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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

MEN BEHAVING GODLY–PART 1

Introduction

Today being Father’s Day, I feel that God would have me to bring a challenge directed primarily to our men. Men, I want you to understand that this is not about what we’ve done in the past.

We can’t do anything about our past now, so don’t let Satan discourage you. This is about our present direction, about our progress, and about the future prevention of some things!

Have you noticed how much the media likes to shine a bad light on men lately. Unfortunately, there are plenty of men who are behaving badly to shine a light on. But thank God there are also some men who are living godly, though they are normally not the ones being put in the spotlight.

All around us it is apparent that there are those in our society who are trying to wage a war on fatherhood and on real manhood. Attempts are being made to emasculate men and to tear men down and show men to be unimportant. Could I tell you men though that you are important!

Would you agree with me that what the world needs today is not more men behaving badly. What the world really needs today is more men behaving Godly. That is exactly what I want to preach to you about today: “MEN BEHAVING GODLY”

Proverbs 20:6 asks a very sobering question. It says, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?” If ever there was a day when our world needed “Faithful Men,” today is the day!

Today’s message is a message directed primarily toward our men. Though ladies there are some things in this message that have an application in your lives too! Lets begin!

I believe that the men of America need a “wake-up call.” Our world needs us today, more than ever before. Our world needs us to be Godly men.

            • Your wife need you to be a Godly man...

            • Your children need you to be a Godly man...

            • Your church needs you to be a Godly man...

            • Your business or employer needs you to be a Godly man...

            • Your community and your nation needs you to be a Godly man...

What the world really needs today are some “MEN BEHAVING GODLY!”

I am convinced that if our families are going to survive in this 21st century:

            They will need strong male leadership to do so.

            They will have to be led by Godly husbands and fathers.

            Men will have to stop behaving badly and start behaving GODLY.

The family is the basic building block of all social structures. “as the family goes, so goes all of society.” Also, listen to me, “as men go, so goes the family.”

The family unit needs the proper leadership of men. When men are fulfilling their God-given assignment as spiritual leaders in their homes, the home is stable, secure and satisfying.

However, where you see families crumbling and falling apart, it is most often (though not always) the result of men failing in their God-given roles of spiritual leadership. When men fail, the home falls apart and all of society feels the repercussions.

When men behave badly, society suffers. When men behave Godly, society is strengthened.

Our text this morning is one of many passages that speak directly to the issue of MEN BEHAVING GODLY. Before we read this Psalm, understand that it was penned for men.

Let’s first notice David, the earthly author God used to write this Psalm:

• David was a Man’s man! He wasn’t a “girly man.” Remember that even as a lad, David killed a lion and a bear while shepherding his sheep and he courageously stood up to the giant, Goliath, and killed him and cut off his head. David was a warrior! He was a man’s man!

• David, as a young man, behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. (1 Samuel 18:5, 14, 30.) David had some discretion about Him. Rather than force issues by his own hand, he waited on God. (i.e. the matter of the kingship and Saul.)

• David was a family man! He had the responsibilities of being a husband and father. In fact, this is one area of David’s life where he produced his greatest failures. Like many men today, David allowed other things to distract him from the priority and attention that should have been given to his family.

• David was a leader, a business man, a man with great responsibilities! He was one of the most successful kings of all history. He was a builder and an administrator. The kings that came after him were often compared to him.

• David was a spiritual man. He was “a man after God’s own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)

David spent a lot of time in personal worship of the Lord. He wrote Psalms and hymns of praise. But David was also a leader in corporate worship. (i.e. He joined with the people in public worship of God.)

• David could relate to every man in this room today. He experienced everything you experience as a man. And he usually excelled in everything he did. David can relate to us and most of us can relate to him. Now I want you to listen to what David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said about “MEN BEHAVING GODLY.”

Let’s stand while we READ PSALM 112.

Every day score’s of men become a father for the first time. (I remember well the day that I became a father for the first time. There is not a tag that comes attached to the baby telling you the instructions for care.) And, most fathers become fathers without any training or instructions on how to be a father. That ought not be the case in Christian circles, but sadly it is.

If the men who become fathers, would learn how to behave Godly, think of how it would change the world!

William Raspberry, a columnist with the Washington Post, said... “If I could offer a single prescription for the survival of America, . . . it would be: restore the family. And if you asked me how to do it, my answer would be: ‘save the boys.’ ” (5 Lies? p.96)

Moms and dads, the process of teaching men to behave Godly needs to begin while they are still boys in your care!

Psalm 112 tells us exactly where the whole process has to begin. Look closely again at verse 1.

vs. 1 – This gets right to the root of the problem for most of us men:

•          Problem #1–Too many men do not have a healthy fear of God!

            The last verse of Psalm 111 says: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

            Although men may look everywhere for happiness, the secret of happiness is simple–

            blessed, or happy, is the person who fears the LORD!

            Remember in the book of Ecclesiastes how Solomon recounted his search for happiness?

He thought he could find happiness in thought, so he gave himself to wisdom and knowledge. He became a man whose wisdom was proverbial even in his own day, but that did not make Solomon happy.

            He though he could find happiness in thrills, so he dedicated himself to pleasure.

He tried everything that money could buy or that his mind could conceive–wine, women and song! Yet none of it made him happy.

He thought he could find happiness in things, so he gave himself to accumulating riches and the things that riches could buy. He had his agents search the markets of the world for new and exotic things. He had everything that money could buy in his day.

            Yet, it did not make him happy.

At the end of his book he says this: Ecclesiastes12:13–“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

That was the way he originally started life when he was a young man. However, he traded spiritual truth for the world and it cost him dearly!

To abandon the fear of the LORD is to open the door to every wicked philosophy which the mind of man is capable of devising. (Colossians 2:8)

•          Problem #2–Too many men do not find great delight in God’s commands!

            This too is a thought carried over from the last verse of Psalm 111.

            It is also the subject of the very first Psalm. (Quote)

            It is also the subject of Psalm 119. (Read verses 1-16)

Society has tried to discredit the Bible and, as a result, it is unhappy, unsatisfied, and unsettled. When the Bible is emphasized, it makes people good and makes nations great!

When a man truly fears God and truly loves God’s Word, that man is on his way to true godliness and happiness in his life! His life is going to be productive and successful!

In the time we have remaining, let’s look at some of the promises given here that are associated with a man who fears God and finds great delight in His commands.

I.         THERE IS A PROMISE CONCERNING HIS CHILDREN. (Psalm 112:2-4a)

            A.        His Seed Shall Be Mighty On The Earth! (i.e. Powerful!)

Godliness brings a stabilizing power in a person’s life! It brings forth power with men, but more importantly it brings forth power with God!Spiritual power!

            B.        His Generation Will Be Blessed!

                        The word “generation” refers to the descendants of the man who fears the LORD.

                        Godliness brings a stabilizing influence in our families and in our nation!

It all begins with a man! Ezekiel 22:30–“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.”

            C.        His House Will Have True Wealth And Riches!

Proverbs 22:4–“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”

What riches is he talking about?

                        1.         A Good Name And Loving Favour. 

Proverbs 22:1–“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

                        2.         Wisdom.

Proverbs 3:13-15–“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.”

Proverbs 8:18–“Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.”

                        3.         Righteousness.

What could be more valuable than imputed righteousness of Christ? Enduring righteousness.

            D.        He Has Light In The Darkenss!

He does not have to stumble along in the dark like the ungodly man. He has light in the darkness!

                        We live in a dark world. To have light in darkness is a special blessing!

John 8:12–“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

If we want our Children to be mighty and blessed and if we want to be rich in the things that really count and if we want to have a light in the darkness we must fear the LORD and delight in His Word!

We must get focused on the fear of the LORD and a love for the Word of God, rather than on the temporal pursuits and pleasures of this life!

Many parents try to give their kids everything in they want! We can give our children everything in the world, but it will only amount to disaster in their lives if we do not first have and then impart to them a fear of the LORD and a love for the Word of God!

II.       THERE IS A PROMISE CONCERNING HIS CHARACTER. (Psalm 112:4b-5)

There are three things we find in the Character of the man who fears God and delights in the Word of God:

            A.        He Is Gracious.

Favorable; kind; benevolent; merciful; disposed to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings; virtuous, good.

            B.        He Is Full Of Compassion.

Having a disposition to pity; inclined to show mercy; having a heart that is tender, and easily moved by the distresses, sufferings, wants and infirmities of others.

            C.        He Is Righteous.

The quality of doing what is right and just; one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice.

            D.        He Is Guided By Discretion.

Prudence; or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution.

            i.e. He is Godly in his character. The first three are all descriptive of God’s character!

III.      THERE IS A PROMISE CONCERNING HIS CONFIDENCE. (Psalm 112:6-8)

            A.        Everlasting Security. (Vs. 6)

                        That is the kind of security that was purchased for us at Calvary!

                        He may not be remembered down here, but he is remembered in heaven!

            B.        Every-Day Security. (Vs. 7-8)

                        1.         Bad News Does Not Shake Him! (Vs 7)

                                    He knows that God is still on the throne!

                        2.         Good News Does Not Shun Him! (Vs 8)

                                    There may be bad news at times, but thank God it is not all bad news!

                                    Good news is on the way!

IV.      THERE IS A PROMISE CONCERNING HIS CHARITY. (Psalm 112:9)

This is the essence of practical godliness. When we fear God and delight in His Word, we can’t help but be charitable, because God is charitable.

V.        THERE IS A PROMISE CONCERNING HIS COMMENDATION.

            (Psalm 112:6, 9b)

Conclusion

Now, I’m not through with this message, but we are through for today.

Next week, Lord willing, I want to share with you four specific areas that I believe will help all of us men become “Psalm 112” kind of men. I pray that you will come back for part two!

So, I’m not looking for a show of hands, but how many of you men would like to be this kind of man that we’ve talked about? How about a show of hearts this morning!

If you want to be this kind of man, the place to begin is verse 1. Be a man who fears God and finds great delight in His commands.

I’m telling you my friend this is the kind of Man your wife, your children, your community, your country, and your Church needs. It is the kind of man this world needs today!

And just to be quite honest, this is the kind of man that is hard to find today, even in the Church.

Unfortunately there are more men behaving badly than there are men behaving godly.

But that doesn’t have to be the case in your life. Can one man really make difference?

He sure can! Whether it be for evil or for good! (Achan was one man. Paul was one man)

Ladies, as I said, don’t fool yourself into thinking that there’s nothing here for you.

Don’t think that these blessings are limited to the men! Are you praying for your man to be a Godly man?

God wants both men and women to fear Him and to delight in His Word! It is good for you and it is good for everything about your life and the lives of your children and grandchildren!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!