Rise Up Oh Men of God
The lyrics of an old hymn says, “Rise up oh men of God…..
Lift high the cross of Christ. Tread where his feet have trod. As brothers of the son of Man Rise up oh men of God.
Men seek pleasure in the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life. These pleasures last only for a moment. However, when we delight ourselves in the Lord, he will give us the desires of our heart. Happiness in this world is fleeting. The things done outside of the spirit of God will come to naught. Only that which is done in Christ will last into eternity.
Jesus’ last command was to make disciples of all nations. He has made each Christian an able minister of the New Testament. He didn’t call professionals to make disciples, he called ordinary men. Our credentials are not in our own wisdom or degrees conferred by worldly institutions. Our credentials are in Christ. Paul said, that which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou unto faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. In that short verse, there are four generations. We’re to pass what we’ve learned of the Word of God to faithful men.
Jesus said, in order to follow me, you have to count the cost. Unless you leave mother, father, sister, and brother Jesus said, you cannot follow me. What’s the cost of following him? It’s not about the cost it’s about the value. What is it that you value most? Jesus said, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus said, “I have to leave so that the holy spirt can come.” The Holy Spirit is the comforter, the one who comes alongside to help. The holy spirt will lead you to the all truth. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth of the Word of God.
How do you pass the word to faithful men? You have to receive it in order to pass it on. According to Luke 6:45, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. When we saturate our hearts with his word, then he will use our words and actions to teach others the truth of His word.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23-25, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”
To meet our Lord, we must meet him at the foot of the cross. He came to rescue us from the power of the world and deliver us unto his kingdom. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
If we’re living for anything other than our Lord, these things of this world will pass away. However, the word of God liveth and abideth forever. Everything in this world whether trials and tribulations or blessings and riches, this too shall pass. The things of this world will “take wings and fly away.” That which is seen is temporal, but that which is unseen, the things of the spirit of God, will last forever.
In ourselves, we cannot love our loved ones the way they deserve to be loved. If our wives were married to Jesus Christ, she would be married to the perfect husband. Love suffereth long and is kind, love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. It’s not easily provoked, never rude, never boastful, never resentful, never thinks evil. Love never fails. To love like Jesus, we need to love from the heart of Christ in us the hope of glory. Love is to demonstrate his heart behind our heart, his eyes behind our eyes, his feet behind our feet, his hands behind our hands, and his tongue behind our tongue.
Paul said that my mission is to be poured out as a drink offering and a sweet smelling savor unto God… For we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and him crucified.
In times of trial, distress, and pain, the devil will question God’s motives. He says, “God doesn’t really care. He doesn’t really love you.” The devil’s job is to sow seeds of doubt. The first mission field is in our own minds. We must settle in our minds whether the word of God is truth. Jesus said, “come unto me all ye who are weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Our power against the devil is when we rest in God’s power. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. Therefore according to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;). 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;…”
God calls us to join together within the body of Christ to create an environment where He can come help himself to our lives. Through our lives God will demonstrate his love, mercy, grace and kindness. He has called us as his living epistles, his love letters known and read of all men.
He has called us as living stones fitly framed together as his dwelling place, his holy temple. That he would show forth by his church the manifold wisdom of God. Therefore, rise up oh men of God. Have done with lesser things. Give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the king of Kings…..
And in so doing, may we live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael