How To Be A Man Of God

In today’s society, it can be challenging for a man to live by God’s standards and be a true man of God. With so many worldly influences pulling us in different directions, it takes commitment and perseverance to stay on the narrow path.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: To be a man of God, you must build your life upon Jesus Christ, fill yourself with the Holy Spirit, obey God’s commands, serve others, resist temptation, and share your faith.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what the Bible teaches about how to grow in godliness as a man after God’s own heart. We will cover principles, practical tips, examples from scripture, and resources to equip you to live out your calling as a man of God.

Build Your Life Upon Jesus Christ

Accept Christ as Your Savior and Lord

The first and most important step in becoming a man of God is accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (John 3:16). This means acknowledging that you are a sinner, repenting, and putting your complete trust in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as the atonement for your sins (1 John 1:9).

When you accept Christ, you establish a relationship with God where He becomes the authority over your life. This is the foundation for living a godly life.

Study God’s Word

Once you have accepted Christ, you need to build your life upon His teachings by studying the Bible regularly (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s Word serves as an instruction manual for how to live a life that honors Him.

By reading the Bible daily, you will gain wisdom for decision making, find encouragement during difficulties, and be reminded of God’s promises and truths. Two great ways to study the Bible are reading through books or passages systematically and studying specific topics using a concordance or Bible app.

As you study, ask God to reveal His truth to you. The more you know God’s Word, the more equipped you will be to live as a man after God’s heart.

Pray Regularly

Prayer is vital for building a strong relationship with God and seeking His will (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Set aside time each day to talk to God, bring your requests to Him, thank Him for blessings, and ask for wisdom and direction.

Some important things to pray for include your family, your spiritual growth, opportunities to serve others, and guidance in decision making. Approach God with humility, sincerity, and faith. The more time you spend in prayer, the more your mindset and desires will align with His purposes.

This is key for living as a man of God.

Participate in Christian Community

Having fellowship with other believers is also essential for your spiritual growth (Hebrews 10:24-25). Attend church regularly to worship God with other Christians. Join a small group Bible study to discuss God’s Word in community.

Find an accountability partner who will encourage you, pray for you, and keep you focused on Christ. Serving in your church allows you to use your gifts and passions for God’s glory. The body of Christ provides invaluable support and accountability as you walk with God.

Surrounding yourself with godly friends will strengthen your faith and equip you to live out your calling as a man of God.

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is key for every Christian man seeking to live out God’s calling. As Jesus told the disciples, the Holy Spirit brings power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). By surrendering your life, asking for the Spirit’s empowerment, cultivating His fruit, and utilizing your spiritual gifts, you’ll be equipped to fulfill your God-given purpose.

Surrender Your Life to God

The first step is offering your whole life – plans, relationships, work, recreation – to God daily. This allows the Spirit to guide and occupy you fully. As Romans 12:1 urges, present your body as a living sacrifice. Make Christ the Lord of every area. Pray, “I give you my life anew today.

Have your way in me.” Opening your hands releases God’s power.

Ask for the Holy Spirit’s Empowerment

Jesus gives the gift of the Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). Daily request the Spirit’s infilling to overflow within and walk in His dynamic power. Pray regularly, “Holy Spirit, fill me up completely with your presence and power for living.” Be expectant, as the Spirit brings gifts.

Cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit

The Bible says those in Christ have crucified the flesh and walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25). As you grow close to God, ask Him to produce the fruit of love, joy, peace and more in your life for relating well. Trust the Spirit to shape your character into Christlikeness.

What incredible fruit He grows!

Use Your Spiritual Gifts

God uniquely gifts each of us to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). Ask God, “How do you want me to serve your people?” Listen for the Spirit’s nudges to use your gifts. Step out in loving action, whether giving, teaching, leading, helping, or more.

As every part works together, the church grows toward maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:16). Keep using your gifts!

Walking daily filled with the Holy Spirit enables you to share Gospel love with the world as His empowered witness. By His strength, you’ll bear good fruit and fulfill your calling for God’s glory.

Obey God’s Commands

Respect and Obey Authority

As men of God, we are called to respect and obey those in positions of authority over us. This includes government leaders, police officers, bosses at work, and church leaders (1 Peter 2:13-17). We should pray for them, submit to their leadership, and honor them as God’s servants.

Disobedience to authority is disobedience to what God has instituted (Romans 13:1-7). However, if authorities require us to disobey God, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Overall, a godly man models respect and humility before those God has placed in leadership.

Be Faithful in Marriage

Marriage is a sacred covenant before God, and unfaithfulness in marriage deeply wounds one’s spouse (Proverbs 6:32-33). God designed sexual intimacy exclusively for marriage between a man and woman (Hebrews 13:4).

According to research from the Institute for Family Studies, only around 11% of ever-married adults admit to having an affair. As men committed to obeying Christ, we must guard our eyes and hearts, loving and cherishing only our wives (Proverbs 5:15-19).

We should cultivate intimacy, understanding, and trust in marriage by spending quality time together and communicating openly and gently.

Honor Your Parents

Honoring our fathers and mothers pleases the Lord and brings blessing upon our lives (Ephesians 6:1-3). We honor parents by being respectful in speech, obedient to their guidance, and caring for their needs as they age. According to a Pew Research survey, over 1 in 6 adults care for an aging parent.

As men seeking to obey God, we must ensure our parents are honored, whether we care for them directly or place them in the care of trusted loved ones. This honors God and leaves a noble legacy for our own children.

Speak Truthfully

Honesty and integrity should mark the speech of a man who fears God. Lying, exaggeration, flattery, gossip, and deception grieve the Lord (Proverbs 6:16-17; Ephesians 4:25). Research shows 60% of people lie at least once during a 10-minute conversation.

But as men of God, we must be committed to speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), no matter the cost. Our word should be trustworthy, and our speech edifying. According to a recent Forbes survey, truth-telling companies are trusted more than any other institution.

Conduct Yourself With Integrity

The life of a man devoted to God displays integrity and strong moral character. He keeps his promises, returns borrowed items, gives a full day’s work, pays debts promptly, does not steal or exploit others, and adheres to biblical ethics in his business practices (Psalm 15:1-5).

Though the world promotes moral compromise, God calls us to a higher standard. Studies indicate 90% of employees say a company’s ethics matter, showing people long for principled leaders. As men who follow Christ, everything we do should be done in His name and for His glory (Colossians 3:17, 23).

Serve Others

Show Hospitality

Showing hospitality to others is a key way for men of God to serve those around them. This could involve having people over for a meal, allowing someone to stay in your home for a period of time, or simply making them feel welcomed and cared for.

Hebrews 13:2 encourages believers to “not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” When we open our homes and lives to others, we reflect God’s welcoming heart.

Care for the Needy

Caring for the poor, orphaned, widowed, imprisoned, and marginalized is fundamental to living as a man of God. Jesus said that when we serve “the least of these”, we are serving Him (Matthew 25:31-46).

There are countless ways to care for the needy – volunteering at a homeless shelter, donating to a relief organization, mentoring an at-risk youth, or even just befriending someone who is lonely. As we meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others, we display Christ’s love in action.

Love Your Neighbor

Loving our neighbor is essential in following Jesus, who called it the second greatest commandment (Mark 12:31). This means viewing each person we interact with as someone precious that God deeply cares for.

It involves having compassion, patience, kindness, and forgiveness even when relating with difficult people. We can love our neighbors by getting to know them personally, being there in their times of need, advocating for them, and looking out for their good.

When we do so, we reflect our Heavenly Father’s boundless love.

Forgive Others

Forgiveness is an act of incredible love. As Christians, we are called to forgive others just as God has forgiven us through Christ (Colossians 3:13). This applies even when someone has deeply hurt or offended us. Forgiveness means releasing bitterness and giving up the right to seek vengeance.

According to one study, people who practice forgiveness tend to have better cardiovascular health. Forgiveness leads to emotional and spiritual healing. As men seek to forgive, they experience freedom and demonstrate the restoring power of God’s love.

Be a Peacemaker

Jesus pronounced a blessing on peacemakers, calling them sons of God (Matthew 5:9). As men of God, we are to actively pursue peace in our relationships and community. This means resolving conflicts wisely, not escalating arguments, avoiding slander or gossip, and bringing reconciliation where there is division.

We can be peacemakers in our families, friendships, workplaces, and churches. Promoting understanding and harmony between people is a way for God’s love to spread. As Scripture urges, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18).

Resist Temptation

Flee from Sin

As men of God, we must actively avoid situations that could lead us into sin. This means being wise about the media we consume, the places we go, and the people we associate with. We should eliminate anything from our lives that causes us to stumble.

The Bible tells us to flee from evil desires (2 Timothy 2:22) and avoid every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Running from temptation requires self-discipline and intentionality.

Guard Your Heart

We must be vigilant to protect our hearts from corrupting influences. The Bible says above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23). Monitor your thoughts and feelings. Don’t entertain lustful or impure fantasies. Avoid overindulging in entertainment.

Be careful of what you allow into your mind through books, music, movies and technology. Consume media thoughtfully and in moderation.

Also, guard your heart in relationships. As men, we can be tempted in inappropriate emotional or physical intimacy. Maintain purity by setting healthy boundaries. Only share your heart deeply with your spouse. Keep interactions with the opposite sex above reproach.

Avoid Compromising Situations

As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s much easier to avoid temptation than to resist it once we’re in a compromising situation. Don’t put yourself in risky circumstances where your resolve will be tested.

For example, don’t browse sites or content that could stir up lust. Don’t meet alone with someone who you find yourself attracted to. Don’t go to environments where alcohol, drugs or sexual immorality are prevalent.

Also, be careful about going to someone’s home or inviting them over if no one else is around. Make sure to meet in public places. Be wise about the situations you allow yourself to get into.

Fill Your Mind with Truth

We can fight temptation by filling our minds with godly truth. The Bible says to fix our thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable (Philippians 4:8). When we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and biblical teaching, it renews our minds and changes our thinking.

It washes away impure thoughts and replaces them with wisdom and perspective.

Try listening to the Bible or Christian sermons during your commute or while exercising. Set aside time to read Scripture and pray each morning. Filling your mind with godly truth is essential to living a godly life.

Rely on God’s Strength

On our own, resisting temptation is extremely difficult. But the good news is we don’t have to rely on our own power. God promises to provide a way out from every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) and strength when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Through prayer and faith, we can tap into His power and find grace to overcome.

Staying connected to God is key. Make prayer a daily priority, along with worship, Scripture reading and Christian fellowship. We all stumble at times, but God is merciful and will help us back up. As we walk closely with Him, He will give us the strength and wisdom we need to resist temptation.

Share Your Faith

Let Your Light Shine

As a man aspiring to be a man of God, you need to let your faith shine through your words and actions (source). Smile, be kind, show compassion, offer to pray for people or help them in tangible ways. This displays God’s love. Your light shines brightest when life gets darkest for others.

Find opportunities, big and small, to make someone’s day better in Jesus’ name.

Look for Opportunities to Share

Actively look for opportunities to share your faith and God’s love with others. This could be having spiritual conversations with friends and family, inviting someone new to church, volunteering to teach Sunday School, or going on a short-term mission trip.

When God opens a door to minister to someone’s spiritual needs, be bold and step through in dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Know the Gospel Message

You should know the basic Gospel message by heart and be able to explain it clearly to others (source). The Gospel is the good news that though we have all sinned against God and face eternal separation from Him, Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose again to give us new life.

We receive this free gift of salvation by repenting of sin and believing in Jesus alone to save us. Be ready to share this lifesaving message!

Answer Questions With Gentleness

When others ask you questions about your faith or challenge aspects of Christianity, answer them with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Do not get defensive but instead offer thoughtful responses rooted in Scripture. Admit when you do not know something rather than speculating.

Point them to helpful resources for seeking the truth about Jesus. Keep the conversation friendly and caring.

Trust the Holy Spirit

While sharing your faith, do not lean on your own understanding but trust and depend fully on the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 3:5-6). Pray beforehand to be filled with boldness, wisdom, discernment, and love. Trust God to open hearts and empower your words.

He promises to be with you always and give you the words you need when you witness for Him (Luke 12:11-12). Step out in faith!

Conclusion

Living as a man of God requires determination and perseverance in the face of opposition and temptation. But take heart – God has promised to complete the work He began in you. As you make Jesus Christ the foundation of your life, obey God’s Word, and rely on the Spirit’s power, you will grow into the man of God you were created to be.

We hope this outline provides helpful guidance and biblical wisdom. With God’s grace, you can follow Jesus’ example and positively influence others as a godly man.