Project Timothy Lesson Seven

Shakespeare wrote, “To thine own self be true.” You can fool most folks but you cannot fool yourself or the Lord. Truth is the bedrock of your integrity. It is the corner stone of your character. Truth is not an option in life. If you base your life on truth you will grow better and greater than you can imagine. Truth eliminates guilt, fear and hiding. As the Bible states, “ Truth will set you free.” Love the truth. The virtues of manhood are built on the bedrock of the truth. Next you need to be faithful. Faith comes before ability. Being AVALIABLE to God is of upmost importance. Being able is not the same as being faithful. Skill is not above faith. God always commits to character, not talent. Why am I stressing these virtues because Young Christian men need to know who to follow and what to build in their lives. If you want to go someplace in this world you need to build consistency into your life. I see so many going by the wayside because they lack the moral STRENGTH to stand for the right things in life. Immature men are inconsistent in their lives and it effects every area of their character. If you want to be the kind of man that God uses then learn to be consistent in your work and life. That is what is lacking in the work world today. Men who show up and give 100 percent.

1 Timothy 3 New International Version (NIV) Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full [a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.a 8 In the same way, deacons [b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.b 11 In the same way, the women [c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.c 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

What is your reputation at work? Do you give 100 percent at work? Who do you admire at work? What qualities to they have that you want?

Six Things Paul told Timothy that he was accountable for: 1. Reputation - What do others say about you? 2. Ethics – Who are you when you are all alone? 3. Morality – Do you always do the right thing? 4. Temperament – Do you give an angry vibe at work? 5. Habits – What habit could you change? 6. Maturity – Name someone who is mature in your life: _______________

As we close this lesson I want us to think about this concept of being mature. In order to be mature in your faith you must be willing to change. It is really hard for us as guys to admit that we are wrong and that things have to change. If your friends are dragging you down you must leave them behind. God has a perfect plan for you. It is not the same as the plan he has for me or anyone else. It is your plan. Seek that plan above all other pursuits and you will find the happiness that we all seek. What holds us back from following God and His perfect plan for us? Fear. But God has given us a much more powerful motivation. Love. Not Lust. Not greed. Not me first. True love that puts others first. Let God’s love flow through you and then people will begin to see the fruits of the Spirit outlined in Galatians 5: Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Sincerity, Courtesy, Unselfishness, Godly temperament and Peace. These are the marks of a Godly man. The world longs to see that in our lives. They need to see that. But they come not be you trying harder to be like God. They come when you surrender yourself to the Lord and allow him to take over your life. Surrender is the secret to being the kind of man that God wants. It is time to MAN UP!