What Does It Really Take To Be A Man Of God?

Most of us as Christians believe that God has given some men the power to do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus Christ for the purpose of bringing blessings to people in need. However, the Bible also warns that not everyone that comes knocking on your door with signs and miraculous power is actually a true servant of God or of Jesus Christ (I John 4:1).

I'm just wondering: if miracles are not the sole criteria upon which to attest a person as a man of God, what other criteria should there be for this qualification? Or, is it the other way round where miracles alone should be the sole criteria? How can we know that someone is actually making a genuine claim to be a man or woman of God?

See, its not the anointing or the working of miracles. Those things were given by God so the church will grow together in the unity of faith. Working of miracles is a gift of the spirit and so all can have it if we sincerely pray for it and need it. God will give it to us.
Your spirit will bear you witness if a man is a true prophet of God. Also check I Cor chapters 12 – 14. They will tell you more about spiritual gifts and how we should relate to them.
Check a man with what he says and judge if he is a servant of God. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (1Co 12:3). Can you beat that?
God will help you my friend. You can also pray for the gift of discernment of spirit.

TYPOP,

Thanks for your input - a few things you said are very helpful.

PRAYER has to do with the entire man. Prayer takes in man in his whole being, mind, soul and body. It takes the whole man to pray, and prayer affects the entire man in its gracious results. As the whole nature of man enters into prayer, so also all that belongs to man is the beneficiary of prayer. All of man receives benefits in prayer. The whole man must be given to God in praying. The largest results in praying come to him who gives himself, all of himself, all that belongs to himself, to God. This is the secret of full consecration, and this is a condition of successful praying, and the sort of praying which brings the largest fruits
pray and your wish shall come to pass

Especially praying in the spirit. That is the best way to pray.

obedience

its takes grace actually for one to be called a man of GOD, well for u to be called a man of GOD u must have had the same characters that our heavenly father portrays, and u must have actually being able to attain perfection.

i think all it takes to be a man of God is to :
1. be willing to sacrifice all
2.be committed and wholly dedicated to God and all that concerns HIM.
3.be truly in love with HIM.(God)
4.be humble .
5.be foolish enough to obey HIM.
6.trust absolutely only in HIM.
7.let HIS WORD be your all.

there are a thousand and one requirements but you must discover your purpose and then discover where, who, when and how to fit into HIS plan.

Hi choice.A,

At first glance I'd say;

A man of God is a male person that loves God.
A person that loves God keeps His commandments.

Having read some of your posts and digging a little deeper I'd say;

The whole "Man of God" thing is just another man made tradition (denominational jargon).
The apostle Paul used the phrase once to encourage Timothy. That would suggest a more mature Christian encpouraging a less mature Christian.
MOG is vying with "Pastor" as the most overworked and missapplied term in certain religious circles
By their fruits,
End of.

While it is true that the term "man of God" has been much misapplied in many denominational circles, I don't agree that it is just another man made tradition (denominational jargon). More than once when Paul used the appellation to encourage Timothy (I Tim. 6:11), it occurs in several other verses in both the OT and NT. It was used of Moses when he blessed the children of Israel (Deut. 33:1). As used of Samuel, 'man of God' was supposedly pointing to his gift as a prophet (I Sam. 9:5-17), which same could be said of -

Shemaiah - I Kings 12:22-24 . . . the nameless prophet who disobeyed God - I Kings 13

Elijah - I Kings 17:18-24 . . . Elisha - II Kings 4:8-9 & 40; & 5:8

David as Israel's king ruled with integrity, and even though he failed on several occasions, he nonetheless followed God wholeheartedly and it is not surprising that he was called a man of God as well (II Chron. 8:14 & Neh. 12:24). Finally, Paul and many men used of God in the NT could count as men of God. The understanding of the term is not limited to just this designation; and several features characterizing their demeanour show us who a man of God would be.

Men and women of God are characterized by holiness (II Pet. 1:21), unwavering commitment to His will, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness (II Tim. 6:11). These men and women have been taught by God and furnished unto His good works, instructed in righteousness and are not ashamed to receive correction in God's ways (II Tim. 3:16-17). Study the life of some of these people - is it any wonder that they were humble (like Moses, who was the meekest man in his time - Num.12:3), seeking after God's heart (like David - Acts 13:22), and characterised by intimacy in divine fellowship (like Abraham the friend of God - James 2:23; and the disciples of the Lord Jesus - John 15:14-15). I leave it to the rest of us to labour in God's word to find some other interesting virtues about men and women of God.

Since after the apostles, there's never been such a time as the present when Christians need such men of integrity, power and love. . . men who are not sold out to popular opinion or stand as crowd-pleasers; such men as those who are willing to stand in unwavering commitment to God's will and encourage us to follow in their steps for the greater blessing of others and the glory of God.

TV01:

. . . A man of God is a male person that loves God. . . .

@TV01

I think the term man is being used as a generic term now to mean the male and female. He might be a man or a woman.

You are right TY, I guess I was being a little facetious.

More pertinent though, doesn't it say something about how we view our faith it we think of certain people as men or women of God. Aren't we just introducing a dichotomy that is no where found in scripture, although very much alive in church tradition. It's called the clergy and laity split. The call to walk in His footsteps is for everyone.

We are all priests now aren't we?

1Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

And if we are looking for a man (or woman), isn't that why He was fully man and fully God?

I have had just a glimpse of the Lord and since then, men (or women) just don't do it for me anymore.

God bless

Hi TV01,

I would agree with TYPOP about the generic use of the term 'man' as inclusive of men and women.

However, the dichotomy of clergy and laity you're referring to is another matter entirely. The clergy-laity phenomenon does not seem to be a scriptural teaching, even though I've tried to think of the possibility by any chance. Every believer is included in I Pet.2:9; but not every believer knows the import of the term 'man (or woman) of God'. You'd have to convince yourself that men or women of God are no where found in scripture before you can consign it to church tradition. Go through the Bible and you'll find that there were many such men and women of God whose examples we can follow today.

TV01:

And if we are looking for a man (or woman), isn't that why He was fully man and fully God?

Maybe I didn't quite understand you here, but it wasn't because anyone was looking for a man (or woman) that's "why He was fully man and fully God". Scripture gives us several reasons why Jesus (the divine Son of God) became Man. Besides a few others that readily come to mind, He came to do the Father's will and to glorify Him (John 4:34 & 17:4), not because we were looking for a man or woman of God.

Peace.

Hi Welborn,

Well said.

Maybe we should retract a little. A few questions;

1. What is the point of or the need for the MOG (as a matter of decorum I'll omit the female acronym )
2. How is the MOG to be different from other believers?

There's a hint in this thread of people searching for someone to look up to?. What for?
Hence my comment in an earlier post about The Lord being fully man. Look up to Him.

Let me be a little clearer. One of the things done away with when the Lord died was the "mediatory priesthood". Everyone can now approach God through Christ Jesus for themselves.

The whole point of the Christian walk is too mature in Christ.
No dichotomy, but a difference, being one of "maturity of walk".

These so called MOG qualities are fruit to be bourne by all believes., hence my "by their fruit" comment in an earlier post.

The MOG concept is just a man-made tradition. Which exist in all Christian religious traditions in one guise or another.

As for miracles, John performed no signs (John 10:41). But Judas obviously did!

In a lot of "Churches", they point to a Set Man, Prophet, Apostle, Pastor or whatever, and declare him to be a man of God. So one last question then, what does that make all the other men in attendance?

God bless

Hello again TV01,

First, I'll offer you two things: (a) from the Biblical point of reference, the MOG concept is not a man-made tradition; (b) whatever is referenced in Scripture has been much abused by man; but abuse does not render God's work ineffective.

From my previous posts you'll see the references I made to specific mention of 'man of God' in scripture ('man' here again as a generic term for men and women). Let's understand this: when God says something by divine revelation, it does not speak well of anyone to suggest it as otherwise man-made.

Second, in many circles people have abused the term and applied it to just about anybody who hardly fits the description. However, this does not render it untenable itself or inapplicable to our day. There are real men of God today, and like I said earlier, not every believer is actually walking in the character of men and women of God.

The distinction between men of God and other believers does appear in Scripture in the following examples:

(1) (Wo)Men of God are qualified leaders and not novices
This is clear from both OT and NT examples. Moses, Samuel, Shemiah, Elijah, Elisha, David are all examples of men of God, and their leadership skills distinguished them from their fellow Israelites. When Paul used the term twice (I Tim. 6:11 and II Tim. 3:17), he most definitely had leadership in mind. Men and women of God are people trained and equipped by Him to lead others who are not as experienced in matters relating to the life of faith. I might say: novices are born, leaders are made. It takes time, labour, experience and acquired wisdom to be a man/woman of God.

(2) (Wo)Men of God set examples for others
Paul's encouragement to Timothy is pastoral, and you'll see that in I Tim. 1:3 & 18 the apostle commits a charge to him in no ordinary way that he would have done in general terms to just every believer. Leaders are set by God in His Church to lead others, and these leaders labour to set examples to those in their care because they'll be called upon to give an account for their stewardship. "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Heb. 13:7).

(3) Only Leaders who are (Wo)Men of God can fulfill certain roles
Even when we have the glorious liberty of approaching God through Christ for ourselves, that does not rule out the fact that God's House has precedence of administration (I do not mean hierarchy in the secular sense - see Matt. 20:25-26). The elders play an important role in special situations of prayer - "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14). I have seen cases where people reasoned that they could dispense with that verse, and they never got an answer from God until they repented and called for the elders of the church!

Anyone just claiming to be what God has not made him (pastor, apostle, elder, bishop, or leader of sorts) really doesn't know the Word of God. However, just because so many people have abused these gifts and offices does not nullify the fact that God still calls such men and women of God today to be leaders. Just because Christian men are sitting in a church service does not make them all 'men of God'. Those who want to dispense with God's laid down precedence in Scripture about who a man/woman of God is, or what it takes to be one, are not reading with a large heart to receive quietly all that God says. Men of God are needed in our day - because not everyone qualifies as such.

You might have read it many times, but I recommend you read again I Cor. 12:28-31.

Blessings.

IT takes Divine Calling to be called Man of God (Called One) Many Pastors claims to be Man of God but in real truth it's mere claim,And Their Adherents re Slaves with bondage over their eyes. A Man Of God is a Person Who preaches The Will Of God and what it takes to Earn a Place in de book of life and not what it takes to enjoy de pleasure of the Earth

A man of God is someone who emulates Christ as Shepherd,a counsellor who counsels For spirtual maturity and not counseling for earthly riches!

An Example of Men of God ever lived re John The Baptist,Paul and de disciples of Jesus christ excluding Judas,Mother Thersea,Pope John paul 2,some pencostal church Pastors,and few others '' By their fruits you shall know them''

Hi Welborn,

I appreciate your comments and I believe we are not so much talking at cross purposes, as airing differing perspectives. All healthy, I'm sure you'll agree. With that in mind, lets talk.

The thread asks "What it Takes". To me that suggests personal traits, character.
Am I wrong in stating that you correlate that to gifting, calling or title?

Balaam was a prophet - Was he a man of God?
Saul was a king - was he?
Ahitophel was an astute man, a wise counselor - Man of God would you say?

When did David qualify as a man of God? When he was anointed? when he ascended the throne maybe?
Or Samuel? (who literally started serving God as soon as he could tie his shoelaces & wipe his bottom!).

My point being that with maturity (and like you say time, experience, labour), come the qualities, but the heart always has to be there to make you a MOG.

One point of difference maybe (and I stand to be corrected) you are taking MOG to be synonymous with leader? I don't see that. Again, Saul was King while David was a novice, who was the MOG?

Re point 2 - no probs mate, I agree, but do you have to have a title or be somehow elevated to set an example? Hebrews 13:7, we could go deep here but let me ask you this, the "rule", how far does that extend?
To your choice of spouse? career? holiday destination? Scripture has to be balanced. It's in a church setting (I'm sure we'll talk models of church someday - . And the last part of that verse, surely that speaks to character? The whole of the Christian life is not church nor dictated by roles/positions in the church. In the pastoral epistles Paul says "If a man desires" That is to every male believer. Sir, God is not partial! It's about your walk!

Re point 3 - my take would be "only Christians who posses certain qualities can be elders. And any one suitably qualified can be one.

To be honest I can see now that I personally consider the term "leader" somewhat ill fitting. I know it's commonly used in some circles, but I don't see it pop up much in scripture. I think it gives a functional feel to Christianity as opposed to the relational ethos that I see clearly portrayed. The terms elder/bishop/pastor/shepherd are all the same, and merely denote different facets of the same role. Perhaps my take is more teaching/protecting/nurturing/modelling, which is what I believe to be NT Christianity.

It good talking, it's helped me consider some of my own views a little more deeply. Sorry for rambling and being unable to append scriptural references, but I see you are well versed. Please upbraid me if I've misquoted.

God bless

Men and women of God are people who know and follow God based on His terms and not theirs. The term is not applied to just about any believer, and wherever it is used in Scripture it points to those who are recognized as leaders in some capacity. We need more men and women of God today, who know and follow God on His terms, and who can lead others to God in authentic worship and service.

In my honest opinion, only one thing makes you a Man of God: God's Calling. The principle is exactly what is said of Aaron: "No one takes this honor unto himself, except he that is called, like Aaron".

TV01 made a valid point when he said the character we expect to be found in a MOG is what is expected to be cultivated by each Christian. And from what has been pointed out before now, the appelation was addressed to someone like Elijah whom I believe lacked the fruit of the Spirit in his life (you can tell if you follow his ministry closely).

Leadership qualities is expected of every Christian at various levels in their walk with God and men. If all you are is a father or mother, then you are a leader within your home. So while leadership skills are required to fulfil your calling as a MOG, that is not what makes you one.

The issue of miracles and the likes are all gifts from God which is irrevocable even if the MOG wallows in sin (the gifts and callings of God are without repentance). To illustrate, remember how Elisha called wild animals to devour little children because they were making fun of his bald head? That was God's power put to wrong use. Likewise Elijah devouring those soldiers with fire even though they had done him no wrong. These are people, like the devil using God's gifts wrongly. God still never took those gifts away despite the wrong use. They needed those gifts to fulfill their callings as MOGs.

From all these and many more reasons, I believe it takes just God's calling to be a MOG. However, there are certain qualities expected of one who is called a MOG, but these qualities don't make him/her one.

Hi TayoD,

TayoD:

In my honest opinion, only one thing makes you a Man of God: God's Calling. The principle is exactly what is said of Aaron: "No one takes this honor unto himself, except he that is called, like Aaron".

In a sense I absolutely agree, although my position is that in NT Christianity all believers are called.

TayoD:

TV01 made a valid point when he said the character we expect to be found in a MOG is what is expected to be cultivated by each Christian. And from what has been pointed out before now, the appelation was addressed to someone like Elijah whom I believe lacked the fruit of the Spirit in his life (you can tell if you follow his ministry closely).

Again, I agree to a great extent, except to note that Elijah was under a different dispensation. Technically, no one at that time had the fruit of the Spirit, which is the outworking of the "indwelling Spirit of God". It was under the dispensation of the law and at a time when anointing external and with was with oil (although I fail to see the captivation by many with "anointing" in this dispensation).

TayoD:

The issue of miracles and the likes are all gifts from God which is irrevocable even if the MOG wallows in sin (the gifts and callings of God are without repentance). To illustrate, remember how Elisha called wild animals to devour little children because they were making fun of his bald head? That was God's power put to wrong use. Likewise Elijah devouring those soldiers with fire even though they had done him no wrong. These are people, like the devil using God's gifts wrongly. God still never took those gifts away despite the wrong use. They needed those gifts to fulfill their callings as MOGs.

I can't say I agree here. If this holds true, pray tell why did Samson lose his strength?

I am still of the opinion that the whole "MOG" concept is just another mis-appropriated, mis-understood mis-construed and mis-applied concept/term. It's the outworking of a desire to differentiate, but in a carnal way. I believe the only difference between Christians is maturity and consecration.

I stand to be corrected.
God bless

@topic: obeying the 10 commandments and doing good

@TV01,

Indeed we are all 'Called' in the NT, however, the call to the five-fold ministry is what I believe we are talking about here. In this regard, there are special callings by Jesus into these ministries. Not all believers are pastors, prophets, evangelists, teachers or apostles. The call into any of these ministries does not make the believer more equal than the others, it only places him in a special position of authority and responsibility. And by the way, these callings have nothing to do with ability or how self-righteous the believer is, it is all by God's choosing and will.

I agree with what you said about the fruit of the Spirit with regards to the OT saints. I only used the fruit of the Spirit within that context to point at the elements of love, joy, peace, self-control etc which was also required of God's people within that covenant.

In the case of Samson, you will notice that he never lost his strength all the while he was in fornication until his hair was cut off from him. His hair was like our bodies today where the Holy Spirit dwells. The only reason he lost his strength was because His access to the Holy Spirit was cut off, and not because he sinned. He had been in sin even before this fornication incident and he still had his power for as long has the vessel where the Spirit of God dwells was still present with him.

The Bible encourages us to regard with double honour those that labour in the Word. This is not to bring about a pulpit-pew dichotomy, but it is just in keeping with the spiritual law of giving honor to whom honor is due. The issue of maturity and consecration you talked about can also be utilized to divide the brethren. All we need is some balance and love to walk it right.

it takes "real Calling"

lots of fake pastors and men of God out there!

every spcae they use for church!

Hi TayoD,

TayoD:

@TV01,

Indeed we are all 'Called' in the NT, however, the call to the five-fold ministry is what I believe we are talking about here. In this regard, there are special callings by Jesus into these ministries. Not all believers are pastors, prophets, evangelists, teachers or apostles. The call into any of these ministries does not make the believer more equal than the others, it only places him in a special position of authority and responsibility. And by the way, these callings have nothing to do with ability or how self-righteous the believer is, it is all by God's choosing and will.

There are various schoos of thought about the "five fold" ministry. I essentially see NT Christian service as primarily "teaching and pastoral". Everyone 's an evangelist. I am yet to be persuaded that the Prophet and Apostle as present in the OT and early church are still relevent. Although that is a thread in itself and one that's been simmering for a while now. Maybe someone, maybe someday!

TayoD:

In the case of Samson, you will notice that he never lost his strength all the while he was in fornication until his hair was cut off from him. His hair was like our bodies today where the Holy Spirit dwells. The only reason he lost his strength was because His access to the Holy Spirit was cut off, and not because he sinned. He had been in sin even before this fornication incident and he still had his power for as long has the vessel where the Spirit of God dwells was still present with him.

Well articulated point about Samson. Point taken. Thanks.

TayoD:

The Bible encourages us to regard with double honour those that labour in the Word. This is not to bring about a pulpit-pew dichotomy, but it is just in keeping with the spiritual law of giving honor to whom honor is due. The issue of maturity and consecration you talked about can also be utilized to divide the brethren. All we need is some balance and love to walk it right.

Indeed it does, but again readings of that verse may differ. Again something that merits more in-depth discussion, but my stance is that honour is given, because such elders take on the additional labour of studying and feeding others, as well as all the other things (family, children, work etc etc) that men have to engage in (and already serving as elders).

In a sense I think this ties in with my maturity/consecration point, as it will increase the former and demand more of the latter to take on this burden of " labouring in doctrine". It is not to divide, as studying to be approved and labouring in doctrine is open to all. But the scripture recognises that not all do so, and enjoins us to honour those who do.

Maturity is a consequence of one's walk and experience and like all children that will always differ between individuals. Consecration is also a very individual thing, possibly related too and impacted by one's maturity, but again, that will differ from person to person. I think it's way too personal to be divisive, but it's not to be confused with outward shows of piety, religiousity or spirituality.

Regards

God bless

@TV01

you I think i agree with TayoD. The other offices are still in existent today andif it will help you, you may go through a book by Kenneth E Hagin "He gave gifts unto men". it is Jesus that calls into the offices and if he calls you, you have a calling into the particular office(s) He calls you into. We are all to evangelize, but we are not all evangelists just like we can all prophesy but are not all prophets.

Even though the gifts of God are without repentance, when you mess up for a long time without repenmtace, God will mess you up. The anointing does not come once so it will not go once but if you keep messing up, he takes it from you little by little. So MOG's canstill fall out of anointing.

ijele:

Hello all yo ma hommies,Am back from the dungeon, so what's been happening since I left da house?

where you in jail?

Hmm