Continuing Michael’s message
on “steadfastness”, he writes: What is a man and woman of God? To answer
this question, the diagnostic question is: "Do you find your purpose
in your Lord Jesus Christ?" As Paul said, the purpose for life is
that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace. Our victory is that
through Christ's death and resurrection, we have been set free from the bondage
of sin and death. Our freedom is that we can live our lives to His honor
and glory. A steadfast man and woman is not confused about the purpose of
life.
The average person on the
street doesn't know what it means to be a man or woman of God. A survey
of men and women concluded, "people no longer feel empowered." When
you approach a man or woman in church and call them a "man or woman of
God," they will usually look down in shame and humiliation. When you
ask them why they looked down, they'll say, because they feel unworthy. In
our own power we're unworthy. However, a man or woman of God comes to the
revelation that the phrase "Man of God" means God's man and the
phrase "Woman of God" means God's woman.
It's not who we are but whose
we are. We're no longer our own. A man or woman of God
understands that they are His and He is ours. The prayer of repentance says,
"I'm not the person that you meant
for me to be, Please God make me that person." This is a prayer
that God will run to answer. We're saved not because of who we are but
because who He is. He is a God of grace, mercy, and love. Our prayer of
repentance is the same as David's prayer in Psalm 51, "Against you
only have I sinned. Blot out my transgressions and create in me a new heart, O
Lord." Acceptance of the grace of God will change our hearts. The
law of sin and death is enforced by fear and intimidation. However acceptance
of grace says, "Lord, I'll gladly
live my life to serve you because I love you."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Paul says, “Watch
ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things
be done with charity (the love of God.)"
1 John 4:18 says,
"There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment. He that fears is
not made perfect in love." Truth is that which is revealed. God
will open the eyes of our understanding when we're faithful to serve Him from a
heart of love. When we go the first mile, we're doing it because the law
of sin and death says to go one mile. When we go the second mile we will
come to understand the meaning of service in love ... not because we've got to
but because we get to. The word of God is profitable for doctrine, reproof,
and correction. Doctrine means
how to believe rightly. Reproof will convict us of our sin, when we do not
believe rightly. Correction teaches us how to get back to “right” believing.
Correction restores us to an upright condition. When we're in a right
position, then we'll be blessed, not because of who we are but because of who God
is. We're not saved because we're good but because He's good. Not because we're
lovable but because God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.
Because our resurrected Lord
lives in us and through us, "be ye
stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
May we ever live to the
praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
No comments:
Post a Comment