Unusual People
A man of God is not a man who has his act together. Rather he is a man saved by the grace of his Lord Jesus Christ. It’s not whether or not we fall…all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It’s not how we handle success but how we handle the storms of life. We meet regularly with our band of brothers so that we can comfort one another in the love of God… So that we can edify and encourage one another. We’re here so that we can choke in the dust of other men who are in hot pursuit of their Lord Jesus Christ.
The spiritual battle rages on whether or not we’re aware of it or acknowledge it. God gives us weapons to battle the evil one in the midst of the battle. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of this world) but spiritual to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds.
Holiness means that we’re set apart for God’s purpose. It means that we’re unusual…that we’re outliers from a world of darkness. Jesus is at the “deep end of the pool.” He says, “come unto me.” We have to give up our fears and our own priorities when he bids us “come.” Therefore if any man is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. The newness of life is the spirit of Christ in me the hope of glory.
The story of the Apostle Paul is a story of radical conversion through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts Chapter 4, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
The church has been through a period of catering to the goats of this world. These “seeker sensitive” churches forgot Jesus’ words, “my sheep hear my voice, and they know me and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” The sheep are called out from among the world. We who have been born again are a new creation. The question is, “Do you find your identity in Christ?”
The first and great commandment is “love God above all.” When we’re “in love,” the fist thing that comes out of our mouth is praise for the one we love. Love must be cultivated. It must be kept with all diligence. As Proverbs says, “keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. For the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
A crisis will show whether we’re with Christ at the deep end of the pool. Oswald Chambers said, “when the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to be the reliable ones.” God expects us to saturate our hearts, Psalm 1 style. Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
When we’re different according to the purpose for which God’s called us, we’re uncomfortable with the things of the world. Suzan related that when she saw the change in Pete after he dedicated his life to the Lord, she immediately wanted to marry him before he changed his mind. She fell in love with the new man that God had made him in Christ.
God has set us within the body of Christ so that we can restore and correct one another in love. Biblical correction means to restore to an upright condition. The word says, humble thyself under the mighty hand of God so that in due time he may exalt you. For he that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought of God. The Salt and light of the Word of God disinfects the darkness and corruption of sin.
Suzan often said, “Joy is not the absence of pain. Rather it is the presence of the Lord.” According to Micah 6:8, But what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
We have qaccess to the power of the Holy Spirt, having been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God. When we’re filled with the spirit of life in Christ, we’re a new creation. The key is to let go and let God. Casting all your care on him for he careth for you. Freedom is in captivity to Christ…. For it is God who worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. According to 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael