See Sermon Notes for “It’s a Glorious Thing to be a Man of God”
Text Acts 4:1-13
Four things that make it a glorious thing
1. “The Resurrection”
It makes the work of faith a wise investment.
It is THE distinction between being a Christian and all other religions.
It is a glorious truth we wake up to every day! No matter what are the specific details or circumstances.
2. “The Name of Jesus”
We wake up as representatives of the name of Jesus.
The name of Jesus is an aroma of life to some. They are drawn to it. It is an aroma of death to others and they are repelled by it. But either way, there is power in the name.
3. “Courage, Confidence and Boldness”
They were not timid. They were not ashamed. They were unwavering. They had “Holy Boldness”
As men and as fathers, sometimes we need courage for tough decisions, decisive action and courage to speak from our relationship with Christ when it isn’t popular.
4. “Being with Jesus”
Vs. 8 “Filled with the Holy Spirit”
The same Holy Spirit who lives in you, my brothers. He is the activating force of all these other effects.
What makes being a man of God glorious is that it is God’s glory working in and through us by His Spirit.
It’s not by might. It’s not by power. But by His Spirit, that we are able to animate the glory of God.
They marvelled. They were astonished. Funny how God does that. Takes the ordinary and makes it astonishing. He has a habit of doing that.
If I had more time, I could talk about how…
He helps us realize that real-life circumstances are not the ultimate reality. Truth is not limited to what we see but is ultimately defined by what God says.
I could talk about how He gives us the courage to share our weaknesses and vulnerable areas with other men. It does take courage. And why I am blessed to be around courageous men.
I could talk about how He gives us the courage to say I’m sorry. For all the reasons it’s difficult to do so, that’s why it takes courage.
I could talk about how being a man of God helps us to persevere in the face of adversity.
I could talk about how He helps us to not be pushed back on our heels by others using “reality” as a weapon of doubt. But how we can face reality with faith.
I could talk about how everyone has dud performances. In sports, movies, business deals, music, job presentations, books. But, as a man of God, what is most important is not so much the impact that I create but the faith with which I launch my efforts, because that is what is pleasing to the Lord.
I could talk about all those things if I had time. But I don’t. So I’ll end with this.
Being a man of God is the asset of all assets we bring into fatherhood, to being a husband, to every other role we play.
Yes indeed. Being a man of God is a glorious, glorious thing. Add that to your celebration today and make it an even more special one.
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