Time2Stand – Rise Up O’ Men of God
Rise Up O’ Men of God – It’s Time2Stand
May 2013
Fellowship and prayer with one another, especially as men, is much needed, but in our striving against the flesh and sin, we cannot rely upon another man to do the work that we must do. We must, with a repentant, humble, and contrite heart, seek to passionately worship our God, love and sacrificially lead our wives, love and train up our children, edify the church of Christ, and compassionately and diligently reach the dying world. The duty is for every one of us, therefore, it must begin through a powerful working of God’s own Spirit through us in the home. We must be on our knees in prayer and communion with Christ, wielding the sword of the Spirit, and in sacrificial dying to self, as Christ, unto our families eternal good. We must ask, “What is our aim? What is our charge? For what and where must we attack? How must we go?” For is it not for the glory of God in and through the person of Christ Jesus? Game time is over; the need to be men has never been greater. May we heed these beginning words contained herein and store them deep into our soul for constant usage. These feeble words but only scratches the surface of our battle call. “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Tim 1:7
May the “goal of our instruction be of love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith”.[i] May we strive forward in a devoted and serious prayer life.[ii] May the reality of 1 Timothy chapter three become us in an authentic and powerful way and walk of life.
May we, the men of this generation, “discipline ourselves for the purposes of godliness.”[iii] “For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”[iv] May we, the men of this generation, move forward with the message of the cross to all with great respect and patience for each one.[v]
May those of us who act as elders and leaders, embrace and take deadly serious our own sins, for if we “continue in sin” we shall be, and should be, rebuked in the presence of all. “Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.”[vi] Let us not preach any other ‘gospel’ – no gospels of cheap grace, no false gospels of health, wealth and prosperity and no name it and claim it gospels of blasphemy – no never! “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”[vii]
May we never, never think that we can become complacent in the fight against sin, especially our own selfish, self-seeking, pride-filled sin in the home. “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”[viii]
Let us press on in true love for our wives, families, church body and those perishing apart from Christ. May we not be deceived – our every idle words spoken in disgust, anger, arrogance, carelessness and in unloving ways to our wives will be brought to our memory and a mighty weight will stand against us. “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”[ix] May we, the men of this generation, be strong in the love of our wives. If we are noted for anything, this should be our brand – they loved their wives. “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”[x]
Let us love and take heed against worldly fables and knowledge. For knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.[xi] May we, the men of this generation, live contrary to the world and follow Christ to the foot of the grace of the cross, and once there, pick it up.[xii] May we follow in like manner as the Apostle Paul. “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”[xiii] “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”[xiv] “For although I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”[xv] “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”[xvi]
Our obedience to Christ and loving service to our wives is not contingent upon their response back to us, but a holy call to be as Christ is to the church – sacrificially dying to self even if we feel wronged. The same goes with the teaching of our children, the edification and instruction of the church and the preaching to lost men. We are not good fathers if we are not being like Christ to our wives; we are not good fathers if we are not lovingly training up our children in godliness and the fear and admonition of the Lord. This job is ours and ours alone; this is not the job of the pastor, nor the schools, nor another man’s wife, no never!
“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20
Men, it is up to us to embrace the call of Christ in taking grace, mercy and love into every facet of our home. It starts with us; may we arise to the call and stand in the gap.
Jeremy Strang Christian. Husband. Father. Author. Realities of a True Christian Christ Died for His Bride, So What’s Your Problem? Christian – A Dangerous Title to Claim www.Time2Stand.comMay we all, the men of this generation, rise up. For the Time-2-Stand is now. Rise up O’ men of God.
”I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30
National Day of Prayer
National Day of Prayer
Just because carnal men make a day and call it “A Day of Prayer”, it does not carry any weight with Almighty God. Prayer for America? Really? What, pray for bigger, better and more, prosperity galore? Today I feel much like Jeremiah in chapter 20 verse 9, a “burning fire shut up in my bones.”
Today national leaders will spout out meaningless heresies and blasphemies against a God they hate and to some god that does not even exist. If we want prayer, then where are the men and women who pray, seriously pray, in the early morning hours and late night hours crying out to be holy? Where are the prayers for the millions upon millions who are suffering for the namesake of Christ today? Where are the prayers today that cry out for us as individuals and as a nation to be made holy in God’s sight?
Pray for America? My prayers for America are simple: to have the millstone of God’s own hand pressed upon our very noses so that we would see sin for what it is and come to the true knowledge of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. I pray that the nation acknowledges her sin, casts out all the child and sex slavery, stops every lying, deceiving, self-indulging politian, stops the drug trade to which the government secretly makes billions, stops the extortion, corruptions, murders and conspiracies against her own people, stops the killing of millions upon millions of unborn. And even more so, I pray that the Lord Himself removes every false prophet, preacher, teacher, evangelist, priest who stands in pulpits across the nation, and even the world, who are masking themselves under the name of Christ and has done nothing than to deceive, rob and damn souls and hurt people because of their lying tongue and deceptive religion. All of the so-called “christian” media, whether it is TV, Radio or print, who begs for money and refuses to speak the whole council of God can be removed as well.
Pray for America, really? As the late Leonard Ravenhill has said, “We will either labor in prayer, or pray in labor camps.” Unfortunately, the later appears to be rapidly coming true.
“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
If you have not already, be sure to get a FREE download copy of, Realities of a True Christian. Be sure to read chapter Eight – Praying, Weeping & Loving. Get your FREE copy at: www.Time2Stand.com/books
Blessings in Christ.
Let us go outside the camp.
In a week I will be preaching at a small church in OK. I need tremendous prayer – prayer for humility, a contrite heart, love, and obedience to the Word of God, the honor of Christ and submission to the Holy Spirit. This morning I received this email from brother Mack Tomlinson, author of, “In Light of Eternity” (bio of Leonard Ravenhill). This could not have come at a better time. May the Lord use this in your life and walk with Christ.
Blessings,
Jeremy Strang
Christian. Husband. Father. Author.
“Let us go therefore unto Him, outside the camp.” – Hebrews 13:13
Jesus, bearing His cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was “not of the world.” His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in Him; but still He was separate from sinners. In like manner Christ’s people must “go forth unto Him.” They must take their position “without the camp,” as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth next, and Christ and His truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have His people “go forth without the camp” for their own sanctification.
You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ “without the camp.” The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment’s shame will be well recompensed by eternal honour; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are “for ever with the Lord.”
- C. H. Spurgeon
Look unto Me
Look unto Me
The Lord says, “Look to me, I am the author and the finisher of your faith.” Shall we begin in the Spirit and attempt to finish this journey in the flesh? Brothers and sisters, if you would join this ancient army, this kingdom that was and is and is to come, if you would march in lockstep with Gideon and with David and with Joshua, if you would run towards Goliath, if you would take on ten thousand and slay them all, if you would kneel down in the arena of life as the lions approach, if you would take your place with the heroes of faith then it is high time that we take our eyes of of ourselves and look up, look up to the cross of Calvary. Brothers and sisters, when I look up I see humility. I see my Lord humbled and naked for the whole world to see. Nothing hidden. When I look up I see justice. I see sin condemned. Oh brothers and sisters when I look up I see mercy . Mercy for me, mercy for me, mercy for me. I do not see my own condemnation, I see my Jesus. Yes, I see Jesus. There is therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.Oh what a glorious freedom. Free indeed, free indeed , free indeed. Free indeed to stand and fight. To battle even unto death, with my fellow freed men. I pray today that those whom the Son has set free will push the doors of their captivity of wretchedness, that they would realize their freedom, that they would reckon their freedom and walk out of their cells into the glorious sunlight of no condemnation and join the Lord’s army in these the final days of the battle, one more battle in the war that is already won.
(via: http://acalltotheremnant.com/2013/03/26/look-unto-me/)
Word for Today
“Oh how many have been coached to hell in the chariots of earth pleasures, while others have been whipped to heaven by the rod of affliction.” John Flavel
Taken from, Suffering and Sovereignty -John Flavel and the Puritans on Afflictive Suffering, pg 28.
