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.
IV. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN PEOPLE WHO ARE OPTIMISTIC. (PHIL. 4:8)
Philip. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Positive thinking.
The word “think” means to consider, reflect, reason, and ponder. The idea is that of focusing our thoughts until they shape our behavior.
The truth is:
what we think is what we become.
where we have kept our minds is where we are.
our thoughts shape our behavior.
what we do is what we think.
The charge is to think and practice positive thinking.
V. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN PEOPLE WHO ARE INDUSTRIOUS. (JN. 5:17)
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
VI. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN WHO ARE LIBERAL IN GIVING. (2 COR.8:9)
2 Cor. 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
The first challenge is to know the spirit of the Macedonians. The Roman province of Macedonia included all of northern Greece. The known Churches of the region were Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. The first two are well known by every generation of Christians because of the two letters addressed to them in the New Testament. At one time, the Macedonian province had been known for its natural resources. But down through the centuries the area had been ravaged by war, and Rome had stripped it of its wealth. Because of this the churches of the area were somewhat poor in material wealth.
But note a glorious fact: they were extremely wealthy in the grace of God. God had bestowed an abundance of grace upon the churches—so much grace that Paul is able to use them as a dynamic example of God’s grace.
Remember that grace means the favor and blessings of God, all the good things of life which God gives us—the greatest of which is salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s blessings were “bestowed on” the churches. The idea is that God just poured or laid blessing after blessing upon the churches. They knew the grace, the favor, and the
blessings of God in a very, very special way.
Note four dynamic facts about their testimony of giving.
1.They gave to help others, and gave liberally. They gave despite terrible trial and deep poverty. There was great suffering among the believers and churches of Macedonia.
2.They gave beyond their ability. They willingly gave: no special appeal had to be made; no pressure had to be executed. They gave freely and readily. And note: they did not give according to their ability, but they went beyond what they were able to give.
3.They gave insistently, begging for the privilege to share. Apparently, they were giving so much that Paul felt it was just beyond their means. However they insisted.
4.They gave themselves to the Lord first. This is a most striking verse and point. What it means is this: these dear believers gave all they were and had to the Lord.
Paul distinctly says that they gave “their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” This is essential if the needs of a world reeling in desperate needs are to ever be reached: believers must join hand in hand with the ministers of God.
VII. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN & WOMEN WHO ARE CONCERNED. (ROM 9:1)
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Paul bears his heart in this passage, revealing a deep evangelistic fervor for his people, the Jews. It is a rare glimpse of the burning compassion that every servant of God should possess for his own loved ones and kinsmen.
Despite the rejection and ill treatment from the Jews, Paul still loved his kinsmen, and he sensed a deep urgency for them to grasp the truth. Their salvation was of such concern that he swore his concern by three things: Christ, his conscience, and the Holy Spirit.
Paul was forcibly saying,
I am not lying
I say the truth in Christ
my conscience also bears me witness
my conscience bears witness in the Holy Spirit...
I do have a great concern and love for my kinsmen.
But my concern is not that their sinful ways be approved, but that they come to know the truth; for without the truth, they will be lost and doomed.”
Just how deeply Paul’s heart was distressed over his kinsmen is clearly seen in the description of his heart.
I have great heaviness
I have...continual sorrow
