This article, written by author Bennie Mostert, is the first of three parts that will focus on the characteristics of men whom God wants to work through in the world.
(I want to acknowledge Zac Poonen’s pamphlet, “God needs men”. I quoted liberally from it.)
When God wants to do something in the world, He always looks for a person through whom he can do it. It was E.M. Bounds who said: “What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organisations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men … natural ability and educational advantages do not figure as factors in this matter; but capacity for faith, the ability to pray. “
The power of God works through men who consecrate their lives to God, choose to be “little” – an absolute losing of one’s self in God’s glory and an ever-present and insatiable yearning and seeking after all the fullness of God. Such men will set the church ablaze; not in a showy way, but with an intense and quiet heat that melts and moves everything for God … God can work wonders if He can get suitable men.
What do such men look like?
- Men who stand before Him, who will seek His presence, who will be prepared to live face-to-face with Him, hear His voice and carry out His instructions.
- Men who have a desire for God, more than for anything or anybody; who wish to know Christ, experience the power of His resurrection, will conform to Him in His death, and until the end, will not love their lives.
Men who fear Him more than people.
- Men who hate sin, do not rationalise it and are not involved in questionable things; who daily confess all known sin and break with it.
- Men who love what is just and right, who will not be bribed or become involved in any form of corruption; who will not stand for injustice and not try to serve both God and Mammon.
- Men who are able to speak the truth in love and won’t walk a crooked path for the sake of popularity.
- Men who will speak up when the rights of the poor, orphans and those who have no power are violated.
- Men who have gained victory over rage, avarice and a striving for power.
- Men who take up their cross and follow Jesus, strive for perfection, and who work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
- Men who will seek the power of the Holy Spirit daily, and who will live in that strength and not be satisfied to live without the power and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, knowing that in their own power they will achieve nothing of lasting value. They are baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire, and do not allow themselves to be misled by all sorts of emotional manifestations and arguments that have nothing to do with the power of the Spirit of God. They seek the anointing of the Lord for their work in all spheres, live their gifts in the power of the Holy Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Men who are able to love, also their enemies, and all other people.
- Men who are gracious and do not begrudge others the same grace that they receive from God.
- Men who are not impressed by the honour and recognition of people, who do not seek the approval and praise of the world. Men who know that they are less than the least of all God’s people and the worst of all sinners (Eph.3:8; 1 Tim.1-15-16); for whom the acclaim of people, titles, position, education, learning and popularity do not measure up to their suitability to do the work of God, in the power of God.
- Men who do not search for big things for themselves, but desire to be available so that God can do His greater works through them, for His honour alone.
- Men who are humble and gentle, who know that the power of God lives in them, yet act with gentleness and patience.
- Men who understand the character and the heart of God and live in such a way that people can see the character of God in them.
Men who know the commands of God.
- Men who know the commands of God, who fear Him, who strictly and promptly obey Him. They proclaim the full gospel and the counsel of God, hate religious prostitution and hypocrisy, any type of formalistic religion and unbiblical human traditions, and address these radically in their own lives and the lives of others. These men have spiritual authority and spiritual dignity and are devout according to the standards of the Word. They are not of those who create the impression that they are God-fearing, while they do not have the power of God in them – who talk only or do not do.
- Men who are not ascetics (who live in isolation) but live disciplined lives, who are not afraid of difficult times, but can persevere and stay the course to the end.
- Men who are dedicated and hardworking, but can rest as well; they have a sense of humour, can play with children, talk to their wives and know how to enjoy God’s good gifts in nature and elsewhere.
- Men who are not addicted to food, don’t overeat and give full and uncontrolled vent to their needs and cravings in sports, music, the arts or any other legal activity.
- In the first place, men who are not set on their own comfort but would rather be willing to suffer hardship, to make sacrifices; men who do not seek their own advantage or live for personal gain.
- Men who deem God’s agenda more important than their own, whose lives do not belong to themselves, but who lay down their lives to be servants and slaves to God.
May we be such men by the grace of God.
