“Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death” (Deuteronomy 33:1).
One of the greatest needs in the church and in the world is an authentic man of God! A man of God is more than simply a male Christian. This is not someone who is perfect, above sin, but he is a man of integrity, honor, and one living fully by the Word of God!
The first time the phrase of honor, ‘the man of God’, was used in Scripture it was describing Moses! Moses was a remarkable man and servant of the living God! Even with all his failures, warts, and wrinkles, the God of the Bible described him as a man of God! What characteristics marked him as a man of God?
As you study the Bible, you will find many marks, or characteristics, of a man of God. However, I submit to you what I believe to be seven essential marks of a man of God.
A man of God is a man who has a relationship with God! Simply, you cannot be a man of God unless first you are a child of God! Moses experienced a ‘burning bush’ encounter with the living God. It changed his life! His relationship became personal. You may not have seen the ‘burning bush’, but just as the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” No one can change unless they have first been changed! “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). After your salvation experience, you must live as a new creation regardless of what others may think. The Apostle Paul said, “By the grace of God, I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul’s encounter with Christ Jesus radically changed his life and direction. How has your profession of faith in Jesus changed you?
A man of God is a man of the Bible! The man of God hungers to know God: to hear from Him, to love Him, and to serve Him! The Bible becomes very important to his life. The man of God remains teachable! He believes that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The man of God remains submissive to Scripture! He prays, “Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133). The man of God is a doer of the Word! “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
The man of God is a man of prayer! His prayer life is not for show, although he does pray in public. The man of God spends private time with God in prayer. The Lord Jesus instructed us to go into our closet to pray in secret and then our Father will reward us openly, Matthew 6:5-6. The man of God is passionate in his prayers! He believes and prays expectantly. God promised “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). The man of God experiences power in prayer! Moses prayed and the Red Sea parted, manna came from heaven, water came from a rock in the middle of the desert! Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and one half years, fire fell from heaven and it rained in answer to his prayers, James 5:17-18.
The man of God is a man of faith! He believes in God and he believes God! “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6a). The man of God believes the word of God, that God will do what He says He will do! “That He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6b). The man of God increases his faith as he witnesses his prayers being answered and seeks to incorporate the Bible into his life! “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God: (Romans 10:17). Moses’ faith increased as he obeyed the Word of the Lord in each challenge of his life. His faith grew stronger which equipped him for the next challenge!
The man of God is a man of the Spirit! He submits to the control of the Holy Spirit. Scripture commands us to, “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:17). The man of God is led by the Spirit. He obediently follows, even if it means being led into the wilderness for forty years as Moses, or led into the desert to be tempted by the devil for forty days as in the life of Jesus. The man of God yields to the Holy Spirit allowing the fruit of the Spirit to come forth from his life, Galatians 5:22-23.
The man of God is a man of humility! Scripture relates that Moses was the most humble man, second only to the God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. True, biblical humility is not weakness, but strength under control! The man of God recognizes that he cannot do anything apart from the enablement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord said, that “without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5c). The man of God acknowledges he is to serve others. “Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13b). He follows the example of Jesus Christ when our Lord said, “I came not to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). The man of God recognizes his position. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:1-3).
The man of God is a man of priorities! He places first things first! He loves the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, Matthew 22:36-38. The man of God seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, Matthew 6:33. The man of God loves his family! His priorities are God, wife (Ephesians 5:25), children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), others (Matthew 22:39)!
To be a man of God will not come naturally or easily! To be a man of God means to die to self and may result in suffering for the cause of Christ! To be a man of God is to Christ-Like! To be a man of God is to be compassionate toward people, as was Jesus. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). The Lord is looking for you, man of God, Ezekiel 22:30. Will you be the man of God the church and the world needs?
These are some thoughts to ponder.
Learning to serve,
Robert D. Finley, Ph.D.
January 2018