I Looked For A Man

I Looked For A Man!

Text: Ezekiel 22:23-31 Highlight Verse 30

Introduction:

The Marines’ idea of looking for "a few good men" is not original. It was God who first said "I sought for a man..."

Throughout the history of man here on this earth, God has been seeking men that He could trust, men through whom he could accomplish His purposes.

Although our world has complicated and confused what it takes to be a "successful" man, God’s qualifications are really very clear and simple.

We need to look for a moment at what it means to be a "man of God".

In other words, just what kind of a man is God looking for?

I. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN WITH A PERFECT HEART.

2 Chron. 16:9 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...

God is not speaking here of those who are sinlessly perfect.

But rather, He is looking for that rare quality of: Whole-heartedness,

single-mindedness, and sincerity.

These familiar words were spoken by a prophet to a man who according to

scripture, had a perfect heart towards God--until the last five years of his

life.

For 36 years, king Asa led the nation of Judah in through steps of spiritual and

moral reform. His ministry and leadership stand head and shoulders above most of the Kings who preceded him or even followed him.

But in the final years of his rule, Asa acted in self-sufficiency and pride. He became half-hearted and failed to fully rely on God.

When confronted with his sin, Asa became angry and he stubbornly refused to turn

and seek the Lord. Not even an incurable disease, that was intended by God to humble him, was effective in restoring him to a perfect heart.

The way to have a perfect heart is found in Ps. 51:15-17

Men with a perfect heart have set their wills, their minds, And their affections

on one supreme objective to know, to love, to obey, and to serve God with all their heart and soul!

Such wholehearted for God will not flirt with

Love of money

Love of Self

Love of this present world

Love of pleasure

Love of the praise of Men

II. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN WHO ARE FAITHFUL.

Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Only the servants of the Lord are pictured as appearing before the Lord. The three results illustrate the three courses of action taken by God’s servants: being very faithful, faithful, and unfaithful.

The first two servants were both faithful.

Both labored diligently, but there was a difference.

One labored ever so diligently: daily, hourly, every day and every hour. He was always walking with the Lord, never slacking up or allowing the trials of life to hinder his labor. He worked to increase the Lord’s property regardless of circumstances. He was 1000% faithful.

The other servant was not quite as sold out; he did not strain and sacrifice as much. He was 500% faithful.

The servants were rewarded exactly as they labored.

The servant who did not work received nothing.

Note two facts.

a. The unfaithful servant did nothing, absolutely nothing with what Christ had given him.

He had no vision of what could be done.

He had no sense of responsibility to the Lord.

He had no concern for the growth of the Lord’s kingdom and property.

He felt the gift given him did not matter that much and was not needed

that much.

He did not look for the blessed moment of his Lord’s return.

He had a false security, believing the Lord would accept him and

understand even if he did fail to use the gifts.

b. He tried to justify his behavior.

He accused the Lord of being “austere”, which means sharp, stringent. He felt the Lord was too demanding and strict, that if he committed himself to the Lord’s affairs, he would lose out on too much of the pleasures and comforts of life.

But note: this was merely an excuse for his failure. He had chosen to live a life of selfishness and comfort and worldliness in the kingdom of the Lord without paying the price of helping to build it. He had been complacent and idle, doing very little.

III. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN WHO ARE WILLING. (1COR 9:17)

1 Cor. 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.