come.
When we fail, God does not expect perfection from us but He does expect repentance. There will be those that Satan places in your life that will want to keep you down when you are trying to get up and move forward. But God has called us to be overcomers in this life (Rom. 8).
A good reputation does not just involve how others look at you. It also involves how YOU look at YOU. In other words, how well do you know you?
A good book to buy and study to help you with this is, The Measure of a Man by Gene Getz. This book has been revised in recent years.
We will touch on more traits of a Godly man later. Take time to look at the passages above. Ask God to guide you as you mature into the Godly man He wants you (us) to be.
God bless,
Gerry
(For Men Only) :>)
Every job that I have ever heard of takes some kind of training. It could be college, farming, the military. It may come in the form of a classroom or it may be on the job training. Whatever it is, there is training.
Even being a man of God takes training. God wants the man of God to be properly "equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17). In Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, we are given what some call qualifications of elders. To be sure, these are traits we wish to find in our church leaders. But upon further and deeper examination we should also conclude that all men of God should aspire to have these traits in their lives.
In this day there is a great shortage of men who will step up as Joshua did (Joshua 1:9). God wants men who are not afraid of what the world thinks of them. God wants men who will strive to do the right thing as Peter and John did in Acts 4 and 5. Even if it means being arrested as in their case.
Let's consider these traits that Paul wrote about to Timothy and Titus
1. A man of God should be above REPROACH 1 Tim 3:2. That is, he should have a good, godly reputation. The man of God does not get this by being concerned with Political Correctness. One does not get this by trying to please everybody. Further this reputation comes about as the result of putting God first. Not man. Even ungodly people will respect you to a point.
This reminds me of a young man in high school who wanted to go out with a girl. They had a date planned. The young man was looking forward to the date. But for some reason the girl broke the date off. The girl was asked why she broke her date and her reply was, "I wanted someone who would do certain things with me and he will not because he is a Christian." Word got back to the young man as to why she broke the date. He was thankful. A reputation, once ruined can be difficult to regain. Even the godly man will stumble and fall. But when he does he must regain his courage and stand for God again. It may take time but the reputation will come.
When we fail, God does not expect perfection from us but He does expect repentance. There will be those that Satan places in your life that will want to keep you down when you are trying to get up and move forward. But God has called us to be overcomers in this life (Rom. 8).
A good reputation does not just involve how others look at you. It also involves how YOU look at YOU. In other words, how well do you know you?
A good book to buy and study to help you with this is, The Measure of a Man by Gene Getz. This book has been revised in recent years.
We will touch on more traits of a Godly man later. Take time to look at the passages above. Ask God to guide you as you mature into the Godly man He wants you (us) to be.
God bless,
Gerry
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Fear Stronger Than Justice!
This past Monday my Elizabeth and our youngest daughter went to the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center (why the long name?) between Powell and Cody Wyoming. This is where 14,000 Japenese were relocated during WWII. They came from the west coast. There were several other relocation camps around the country. In all an estimated 120,000 Japanese were up rooted from their homes and businesses and moved to these camps that were surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards in towers.
As I went through the center I was amazed at on comment by a Japanese man. He stated something like, "Our country (USA) has asked us to do this and so we must do so as good citizens." Wow! What an amazing attitude.
We also watched a movie that described the camp days. Many who are still alive were interviewed. We learned that all they had left behind at their homes was stolen from them. All they had was lost because of their national heritage and their slant of eyes.
These are indeed sad pages in our national history. They are shameful pages for a nation that says,"In God We Trust"! And if you know me, you know I cherish those words.
Why did this happen? And how can we avoid such from happening again?
To begin with it happened because fear in this case was more powerful than justice. Fear was more powerful than doing what was right. Our Lord has called us to love our neighbor as ourselves. But fear can be a powerful misguided emotion if not tempered with a cool head and wisdom.
Many of these Japanese served our nation during that war. Many were heroes.
I would like to say that was the last time in our national history such has happened. But such is not the case. The Civil Rights movement is another sad part of our history. Abortion on demand still goes on.
As I said, fear is powerful when misguided. And as I asked above, how can we avoid such from happening again? The answer is also above. In God We Trust. If we but believe and truly practice that we can handle the next time better.
As I heard someone say recently,"Do what is right. Come what may".
God help us all to love our fellowman.
Gerry
PS for more info go to the Powell Tribune, Powell, WY
As I went through the center I was amazed at on comment by a Japanese man. He stated something like, "Our country (USA) has asked us to do this and so we must do so as good citizens." Wow! What an amazing attitude.
We also watched a movie that described the camp days. Many who are still alive were interviewed. We learned that all they had left behind at their homes was stolen from them. All they had was lost because of their national heritage and their slant of eyes.
These are indeed sad pages in our national history. They are shameful pages for a nation that says,"In God We Trust"! And if you know me, you know I cherish those words.
Why did this happen? And how can we avoid such from happening again?
To begin with it happened because fear in this case was more powerful than justice. Fear was more powerful than doing what was right. Our Lord has called us to love our neighbor as ourselves. But fear can be a powerful misguided emotion if not tempered with a cool head and wisdom.
Many of these Japanese served our nation during that war. Many were heroes.
I would like to say that was the last time in our national history such has happened. But such is not the case. The Civil Rights movement is another sad part of our history. Abortion on demand still goes on.
As I said, fear is powerful when misguided. And as I asked above, how can we avoid such from happening again? The answer is also above. In God We Trust. If we but believe and truly practice that we can handle the next time better.
As I heard someone say recently,"Do what is right. Come what may".
God help us all to love our fellowman.
Gerry
PS for more info go to the Powell Tribune, Powell, WY
Friday, August 19, 2011
Welcome To The Living Word
Hello, I am Gerry Parker and welcome to my blog sight.
God's word is living and relevant for the 21st century as it was 2,000+ years ago when out Lord and Savior walked the earth.
Paul believed in the Living Word so much that he dared to speak with kings of his day of the Living Word!
We this in Acts. 26:19. He did this while in jail for his faith! May we be so bold today.
I hope to use this blog to share God's Living Word for Today. Feel free to share with me and others.
God's word is living and relevant for the 21st century as it was 2,000+ years ago when out Lord and Savior walked the earth.
Paul believed in the Living Word so much that he dared to speak with kings of his day of the Living Word!
We this in Acts. 26:19. He did this while in jail for his faith! May we be so bold today.
I hope to use this blog to share God's Living Word for Today. Feel free to share with me and others.
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