The Man of God

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A little later in the program we'll tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham's book, Man of God. But first, here's the message, The Man of God. Psalm number 1 is a description of God's man. More than anything, may it be said of you, may it be said of me, He was, He is a man of God. Not that you made a lot of money, that's fine.

Not that you were successful in life, as fine as that may be. But that above all and above all else, you're God's man. It's one thing to be a male, it's another thing to be man enough to be a man of God.

And I am grateful for a great men's movement across America today. I believe God is raising up men, as never before perhaps, as a catalyst to bring revival to our nation. There's never been a better time, a better day in which to be men of God.

And yet, so many men seem to have lost the way. And yet, to be a man of God is to find the way, and to live the way, and to walk in the way of God. Verse 1 says, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the paths of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night. The Psalms are full of inspirational messages from men, men of great faith, men of great courage, men of devotion to God. Here is David telling us of what the man of God is like. He says the man of God is commended.

In verse 3, and then the man of God, or the man without God is condemned in verses 4, 5, and 6. He says happy is the man of God. Blessed is the man of God.

And the Hebrew language records this in the plural. Happy, happy, happy is the man. Or, oh, the happiness is of the man. God's blessings are abundant to the man, to the woman of God. He does not bless us one blessing at a time.

He is not a stingy God, but a giving God, and a gracious God, lavishly pouring blessing after blessing. Jesus said, I've come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, more abundantly overflowing life. So many men don't want to follow Christ, for some say, well, following Christ is not the manly thing to do. Yet the most manly thing that you can do is to be a follower of the man of the ages, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. Others think, as a man, well, if I follow Christ, He'll take away all the joy and all the pleasures of life.

Not so. He'll add to the joys and to the pleasures of your life. At thy right hand is fullness of joy.

At thy throne are pleasures forevermore. So what kind of man is a man of God? What kind of man does God bless? Well, number one, the man God blesses is separated from the world. While the Christian life is positive, while the Christian life is abundant, there are some things the man of God chooses not to do, because the man of God possesses the divine nature, the Holy Spirit of God.

We are restrained and forbidden in participating in lifestyles that are anti-God and anti-Christ. So here we see some negative thinking at the outside, what the man of God won't do. There are things the man of God does not do. There are places the man of God will not go. There are materials the man of God will not see. And there is company that the man of God will not keep.

Why? Because we know, as men of God, certain things are counterproductive. Certain things drag us down and deplete us and rob us of spiritual energy and rob us of our testimony and cause us to fail spiritually, to embarrass ourselves, to embarrass our families, and most of all to embarrass God. And so there is a separation.

You don't hear much about separation any longer. But the man of God is to be distinctively different. He is to be separated from Godless thinking. Notice verse 1, blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.

Beware the mind benders. We're often softened up to accept the world's values, brainwashed by the God of this age. But our lives are not to be directed by the wisdom of this world, but by the wisdom that comes from above. And so the man of God gets his wisdom, his counsel from heaven. He is able to live his life without scheming and is able to live his life with the plan of God and trusting in the Lord. There's a proverb which says, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

The heart is the center of reflection. Who you are down deep on the inside when you commune with yourself, when you commune with God, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. What you think about, what you hear, what you allow to enter the mind gate will ultimately determine your life and your actions.

The old adage says, so a thought reap a deed, so a deed reap a character, so a character reap a destiny. So God wants the man of God to win the battle for the mind, that our thought life would be pure. He keeps the door shut to godless thinking.

One of my heroes of the faith is George Beverly Shay. George Beverly Shay says that when he goes into a motel room where so often we're confronted with some of the temptations over that television and some of the movies that come into those rooms, the first thing he does is to put a towel over that television set and cover it up and then put the word of God right on top of it. He has to get right through the word of God before he would get to any of that trash that might be on that television set. We are to protect ourselves from anything that would cause us to think in an ungodly manner. He's separated from godless thinking.

Not only that, he's separated from lawless living. That is, he does not stand in the way of sinners. While we have contact with those who don't know Christ, we have no communion with those who do not know Christ. While we're to be friends with sinners, Jesus was friend of sinners, we are not to have fellowship. That is, we're not to hang out with those as a lifestyle who do not share our faith. That's why the Bible says that we are to marry in the faith.

We are to marry in the Lord. Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers because how can you share life together and love together if you don't share Christ together? And so the man of God, he does not participate in the lifestyle of the lost. He refuses to walk where sinners congregate.

You show me the kind of friends you keep, the kind of company you keep, and I will show you the kind of person you are or will soon become. The scripture says, a companion, a fool shall be destroyed. That's why we love the fellowship of God's people. I challenge you men to make your companions the family of God, to join with other men in worship, to join in other men with Bible study, to be accountable to men, to encourage one another and strengthen one another because the wise man does not hang out with the godless gang of the Christless clique, but the man of God is committed to the things of God and to the work of God and to the people of God. He's also this man of God separated from careless speaking for it says he does not sit in the seat of the scornful.

Now notice the progression that we've made here. From walking to standing to sitting, walking in the counsel of the ungodly, that's listening to the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the path of sinners, that is lingering the pathway of sinners, now finally sitting and even laughing, the scornful, mocking the things of God. Those who listen to the counsel of the ungodly generally end up sitting in the seat of the scornful. And the seat of the scornful, those who mock the things of God is the chief seat in Satan's kingdom. We are to avoid those who mock the word of God and separate ourselves from those who would destroy and to defile our faith. That's why I'm so strong on the word of God. That's why I'm so strong on our Baptist schools and keeping the faith and keeping the word of God pure so that when we teach our young people we will help them to be able to stand in the midst of an ungodly, Christless generation. You need to make sure, Dad, that your kids are not only getting the counsel, your counsel, but that they're getting the counsel of the word of God because I tell you the world is bombarding our kids with ungodly counsel.

And Dad, it is your responsibility to give your boys and girls the counsel of the word of God. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and his message, The Man of God. Pastor, this month we have a special gift for our listeners who give a gift to PowerPoint. It's your book, Man of God.

What can you tell us about this powerful resource? You know, I have a real passion to see men know and follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and as their Savior. And if I were just speaking to men right now, I would say the greatest thing you can do with your life is to fully follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of you guys, you're moral, you're good, you're a good husband, you're a good family guy, you're a good worker, but goodness doesn't get us to heaven. That doesn't make us a man of God, God's man. Jesus does that. And when you put your faith and trust in Christ as your Lord and your Savior, then you can become the man that he made you to be, the person that he made you to be.

Some of you have never done that. You have a relationship with the church or you have a relationship with Christians, but you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I really want to challenge you today that you would trust him with all of your heart. And then if you are a believer and follower of Jesus, but maybe you find yourself sort of half in, not fully in, I want to encourage you to walk with God like never before. And that's the reason I've written this book, Man of God. I really want you to have this book because it talks about how we as men can truly be men of God.

And if that sounds overwhelming, I promise you it's possible for you. You can be the man, the person that God wants you to be as you walk with him and the power of the Holy Spirit. So I've written Man of God so that we could live life with purpose and passion in life and make a difference in the world. And that's why I want you to get this book, Man of God. It's available to you right now.

I would encourage you to get it as soon as possible. Call today and get Dr. Graham's book, Man of God, as our thank you for your gift. Call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627.

Or text the word PowerPoint to 59789. Now let's get back to today's message, the man of God. The man of God, the man that God blesses is separated from the world.

But notice also he's saturated, satisfied with the word. Verse 2 says, His delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night. He delights in the word of God. The word of God for the Christian, for the man of God is not an obligation. It is an opportunity to spend time with God.

You want to spend time with those that you love. And if you love God the way you ought to love God, you'll want to spend time with God. And the way to spend time with God, the way to fellowship with God is in his word. And so the man of God appreciates the word of God, longs to hear the word of God, loves to read the word of God. But not only to appreciate the word of God, but the man of God assimilates the word of God.

Look at verse 2. Again, and in his law he meditates day and night. There is a new wave, a new age of emphasis today on meditation. Most of it of course is not biblical meditation or Christian meditation. And any meditation that is not Christian meditation and biblical meditation is damaging and destructive.

Don't put your mind in neutral and open your mind to anything. But biblical meditation is to concentrate to meditate upon the Scripture and the word of God. And we need meditation. I was reading an article that medical science is now proving that meditation, quieting yourself before the Lord, is actually healthy to your body.

And in a day in which we're running here and there and knocking things over constantly in this fast paced life in which we're living, it is important that men of God and women of God as well of course take time to be holy and meditate upon the word of God. What will meditation do for you? Meditating upon the word of God. One, it will quieten the heart.

Two, it will develop the mind. You want your mind to develop and expand? Meditate upon God's word. Then it stills the body.

And that's important that our bodies slow down. Then it fortifies the will and it quickens the spirit. God wants to speak to you. God wants to meet with you.

The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords wants to give you his counsel. And I tell you there's not a subject imaginable that is not dealt with in the word of God. And so meditation is to internalize the Scripture, to digest the Scripture.

Jeremiah 15, 16 says, Thy words were found that I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. The man of God is separated from the world. The man of God is satisfied with the word. Let me ask you men, do you know the word of God? I am appalled, I am amazed and ashamed to say that many men are biblically illiterate. I watch as our women faithfully study the word of God and are involved in Bible studies and personally study the word of God and they're leading the way on this, men, and it shouldn't be so. You as a man above all ought to know God's word that you can lead your families well, that you can live for Christ in the pathway of your life, that you can be a personal witness and a bold witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you a man of the word? But not only is the man of God separated from the world and satisfied with the word, the man of God is situated by the waters. Look at verse 3. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper. This old world is a desert, a dry and barren place, but the man of God has roots down deep with hidden springs that satisfy and supply the longings of his heart and our relationship with God through Jesus Christ releases the rivers of God's Spirit so that we are refreshed and revitalized daily. And though the outward man, Paul says, perishes, though disintegration takes place physically, the inner man, the spiritual man, the part of you that will go on and on and on can be strengthened and transformed into the very image of Christ. And men, that's what God is trying to do with your life. God is wanting to make you like Jesus.

He's wanting you to be a Christ man, God's man. Notice the stability of this man situated by the water. He's like a tree planted by the rivers, grounded and settled. He has deep roots. His waters run deep. He has a depth of character and a strength of will because he has roots.

So many today are all showcasing no warehouse. Everything you see is out front and not inside. Men, be strong on the inside. His stability in that way when any wind blows against you, you'll be strong. You'll be stable in the midst of the gales of life. And then notice the vitality of the man of God. He's planted by the rivers of water.

This isn't just standing up on our own two feet and being a man. We're energized, empowered by the Holy Spirit. By the rivers of water speaks, I believe, of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. For Jesus said, he who believes in me out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. And so the man, the woman of God, is to be full of the Holy Spirit.

And then notice the productivity of the man of God. He brings forth fruit in season. This is the fruit of the Spirit, which is Christ-like character, love and joy and peace and goodness and gentleness and kindness and faith. We're to be productive in our Christian lives. Remember in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cursed a fig tree that was nothing but leaves.

There was no fruit. And God is inspecting our lives for spiritual fruit and the man of God will bear fruit. Be productive. I want to challenge you men to be reproducers, reproducing believers in Christ. A healthy body reproduces. And a healthy Christian will reproduce spiritual fruit, the fruit of character, the fruit of bringing people to Christ.

And then notice his consistency. His leaves shall not wither. You'll not burn out. Your leaves will not dry up. Your fruit will not wither.

But you will be forever green, the consistency. There's nothing more pleasant, more powerful than a strong, stable, solid guy who is committed and in the power of the Holy Spirit is living the life he professes. And then finally, his prosperity or his maturity, whatever he does, shall prosper, shall mature.

There will be the maturity of your family life, the maturity of your business life, the maturity of your social life, the maturity of your personal life, the maturity of your witnessing life. Whatever he does shall prosper. God will bless you, the man of God. You want to be a man of God, a woman of God? Separate yourself from the world. We've got far, far too much worldliness in the church of Jesus Christ today.

Acting like the world, aping the world, mimicking the world rather than mimicking Jesus Christ. Separate yourself from the world. Be different. And then satisfy yourself in the Word, in the Word, in the Word. Meditate upon it.

Memorize it. Be a man, a woman of the Word that you may be situated by the waters, established, firm, strong, complete, mature when they lay you to rest. Maybe your son, your daughter, your wife, your friends will say, There lies, there rests a man of God. Don't be a man who's lost his way, but a man who has discovered the way, the truth, the life that is in Jesus Christ.

You're listening to Power Point with Jack Graham and the message, The Man of God. Today's culture has so distorted the concept of masculinity that some even reject it as toxic. But our world doesn't need less manly men. We need more men of God, men who love Jesus, make loving husbands and fathers and lead as servants. We'd like to help you uncover what God says about true masculinity by sending you Dr. Graham's book, Man of God.

You'll gain biblical insight into how you or the men in your life can live with purpose and passion, putting Christ first and living radically for him. Man of God is our thanks for your gift to help proclaim God's Word through Power Point. So request your copy when you call today. Call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text Power Point to 59789. And don't forget to visit jackgram.org where you can shop our e-store, give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional.

Our website again is jackgram.org. Pastor, what is your Power Point for today? Men, let me ask you today, how do you want to be remembered? I mean really remembered by your family. When all is said and done, what is it that you want people to say about you? That you were a shrewd and successful businessman? That you had all the things that money could buy?

That you sacrificed your family in order to make it to the top of the corporate ladder? Or do you want to be remembered like King David as a man after God's own heart? I want to be a man who follows God.

And I believe many of you do as well. Now this is not easy. It takes a daily commitment and a daily devotion to follow Christ wholeheartedly. And it starts with turning away from the ways of the world in that we are to be separate and to be different and distinct from this world. Now I know that every one of us has a side that we don't care to talk about.

It's a dark side. And there is not a sin that we are not capable of committing. The Bible says our hearts are deceitful above all things. It says that our hearts are desperately wicked.

Who can know it? And it is only in Jesus Christ and the power of His life in us that we can overcome our wicked hearts and follow Him to become men of God, to become women who follow God completely. What you need is a new heart and a new life in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross for your sin, not only so that you could be forgiven of your sins but that you can win over sin every day of your life. Today, give your life completely to Him.

Then and only then can you know the joy and the favor of being a man of God. And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint, we'll send you Dr. Graham's book, Man of God, as our thanks. Call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how John the Baptist is the prime example of a true man of God. He preached a message of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

He came at a strategic time. For 400 years, there had been no voice in Israel, no prophetic voice and moral and spiritual darkness had settled upon the people. There was religion, but they needed a revival. They needed Jesus Christ. And so John the Baptizer was sent from God to introduce Jesus to the world. Now, isn't that our assignment in life, men and women, to introduce the world to Jesus Christ, not before his first coming, but at the end of this age, at the outset of the return of Jesus Christ? John the Baptizer came to introduce Christ to the world the first time. And it is our responsibility to introduce men, women, boys and girls to faith in Jesus Christ before Christ comes again. Now, there's so much to learn from John's life, from his witness and ministry, because just as he came at a strategic time, we are living in this strategic time. A witness is someone who steps aside, who gets out of the spotlight, removes self from the scene and points others to Christ. And that's what John the Baptizer did. He was willing for his great life to be eclipsed by the greater life of Christ. That's next time on Power Point with Jack Graham. Power Point with Jack Graham is sponsored by Power Point Ministries.