Help in Identifying a True.....
Man of God
                                                      By Pastor F. M. Riley  
                                                                                            August 30, 2018
   "For I know this, that after my departing shall grevious wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
     Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
     Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears,"  Acts 20:29-31.
Introduction
     This warning was given by the Apostle Paul to the elders [preachers; pastor] of the church at Ephesus.  Paul was not at Ephesus when he gave this warning,  but rather was at Miletus.  So while these particular words are not included in Paul's epistle to the Lord's church at Ephesus, every serious student of the Scriptures should read and study them, even as they study the Book of Ephesians.  
     Some readers may ask why?  Because the warning given here by Paul has been, and continues to be, a  truth for the Lord's true churches and for true "men of God" throughout this present dispensation, right down to this present hour.
     There are several basic truths set forth in the New Testament for the spiritual benefit and guidance of the Lord's churches, and for every true "man of God" who teaches and preaches God's Word to the Lord's churches and people.  By referring to these basic truths set forth in God's Word, God's people can discern whether or not the truth of the Word is being preached and taught.   By these same basic truths, the people can also identify false teachers and deceivers who come into their midst.
    Now our readers know the subject of this study.  Just read on.......
Divine Inspiration
     Our Holy Bible was given to God's people by Divine Inspiration.  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
     That the man of God may be perfect [upright; righteous] throughly furnished unto all good works," 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Read also 2 Peter 1:19-21.  
     This is how the true believer knows that the Bible is indeed the very Word of God.  This Holy Book reads like no other book on earth, because it was  Divinely Inspired by our Creator God Himself.  
     When one takes a Bible in hand to read and study, they are reading a living book; a book supernaturally inspired by the Holy Spirit of our living God.  Who says so?  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself says so,  John 6:63.  
     When our readers are confronted by any man [or woman] who presents themselves as a teacher of the Bible, yet who denies the  Divine Inspiration of the Bible, don't bother even listening to what they have to say.  They are liars and deceivers.  
     Be especially wary of people who want to change the Scriptures, to make them say what they want to believe.  I once was confronted by a man, claiming to be a Christian minister, who refused to accept 2 Timothy 3:16 for what it actually and literally says, but chose to read it as, "All Scripture which is inspired by God....."  In other words, he was "picking and choosing," saying that parts of the Bible are inspired, but some Scripture is just the writings and opinions of men.  Not so!  The whole Bible stands as one inspired  unit, or it falls as a fraud.   Folks, supernatural Divine Inspiration of our Holy Bible is a basic truth. All true "men of God" know and believe this.  Do not allow some wicked deceiver to come before the Lord's church and teach otherwise.  Read the words of the Lord Himself in Matthew 7:15-20.                
Serious Bible Study
   "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth," 2 Timothy 2:15.
     The "key" word in this Scripture is "study."  I frankly admit that when I surrendered my life to the Lord's ministry 64 years ago, I was a nominal Christian believer.  This means that even though I was saved, I knew very little about God's Word. But that all changed when I finally surrendered my life to the Lord's ministry,  That occurred on a Sunday night in the Bethel Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas in 1954.  The next morning, I opened my Bible and began studying the Word, and in all of these years since, I have never found a place to stop studying.    
     Also according to this Scripture, a good knowledge of God's Word, will reveal whether a man has been "approved of God," to serve as one of the Lord's "workman," or whether the man is just pretending to be a "man of God."  
     The third basic truth in this Scripture is that the true "man of God," as a result of serious Bible study, will come to the knowledge of how to  "rightly divide the Word of truth."   God's Word cannot be broken, John 10:35.  But it can be "divided," so that it can be properly understood by God's people.  The Bible speaks of different time periods, different covenants, different dispensations, different seasons, different nations and peoples, etc, Acts 17:26.  Through earnest study of the Word, the true "man of God" will be enabled to "rightly divide" each of these differences, puting them in their proper place in the outline of  human history set forth in God's Word.  
Proof of Truth
     "Prove all things; hold fast that which is [proves to be] good," 1 Thessalonians 5:21.  
     Dear readers, the Bible is it's own "interpreter."  The Word of God  explains the Word of God. True believers do not have to go to the flesh or the world, for an explanation of any passage in God's Word.  Scripture explains scripture!  PERIOD!    
     The true "man of God" should never expect anyone to accept what he is teaching and preaching as the truth of the Word, just because he says so.  The true "man of God" is obligated  to provide Scriptural proof of what he is teaching and preaching by God's "rightly divided"  Word.  After all, if the preacher doesn't know,  or is not certain, that what he is preaching is Scriptural truth,  then why should he expect others to receive his preaching and teaching as Scriptural truth?   Well...??  
Preach the Word
     The Apostle Paul explicitly instructed young Timothy to.....
     "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine," 2 Timothy 2:4.  
     There are specific commands all through the New Testament about what is to be preached.  But whatever a "man of God" chooses to preach at a given time, it should always be, in some form, an exposition of  the Word of God.  Lost men and women, boys and girls, don't need the feelings or opinions or theories of men.  They don't need "pep talks," the latest "sports" news, nor their ears tickled with nonsense.   They need God's Word!  Read Romans 10:17.  That is what they came to church services to hear.  The true "man of God" will give it them.  
     Sadly, I have never previously seen a time when so many preachers, supposed to be "men of God," are preaching and teaching a social gospel of  "good works" for salvation.  
     Folks, this kite won't fly!  Titus 3:5 is still in the Bible.  It is lost "sinners" whom the Lord saves, on the basis of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 20:21.  The Lord did not die at Calvary to save "good people."  He died to save those who come to know and understand that they are undeserving lost "sinners," on the road to Hell,  standing in need of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and who then are willing to call upon the Lord for mercy.  That is the only people whom the Lord saves.  
     So the true "man of God" should be preaching "the Word," and reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, both lost people and those saved, to look to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and for spiritual growth.  
The Whole Counsel of God
     "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
     For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
     Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost [Spirit] hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood," Acts 20:26-28.  
     The true "man of God," by the grace of God, will seek to teach and preach "the whole counsel of God."  This means all of the Word of God, and not just those parts of the Word that the preacher likes or favors.  
      I have actually had believers, on the way to church services, tell me they hoped their pastor would preach on something besides the way of salvation.  After all, they had been saved, had assurance of salvation, and couldn't be saved again.  They were hungry for some of the "meat" of God's Word, and not just a repetition of the same message over and over again.  
     The true "man of God" will spend time in prayer, asking God to direct them in their studies of the Word, and to the message that is needed for
the Lord's church at any given time.  And the true "man of God" will not hesitate to go into the "deeper truths" of God's Word in order that the flock of God's sheep might be fed with "the whole counsel of God."    
     Once a repentant sinner has been saved, they then need to grow in the grace and knowledge of God's Word.   Such knowledge only comes when the church is being fed with "the whole counsel of God."        
The Certain Word
     "We [believers] have also a more sure [certain; infallible] word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts;
     Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
    For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Spirit]," 2 Peter 1:19-21.  
     Here is an express statement in God's Word, telling the "man of God" that the prophetic word is "sure," [absolutely certain] to come to pass and be fulfilled as stated.  Therefore, if a "man of God" wants to preach something that he can be certain is absolute truth, then he should be preaching the  "precious promises" [2 Peter 1:4] set forth in the prophecies of God's Word?  These prophecies, are, to God's people [true believers] living today, indeed like a light that shines in the darkness of this present evil world.  God's people today need the edification and encouragement that comes from the teaching and preaching of "the hope" which is set before us.  
     But what do we see in the pulpits of America today?  Almost a total lack of preaching Bible prophecy.  Folks, the true "man of God" is free in Christ to choose the subjects he will preach, but if he is obedient to the Word of God, in some of his messages to the Lord's church and people he will include the presentation of the.....
 The Blessed Hope
     How do I know this to be true?  Because of Paul's inspired instructions to the young preacher, Titus,
    "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
     Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
     Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;  
     Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
     These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke, with all authority.  Let no man despise thee," Titus 2:11-15.  
     Now does this portion of God's Word command true "men of God" to encourage God's people, by preaching to them the "blessed hope" of the glorious coming of Christ, or does it not?  Hello!  Speak up!  I can't hear the answer of some of these preachers today, for their silence is thundering in my ears.  
Conclusion
     Did the Lord Jesus Himself pronounce a blessing upon all those believers who are faithfully "watching" for His coming, or did He not?  The answer to this question is found in Luke 12:37.  But why would many of God's people today be "watching" for the coming of the Lord, when their own pastors and preachers never preach about the Lord's coming?  In many churches today the Lord's coming  is only slightly  mentioned in passing, and then the preacher quickly moves on to something else.  Why is this?  Do some today who claim to be "men of God" really not believe that the Lord is coming again?  And therefore that the "more sure word of prophecy" is simply not true?  Well...??  
     I am one who does truly believe the prophecies of God's Word, and I make no apology to anyone for my belief.  Further, I know I am saved, I know where I was saved, I know when I was saved, I know how I was saved, I know why I was saved,  and I know WHO saved me.  Praise the Lord!  Glory to God!  I hope every reader of this study has this same assurance of salvation in their heart, and shares my love of the "blessed hope" of our Lord's SOON return for His people, John 14:1-3.  
    Any reader who does not have such assurance is urged to get a Bible, and read and believe John 3:3-7, 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24, 14:6, Acts 4:12, 16:30-31, Romans 10:8-13, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 John 1:7-9, and many similar Scriptures throughout the New Testament.
      May our gracious Lord God add His grace and blessings to this study.   
<<<<<<<       O       >>>>>>>
     Permission is granted to any true believer, or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.  
     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.......Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401.
EMAIL..........francismriley34@gmail.com

<<<<<<<       O       >>>>>>>