Manspeak

by Mike Plewniak

A Godly Man Prizes Christ!

This is what we are all about as godly men. To lead is to point people towards Christ. To serve is to follow the example of Christ. To witness is to tell people about Christ. To be a Christian is to be in Christ. I would say that to prize Christ is not only a characteristic of a godly man, but a necessity. If you do not prize Christ, where are you leading people, why are you serving, what are you telling them about?

Christ is our Prophet, Priest, and King. Christ is the beginning and the end. Christ is the lion and the lamb who was slaughtered for our sins. Christ is the pearl of greatest price. Christ is the treasure in the field (go sell everything you have and get that field)! Christ is our righteousness. Christ is the answer to our greatest problem (sin) and our only hope.

Watson says this about him: “Christ has a pre-eminence above all other kings for majesty; he has the highest throne, the richest crown, the largest dominions, and the longest possession” (p. 46).

To prize him is to see his value, to honor him, worship him, and live for him. Paul says in 1 Cor. 2:2 — “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” and in Philippians 3:8 — “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Is there anything in your life that you prize more than Christ? Are you a “proud nominal Christian” who does “not lay the whole stress of their salvation upon Christ, but would mingle their dross with his gold, their duties with his merits” (p. 49)? Can you live without him? If so, you are deceived and not a godly man.

Watson says that we cannot overprize Christ. You cannot worship him too much. You cannot give up enough for him. You can never thank him enough for what He has done for you. “We cannot raise our esteem of Christ high enough; he is beyond all value” (p. 54).

“As we would prove to the world that we have the impress of godliness on us, let us be prizers of Jesus Christ, he is elect, precious. Christ is the wonder of beauty…so there is nothing in Christ but what is precious. His name is precious, his virtue precious, his blood precious — more precious than the world” (p. 53).

For next week: Sections 8 and 9, pages 55-67.

by Mike Plewniak

Section 6: A godly man is a servant of God, not a servant of men.

We could spend months on this one section. This is a wise and helpful clarification for us as we seek to become godly men….we must be servants of God and not live to serve others. It gets tricky because God has called us to serve others, but ultimately our delight and goal must be to serve Him. So, what does it mean to be a servant of God?

It means that we must leave all other masters. Sin is no longer our master. We no longer rule ourselves. We are not independent. We are not self-serving. “A servant must not do what he pleases, but be at the will of his master” (p. 38). We must place ourselves at God’s disposal. This means that as leaders and godly men, we must do things that go against what feels good. We must lay down our lives and be willing to go to hard places, to do hard things, to be ridiculed if it means obeying God. “A godly man will follow Christ though it is death every step” (p. 39).

If we are following God, there should be a joy in where God has placed us. Whether we are sweeping floors, in front of thousands, or whether we are simply faithfully serving behind the scenes for years. If we are following and obeying God, there is a security and confidence that we are doing exactly what he wants. This will guard us from complaining. “When Christians complain at their condition, they forget that they are servants, and must live on the allowance of their heavenly Master. You who have the least bit from God will die in his debt” (p. 39). What a joy to know that we are serving this God. There is no one like him! There is no better master! We get the privilege of using our lives and energy to serve the God who created us.

Being a godly man also means we cannot live to serve men. Watson makes a great distinction that we are called to serve and love others, but our sinful hearts often make this “a sinful serving of men”. How do we know when we have moved from being servants of God to servants of men? “When men’s edicts have more force with us than God’s precepts, this is to be the servants of men.” Do you live for the approval of others? Do you serve so that other men will applause you? Do you commend yourself and make others aware of how much you serve? If so, you have become a servant of men.

Let me end with a challenge to all the men in VFC. We need men who will follow and obey God. We need men who are not captured by fearing what others think. We need men who will change direction when everyone is following the course of this world. We need men who know God, follow God, love God, and serve God. Will you be that godly man? Will you receive persecution for being holy and upright? Will you speak up for God’s honor and glory? Are you a godly man?

For next week: section 7, pages 44-55.

by Jonathan Oldacre

Today on Manspeak I’d like to introduce you to an excellent resource that really helped me in learning how to profit more from my times with God. It’s called “Meeting with God,” and it’s a teaching series and booklet by Covenant Life Church pastor, John Loftness. I’ve had the opportunity to hear Mr. Loftness in person, I’ve listened to all of these messages, I’ve gone through the booklet, and his material is outstanding on the topic of communion with God. Here’s a blurb about the series from the Sovereign Grace website:

“Communion with God is the greatest good our Father gives to his redeemed, and desiring communion with God is part of what it means to be made in his image. Yet our sinful hearts often find excuses to avoid spending time in prayer and the reading of his Word.

The consequences are much more serious than we realize, as we become increasingly susceptible to the lies of the world, our flesh, and the devil.

This series is intended to teach you how to pray, how to profit from Scripture, and how to develop a plan for daily times of communion with your Father. Most importantly, it is intended to help you to grow in your passion to pursue and protect a daily time in which you can meet with God and be changed as a result.”

“Meeting with God” is a six-week series, here’s what’s included:

“This audio CD series and companion booklet are intended to teach you how to pray, how to profit from Scripture, and how to develop a plan for daily times of communion with your Father. Most importantly, they are intended to help you to grow in your passion to pursue and protect a daily time in which you can meet with God and be changed as a result—to help you make communion with God a daily discipline and delight.

The audio CD series includes six messages (titles listed below). The 72-page booklet is an aid to application, containing a detailed outline, discussion questions, and six days’ worth of practice questions as companions to each message.

1. Communion with God in a Fallen World
2. Knowing God in the Bible
3. How to Profit from Scripture
4. How to Pray
5. The Character and Content of Paul’s Prayers
6. Passion with a Plan”

Men, many opportunities for extended communion with God await this holiday season, and I think this resource will guide you into deeper communion with the only One who can satisfy your soul: the Living God! Would you consider adding this invaluable resource to your Christmas list this year? Can I challenge you to not waste your Christmas break but instead use it to grow closer to your Maker? Will you dull your mind and heart with the world this holiday season, or will you use this break to warm your affections for Jesus Christ? Take Psalm 16:11 to heart as you head back home:

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

God is utterly delightful, and He alone possesses durable pleasures that never fade or run out! Delight awaits, and grace is available this Thanksgiving and Christmas! Get closer to God this winter, draw near to Him, order this resource, or ask for it for Christmas today. Better yet, listen to and apply this resource once you receive it and watch your heart become more inclined to your God and King.

Men, let’s lead the way in passion for our Savior! Let’s fight for joy this holiday season!

by Mike Plewniak

We’ve seen the first characteristic of a godly man, that he is a man who knows God. Today we are going to look at four more characteristics which I believe fall directly behind this first one: a godly man has faith in God, loves God (or as Watson says “is fired with love” — more of a manly way to love someone), is like God, and is careful about worshipping God. Once we truly know the God of the bible, the God of creation who rules, what appropriate response is there but to believe in him, love him more than anything else, want to be like him, and bow down and submit our lives in worship to him. This is what godly men do. This is how godly men live. They think about God. They are exact in knowing who He is. They respond to God appropriately.

Sounds pretty easy, huh? Well, there is a problem in each man — sin, our enemy within. Sin wants us to love ourselves more and God less. Sin wants us to esteem worthless idols. Sin wants us to live in darkness as to the knowledge and faith in God. Godly men hate sin and want to hate it more every day. Godly men want to kill sin in all it’s forms and deceptions. Watson says, “When I believe God’s love to me, this makes me weep that I should sin against so good a God.” Now, on this men’s blog, weeping is not highly esteemed. But I promise you, we will never make fun of a man who is weeping over his sin against God. Let us grow in doing this more. Why hate our sin and weep over it? Because God hates our sin and is completely and utterly opposed to it in his holiness. Watson says, “the holiness of God is the intrinsic purity of his nature and his abhorrance of sin.”

A godly man hates his sin and loves God. Watson compares a godly man’s love against the love of self, which remains true today, listen: “People are for the most part eaten up with self-love; they love thier ease, their worldly profit, their lusts, but they do not have a drop of love to God.” We are surrounded in our culture by men who love ease, worldly profit, lusts = men who love themselves. Let their be no mistake, those who love themselves more than God are not real men. Real men believe in God, worship him, serve him, and live their lives with this one great passion to make him known to everyone around them. Follow Watson’s advice and “let us test our godliness by this touch-stone: do we love God? Is he our treasure and centre?”

Is He? Was He today? Will He be your center and treasure tomorrow?

For next week, section 6. Pages 37-44.

by Mike Plewniak

Well, we have finally reached the point where we begin to see the attributes of a godly man.

The first attribute is this: a godly man is a man of knowledge.

To become godly one must know God. Not just in theory or word, but to know him in your soul. “There is a great difference between one who has read of a country, or viewed it on map, and another who has lived in the country, and tasted its fruits and spices.” (p. 21) Do you know God? Do you enjoy God and delight in God? This is the kind of knowledge we start with to become godly men.

Watson gives us the ingredients of this knowledge of God. It is a grounded knowledge. You believe it. It is real. It is certain. Watson says it is a knowledge that you would die for. It is a knowledge that you are thankful for. It is a knowledge that brings life to you. When you wake up in the morning, fix your cup of black coffee and open the Word, it brings you to life. Unlike passive men who drift through their days lacking passion for anything of value, a godly man is enlivened by knowing God. He wants to talk about it, think about it, proclaim the truth of who God is into every area of his life. Watson says, “What pains, then, should we take in finding out the knowledge of God in Christ! There must be digging and searching for it.” (p. 26) Are you a godly man? Do you dig and search for the knowledge of God?

The godly knowledge applies the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you do this, not only are you saved by his blood, but you are desirious of obeying him and serving him. When we begin to obtain this knowledge, we are transformed. The Puritans were masters of application. For every piece of truth they obtained, they found dozens, even hundreds of ways to apply it to their lives. They lived upright and godly lives. They were men moved by truth to action. If we do not apply knowledge to our lives, “we are no better than baptized heathens.” (p. 25)

Let us lead in studying God’s word, in knowing God, and in applying the truth of God and the gospel to our lives. In all of our studies, this should be the greatest one: to know God. I would encourage you, especially young men, to study theology (the study of God). Read Grudems “Bible Doctrine” and begin to have a deepening knowledge of God. “To know arts and science is to gather straw, but to know God in Christ is to gather pearl.”

We need men who know God. We need men who know truth. We need men who discipline themselves to read and study and apply the gospel to their lives. Are you a godly man?

For next week: Sections 2-5; pages 28-37.

by Mike Plewniak

As we continue our study of Thomas Watson’s “The Godly Man’s Picture”, we are going to look at chs. 2-3 this week.

Watson defines godliness for us, a very helpful thing since that is what we are desiring to be. “Godliness is the sacred impression and workmanship of God in a man, whereby from being carnal he is made spiritual.” Godliness is a work of God transforming us from darkness into light. This happens instantaneously at conversion, yet there is a residual effect of the darkness that we must constantly work at removing (work, mind you, dependent upon God’s spirit and grace). Godliness is moving (and being moved) from self to God in every area. From impurity to purity. From sin to holiness.

Watson gives us these points about Godliness: it is real, it is inside of us (not just an external show), it is supernatural, it is extensive (it reaches all areas of our life), it is intense, it is glorious, and it is permanent. My thought: IT IS IMPORTANT! Godliness is not a side issue for us as Christians. With that in mind, here are a few Plew points on Godliness for men: it is daily, it is a battle, it hurts, it’s not always fun, it goes against the current of our culture, it’s not applauded by friends or family, it may cost you, your pride won’t like it, and you don’t have the option to quit. Sound too hard? Feel weak? Luckily, God promises “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What a promise. Before we even start. Before we even read the characteristics of a godly man. Before we know what is coming our way, THERE IS GRACE waiting for us. On each page of this book, you will turn the page and experience grace.

When I was a kid, we use to drive across the country. About 18 hours into the trip, we would hit the wonderfully boring state of Kansas. It was flat and it was windy. I remember seeing rain storms in front of us on the road. You could see the rain coming towards us (or, I guess we were driving towards it) and it would look like a large wall about to overtake our car. God’s grace is a flood of power that will drench your soul as you step out to follow and obey him. With the turn of each page, you are driving into a wall of grace. Okay, enough attempts at bad poetry and back to the book.

Ch. 3 summary: Don’t be a hypocrite. “What good will it do a man when he is in hell that others think he has gone to heaven?” You can’t fool God. “The hypocrite deceives others while he lives, but deceives himself when he dies.” To be a hypocrite is to get all your rewards on earth. It is to miss the rewards of heaven. It is to trade the applause of God for the applause of man. As Watson says, the hypocrite will “never have the privilege of sitting in the senate house of heaven.”

Let me end this week with this quote from Watson: “Christian, if you mourn for hypocrisy, yet find this sin so potent that you cannot get the mastery of it, go to Christ. Beg of him that he would subdue this sin, and put it under the yoke. Beg of Christ to exercise his spiritual surgery upon you. Desire him to lance your heart and cut out the rotten flesh, and that he would apply the medicine of his blood to heal you of your hypocrisy.”

Assignment for next week: Ch. 4, section 1. Pages 20-28.

by Mike Plewniak, contributor

“The soul being so precious, and salvation so glorious, it is the highest point of prudence to make preparations for another world.” What a great way to begin a book. As we endeavor to study godliness and to become holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), what a reminder that we are preparing for another world. This earth is not our home. The question is raised: what truly matters in light of eternity? Watson’s thundering answer throughout this book: GODLINESS.

“What a rare thing godliness is!” I believe this is the case as much in our day (if not more) than in Watson’s day. To be godly is to have “exact harmony between holy principles and practices.” What a hard balance I’ve found this to be — grace-motivated, Christ-minded, work with all your might, no days off allowed godliness. How do we get there? When does “work with all your might” become self-sufficient? When does “grace-motivated” become lazy and licentious? These are the kind of questions Watson will help us to answer. Rarely a page will go by without being pointed to the cross, and rarely will a page go by without being challenged to love more, work more, be more passionate, study more, hate sin more, repent more, and rejoice more.

“Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time.” My prayer is that we would love being godly men. As we seek to grow in all these areas, let us depend on God more, cry out to God more, love the cross more as we see our insufficiencies more. As we experience grace to change, may it give us a taste of heaven here on earth. Watson reminds us that what we are doing in growing in godliness is not a secondary issue. It is our call as a Christian. “This is the grand business that should swallow up your time and thoughts.”

Ch. 1 — As Watson charts his course for our journey, he begins at the right place — forgiveness in the cross of Christ. No matter where you are today, remember that if you have repented and believed in Jesus Christ, you have been forgiven much. This is an act of God’s free grace. It has removed our guilt and pardoned us from our deserved penalty. It can only be found in the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the foundation for all our efforts. This is the foundation of our hope of change. This is the foundation of our desire to change. THIS IS OUR FOUNDATION FOR LIFE!

I want to encourage you to study, meditate on, memorize, and preach the gospel to yourself everyday. Here is the effect of doing that, “guilt clips the wings of prayer so that it cannot fly to the throne of grace, but forgiveness breeds confidence. He who has his pardon may look his prince in the face with comfort.” As we study godliness, we are going to need confidence to approach the throne of grace. That’s Christ. He is our confidence. Practice preaching the gospel to yourself this week. There is no better preparation for what we are seeking to do.

Assignment for next week: Chs. 2-3 (pages 12-19)

Note:I would love to hear your highlights from this book as we go along. Feel free to leave comments on what stuck out to you from the pages we read each week.

Actually, this is a call for all men who desire to be more godly. Beginning next week, we’ll begin a study on Thomas Watson’s book “A Godly Man’s Picture“. Watson was a puritan who had a high view of scripture, loved the gospel, and hated his sin. The subtitle of the book is “drawn with a scripture pencil“. This dude knew scripture. As you begin to read this book, you’ll notice that after every sentence he writes, he references some verse of scripture. This is exactly why I want to go through this book. As we think about what it means to be a man, Watson will walk us down the stream of God’s Word (what John Piper calls ‘The River of Reality’) instructing us on how to fulfill our role as men. In a culture that is losing it’s grasp on manhood and womanhood, Watson goes to the source — God himself as revealed in his word to find the truth of what a godly man looks like.

Another motive I have for this book is that Watson is a puritan (a group of passionate Christians that lived between 1550-1700). J.I. Packer, in his book A Quest for Godliness, refers to the puritans as Redwoods of the faith. Men who stand as godly giants who we can come under and learn from. Watson is one of the easiest puritans to read. He illustrates his points constantly and organizes his thoughts well. I hope that he will introduce you to the world of the puritans, and that this book will only be an introduction into the “Avenue of the Giants” that the Puritans are.

Watson has 24 characteristics of a godly man, not to mention a kickin’ introduction and several exhortations to be more godly that will leave you feeling like a girl scout. A godly man loves the Word, is humble, prizes Christ, is thankful, patient, zealous, prayerful, and weeps (this will be a fun one to review). These are just a few of the qualities we want to grow in and apply to our lives.

So, buy your copy, read the introduction, and let’s explore manhood for all God meant it to be!

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On another matter, Squatty, that was a hilarious response to the many accusations being thrown around about your first post. I think you will learn, along with the rest of us, the more your mouth keeps moving (or, the more your hands keep typing in this case), the more trouble you will get yourself into. To defend yourself on Manspeak is not a good idea. Make fun of yourself, make fun of others, and when ‘outsiders’ of our little blog team start making their funny comments about one of us, slam ‘em! This is manlaw.

While you’re waiting, why not go ahead and purchase the Manspeak featured resource, “The Godly Man’s Picture.” Just click the picture on the sidebar to visit Amazon.com.