Men With Holy Hands

Temple Baptist Church - 6-21-2009

1 Timothy 2:8

Introduction:

A. First of all, I want to thank each of you good men for your faithfulness and example. In these last days, Good men are hard to find!

Isaiah 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

B. Today’s world is full of the wrong kind of men.

1. Men who are sissies. They dress in “gay” apparel; they walk with a “twitch;” they speak with a “lisp;” they grow their hair like women; and I would hate to be in a foxhole with one of them!

2. Men who are self-centered. They do not care about their family, home, church, or nation! Being a man is accepting the God given responsibility given to him.

3. Men who are sinful. They do what they want and care nothing for those who have to pay the price. Drink, drugs, and perversion. They care not what God or man says.

C. The need for godly fathers and strong homes achieved through husbands with Biblical standards is great. I preached last Sunday on the fall of our nation, churches, and homes. Much of this is because of a lack of good men.

D. The word “Father” is not only the identity of biological kinship, it is a title of honor given to those who establish anything important in human affairs.

1. George Washington is called the “Father of Our Nation.”
2. Herodotus is called t The “Father of History.”
3. Hippocrates is called the Father of Medicine.”
4. Adam is called the “Father of the Human Race.”

E. So, when I use the word “Fathers” this morning, I am speaking to all of you dear men!

F. I do not want to preach a negative message this morning but I do feel obligated to say these things. Our text verse for this Father’s Day says, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

G. These words were written by Paul but through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. What kind of men does the Holy Ghost speak of?

1. God give us some Strong Men. “men” God said men, not women. Thank God for you women but you cannot replace the man. God never intended for the woman to compete with your man. God intended for you to complete your man. God give us men!

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

a. Men who are strong but do not fear to be compassionate.
b. Men who are strong but do not fear to be gentle.
c. Men who are strong but do not fear meekness.
d. Men who are strong but are giving instead of demanding.

2. God give us Praying Men. “pray” Prayer Warriors! Prayer in their closets; prayer their homes; prayer in their churches. The greatest power in Heaven and Earth is available through prayer. Through prayer we can cast down our strongholds, overcome our temptations, outlast our enemies, uphold our families, hedge about our pastor, help deliver our nation, and remove our obstacles and mountains.

Job 1:4-5 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

3. God give us Many Men. “every where” The marines may be looking for a few good men but the work of the LORD needs countless men! Most missionary churches are characterized by a lot of women and children but an absence of men. We find that true here also as good men are harder to find and, therefore, fewer in number. The laborers are few today and the harvest is overwhelming! Multitudes are in the Valley of Decision with no one to lead them to Christ. There are few to show them the true way of salvation through both witness and Christian walk.

Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

4. God give us some Worshipping Men. “lifting up holy hands” Men who are not ashamed to publically worship! Throughout the Bible, it is the men who set the example in worship. Thank God for worshipping women who praise their wonderful Lord. We need men who will stand and declare what great things the Lord has done for them. We need men who sing with all of their hearts and give a hearty “Praise the Lord” or “Amen” once in a while.

2 Samuel 6:13-15 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

5. God give us some Spiritual Men. “holy hands” Men who live lives of purity and godliness. Clean hearts, clean lives, and clean lips. Men who, if followed, will lead others in right paths. Paths of righteousness for the Lord’s sake.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

6. God give us Gentle Men. “without wrath” Men who do not take offense to everything said and read. Men not easily offended or angered by the actions of others. Men who are not offended or angry at the Word preached from the pulpits. Men who recognize the Word of God as it is and bow to its precepts. Men who can forgive their enemies in a Christ like manner. Men who are not brawlers and strikers. We need men, not machismo!

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

7. God give us Faithful Men. “without…doubting” Faithful to their nation; faithful to their families; and faithful to their churches. When the Lord returns, will He find faithful men?

1 Timothy 1:12-14 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion: Again, I want to wish each of you Fathers and all men a wonderful day. I love and appreciate you more than you will ever know. God bless!