INTRODUCTION
Followers of Jesus Christ will produce fruits in their lives, the fruits worthy of repentance as well as the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They live their lives as a living testimony of God’s law, man’s sin and Christ’s forgiveness.
Followers of Christ are in a class of their own, easily recognized by others by the lives they live.
Those who knew you before Christ should not recognize you after Him.
We hear Christ’s voice and follow Him (John 10:27).
We are one body in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:5).
We are called to be a saint (I Corinthians 1:2).
We are a new creature in Christ Jesus, the old has passed away (II Cor 5:17).
We are His workmanship (Galatians 2:10).
Light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8).
We are content (Philippians 4:11).
If you do not have a new relationship with sin, then you do not have a relationship with Christ Jesus.
If you look and act the same after your “conversion”, then you are still laying in the tomb...you need to hear the Words of Christ, and come out!
THE GODLY HEAR HIS VOICE AND ANSWER WITH THEIR LIVES
This is the final sermon in this series on “What is Salvation”, and today I will be talking about the earmarks of what a Godly Man is, what a Godly Woman is, and what Characteristics they both should share.
We will talk about Man, and some of his requirements, and failures, as well as woman and some of her requirements and failures.
We will also discuss a little about the roles within marriage; and what all followers of Christ should be exhibiting as fruits of their conversion.
Remember, if you have Christ and are His true follower, you will want to do what is required of you to come closer to Him!
As we strive to get closer to Him, He promises that He will come closer to us!
Every day in our lives we are given the opportunities to show Christ to others, to be a walking bible and light in this world, and it is ever so important for us to ensure that before we “go forth” as commanded in the Great Commission, that WE OURSELVES are in a right standing with the Lord!
If you are not in a right standing with the Lord, or perhaps not even biblically saved, and you are trying to share the Word of God with others, the scriptures refer to you in Ephesians 4:18 as having blindness in your own heart!
You are warned in Luke 6:39 “...Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”
It is time to stop “playing church”, “acting like Christians”, trying to live both in righteousness and sin.
You cannot!
If God be anything, then He MUST be everything!
I. MEN
a. Marks of a Godly Man
i. It is never too late to stand up and be counted as one of the faithful in the Kingdom of God!
ii. It should ALWAYS be our goal to be a loving father, and a faithful husband.
iii. Job 31 gives us some characteristics of a godly man. Job is a man who blessed God when he had plenty, and blessed God when he had nothing. Job did not waiver in his commitment to God...do you?
1. Godly men guard their morality (v1-4, 9-12)
a. A godly man keeps his behavior in check. He allows himself to be accountable for his actions. He reserves his sexuality for his marriage relationship. He does not give himself over to a lustful mind or visual satisfaction. A godly man models for his children the pattern of a man who is strong and pure. Are you moral?
2. Godly men protect their integrity (v6-8)
a. A godly man knows the value of his integrity before God, his wife, his family and his church. A man of integrity can be trusted in his words and actions. Can you be trusted?
3. Godly men are involved in their community (v13-23)
a. A godly man models the tender heart of Christ. A godly man understands he has a responsibility to model Christ to his neighbors. Are you showing Christ to others by the way you live?
4. Godly men concern themselves with spiritual things (v24-28)
a. A godly man will never forget who he is, whose he is, or where the meaning and power for life come from.
b. In the life of a Godly man, his foundation IS GOD!
c. Fathers and husbands need to learn faithfulness. Stand by your promises. Never let go. When marriage isn’t fun, stay with it. When parenting is over your head, stay with it. When work is crushing your spirit, stay with it, don’t let it beat you. When your children let you down, pick them up. When your wife goes through mood swings, live with it and be faithful to her...be a man, be faithful.
5. A Godly man controls his emotions (v29-30)
a. A short emotional tirade can do a lifetime of damage. A godly man learns his triggers and learns to discipline his responses to situations. Emotions left unchecked will destroy a man’s life and home.
6. A Godly man is not afraid of accountability (v33-34)
a. Cracks in our character unattended create catastrophe in our conduct.
b. A godly man never denies that he is a sinner and in need of a savior. He owns up to his brokenness.
c. Proverbs 28:13 “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and repents them finds mercy.”
7. A Godly man is a faithful steward (v38-40)
a. A Godly man sees that everything in his life belongs to God, and he is only the manager. He realizes that the day will come when he will give an account of his management.
Job faced adversity and remained faithful to God. God blessed his faithfulness and He will bless yours.
1 Timothy 6:3-11
3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Paul's Charge to Timothy
11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
II. WOMEN
a. Marks of a Godly Woman
i. It is never too late to stand up and be counted as one of the faithful in the Kingdom of God!
ii. It should ALWAYS be our goal to be a loving mother, and a faithful wife.
iii. There are many scriptures in Proverbs, as well as in the New Testament, which give examples of the Godly woman. Next week we will speak more on marriage and discuss where Adam failed and where Eve failed, and how we can learn from their mistakes.
1. A Godly woman fears God
a. Proverbs 31:30-31 “30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
2. A Godly woman opens her mouth in wisdom
a. Proverbs 31:26-28 “She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her: “
her husband also, and he praises her: “
3. A Godly woman is content to be a keeper of the home
a. This does not mean she never leaves the house, but her focus and attention is what is best for her home and family God has given her to care for.
b. Titus 2:5 “self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
4. A Godly woman loves her husband and children
a. Titus 2:3-4 “ 3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,”
5. A Godly woman is focused more on inward character than outward adornment
a. I Peter 3:3-6 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”
6. A Godly woman dresses modestly
a. I Timothy 2:9-10 “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
7. A Godly woman is trustworthy
a. Proverb 31:11-12 “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
all the days of her life.
8. A Godly woman is industrious
a. Proverbs 31:13-27 “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
b. This is a Godly woman...
9. A Godly woman is giving
a. Luke 8:3 “3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
10. A Godly woman is of sound mind, in ones senses, curbing desires and impulses, self-controlled and temperate
a. Titus 2:5
11. A Godly woman builds up instead of tearing down
a. Proverbs 14:1 “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
b. Ephesians 4:29-32 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
12. A Godly woman is praiseworthy
a. Proverbs 31:28-31 “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
These are just some of the characteristics of godly men and women!
III. WE CAN BE THESE THINGS
1. If we are biblically saved
2. God has given us His Spirit!
3. All things are possible through Christ Jesus who strengthens us!
4. We can be faithful true followers of Jesus Christ!
Next week we will discuss what biblical marriage is and is not, and following that, we will conclude this series with a final check-list of our behaviors.
