Who Is A Man Of God? Part 3.

The Making Of The Man Of God.

The man of God is neither our default by creation nor our constitution by the new creation. 

In the old creation, all things were of God as in the new, but something went wrong with the man, he failed to stand for what is of God, the interests of God and the authority of his word.
He failed the test of allegiance in the making of the man of God, who is to stand and represent God in all things. What about the new creation man in Christ?

He also passed through the test of allegiance.

Hebrews 5

8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Both as the author of eternal salvation and as the captain of our salvation, he was made perfect through the things he suffered, in following the will and interests of God, and not his own(see also Hebrews 2:10).

Those who have come to believe in him, are also called to obedience, to walk as he walked, to fellowship in his sufferings and to conform to his image(Philippians 1:29; 3:10; 1 Peter 2:21-23; 1 John 2:6; Romans 8:28-29).

The making of the man of God thus, lies in the path of obedience; a practical walk of utter dependence on God. God can take his chosen vessels, through the pain of many years of drilling and refinement in the furnace, in order to constitute them his men.

The basic lesson that constitutes the man of God is, the horrors of doing anything of his own self in the name of the Lord, and as representing the Lord. 

The man of God is basically made by learning the horrors of the dishonour, such a misrepresentation brings to the name of the Lord, and it's grievous eternal consequences, that he might have as etched in his heart, a lifetime dread to thread along such lines.

It can take many years for God's chosen vessels, to learn that primary lesson which makes/constitutes the man of God.

Every believer in Christ, is expected of God to be a man of God, to speak/minister as the oracles of God, to speak as moved of God, to work as prompted of God, in the energy and ability God gives; to the end that God may be glorified in all things, through Jesus Christ.

Sadly, many speak as they will/feel; many are self willed and presumptuous.

1 Peter 4

11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.

2 Peter 1

20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of it's own interpretation

21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Making Of The Man Of God, Typified In Gabriel(the man of God).

In previous series, we considered some examples of men of God in relation to God's house, we will however, proceed to see a figure of a man of God, typified in Gabriel, an angel God constituted to be such.

Gabriel, The Man Of God. 

The word translated as 'Gabriel' in the english version, is 'Gabrı̂y'êl' in the original Hebrew, and it means "warrior of God" or "man of God".

Gabriel is an angel God often sent to deliver his word/message of great importance to men. 

The first time we see the name 'Gabriel', mentioned in scriptures is in Daniel 8:16, where he was sent to Daniel, to grant him the understanding of the vision he had concerning the last days. 

He was sent again to Daniel in Daniel 9:21-27, to grant him skill and understanding, concerning the future/latter days of his people Israel, and the times determined upon them. There in Daniel 9:21, we see Daniel call him "the man Gabriel". Going by the meaning of his name, the phrase "the man Gabriel" in that verse can be read as: "the man, the man of God". However, Gabriel is an angel of God and not a man according to Luke 1:26, where he was revealed as "the angel Gabriel" sent from God to a virgin espoused to a man.

"The angel Gabriel" could thus be called/rephrased as "the angel, the man of God".

He is the angel, the man/messenger/evangel of God, as sent from God, to speak the words of God. When he was sent to Zacharias in Luke 1:19, to deliver a message concerning the birth of John the baptist, the way he introduced himself to Zacharias, says so much about who he is and his function: "I am Gabriel(the man of God), that stand in the presence of God and am sent to speak".

This fully describes who the man of God is; he stands in the presence of God like a servant always by his master, at his beck and call, and waiting on him to take orders from him. He only goes forth in service, as sent forth from the presence of his master. He does nothing in service out of his own iniative, but only as commanded and as sent. He only speaks as sent to speak, and not as he chooses/wills; also he only says what he is told/commanded to say.

In 2 Corinthians 2:17 and 4:1-2, we see Paul say things, similar to what Gabriel said while introducing himself to Zacharias:

2 Corinthians 4

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 2:17 "For we are not as Many, which Corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."

*Mark the words: "walking in craftiness and handling the word of God deceitfully" as set against "manifestation of the truth and commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God". 

Also mark the words: "Many, which Corrupt the word of God" as set against "as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ"

The men of God are those who "as of God(sent of/from God) and in the sight of God, speak in Christ", and not in themselves. Sadly, they are not as many who corrupt the word of God(men of corrupt minds).

If as early as the days of the foremost apostles, there were many who corrupt the word of God, much more will it be said in our days; that there are many teachers/preachers who corrupt the word of God, and many are following their pernicious ways...the broad way to destruction.

Men Of Things, Other Than God.

2 Timothy 3

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come
2  For MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: MEN OF CORRUPT MINDS, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Apart from men of God, we see various classes of men in scriptures, men of things other than God. There are many possibilities of things other than God, which one could become a man of, even in the name of serving God. However, all those other things spring from the one root of them all, and that is SELF.

Note: Paul is not writing to Timothy about those without, but men within the confines of what is called 'church' or the "great house" as he puts it in the previous chapter(2:20). They are the many vessels of wood and of earth in the great house, as vessels of precious stones like gold are rare to come by. They are vessels with the form of godliness but void/without the power of godliness; vessels of dishonour and not fit for the master's use. It begins with men of self(men who are lovers of themselves) and ends with men of corrupt minds, who by default, are reprobate/spurious concerning the faith.

We are evidently in the long prophesied perilious times, of the last days in the great house/'church'; times in which we have men of all sorts of things other than men of God: men of pleasures, men of pride, men of covetousness, men of blasphemy, men of disobedience, men of corrupt minds and men of mammon(money), who turn everything in the bible to money seed. 

All these begins/springs from "men who are lovers of their own selves" Men of self. As prophesied in scriptures, the proliferation of such men in the church, will be the mark of perilous times in the last days.

2 Timothy 3

For MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: MEN OF CORRUPT MINDS, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Note: This chapter starts with "this know also", which means in addition to things said before, know this also. 

In the pevious chapter(chapt.2), Paul had charged Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God, and went ahead to warn him to shun profane and vain babblings, coming from false teachers like Hymanaeus and Philetus, whose names he mentioned(vs 15-18). He also alerted him about the state of things in the church, by making him understand, that in a great house there are not only vessels of honour like gold and silver fit for the master's use, but there are also vessels of dishonour, of wood and of earth, who though not fit for the master's use, are in the great house and can be used by others but not the master of the house. Timothy should thus, never be deceived by the assumption that all in the great house are of God or vessels/men of God. There are indeed many vessels/men of other things in the great house; and in the midst of the infiltration what will distinguish/constitute the vessel/ man, who will be prepared and fit for the master's use(ie. what will constitute the man of God), is he who will purge himself from the vessels of dishonour. 

The process of purging however, is clearly spelt out as:

1. Study the scriptures to show yourself approved unto God, knowing that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. In studying the scriptures to show yourself approved unto God, as a workman/vessel that does not bring shame/dishonour to his name, you are exposing yourself to the profit of doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. 

It is such an exposure that makes the man of God; a man refined and prepared of God, fit for the master's use, perfect and thoroughly furnished unto every good work.

2. Shun profane/vain messages and false teachers; avoid them for their words will eat like cancer. Purge yourself from vessels of dishonour.

The purging thus starts with personal study/inquiry of scriptures to show yourself approved unto the master, as a vessel willing and ready to be used for the display of his glory; a vessel that won't bring shame/dishonour to his name, by standing to speak in his name, when he has not spoken or to embark on an activity in his name, which he didn't initiate.

Note: Though a willing heart is involved in the process yet the sanctification/purging doesn't start from a man's will/resolve to purge himself, but from his exposure to the study of the holy scriptures, which are able to furnish him in righteousness and sanctify him.

2 Timothy 2

15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus.

 21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

2 Timothy 3

16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Acts 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.