[By Ron Halbrook]

2

• Introduction

1. A real man, a godly man!

2. Ezek. 22:26-30 A man to

stand in the gap!

Ezek. 22:26-30

26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

Ezek. 22:26-3028 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

Ezek. 22:26-30

30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

6

• Introduction

3. Jer. 5:1 Look high & low —

God values such a man!

Jer. 5:1

1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

8

• Introduction

4. Godly man defined by his

character & service to God

5. We can be such men

today!

9

I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love.A. 1 Cor. 16:13-14 Outline What God Expects of a Man

1 Cor. 16:13-14

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity.

11

I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love.B. Watch Ye!

Alert like a sentinel

12

I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. C. Stand Fast in the Faith!

Stand firm, hold your ground

13

I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. D. Quit You Like Men!

Be brave, courageous

14

I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. E. Be Strong!

Show unflinching strength— no retreat, no surrender!

15

I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love.

F. Let All Your Things

Be Done with Charity! Soldier’s spirit tempered with unselfish love

16

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

A. Humble Spirit

Lowly mind, defer to others

Phil. 2:8 Jesus

17

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

A. Humble Spirit

Keynote of God’s kingdom: Matt. 5:3; 18:4; 20:20-28

18

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

A. Humble Spirit

Phil. 2:3 Often taught, & missed

19

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

A. Humble Spirit

Ja. 4:10 The way up is down

20

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

A. Humble Spirit

God’s greatest servants trust in God, not self

21

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Belief, assurance of the truth

22

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Jn. 2:13-17 Jesus

23

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction The truth: treasure of treasures! Prov. 23:23; Matt. 13:44

24

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Jn. 8:31-32 Truth: the teaching of Jesus

25

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Uphold the truth & all who teach it 1 Tim. 1:3; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:7-8

26

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Uphold the truth & all who teach it: Dangers from

the world

27

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Uphold the truth & all who teach it: Dangers among

God’s people

28

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Josh 24:15 Lead family to serve God

29

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Josh 24:15 Lead family Acts 2:42

Public worship

30

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

B. Deep Conviction

Josh 24:15 Lead family Rom. 12:1-2

Daily life

31

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

C. Tender Heart Compassion Jesus Matt. 11:27-30; 23:37; Jn. 11:35-36

32

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

C. Tender Heart

Show care, concern Rom. 12:15; 1 Thess. 4:14

33

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

D. Unselfish Love

Jesus Jn. 13:34-35

34

II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ.

D. Unselfish Love Love finds 1,000 ways to help Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 16:13-14,15 Gal. 6:10; Ja. 1:27 Heb. 13:1-2

35

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

A. As a Christian

Acts 11:26 One who belongs to Christ

36

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

A. As a Christian

Lk. 9:23; Jn. 14:6 Sacrifice all to follow him as the only Savior

37

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

A. As a Christian

Commitment to follow Christ guides every other commitment

38

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

B. As a Husband

Matt. 19:4-6 Vow & covenant of marriage under God’s law

39

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

B. As a Husband

Eph. 5:25, 28 Love his wife as Christ loves the church

40

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

B. As a Husband

1 Pet. 3:7 Consider needs & nature of his wife

41

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

C. As a Father

Eph. 6:4 Give affection & training to each child

42

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

C. As a Father

A spiritual leader, not a stumbling block!

43

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

D. As a Citizen

Rom. 13:1-7 Duty to civil government

44

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

E. As an Employee

Col. 3:22-23 Diligent, trustworthy on the job

45

III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman.

F. As an Active Member of the Local Church

Phil. 1:1 All members: talents & duties

46

IV. God Seeks a Man to Spend Eternity with Him in Heaven. A. Reward: Eternal Life in Heaven with God

1 Pet. 1:3-5 Raised & rewarded

47

IV. God Seeks a Man to Spend Eternity with Him in Heaven. A. Reward: Eternal Life

in Heaven with God

2 Tim. 4:6-8 All who love & serve Christ to the end rewarded!

48

IV. God Seeks a Man to Spend Eternity with Him in Heaven. B. Man Created to Have Fellowship

with God!

49

• Invitation

1. Cannot be a real man, a godly man, living in sin— God forgives & makes a new man 2 Cor. 5:17

50

• Invitation

2. Christian who falls away restored:

repent, confess sin, pray

Acts 8:22

51

• Invitation

2. Sinner in the world saved when:

believe, repent, confess Christ, baptized

Acts 2:38