POSITIONED FOR PERFECTION (A PERFECT MAN IN CHRIST)

POSITIONED FOR PERFECTION

(A PERFECT MAN IN CHRIST)

Job 1:1-8, Col. 3: 12-15

The word ‘Man of God’ is the description given to a man that follows God in every way,

Gen 17:1

We may clearly say, one does not know in full what level of perfection God required from a ninety nine year old man when He asked that he should work before Him and the perfect.

But the qualities mentioned in the account of Job gave an idea to some of the things God considered for a man to be perfect before Him.

Job 1:8

·         This therefore mean, for a man to qualify for perfection before God, such a man most position himself with certain character and qualities.

·         Every man aspiring for greatness in life, career, business, academic, ministry usually position himself with certain qualification/certification that can make him eligible when the opportunity arises

·         Same also God expect every believe to equip themselves with the needed qualities that will align them to their God giving purpose in readiness for the move of God

·         God has been in the business of sorting out men and women whenever there is a new agenda or assignment for the world

-          Mary met the requirement when the time came for the saviour to be born

-          Elizabeth met the requirement when the time came for the fore runner to come

-          Joseph met the requirement when the nation of Israel was going into extension as a result of famine, etc.

A man in Christ must be ever ready, one that daily meet the necessary requirement

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

A man in Christ must be….

1.      He who obeys God with joy in his heart. 2Chr.25:2, Col. 3:22

2.      A man in Christ does not live for the things of this life alone but must be conscious of eternity. Matt.6:33

3.      A man in Christ must willingly serves his God in giving freely of all his resources. Acts 20:35

·         Apostle Paul commended the Philippians of their love towards giving in Phil.4:15-16

·         Can God commend you over anything, can you ask God to look into His record like King Hezekiah did?

·         Consider the recommendation of people about Lydia

4.      He who act justly, who act in love and mercy.  Micah 6:8, John 15:11-12

5.      He who walk humbly before God and keep is commandment. Duet. 11:13-15

6.      He who gladly suffers as a consequence of his faith. 1Peter 5:10

A perfect man in Christ does not swindle, gossip or slander.

7.      He keeps his or her mind and heart pure by guarding his eyes and ears from the filth of the world. Prov. 4:23

8.      He is the spiritual leader of his family, Josh. 24:15

A perfect man in Christ must understand that his new nature is that of the righteousness of Christ which was exchanged for our sinful nature at the cross.

9.      He therefore need to walk humbly with Christ and know that only Christ can preserve a man blameless to the very end. Phil. 3:9-10, 2Cor. 5:17,

As Christians of today, we lack many qualities needed to preserve us till the end

-          What we exhibit is simply religion. We have necessary awareness to all biblical doctrines,  theological terms and even able to translate the Bible from the original Greek and so on but what Christ demand from us is the HEART to DO and not just to know

James 1:23-25

In conclusion

The principle God requires from any man in Christ is to be positioned for every move of God

-          Uprightness before God by being just

-          Fear and reference God in your love towards God and man

-          Act in love and mercy to those in need,

-          Work humbly with God and Keep His commandment.

-          And finally stay away from evil.

THE HEART OF A PERFECT MAN

These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.

(Gen 6:9) For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.(1Ki 11:4) But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.(1Ki 15:14) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?(Job 1:8) INTRODUCTIONA man is a product of his heart. Whatever a man becomes is a direct function of heart. Hence, God does not look at any man base on the outward manifestation, even though, what we manifest goes to show the kind of person we are.  1Sam. 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. God is the judge of perfection. He determines who has attained perfection and who has not. God does not see the way man sees.  In measuring perfection, God is not always concern Himself with the past life a man had lived but how readily he able to follow on. God sees through the heart of a man and not the outward appearance. What God therefore call perfection is different from what man calls perfection, especially if we consider the lives of the above characters of whom God accredited as being perfect before Him. WHAT THEN DOES IT MEAN TO BE PERFECT OR WHAT IS PERFECTION? Perfection is not a one-off-thing but a continuous process. It is a continuous improvement on something with the view of making it better each time it is seen or observed. Perfection is a conscious and deliberate effort.  Matt. 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. A perfect man is the one who consciously, through the help of God, continuously working out his life and checking it with the word of God as a standard measurement. He checks his heart from time to time to see that he aligns with the will of God at all time. Perfection starts from the heart and ends in the heart. It is suffice to therefore say that the heart of a perfect man is perfect. There is no perfection if the heart is not perfect.  2chr. 25:2And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. PARABLE OF SOWER Jesus parable of sower is a direct comment on the different conditions of the heart of man. The question is, what kind of heart do you possess? The condition of your heart must be perfect this year, otherwise, you may be heading nowhere as far as perfection is concerned. Jesus categorise every heart that hears the word of God into four (4) groups. But only one of them can be good enough to produce a perfect heart. You can change your heart today if you will allow God to work in your heart.  Ezek. 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. WHAT GOD SEES IN THE HEART OF A PERFECT MAN OR HOW CAN I BECOME PERFECT When God scans through the heart of a perfect man, He sees all but not limited to the following: 1. Studying and allowing the word of God to direct your life.  Josh. 1:8, 2Peter. 1:19
 
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
(Jos 1:8)
 
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
(2Peter 1:19)
 
2. Renewing the mind.  Rom. 12:2
 
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 
3. Pursuing excellence in righteousness.  Matt. 5:20
 
For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
 
4. Waiting on God in prayers and, sometimes in fasting
 
5. Be engaged in the service of God. Be occupied working in the vineyard of God. If you are too big to follow, you will be too little to serve.
 
6. Be willing to take every single step of yours after Jesus Christ through the leading of Holy Spirit. He is our perfect example.  1Pet. 2:21, Jhn. 13:15
 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. A. Don’t forsake the assembly of the brethren.
 B. Your total obedience to God’s command is required.  1Kings 8:61
 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. CONCLUSION For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.(2Ch 16:9).

PASTOR OLUFEMI ATODE       

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THE PERFECTION MANDATE – PART 2 (Using Abraham as a case study)

THE PERFECTION MANDATE – PART 2
(Using Abraham as a case study)

Genesis 17:1-5; 15

Man was created in the image and after the likeness of God. When God created and formed man, he was in a state of perfection. He was meant to represent God’s interest on earth.
‘And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good…’ (Genesis 1:31).
‘For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving’ (1 Timothy 4:4).
Truly, God actually knew that mankind would fall, even before He created them. Because of this, He made provision for the Blood of the everlasting covenant…The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-20).
The devil actually thought he had foiled God’s plan of perfection for mankind through the fall. However, God had a better plan!

After the fall, God began to seek for a vessel through whom He would reconcile mankind back to Himself, in order to bring into fulfilment, the perfection mandate. God eventually found a man called Abraham (formerly called Abram) in Genesis 12.

When God found Abraham, he didn’t look like the ‘perfect’ man for the job, but God had to take him through the ‘perfection’ process, so that he would eventually be the friend of God and the father of faith…

God is not man! Unlike mortals, He declares the end from the beginning. He is not intimidated by the present condition of things. He sees far ahead, into the future. He knows you are in a mess, that’s why He wants to make a message out of your life…

Shortly after God called Abram and gave him promises concerning the future, he relocated to Egypt because of the famine that broke out in the land (Gen. 12:10). Furthermore, he lied unto the Egyptians concerning his relationship with his wife (Gen. 12:10-20).

In Genesis 13, he came out of Egypt, rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. An Egyptian maid called Hagar was probably ‘packaged’ alongside for him…
Later on, he had to separate with Lot. Both of them were in the same line of business. They were so great that they couldn’t stay together in one place. There was strife between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s.
One important lesson to draw from his life was that he kept building altars unto the Lord (Gen. 12:7-8; 13:18). Build an altar unto the Lord!

In Genesis 14, he went to rescue Lot, his family, goods and other people who were held captive, with his friends and three hundred and eighteen trained servants (Gen. 14:11-24).
Later on, he met with Melchizedek who was king of Salem, the priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek blessed him with bread and wine, declaring the blessings of God upon him. Furthermore, he gave Melchizedek tithes of all… (Gen. 14:18-20).
Even Levi paid tithes on that particular day (Hebrews 7:9-10).

In Genesis 15, God showed up, reassured Abram of His promises. Abram believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:1-6).
Furthermore, the Lord made a covenant with him (Gen. 15:7-21).

In Genesis 16, Abram yielded to his wife’s counsel, went in to his maid and she conceived and eventually brought forth a son called Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years when Ishmael was born.
(For the next thirteen years, God remained silent and never spoke to him.)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be perfect’.
I pray that in 2016 and beyond, the Lord will appear to you...He will speak to your heart, and you will hear His voice
‘And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord’ (1 Samuel 3:21).

After a long season of spiritual famine or barrenness, Abram heard the voice of the Almighty God again, telling him to walk before Him, in order to attain perfection. God also reassured Abram of His intention to keep all the promises He had made…
This act provoked an attitude of worship in Abram, such that he fell flat on his face in worship before the Lord…

When there is an opening in your heart and the Revelation Of Christ the King (the Word) comes to you, it will surely provoke an attitude of worship in you…
This is the beginning of impactful living! (James1:21).

God changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude or many nations) – Gen. 17:4-5.

God also changed his wife’s name from Sarai (my princess) to Sarah (the Princess) – Gen. 17:15.

God definitely took Abraham through the process of ‘perfection’ in order to make him a distributor or conveyor of the eternal blessings He bestowed upon mankind (Gal. 3:13-14). Some of the processes Abraham went through will be examined in the next edition of this message, as the Lord wills…

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA      

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THE PERFECTION MANDATE

THE PERFECTION MANDATE
Luke 6:40; Philippians 1:6

Perfection is the process of constantly improving someone (or something) until the person (or thing) becomes faultless.

Perfection is a state of completeness and flawlessness. An unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence.

It is the highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in a given field or discipline, career, business, profession, etc.

Perfection is synonymous with excellence.

It's the resultant effect of pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14).

It is consistently striving to know Him (Christ Jesus) and to be known of Him.
It is persistent hunger and unquenchable thirst for the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 5:6; 6:33).

Receive the grace for perfection in the name of Jesus Christ. Henceforth, receive the grace to plug in to Jesus, and walk in the realm of spiritual excellence…

God appeared to Abraham when he was ninety-nine years old and told him, ‘I AM the Almighty God. Walk before Me and be perfect’ (Gen. 17:1).

In 2016, a walk with God is inevitable (i.e. unavoidable, inescapable, unpreventable) if we must attain perfection. 

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfect (fully trained, perfected, completely trained, or perfectly trained) will be like his teacher…

Are you ready for the training?
The LORD wants to enrol you into the School of the Spirit in 2016, are you ready?

Truly, perfection starts from the heart. It is the resultant effect of becoming more and more like Jesus, through the ethical adjustment that occurs in our lives from time to time.

This ethical adjustment or paradigm shift is carried out in our lives by the Word of God.

If the Word of God cannot change your values (core values - belief system, ideology, perception to life, paradigm, mentality, etc.), He cannot change your value (social, economic/financial, resourcefulness, etc.)

If you can’t embrace God’s values, your life cannot portray any eternally significant value.

SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERFECTION:
I. Open heart

II. Seeking and meditating on the Word of God
III.  Obeying the Word of God

I. Open heart
Jesus’ heart was open while He was being baptised. As a result of this, He encountered an open heaven (Luke 3:21-22).

Open heart leads to open heavens; Open heavens lead to open doors. When the door is opened in heaven, there will be an open door on earth…

II. Seeking and meditating on the Word of God
Just like new born babies do, ensure that you constantly desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).

Let your inward man crave the Word (Romans 7:22).

III. Obeying the Word of God
It is through the teaching of the Word of God that you become perfected or thoroughly equipped unto good works…

Total obedience to the Word of God guarantees Godly prosperity and good success (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3).
Moreover, absolute obedience to the Word of God ensures your spiritual growth and depth in the knowledge of Christ, until you mature to a perfect man, and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

 

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA      

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