A Man of God

I Kings 2.1-4

The Kingdom of Israel was unique. Different from all the rest, the spiritual qualifications of its leader were all important. The wickedness of Caesar Augustus is beyond imagination. He ruled Rome. But for Israel the king was to walk with God. The health and safety of nation depended on it. The king determined the spiritual tone of the nation. The people followed him.

Solomon was being charged by David with this responsibility. His spiritual life was all important. David does not talk about his leadership skills, his administrative capabilities,  his ability to command the army, the strategies he would need to win victories,  the nation's economy or other things like that. He speaks about the relationship Solomon would have with the LORD. If that was not right, all else would  not matter.

David and Solomon had a special relationship:

Proverbs 1.1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

Proverbs 3.1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart

Proverbs 4.3-5 When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them."

Often overlooked are those qualities which God holds as all important.  We see that in the choosing of David, when Samuel went to anoint one of the sons of Jesse.

1 Samuel 16:6-7 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him!” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD  looks at the heart.” 

When the LORD was choosing a man to replace Saul he looked at the heart.

The LORD is always looking at the heart of men.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 

What does it mean to be a man or woman of God?

1. Be strong, and prove yourself a man.

Be secure, firm, bold, display your strength, withstand

Man

A champion, a servant

Being a man of God means to be a servant of God. 

Colossians 3:24 It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 

The extent to which I am willing to make myself nothing is the extent to which I desire to have the mind of Christ.

We need to remember that. We need to mature into that. That is all important.

Serve- Give up yourself willingly

bondman

devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests

attendant- ex/ in a wedding

Persecution is serving

II Timothy 3.12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 

Waiting on the LORD

David was giving these instructions in Jerusalem

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore. Psalm 125.1-2

1-Rock Solid City

2-Surrounded by the LORD and His angels

3-Wars have been fought there.

Jerusalem conquered 40 times

But Mount Zion stands! So will the righteous!

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love Your  Name may rejoice in you. Surely, LORD, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. 

To be a man of God means to be strong in the LORD and in His Mighty Power

Ephesians 6.10

Pray

God's Word

Put on the full armor of God

2. Keep the charge of the Lord your God: 

to walk in His ways. It is  daily walk. Each day, step by step

For the king of Israel it was laid out in Deuteronomy 17.14-20

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees.

 Solomon broke each of these

to keep 

His statutes,

His commandments, 

His judgments, 

and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses

Genesis through Deuteronomy

Vital the king understood God was the Creator and had a good understanding of Israel's history, the details and working of God in it.

3.  Results of a Godly life

that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; 

that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 

Good standing in the kingdom.

1 Timothy 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

It was not the success or the accumulation of wealth that would be remembered.

It was the faithfulness to the LORD that brings a blessing as the righteous are remembered.

Being a man or woman of God means you leave the fragrance of Christ, that people think of Christ when they think of you. He must increase I must decrease.

Keep me out of sight so Jesus can shine through my life.