Things the Man of God Should Do 1 Timothy 6:11-12

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1 Things the Man of God Should Do 1 Timothy 6: Timothy 6:11-16 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue (follow- KJV) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. NKJV Introduction: The Bible was written for everybody, but occasionally there are some specific instructions for those who could be described as "men of God." Timothy was such a man. He was a Christian, so that made him a child of God. He was also a preacher and they along with the prophets of the Old Testament, are frequently called "men of God." In our passage, some instructions are given to the preacher Timothy and all others who would seek to please God and they virtually sum up the Christian experience. To them we now draw your attention: I. SOME THINGS TO FLEE. (v.11). "Flee these things." 1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. NKJV "Flee" here means "to be a fugitive, to run away from"; it is the opposite of "attracted to, embrace, or pursue." What are "these things" Paul has in mind? He has just been talking about: A. Teachers of a "different doctrine." 1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords

2 with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. B. Desiring to be rich; love of money. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. C. Other things to flee. 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. a. Example of Joseph fleeing fornication. Genesis 39:11-12 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me. But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. d. We are to flee idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. II. SOME THINGS TO FOLLOW. 1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. KJV

3 (v.11-follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness- KJV) NKJV says, pursue. "Follow" here means "to pursue diligently; to earnestly endeavor to acquire." It is not a lackadaisical following after. It is "getting serious" about living the Christian life. Paul instructs Timothy and all men and women of God to follow after. A. Follow Righteousness - The Christian is ever concerned about what is the right thing to do; in regard to God and fellowmen. 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. B. Follow Godliness (This is putting God at the center of our thoughts And actions. It's how we want to live our lives.) 1 Timothy 6:1-3 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, a. It's how women of God want to dress and live. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. b. Godliness is something we exercise ourselves in. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 But reject profane and old wives fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

4 c. Coupled with contentment, it is great gain (6:6). 1 Timothy 6:6 (NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. C. We are to Follow Faith. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. a. We need a faith that works through love. Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. b. We need a faith that holds on through thick and thin. D. We are to follow after love. 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, E. We are to follow patience. 1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. NKJV If you don't diligently pursue persistence and steadfastness, it will escape you. F. We are to follow meekness ("gentleness") Jesus was meek ("not quick to retaliate in face of provocation") and gentle. What a noble trait for us to pursue. This is one of the characteristics of the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (i.e., patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, selfcontrol. Against such there is no law.

5 In fact, faith, love, patience and gentleness is mentioned as fruit of the spirit and also mentioned in our text (1 Timothy 6:11) as things we should follow or pursue. III. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF THE FAITH. (6:12) 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. NKJV A. This "fight" is like the athletic contest, wrestling, boxing, etc. 1. Paul said he fought not as one beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. B. We are in a life and death struggle with Satan. Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. C. We are to fight to uphold, defend, and proclaim the faith. Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Let us contend earnestly for the faith with love for the Lord and the souls of men and women. 1. Some want to contend, but not for the faith.

6 Teachers in their Bible classes should not be asking questions which cannot be answered. Always asking or dealing with questions which fall in the realm of speculation or opinion causes contention. We need things which edify, not things which discourage us. (The great religious question of the Middle Ages was how many angels could dance on the head of a pin. ) The secret things belong to God. Deut. 29:29 IV. FOCUS We need spiritual focus to see heaven. 1Timothy 6:12 - "Lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto you were called." This is the reward for fighting the good fight of the faith, fleeing worldliness, and following godliness. A. It is easy to forget what being a Christian is all about. It's about spending eternity with God and all the people of God. This is what we need to focus on. 1. It's why we make the "good confession" (6:12). 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 2. It's why we are baptized into Christ. 3. It's why we strive to be faithful to the end. Rev. 2:10 4. It's why we keep the Lord's commandments until He comes. 1 Timothy 6:14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ s appearing, B. We must keep ourselves focused on the goal. Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

7 1. Let us "lay hold" on the hope of heaven, and not turn loose of it for anything or anybody. Conclusion: All of these things (Flee, Follow, Fight, Focus) point to the seriousness of our life in Christ. Are you serious about being a Christian? Are you a Christian? Have you made the good confession in the sight of witnesses, like Timothy and Christ? Why not now? Are you ready to flee the things of the world, ready to follow after righteousness, godliness, etc., ready to fight the good fight of faith, and set your goal on going to heaven? We must FLEE from false doctrines and covetousness We must FOLLOW righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. We must FIGHT the good fight. We must FOCUS on heaven in order to lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. NKJV