WHAT IS MY JOB AS A MAN?

August 12, 2014

Of all the conversations I've had with hundreds of men across the years, the number one question is: ""What am I suppose to do with my life?"" We want to know our PURPOSE. This is one of the reasons I was so fascinated to learn that the primary buyers of Rick Warren's book, “The Purpose-Driven Life” (which has sold over 40 million copies) are MEN. Very unusual for high volume book sales, but it indicates that it hit the nerve. It's the big question for men: “What is God's purpose for my life?”

1 Timothy 2

1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 

6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 

7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 

8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. 

GOD'S INSATIABLE PASSION

""God desires…for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth"" (verse 4)

The Lord is relentless in his passion to seek and save that which was lost. We forget this, but He does not. If we are in line with God we think about this all the time and live for this agenda.

GOD'S SUFFICIENT PROVISION

""For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all."" (verses 5-6)

One translation reads, ""God is on one side and all the people on the other side and Jesus Christ, Himself man, is between them, bringing them together."" This is our message and it the singular solution to the problem of man’s sin and need. We must not delude ourselves into thinking there is another answer. Our goal must be to lead men to Him.

GOD'S INTENTIONAL PLAN

""For this I was appointed a preacher, apostle, teacher to the Gentiles."" (verse 7)

The word appointed means ""put."" God has PUT ME somewhere as a man. My job is to share the truth with everyone around me in ""faith and truth."" Regardless of my avocation (the way I make my living) my VOCATION (my main task) is to share Christ with others. God’s plan is to use people to reach people. Look around you today—this is where you have been placed and the people to whom you have been sent.

GOD'S FOUNDATIONAL POWER

""Therefore (in light of God's desire and His provision) ""I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension."" (verse 8)

This verse is surprising. It would seem that Paul would speak of our task of evangelism and then say to men, “Go out and share Christ.” But that is not where he begins. There is a non-negotiable foundation for this work. It is the key that ignites the engine that causes everything to work properly.

We must be men of unceasing prayer. Prayer is our first work.

• It must start with the MEN. We think prayer is woman's work. It is a man's main task to pray!

• It must happen in every place. There is no environment that should be off limits for prayer. We should pray in our homes, in our cars, at work, at the church, by ourselves, with other men. We must learn as men to pray without ceasing.

• It must be done with clean, humble hands. We must cleanse ourselves, through Christ, in prayer so every obstruction to intercession is gone and we can ""lift up holy hands."" Lifting our hands is a good practice, but also a picture of dependence like a needy child reaching up to their father. Paul is reminding us that we must approach the Father in humble faith.

• It must be done with a clear heart. We must lay aside (against our leaders is the context here in this chapter) any wrath or dissension. I have a tendency to really get angry with our governmental leaders and not pray for them. God says they are His instruments and the ""heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord and like rivers of water He turns them wherever He wills."" Sometimes they're instruments of peace, sometimes God's judgment. I must not get angry with them, but PRAY for them! Godless anger clouds my vision of the sovereign purposes of God and aborts my prayers.

So how are you doing in your task as a man? Are you aligned with God’s agenda? And are you using His methods to fulfill His plan? Have you settled the issue of your calling to see all men saved and come to the knowledge of the truth?

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