1. [By Ron Halbrook]

2. 2 Introduction 1.A real man, a godly man! 2.Ezek. 22:26-30 A man to stand in the gap!

3. Ezek. 22:26-30 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

4. Ezek. 22:26-30 28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

5. Ezek. 22:26-30 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

6. 6 Introduction 3. Jer. 5:1 Look high & low — God values such a man!

7. Jer. 5:1 1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

8. 8 Introduction 4. Godly man defined by his character & service to God 5. We can be such men today!

9. 9 I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. A. 1 Cor. 16:13-14 Outline What God Expects of a Man

10. 1 Cor. 16:13-14 13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity.

11. 11 I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. B. Watch Ye! Alert like a sentinel

12. 12 I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. C. Stand Fast in the Faith! Stand firm, hold your ground

13. 13 I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. D. Quit You Like Men! Be brave, courageous

14. 14 I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. E. Be Strong! Show unflinching strength— no retreat, no surrender!

15. 15 I. God Seeks a Man Who Joins Strength & Love. F. Let All Your Things Be Done with Charity! Soldier’s spirit tempered with unselfish love

16. 16 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. A. Humble Spirit Lowly mind, defer to others Phil. 2:8 Jesus

17. 17 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. A. Humble Spirit Keynote of God’s kingdom: Matt. 5:3; 18:4; 20:20-28

18. 18 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. A. Humble Spirit Phil. 2:3 Often taught, & missed

19. 19 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. A. Humble Spirit Ja. 4:10 The way up is down

20. 20 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. A. Humble Spirit God’s greatest servants trust in God, not self

21. 21 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Belief, assurance of the truth

22. 22 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Jn. 2:13-17 Jesus

23. 23 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction The truth: treasure of treasures! Prov. 23:23; Matt. 13:44

24. 24 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Jn. 8:31-32 Truth: the teaching of Jesus

25. 25 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Uphold the truth & all who teach it 1 Tim. 1:3; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:7-8

26. 26 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Uphold the truth & all who teach it:  Dangers from the world

27. 27 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Uphold the truth & all who teach it:  Dangers among God’s people

28. 28 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Josh 24:15 Lead family to serve God

29. 29 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Josh 24:15 Lead family  Acts 2:42 Public worship

30. 30 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. B. Deep Conviction Josh 24:15 Lead family  Rom. 12:1-2 Daily life

31. 31 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. C. Tender Heart Compassion Jesus Matt. 11:27-30; 23:37; Jn. 11:35-36

32. 32 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. C. Tender Heart Show care, concern Rom. 12:15; 1 Thess. 4:14

33. 33 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. D. Unselfish Love Jesus Jn. 13:34-35

34. 34 II. God Seeks a Man Who Reflects the Character of Jesus Christ. D. Unselfish Love Love finds 1,000 ways to help Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 16:13-14,15 Gal. 6:10; Ja. 1:27 Heb. 13:1-2

35. 35 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. A. As a Christian Acts 11:26 One who belongs to Christ

36. 36 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. A. As a Christian Lk. 9:23; Jn. 14:6 Sacrifice all to follow him as the only Savior

37. 37 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. A. As a Christian Commitment to follow Christ guides every other commitment

38. 38 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. B. As a Husband Matt. 19:4-6 Vow & covenant of marriage under God’s law

39. 39 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. B. As a Husband Eph. 5:25, 28 Love his wife as Christ loves the church

40. 40 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. B. As a Husband 1 Pet. 3:7 Consider needs & nature of his wife

41. 41 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. C. As a Father Eph. 6:4 Give affection & training to each child

42. 42 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. C. As a Father A spiritual leader, not a stumbling block!

43. 43 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. D. As a Citizen Rom. 13:1-7 Duty to civil government

44. 44 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. E. As an Employee Col. 3:22-23 Diligent, trustworthy on the job

45. 45 III. God Seeks a Man Who Serves God & His Fellowman. F. As an Active Member of the Local Church Phil. 1:1 All members: talents & duties

46. 46 IV. God Seeks a Man to Spend Eternity with Him in Heaven. A. Reward: Eternal Life in Heaven with God 1 Pet. 1:3-5 Raised & rewarded

47. 47 IV. God Seeks a Man to Spend Eternity with Him in Heaven. A. Reward: Eternal Life in Heaven with God 2 Tim. 4:6-8 All who love & serve Christ to the end rewarded!

48. 48 IV. God Seeks a Man to Spend Eternity with Him in Heaven. B. Man Created to Have Fellowship with God!

49. 49 Invitation 1.Cannot be a real man, a godly man, living in sin— God forgives & makes a new man 2 Cor. 5:17

50. 50 Invitation 2. Christian who falls away restored: repent, confess sin, pray Acts 8:22

51. 51 Invitation 2. Sinner in the world saved when: believe, repent, confess Christ, baptized Acts 2:38