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Bible Study Series: "Exposition on the Gospel of John Chapter 16": Part 2

4/28/2015

John 16:12-33
"Exposition on Gospel of John 16:12-33"
(Part 2)

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.*
Sorrow Will Turn to Joy
"A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father." Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying." Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World
"These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will* have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Introduction:

JESUS in verses 7 through 11 reassures the disciples of the future. He assures us of that “prepared place” He will prepare for the believer spoke about in Chapter 14; that we will live in with Him when He comes back from glory. He told us that one of the assignments the Holy Spirit will have will be to judge the world (Israel and the Gentile nations) of righteousness because of the way they treated Jesus Christ while He was here on earth. He then gave us the assurance that the Devil, with his angels (demons) and those who continue to serve him have already been judged and one day all of the wicked being banished into hell by the last judgment along with those wicked living people who will die in their sin and refuse to turn from their sin and turn to Christ.

So, in the Christian revelation, we are made acquainted with three grand truths, which gives us the summary of the condition and substance of all true religion.

Jesus: More Things to Say…..”But you can’t bear them now”(Verses 12-15)
There were several reasons Jesus said this:

More Concerning the Work of the Holy Spirit (Verse 13-14)

When “HE” the “Spirit of Truth” comes:

The Holy Spirit is called this because of His “mission of revelation” – the revealer of all truth…. That is, all that truth which pertained to the establishment of the Christian faith, those things Jesus said they were not then prepared to hear or the many changes they would experience in the near future. Jesus’ death, burial resurrection and ascending in to heaven and Great Commission would open their eyes, and the Holy Spirit, reminding them of the striking and impressive scenes of his death and ascension, would carry them forward with that commission. According to the first and second chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, they learned more of the true nature of the Christian plan than they would have done in months or years even under the teaching of Jesus himself….(vs. 13)
He shall not speak of Himself: The Holy Spirit will convey (communicate) everything He has heard from God the Father and God the Son Refer to John 5:30 and John 7:18. Whatever the Holy Spirit heard would come directly from God and Jesus. (Therefore faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD of God) He would bring back to their remembrance (explain all that Jesus had said to them) and explain all those things that came to past and were said to come to past in the future.
The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus, That is, the Holy Spirit will honor Jesus and exalt the Lord’s character. He will be God’s ambassador and convey God’s wishes, complete His part of God’s mandate, as well as communicate our assignment s to us as mandated by God.

Note: This is always the work of the Holy Spirit Everything He does will point to Jesus Christ. If we have been truly convicted of sin and renewed by the Holy Spirit, the tendency of all his influences has been to lead us to the Savior; to show us our need of him; to reveal to us the loveliness of his character, and the fitness of his work to our needs; and to incline us to cast our eternal interests on his almighty arm, and commit all to his hands.
Jesus: “All things the Father has are mine.
This is the reason the Holy Spirit will take what is mine and reveal it to you. This is further evidence of the Trinity. Jesus said I and the Father are one. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God operating in this dispensation as our Guide and Intercessor. Guide because His responsibility is to guide us in our Christian walk to walk according to the principles, precepts, and truth of the Word of God. (Vs. 15)

Jesus Speaks: Concerning His Death…Resurrection…Second Coming

Jesus makes a “Doctrinal Statement” in John 16:7-11. Jesus reminds them again of the advantage they will have after Jesus ascends to God…the Holy Spirit descending from God (verses 16-18)

“A little while” you shall not see me (death and burial in Joseph’s tomb) “a little while”(in 3 days) you shall see me” (resurrection from the grave) because I go to the Father. (ascending to Heaven) This was part of the plan of salvation and redemption(vs. 16)
Confusion and misunderstanding: What is this Jesus is saying to us? We don’t understand….(vs. 17-18)

Jesus explains again His Ascending and Second Coming: (Verses 19-22)
It is here in verses 19 through 28 the 39th New Testament prophecy is fulfilled and being fulfilled. (Luke 23:27 and 24:41) [This actually happened while Jesus carried the cross bruised, whipped and battered walking down the Via Delarosa toward Calvary.]

You will cry and be sorrowful while the world (those who were crying crucify Him and reveling at His demise) will be rejoicing….but your tears and sorrow will turn into joy (after His resurrection) and time spent with them before He ascends to Heaven. (Vs. 20)
An illustration of their sorrow (vs. 21-22)
The Christian Power of Attorney: “A New Law on Prayer” (Verses 23-28)

In that day you will ask me nothing! (When Jesus has ascended to the Father) but whatever you ask the Father in MY name He will give it to you

All the while Jesus was with them, they had been accustomed to depending on him for everything they needed and for those things they may have desired. As his chosen vessels, they were to depend and expect His aid. Read Matthew 8:25 and John 11:3.

They were to depend on Jesus personally instructing them, explain to them the mysteries of his religion, and doctrines and to remove any cloud of confusion on any subject concerning the Word (as they had it then and would see it further written and revealed by men designated by the Holy Spirit on script) that had them perplexed Remember, beforehand, they had not sought God the Father through Jesus as the Mediator, they had gone to Jesus directly. He now tells them from this time forward all of their requests were to be made to God in Jesus’ name, and God, by the influences of his Spirit, would make known to them what Jesus would do if he was physically present. That is…when you now pray, your prayer should resemble something like the following: “Father God…in the name of Jesus”… and end something like “IN the name of Jesus I pray…Amen!”

Hitherto (beforehand during Jesus’ earthly ministry) you asked nothing in my name. But now ask and you shall receive that your joy might be full

Now they had the assurance that they might approach God in his name; and, amid all their trials, they, as well as all Christians since, might draw near to God, knowing that he would hear and answer their prayers.(vs. 24)

Jesus: Speaks: I’m speaking these things in proverbs: (In a manner that appears obscure, enigmatical, and difficult to be understood. His declarations in these chapters about his death and resurrection appear to us to be plain, yet to the apostles, filled with Jewish prejudices, and unwilling to believe that he was about to die, they would appear exceedingly obscure and perplexed. but the time will come (After Jesus has ascended and the Holy Spirit has come to earth to rest on them) when I will not speak in proverbs, but I will show you (through the Holy Spirit) plainly of the Father. The Holy Spirit will reveal all to you concerning the will and plan of the Father; particularly his plan in the establishment and spread of the Christian religion to the Gentiles, and in organizing the church. This was fulfilled in Acts 10th chapter. (vs. 25)

Jesus: “At that day” you shall ask in My name and I will plead with the Father in your behalf.” (I will be your Intercessor!) (vs. 26) Here are 2 reasons Jesus gave the Disciples:

God the Father loves you Himself because you love me and you believe that I came out from God. (God the Father sent Me to you.)
I (physically) came to this world. (as a baby born to Mary in Bethlehem)

Disciples Response: “Now we Understand!” (verses 29-30)
Here were the reasons for their ability to understand Jesus now:

You’re speaking plainly to us! (No proverbs)
Now we are sure: You know all things…therefore…no man needs not to ask you this..We believe you came from God

The 40th New Testament Prophecy: The Suffering and Persecutions of Christians (verses 31-33) Question and Declaration from Jesus

Jesus: “Do you believe now?”

Jesus asked them this question to cause them to fully the condition of their hearts. Even though they supposed that they had unshaken faith-The kind of faith that would hold up under every trial they would face. Jesus told them that they were about to go through upcoming trials that would severely test them, and show them they would need to place all their confidence in God. Here’s a note to us: Whenever we feel strong in the faith we should always examine ourselves. It may be that we are deceived; and it may be that God may even then be preparing trials for us that will shake our faith to its foundation. (vs.32)

Behold: “The Hour is coming…..The Hour (time) is now Here!” (the next day)

You shall be scattered! (He prophesized this to them in the upper room in Matthew 26:31)
Every man to his own (except John) and shall leave ME alone. Everybody either went back to their homes in Galilee or went back to their profession (fishing) before Jesus first called them into discipleship.
You will leave me alone yet, I’m not alone because the Father is with ME.

Jesus knew He could depend on God the Father to stay with Him. He had trusted the Father all the while. In the midst of his sufferings Jesus looked to HIM look for support. Even though in his dying moments he suffered so much Jesus asked in agony: My God My God, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" yet it was language addressed to him still as his God - "My God, my God." Even then he had confidence in God-confidence so strong and unwavering that he could say, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit," Luke 23:46. In all these sufferings he had the assurance that God was his friend, that he was doing his will, that he was promoting his glory, and that he looked on him with approbation.

Something to remember: It matters little who else forsakes us if God be with us in our hour of pain and of death; and though poor, forsaken, or despised, yet, if we have the consciousness of his presence and his favor, then we may fear no evil. His rod and his staff, they will comfort us. Without his favor then, death will be full of horrors, though we are surrounded by weeping relatives, and by all the honor, and splendor, and wealth which the world can bestow. The Christian can die saying, I am not alone, because the Father is with me. The sinner cant’ say this because he or she dies without that only friend that can alleviate his or her sufferings. Without Jesus Christ, they will die without the one source of real joy. (vs. 32)
Jesus Speaks: The reason : “These things I have spoken unto you….”

“That you might have peace in ME. (and with the aid of the Holy Spirit)
In the world, (among the people you will be going back to) you shall have tribulation, (You can expect them to persecute you, revile you, torment you, afflict you and say all manner of evil against you)
But be of good cheer….I have overcome the world”. (vs.33)

He overcame the prince of this world (Satan) by his death, (John 12:31). He vanquished the great foe of man, and triumphed over all the powers of darkness that would work to ruin us in every way. He brought down aid and strength from above by his death; and by obtaining for us the friendship of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did it by his own instructions and living them by example. He did it by revealing to us the glories of heaven, and opening our eyes to see the excellence of heavenly things. He has provided us with the means of overcoming all our enemies, and the means to triumph and overcome all our temptations.

Conclusion:

Martin Luther said it best: “The world is a vanquished enemy; Satan is a humbled foe; and all that believers have to do is to put their trust in the Captain of Our Salvation, put on the whole armor of God, with the assurance that the victory is ours and that the church shall yet shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.

Rev Dr. William Edward Boddie

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Bible Study Series: "Exposition on the Gospel of John Chapter 16" Part 1

4/27/2015

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Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples
John 16:1-3
"These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you* because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the* time comes,you may remember that I told you of them.

Introduction:

The first 16 verses of John 16 is the 38th New Testament prophecy revealed in the gospel writings. Continuing to encourage and prepare the remaining 11 disciples as He did in 2 previous chapters, Jesus and the disciples are now leaving the upper room guest chamber and as previously stated, still preparing and encouraging the disciples about the life changing events that are about to take place as his pending crucifixion death (now just hours away) draws near. He continues to emphasize the reason He wasn’t forthcoming on many things in the beginning when He challenged them to drop what they were doing and become “fishers of men. Jesus now focuses on those “upcoming” things they must remember to both take heed to and be prepared for evangelism after receiving the indwelling power of the Holy Ghost. He lets them know that The Holy Spirit will guide them in all things and will bring back to their remembrance everything Jesus had ever said to them, because in the Great Commission, they will continue the spread of the gospel message throughout Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world

It was here Jesus said: "But…I tell you these things" (ahead of time) that when the time (of these things) shall come …You will remember I told you about them…

Now I didn’t tell you these things at the beginning (when I first chose all of you) because I was with you. What if He had told them up front what they could expect on this journey? He told them now because they needed to know what was to confront them and to impress upon them the importance of being on guard once Jesus is physically gone.

But now I’m going back to Him that sent Me (God the Father) and none of you asked me where are you going? Jesus gave the answer to why they didn’t ask at this time. Because of all that I said, all of your hearts are filled with sorrow

The Expediency (Advantage and Purpose) of Jesus’ departure…For the purpose of the coming of the “Comforter”(Holy Ghost) (Verse 7)

Jesus: “If I don’t go away (depart by dying and ascend to the Father) the Comforter will not come, but if I depart, I will send Him unto you: God followed every step He laid out for the plan of salvation before the foundation of the world.

Note: The Holy Spirit cannot come to them, or to the world, unless Jesus first died and fulfilled the process for salvation; (For without the shedding of blood….there can be no remission for sin) and consequently men cannot be saved but in this way. In fact no man can declare that Jesus is the Christ but by the Holy Ghost.

Introduction: The first 16 verses of John 16 is the 38th New Testament prophecy revealed in the gospel writings. Continuing to encourage and prepare the remaining 11 disciples as He did in 2 previous chapters, Jesus and the disciples are now leaving the upper room guest chamber and as previously stated, still preparing and encouraging the disciples about the life changing events that are about to take place as his pending crucifixion death (now just hours away) draws near. He continues to emphasize the reason He wasn’t forthcoming on many things in the beginning when He challenged them to drop what they were doing and become “fishers of men. Jesus now focuses on those “upcoming” things they must remember to both take heed to and be prepared for evangelism after receiving the indwelling power of the Holy Ghost. He lets them know that The Holy Spirit will guide them in all things and will bring back to their remembrance everything Jesus had ever said to them, because in the Great Commission, they will continue the spread of the gospel message throughout Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world

Jesus warns the disciples: You will experience persecution (Verses 1-6)

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service

Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you (I’m telling you ahead of time) that you should not be offended” that is, that ye should not be stumbled. That you may not fall away from the faith, nor receive any injury to your souls, become distrustful and crumble under the intense pressures of persecution and desert the faith and your calling) Jesus said they are going to do the following:

They shall put you out of the synagogue. Excommunicate and withdraw the right hand of fellowship. (Judaizers)… unbelieving Gentiles and other Anti-Christian nations (Romans)

They will put some of you to death and think that they did God a great service by taking your life. (Isis and other radical Christ-hating groups are doing this in this present time). And here is “The reason”:

They will be doing this because they have not known God the Father or Me (Jesus) That is, they are ignorant of God and Jesus. It is being ignorant of God and Christ that shapes the foundation for all religious persecutions and intolerances.

Paul wrote to the Roman church declaring such indictment: For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and having gone about to establish their own righteousness…have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

But…I tell you these things (ahead of time) that when the time (of these things) shall come …You will remember I told you about them…

Now I didn’t tell you these things at the beginning (when I first chose all of you) because I was with you. What if He had told them up front what they could expect on this journey? He told them now because they needed to know what was to confront them and to impress upon them the importance of being on guard once Jesus is physically gone.

But now I’m going back to Him that sent Me (God the Father) and none of you asked me where are you going? Jesus gave the answer to why they didn’t ask at this time. Because of all that I said, all of your hearts are filled with sorrow

After the crucifixion Jesus relinquished the office of Prophet at the cross as He ascended into heaven in Acts 1:9 put on His priestly robe and stepped into His office of Our Great High Priest……Both Jehovah (Yahweh) God who sent the Holy Spirit and Jesus who promised the Holy Spirit kept their promise of sending “The Comforter” after Jesus was crucified…buried…rose from the dead…and ascended back to the Father in Heaven

This is proved out in Acts 2:4 when they received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost….Preached out in Chapter 2:14-17…when Peter preached the historic indictment against all (from the Sanhedrin to those who cried out Crucify Him and then those who heard the Gospel message had to submit to the 4 “C’s of salvation: Acts 2:37-47

They had to be put under conviction…vs. 37

“When they heard this (the Gospel and the history) they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter…Men and brethren…what shall we do?”

They had to be convinced to change…vs. 38-40

“If you repent of your sins …confess Jesus Christ as your Messiah for the remission of your sins you will receive the gift and sealing of the Holy Ghost” (paraphrased) This was the only way they could be saved from the wrath of God that was to fall on that crooked generation they were apart of.

Jesus: “If I don’t go away (depart by dying and ascend to the Father) the Comforter will not come, but if I depart, I will send Him unto you: God followed every step He laid out for the plan of salvation before the foundation of the world.

Note: The Holy Spirit cannot come to them, or to the world, unless Jesus first died and fulfilled the process for salvation; (For without the shedding of blood….there can be no remission of sin.

Historic fact: From 70 A.D. ..and on the church and the Jews as a nation of people went through 10 terrible periods of persecutions represented by the history by each of the 7 churches John later wrote to in the Book of Revelation while he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos for preaching the Word of God and standing firm in his testimony of Jesus Christ.

They had to be converted….vs. 41
“They gladly received the Word (Jesus) and were baptized and sealed by the Holy Ghost”.
They were now being prepped for The Great Commission.... vs. 42-47

Remember…When Pilate gave them the choice to choose either Jesus Barabbas or Jesus Christ…the Son of God and the only Messiah this world will ever have…they chose Barabbas and cried “Crucify Jesus” and after Pilate took a wash basin full of water and washed his hands and publicly declared I am innocent of the blood of this just man…see you to it their reply was His blood be upon us and our children!

They had to be converted….vs. 41

“They gladly received the Word (Jesus) and were baptized and sealed by the Holy Ghost”.
They were prepped for The Great Commission vs. 42-47

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church* daily those who were being saved”.

Remember this: Christ was treated by the Jews as an impostor; as a magician; as one possessed by the Devil; as a wicked person, seducer, and destroyer of the law. His vindication from these charges he chiefly referred to the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who, by his influences on the minds of the people, and by his eloquence and energy in the ministry of the apostles, convinced both the Jews and the Gentiles that the sentence of the Jewish rulers was unjust and infamous, and that the very person whom they had crucified was both Lord and Christ-Lord, the great governor of the universe; and Christ, the Lord's anointed, the promised Messiah.

Isaiah’s response to the wickedness and lack of righteousness of the Jews before the birth (first coming) of the Messiah: Isaiah 64:4-8

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that wait for him. You meet him that rejoice and work righteousness, (do the works of righteousness) those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an “unclean thing”, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calls upon thy name, that stirs up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O Lord , thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand”.
Summary of first 11 verses:

One general exposition may be given of these three verses. The Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin committed, and guilt and condemnation thereby incurred. Of righteousness-of the necessity of being pardoned, and made righteous through the blood of the Lamb, who, after being offered up for sin, went to the Father, ever to appear in his presence as our intercessor: and of judgment-of the great day thereof, when none shall be able to stand but those whose sins are pardoned, and whose souls are made righteous. In all that our Lord says here, there seems to be an allusion to the office of an advocate in a cause, in a court of justice; who, by producing witnesses, and pleading upon the proof, convicts the opposite party of sin, demonstrates the righteousness of his client, and shows the necessity of passing judgment upon the accuser.

The Holy Spirit exposes the fact that because we are sinners, we have no righteousness in us. Isaiah 53:5-6 shows us just how unrighteous we really are. The Holy Spirit lets us know that we are damned and doomed without the righteousness of Jesus Christ because our righteousness is like filthy rags in God’s sight
The faith of the Gospel discovers unto us three different states of man: it shows him:

1. Under sin, in which there is nothing but infidelity toward God, because there is no faith in Jesus Christ.

2. Under grace, in which sin is pardoned, and righteousness acquired by faith in Christ; who is gone to the Father to carry on, by his intercession, the great work of redemption.

3. In the peace and glory of heaven, where Christ will reign with his members; the Devil, with his angels and servants, being banished into hell by the last judgment.

Thus, in the Christian revelation, we are made acquainted with three grand truths, which contain the sum and substance of all true religion.

The first is the general corruption of human nature, and the reign of sin until the coming of Christ. The second is the reparation of our nature by the Lord Jesus, and the reign of righteousness by his grace: The third is the condemnation of sinners, and the total destruction of the kingdom of sin, and of all the power of the Devil, by the last judgment. To Be Continued........

Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie

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Bible Sermon Series: Men's Day Service at Bald Rock Baptist Church of Conyers, Georgia USA...Theme: "Men of God...Men On Guard" 1 Timothy Chapter 3, Verses 14 through 16.... By Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie 4/18/2015

4/27/2015

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1 Timothy 3:14--16: "Men of God...Men On Guard"

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God* was manifested in the flesh,

Justified in the Spirit Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Introduction: Concerning the title: "Man of God"

The title: “Man of God” is a title of endearment that draws a distinctive difference between the man of the streets, whose lifestyle…livelihood…living arrangement and spiritual mindset conforms to and have been shaped by the demonic driven rudiments of this world …from the man who have been brought out of darkness…into God’s marvelous light. The difference in the 2 types of men lies in the fact that the "Man of God" is a "living representation" of a man who has been born again... saved…sanctified…and set free from the penalty of sin…and is now going through God's cleansing process and is being set free from the power of sin as he goes through what is called the "sanctification process"! The man of God is now Holy Ghost sealed and Holy Ghost filled because he’s been "washed" in the blood of the Lamb Because he is no longer lost and destined for hell when he dies, he has become a man of a different world, because from a spiritual perspective, he now lives here as an earthly “non conformist” (spiritually speaking) as his salvation in Jesus Christ has purchased him “heavenly citizenship”. He’s free. Freed from the "old man "(his former self) who came into this world born in sin and shaped in iniquity. He's now a new creation in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:17) Old things have passed away and if you take a closer look at his life now…you can see that right before your eyes, he has become "new", transformed by a “renewed” mind in Christ Jesus, now able to prove that good…acceptable…perfect will of God…

God's Man: "A New Man"..."A New Behavior"

This title of endearment (Man of God) describes men now dedicated to the cause of Jesus Christ; men who have decided to follow God in every way and depicting men who are willing to learn and obey the Lord’s every command with exceeding joy…Their every action shows that their very lives have been shaped by the principles…precepts and sovereign truths of Our Sovereign Creator. During his spiritual transformation, the man of God came to realize that there were 3 things needed in the salvation of our souls:

The first was a "fighting a good fight" in our behalf by the Lord himself. God using His angelic army and having already forged the plan of redemption and preparing the ultimate sacrifice (Jesus Christ) before the foundation of the world fought the powers of darkness in our behalf because he wanted all of us to be saved and to come into the knowledge of the truth.

The second thing that was needed was a “holding faith”…that kind of faith that keep us theologically sound in our belief of God in Jesus Christ…and educationally valid so we could completely hold on to the mystery of the Faith with a pure conscience and accept the real truth about Sin…Satan…Salvation and Our Savior Jesus Christ by faith. And the last thing needed was the ability to maintaining "a good conscience", because we need to be persuaded that nothing past of present…living or dead…no power…principality….no height…no depth or any living creature will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Over the course of time, the longer you are around dedicated men of God it will become more evident that a real man of God clearly will not fall in love with this ever changing world. He won’t conforms to the character of Satan, …the prince and power of this age. He’ doesn’t become a blasphemer…a deceiver…a supplanter…and he will refuse to march to the sinful seductive drumbeat of this world…He has no desire to live for the things of this world because if he does… he knows what God said ”the the love of the Father is not in him”.

The man of God knows that there are 2 deadly things drive loving the world: They are lust and pride: John the Apostle once wrote in 1 John 2:16-17” For all that’s in the world: the lust of the flesh….the lust of the eyes…and the pride of life is not of the Father …but…it is of the World”. John said: And the world passes away and the lust thereof…but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever…

So then my brothers and sisters to be a man of God requires that man who desires to be God’s man to possess the kind of “eyes” that looks to the hill from where really all of his help comes from. He must then let this mind be in him that was also in Christ Jesus. And because he now knows all of his help comes from the Lord… the maker and creator of all that is in heaven and on earth...that man will begin to embrace heavenly things:those things that God stamped and earmarked for eternity and the new world that is to come… things that are pure …things that have virtue….lovely things…holy things…good report things…those things that reflect that the man of God has a true connection with God.

From a “giving perspective”… no matter what the crisis or the cause, if God’s man have the resources…he becomes a man who willingly serves our God by giving freely from his resources…giving all if necessary… not murmuring or complaining when he does it… and as he continues to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord…at some point…when he has his Garden of Gethsemane experience….God’s man will learn to gladly suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ as one of the consequence of their faith and you will hear him say not my will…but thy will be done….

Man of God from 2 Perspectives: A Prophet's and the Church

The Prophet Micah in Micah 6:8 gives us a summation of the plight of the man of God in one neat verse: Micah says: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? He has shown you to act justly … to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” BUT …if you look up on the wall of this church’s sanctuary…can’t you hear the church chiming in… as she speaks from her Covenant creed… that was fashioned from the sacred scriptures, as she promises in her covenant with the Lord an added clear addendum to what Micah just said: The CHURCH SAID:…We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love…to remember each other in prayer….to aid each other in sickness and distress…to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling…in courtesy…and in speech…To be slow to take offense…but always ready for reconciliation…to be mindful of the rules of Our Savior….and to seek them without delay…..

So since the man of God know what God requires of him…and has accepted his identity as a man of God…and begins to walk out his new life in Christ Jesus…as you observe him in his walk… He will keep his mind and heart pure by guarding his eyes and ears and especially guarding his mouth in what he chooses to think …and what he chooses to say … and because he is a man of God…he now must step up his game and become what the Bible calls a real man Men..…let’s talk about our role as a man…

Men of God: What Does it take to be "God's kind Man"?

As a man…we must recognize our authority as Head of Household and the spiritual leader of our family. That means as head of the house….we know that once we have finishing handling the family business in the marketplace…we need to be at home in the same house …with our family… Yes we will want to have our “rec” time…our time of recreation…women want it too…and there’s nothing wrong with rec time…but I must warn both sides: too much “rec” time will eventually cause a wreck in your marriage….Men and women both need to know when it is time to get out of the streets and go home and take care of each other….We may be grown….but curfews still keep us out of trouble….

Let me repeat something I said to this men's group last year…God made men of God to hold up in tough times, to be “difference makers”…. God built men for all the tough tasks and tough times of life. Godly men have a dual identity: Men we have to be both worshippers and a warriors….and if we are married…we are both leaders in finance and leaders in our romance… we are both laborers for our families and lovers of our wives….

Here's something else I told you this last year too ….Sometimes, it can get mighty rough and get really tough…especially when tough decisions have to be made. Now when I talk about being tough…I’m not talking about being a thug….I’m talking about “manning up” and “taking responsibility” when toughness is warranted and tough decisions have to be made…and then at a moment’s notice have to gear back and gear down and become tender and compassionate again… Can I dispel a so –call “street cred”? Acting like you are hard…emotionless and uncaring doesn’t make you a man…Just because you show compassion and tenderness… toward a woman or a child that doesn’t make you a whimp….It really means you got good sense….and as the book of Titus said we have a responsibility to women and children to show them God’s way of life so in a twisted equal rights society like the one we now live in you won’t see the kinds of things we see now!…

So, whenever we fully embrace this Christian walk… the man of God will come to understand what Jesus meant in the “Beautitudes” when He commanded us in Matthew 5:48 to "be perfect…He meant …we are to make every effort to be spiritually mature in the faith…be compete…totall submissive and all in to the will of God…thoroughly furnished unto all good works…operating like a well oiled machine…by following the model of perfection as our heavenly Father who is completely perfect"…and totally unflawed …

And you know what? We can do it….I said we can do it…because Jesus ‘ life gave us the perfect blueprint…but the Apostle Paul let us know in Philippians 4:19 that he is only able to do it through Jesus Christ who strengthens him and because God is perfecting him to be conformed into the image of His Son Jesus Christ….Paul lets us know in Ephesians 1:4: it is also God that enables him to be “holy and blameless in his sight” through His omnipotent power and the indwelling of His Spirit.
Now Men, on our own, we are incapable of holiness and perfection, but through Christ who strengthens us, we can. The man of God knows that his new nature is that of the righteousness of Christ which was given in exchange for our sinful nature at the cross where Jesus shed His blood and died for our sins. The songwriter said it right: It was at the cross where we first saw the light and the burden of our hearts rolled away….It was there…by faith…I received my sight…and now…I am happy…all the day….It was there at the cross…I received my ability to walk humbly with my God… that he must rely solely upon Him to be able to live to the fullest and persevere to the end. This brings us to the reason why as Men of God…we must always remain ON GUARD…

Men Of God: Men on guard? "ON GUARD"

Sadly there seems to be many Christians today, men in particular that lack the Biblical qualities of what God says a man should have, as well as how a man after God's on heart should conduct himself. Here's the paradox. This letter the Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the ministry Timothy was not addressed to men of the world. These men Paul addressed were members of the church. It’s not like that they aren’t in the church with regular attendance. Church had become something what they did as a routine function…rather than identifying them as who they are in Jesus Christ. The real problem was they weren’t fully locked in commitment to Christ and have become victims of having what the Apostle Paul called in 1 Timothy 1: 19 a “ship-wrecked faith”.
Tragic things started happened in their lives, They have began to depart from the faith. They’re believing more man-made doctrines and tradition of men rather than holding fast to their convictions concerning the Word of God. Over the course of time, they stopped fighting the good fight of faith in Christ Jesus.

So as Paul points out in the 4th chapter that as a result of their waywardness and wavering in the faith, perilous times were to come in the latter days. (last days) And by the way…The "latter days" that Paul was speaking about are already here….He said in those days: Some will departed from the faith. They will give heed (begin to listen and live their lives according) to the influence of seducing spirits and the practice of doctrines of devils…They will speak hypocritical lies, having their conscience seared with a hot iron…They will become more lovers of pleasure…rather than lovers of God….They will exhibit a form of godliness….but deny the real power…and when this happens, we have been told by God of such….turn away from!

So…leading into today’s text Paul in the earlier part of this 3rd chapter gave a total of about 30 qualifications for a man who is to be God’s man… . He shows us in what it takes to be leaders, using the qualifications of a bishop, and then of a deacon.. as the model of being godly men..

Now every man will not be called to licensed ministry of a deacon in the church…but everybody has been both called to evangelism… and called to be a servant of Jesus Christ…and neither position is something anybody should take lightly…So…..Paul writes here in that 14th verse : I’m writing to tell you that I have plans to come to you shortly….but if I’m delayed…for a long time…by the time I get there…you will already know what it takes to behave your selves in the house of God….

There are 3 reasons why you need to know how to behave yourself as men of God:

First of all: YOU are God’s house…the building… the earthly tabernacle… your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost . The Spirit of the Living God has set up a residence in you…. You are the church…"the "Earthly Tabernacle" You are as much of the church as the next man…Now…on the spiritual level…how much church and Holy Ghost power go on inside of you depends on how much time you’re willing to spend in God’s Word and praying on your knees…If the songwriter was telling the truth when they said: just a little prayer and faith go a mighty long way…imagine how much more farther a whole lot of Word…a whole of prayer…and a whole lot of faith will take you…Then you must remember that one day your physical body cannot inherit the kingdom of God Jesus said "flesh and blood" cannot enter the kingdom. You will need "another body" adapted to heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:1-11 said: "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

God's Man: The Judgment Seat of Christ

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your conscience. If the "Institution Church" has been corrupted, it happened because corrupt people within the fellowship made it corrupt in their immoral behavior, false teachings, and in doctrinal matters.

Second This physical building this physical place of worship is also God’s house…it is the “ekklesia” the church of the living God…the assembly place…the place where all of God’s children are to get together have a good time in the Lord…with nothing but Jesus on our minds…and

Third…the church of the living God is the pillar and ground of the real truth…the upholder of the great truth of the mystery of godliness…and what is that truth?....Glad you asked…God was manifested in the flesh…..justified in the Spirit…Seen of angels…preached… to the Gentiles…Why you ask….John said Jesus came to His own…and His own received him not…but as many as did received Him…He gave power to become sons of God…even unto them…that called upon His name… I said He was preached to the Gentiles… believed on in the world and received up in glory…

Conclusion:
Challenge of every Man of God: "Be ON GUARD…BE ALERT….BE PREPARED TO DEFEND AND FIGHT"

…The reason you got to always be on guard is because you are already in a war and you’re at war…

First of all you are at war within yourself …The Devil’s at war with you because you are a man of God…he messes with our emotions…There is warring within your members…Your head says one thing…your heart says another ….when you would do good…evil is always present….God now have you …but the devil’s still pulling on you…and then you are warring on the outside…The devil’s attacking on every hand…You are in a gigantic wrestling match…the Bible said that we wrestle not against flesh and blood …but against principalities…against powers…against rulers of the darkness of this world…against spiritual wickedness in high places…You’ve got to be On GUARD….We are soldiers in the army…we got to fight…although sometimes…we have to cry…we got to hold up….the blood stained banner…We got to hold it up…until we die…. You ask me Preacher…What am I guarding…You/re guarding a lot of things…

You’re guarding your heart with all diligence. You got to keep love of Jesus down in your heart….You got to keep hate out of your heart. You got to keep joy…in your heart and the peace of God got to dwell in your heart… and then….Remember, out of the issues of your heart, you will verbally address with your speech. You have to do what King David did. In the 51st Psalms, Davis was heard telling God: "Create in me a clean heart and renew in right a right spirit. Then, Solomon, the man of wisdom said to us in Proverbs 4:26: Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of wisdom. It's important that we do this because it is out of the issues that are housed in our heart that we speak out. So when we guard our heart, we keep perverse speaking from coming out of our mouths and evil and corrupt talk from our lips.

You got to stand guard over your faith…and stand firm in your faith…1 Corinthians 16:13 says we have to WATCH…We got to STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH…We got to BE BRAVE and we got to BE STRONG…In other words…we got to stand up…we got to man up…we've got to get up and hold up the blood stained banner… You need the kind of faith that tells the world…The wages of sin is still death, but the gift of God is still eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Men of God, we have to tell this dying world our hope is built on nothing less that Jesus blood and righteousness…I dare not trust the sweetest frame…but wholly lean on Jesus name….I don’t know …how you feel about it…On Christ…the solid rock I stand all… other ground is sinking sand…. Another thing we have to guard is….

We got to guard our Spiritual health…In other word we got to shed dead weight…the Bible said we got to lay aside every weight and the sin that thus so easily best us and then….we got to run this race with patience…looking unto Jesus…He’s the author and finisher of our faith…We have to get rid of everything that spiritually weighs us down ...things like envy...jealousy...strife...and lying....back biting...slander and things of the like.

Finally, we have to stand guard of the Gospel because the Gospel story is under attack. Paul gave us the mystery of Godliness...and it all starts and ends with God: The Gospel message is Jesus Christ died for our sins (on the cross at Golgotha's Hill) according to the Scriptures...He was buried (In Joseph of Arrmetheia"s new tomb) and rose 3 days later (from the tomb declaring all power was in His hands) according to the Scriptures. There are those who refuse to believe in the resurrection story. As a child of God, the whole basis of the Christian Faith rest on this Gospel message. We must go into all the world and do what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, that is carry this same message to everyone we meet, with the assurance that Jesus is always with us through the Holy Spirit.

Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie

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Bible Study Series: "Exposition on the Gospel of John Chapter 16": Part 2

Bible Study Series: "Exposition on the Gospel of John Chapter 16" Part 1

Bible Sermon Series: Men's Day Service at Bald Rock Baptist Church of Conyers, Georgia USA...Theme: "Men of God...Men On Guard" 1 Timothy Chapter 3, Verses 14 through 16.... By Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie 4/18/2015

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