Whose Fool?

1 Corinthians 4 says, we are fools for Christ… According to the world’s standards Christians are nobodies. We are despised, reviled, and dishonored for the sake of our Lord. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools to the world. 1 Corinthians says that there are not many wise men, not many noble called. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wisdom of this world. He has called the weak things of the world to overcome the powers of the world. That he might nullify the things that are, so that no man should boast before the power of God.

The foolish things of the world confound the wise. We’re all someone’s fool. Whose fool are you? Meekness and humility are the requirements to approach God’s throne of mercy and grace. To come to him we must acknowledge that He’s God and we’re not.

When God chose Joshua and Caleb to report back about the Promised Land, their report was that with God, we can take the land. The odds are always with the minority who stand with the strength of the Lord. God chooses men whom the world considers nobodies…those who are insignificant and of no consequence.

When Jesus ministered he said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” They wanted to make him a political leader but he chose men and women who would follow him… those whom the world considered inconsequential nobodies.

Most men feel unworthy, especially on spiritual turf. They think that they’ll be asked something about the Bible that they don’t know. However, Jesus saw his men not as they were but what they would be when they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. He saw them as men whose names were written in the book of life. Excellence is what God made us in Christ. Paul warned the Corinthians that they should not deal with the world on the world’s terms. There have been times in our “Christian culture” where “seeker sensitive” churches wanted to look like the world to cater to the lost souls of the world. However, when God sanctifies, he sets us apart from world’s purposes to dedicate our lives according to His purpose…according to His divine design.

The world tells men that they don’t matter…that they are insignificant and of no value. However, God chooses the weak and lowly things of the world to confound the wise. When Mother Theresa was on a world tour, one congressman looking for a photo-opportunity, handed her a check for her foundation Sisters of Mercy. She graciously declined the million dollar check and told him, “give your money to someone who needs it more. God has met all of our needs and will continue to provide. Go home and love the unloveable. God works best with nothing.”

Jesus said, when you go to a feast, take the seat in the back. If they want you up front, they’ll call you. True men of God are men of a humble and a contrite heart. They know from experience what Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

A missionary felt God’s call to minister in Africa. The mission was grueling and he ran out of support. When he left the mission field to return back to the States, President Teddy Roosevelt was on the ship returning from a hunting trip. When they returned to the dock, bands were there to welcome the president home. The missionary prayed, “Lord, I’m returning home but no one’s here to greet me.” That’s when God told the missionary, “You’re not home yet.”

Many churches in America are struggling to get by. The world looks at pastors and thinks that they are insignificant and don’t matter. However, to follow Jesus Christ means to “let go and let God.” He is the source of our sufficiency. The calling is to love the unloveable and to forgive the unforgivable. Paul said to the Corinthians, God has chosen the weak, dishonorable, and foolish of this world to confound the power, honor, and wisdom of this world….for the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

The book “In His Steps” is the true story of the pastor who started a movement by challenging his congregation to ask, “what would Jesus do?” We must die to the world’s sense of fairness and justice. Jesus said, “blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake… for great is your reward in heaven.” Others are looking at you, not to see how you handle success, but how you handle adversity. As men of God, our security is not in the things of this world. Our security is in Him alone. Our identity is not in our jobs, our wives, our worldly credentials, or our accomplishments. Our identity is in that which cannot be taken away. For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep which he’s committed to me against that day of righteous judgement. Our identity as a Man of God is in Jesus Christ. It’s not in who we are but in who he is. Our identity is not who we are, but whose we are.

Unworthy was I of the grace that he gave, Unworthy to hold to his hand.
But he made me worthy and now by his grace, His mercy has made me his own.

We’re worthy because he made us worthy. We were bought with a price. We’re valuable because of the priceless payment Jesus paid as a ransom for the sin nature that we inherited from Adam. For he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Man of God?

Men want to belong to a band of brothers. However, many men are afraid of the commitment and the sacrifice. How do we find other men who are safe…men who can relate to our life’s story…men with whom we can share the details of our life? To commit to a band of brothers requires vulnerability. Men will never be the men that God intended us to be unless we fellowship with likeminded men. Humility and meekness is the requirement to approach God’s throne of grace. These are also the qualities of the heart that are required to fellowship with our brothers in Christ.

One wife in a counseling session said, “my husband is an island. I keep circling the Island but never find a port that I can land.” Our male culture teaches a man-code that says that I can’t be vulnerable. If I say “I love you,” then I’m weak. If I say, “I don’t know,” then I’m not the man I’m supposed to be. Getting in touch with our own selves is a challenge because we need to acknowledge that we’re insufficient in ourselves.

Many churches don’t have men’s ministries. Most churches have a thriving women’s ministry but only about 10 percent have a ministry to men. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. There is a spiritual battle to take men off the spiritual battlefield. Men’s camraderie is easy on sports teams, especially in a winning locker room. However, as Bonhoffer said in Germany before the Second World War, “they were sleepwalking toward a precipice.” There’s a need for men to act like men when the need arises. To stand firm in the faith, do everything in love… be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to have such confidence in him that they will be the reliable ones.” A crisis is an unstable state of affairs. It is a crucial time of uncertainty and difficulty when action is required to avoid complete breakdown.

If the church is to reach its maximum potential, men must find their place in God’s economy. In a “man on the street interview” the men who were interviewed did not know their place in culture. Men won’t compete with women. Women are caring compassionate, relational, and expressive. However, men are action-oriented. Men are God’s method to will and to do of his good pleasure… Men whom God can use…men who are empowered by the Holy Spirit…Men of prayer aligned according to the will of God.

According to a Barnum Group study, When a mom comes to Christ, 17 percent of children follow their mother in the faith. However, when a man comes to faith, 93 percent of his children will come to faith. Influencers starts with men of God in whom the spirit of the Lord is.

In Christ there is always the opportunity for a fresh new start. If we’re saved by grace through faith, then church needs to give us grace. Women in the church also need to give their husbands grace. Men need to “man up” in Christ…for I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live I live by the faith of the one who loved me and gave himself for me.

In our culture young boys are asking “what is a man?” Most men don’t understand what “man of God” means. What are the requirements? The first is what Jesus said to Peter, “do you love me with the love of God?” Peter said, “Yes Lord, you know I love you like a brother.” Peter didn’t yet understand the meaning of the unconditional love of God. If love is the motivation, then it’s not difficult to serve because faith works by love. When love is the motivation, then the effort is not difficult. Grace through faith will make us free when we confess Jesus as Lord. The second question is, “do you find your identity in Jesus Christ?” Our identity is not who we are but rather whose we are. It’s not about me, it’s about Him. Grace reminds me that in my flesh dwells good thing. Without the grace of God, we’re destined to crash and burn. However, thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me. He will change us from the inside out when we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The third thing is that a man of God wants to spend the rest of his life becoming just like Jesus. Jesus said, If you abide in me and I abide in you then you shall bear much fruit. For the fruit of the spirit of Christ in me is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

In Christ we’re men of God. A man of God is God’s man. This is the “genitive of possession.” It’s not who we are, it’s whose we are. He blots out my iniquity, not because of who I am but because of who He is. The Holy Spirit is the one who comes alongside to encourage, to comfort and to edify. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Jesus said, if you continue in my word, then shall you be my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. The question is “Are you a man of God?” The answer is “absolutely!”

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Man of God?

Men want to belong to a band of brothers. However, many men are afraid of the commitment and the sacrifice. How do we find other men who are safe…men who can relate to our life’s story…men with whom we can share the details of our life? To commit to a band of brothers requires vulnerability. Men will never be the men that God intended us to be unless we fellowship with likeminded men. Humility and meekness is the requirement to approach God’s throne of grace. These are also the qualities of the heart that are required to fellowship with our brothers in Christ.

One wife in a counseling session said, “my husband is an island. I keep circling the Island but never find a port that I can land.” Our male culture teaches a man-code that says that I can’t be vulnerable. If I say “I love you,” then I’m weak. If I say, “I don’t know,” then I’m not the man I’m supposed to be. Getting in touch with our own selves is a challenge because we need to acknowledge that we’re insufficient in ourselves.

Many churches don’t have men’s ministries. Most churches have a thriving women’s ministry but only about 10 percent have a ministry to men. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. There is a spiritual battle to take men off the spiritual battlefield. Men’s camraderie is easy on sports teams, especially in a winning locker room. However, as Bonhoffer said in Germany before the Second World War, “they were sleepwalking toward a precipice.” There’s a need for men to act like men when the need arises. To stand firm in the faith, do everything in love… be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to have such confidence in him that they will be the reliable ones.” A crisis is an unstable state of affairs. It is a crucial time of uncertainty and difficulty when action is required to avoid complete breakdown.

If the church is to reach its maximum potential, men must find their place in God’s economy. In a “man on the street interview” the men who were interviewed did not know their place in culture. Men won’t compete with women. Women are caring compassionate, relational, and expressive. However, men are action-oriented. Men are God’s method to will and to do of his good pleasure… Men whom God can use…men who are empowered by the Holy Spirit…Men of prayer aligned according to the will of God.

According to a Barnum Group study, When a mom comes to Christ, 17 percent of children follow their mother in the faith. However, when a man comes to faith, 93 percent of his children will come to faith. Influencers starts with men of God in whom the spirit of the Lord is.

In Christ there is always the opportunity for a fresh new start. If we’re saved by grace through faith, then church needs to give us grace. Women in the church also need to give their husbands grace. Men need to “man up” in Christ…for I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live I live by the faith of the one who loved me and gave himself for me.

In our culture young boys are asking “what is a man?” Most men don’t understand what “man of God” means. What are the requirements? The first is what Jesus said to Peter, “do you love me with the love of God?” Peter said, “Yes Lord, you know I love you like a brother.” Peter didn’t yet understand the meaning of the unconditional love of God. If love is the motivation, then it’s not difficult to serve because faith works by love. When love is the motivation, then the effort is not difficult. Grace through faith will make us free when we confess Jesus as Lord. The second question is, “do you find your identity in Jesus Christ?” Our identity is not who we are but rather whose we are. It’s not about me, it’s about Him. Grace reminds me that in my flesh dwells good thing. Without the grace of God, we’re destined to crash and burn. However, thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me. He will change us from the inside out when we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The third thing is that a man of God wants to spend the rest of his life becoming just like Jesus. Jesus said, If you abide in me and I abide in you then you shall bear much fruit. For the fruit of the spirit of Christ in me is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

In Christ we’re men of God. A man of God is God’s man. This is the “genitive of possession.” It’s not who we are, it’s whose we are. He blots out my iniquity, not because of who I am but because of who He is. The Holy Spirit is the one who comes alongside to encourage, to comfort and to edify. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Jesus said, if you continue in my word, then shall you be my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. The question is “Are you a man of God?” The answer is “absolutely!”

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael