Secrets of the Soul of a Man of God

Secrets of the Soul of a Man of God

1.     He has labored and toiled to find out who he is.

He knows that he cannot be a man unless he has a purpose. He knows that he cannot have a purpose unless he knows who he is. He has not been mindlessly living as the worldly men around him, but he has searched the deep and hidden recesses of his mind, heart, and soul to determine his substance and to find meaning in his existence. His first long and grueling discovery is that he is a sinner. He continues to discover the depth of this sobering truth even after his salvation. He knows what it is to try an infinite number of times to find worth in himself and fail in each instance. He finds that he has been born into sin, he has fallen short in every respect, there had been nothing admirable or desirable in him, and finally: in his current state he was an object of the wrath of God.

¹² For troubles without number surround me; 
   my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. 
They are more than the hairs of my head, 
   and my heart fails within me. Ps 40

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD KNOWS THAT HIS OWN RIGHT ARM IS BROKEN.

2.     He has received God as His Father and Jesus Christ as his Lord, Savior, and Brother.

The Spirit has moved him to choose the only saving way through the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. He has belabored at the foot of the cross, time and again, to behold the written charges of his misconduct heaped upon his Savior and cancelled through the one atoning sacrifice. His continual failures bring him back to this place daily. His understanding of the love of God increases with his increasing understanding of the cross. The result of his experiences at the foot of the cross cause his soul to cry out “more of Him and less of me”. He is ever aware of the destructive tendencies of his own pride and self-exaltation. He fears the development of his own pride and comes often to the place of repentance.

As he accepts the saving One, he receives the right to be called a son of His heavenly Father and a brother of Jesus, through whom he has gained sonship of the heavenly Father. In receiving his identity as a son of his Father, his purpose starts to become clear to him. He grows to understand the purpose of His Father in the glorification of Himself and the deliverance of His saving love to the inhabitants of the world. He considers His brother, Jesus, the perfect example of obedience to His Father in laying down His life in love and of perfect submission to the Father. His eyes are not on the arrogant, the rich, or the respected men around him, but rather on His perfect Lord and Brother, Jesus Christ.

For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” 2 Peter 1:17

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD HAS DISCOVERED HIS FATHER AND THUS HIS PURPOSE.

3.     He has sought His Father and seen His glory.

In his search for his purpose, he seeks out his Father God with all of his heart. He seeks Him in His Word. He vigorously pursues the Truth in the Word of God with a heart filled with longing and desire, hope and expectation. He is not afraid to be alone. He knows that he needs time alone with His Father and longs for these times. He withdraws continually from the world to be with his Father whom He knows alone can show him his way and teach him his path. He passionately waits in stillness and silence before his Father. He knows that the process of arriving at this stillness before His Father is the fiercest battle that he will ever fight. As he zealously seeks His Father, His Father lovingly reveals His glory to His son. He is filled with joy and love at the sight of his Father. But even if he belabors and hears no one, he presses on wrestling with God telling Him “I will not let You go until You bless me!”.

 ⁵ And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, 
   and all mankind together will see it. 
            For the Mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

 ⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.” 
   And I said, “What shall I cry?”

   “All men are like grass, 
   and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fall, 
   because the Breath of the LORD blows on them. 
   Surely the people are grass. 
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall, 
   but the Word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD SEEKS HIS FATHER WITH ALL HIS HEART UNTIL HE IS REVEALED.

4.     He seeks the honor of the One who sent him rather than his own honor.

In radical contradiction to the vast majority of men around him and his natural inclinations, he seeks the honor of His Father who has sent him with an express purpose. He is willing to lay down his own honor in order to honor His Father. He is a man of Truth. He is willing to acknowledge his sin before men even if it means that he will never be honored before men again. He knows that the fear of men is the love of the praise of men rather than God. His fearlessness of men comes from his understanding of his purpose and his Father’s acceptance and approval of him. All he needs is the approval of the God of the universe. His continuous glimpses of the glory of his Father through the Holy Spirit feed his seeking of the honor of his Father whom he has seen and heard, touched and felt.

He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. John 7:18

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD HAS SURRENDERED HIS LONGING FOR HONOR AND LOVES THE HONOR OF HIS FATHER.

5.     He is a loving observer of the souls of those around him.

Unlike other men who are continually acting and speaking for the admiration or acceptance of those around them, he silently rests in His Father who reveals the souls of men and women, young and old, rich and poor, strong and weak, all those around him. His Father grants deep unconditional selfless love for these souls around him. He is no longer focused on his own bearings and presentation, but rather his loving observation of the souls of others gives him a type of power and authority from above by which he is released from the slavery of pleasing men for his own good. The fruit of His love is the sharing of the Gospel of Christ in Word and in deed.

The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, 
   but a man of understanding draws them out. Proverbs 20:5

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD SEES AND SERVES THE SOULS OF OTHERS WITH AUTHORITY AND LOVE.

6.     He is not subject to the judgment of men.

His assessment of his performance is not based on the opinions of men around him or the ratings that the world has to offer. His actions are led by his known purpose revealed by His Father. As he acts he is fully aware that he is walking in obedience to his Father. He does not second guess himself and unconfidently ask for the reaffirming opinions of those around him. After he has acted, his own discernment from the Holy Spirit living in him convicts his heart of any false motive that was present and gives him great humility and joy in his Father in his successful obedience. He does not need a single word of affirmation from men. He knows that he has done the will of His Father. He is able to look everyone firmly in the eye and hold a fixed unwavering gaze. His glance is filled with Light, compassion, and love, as well as deep wisdom, Godly anguish, and the fire of His Father.

On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. I Thess 2:4

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:

 ¹⁶ “For who has known the Mind of the Lord 
   that he may instruct Him?”

   But we have the Mind of Christ. I Cor 2

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD IS JUDGED BY THE VERDICT OF HIS FATHER NOT THE MEN AROUND HIM.

7.     He is not swayed by the auras of power, fame, and pride in the men around him.

He has spied on his enemies, Satan and his forces, and has learned the secrets of the evil forces through His Spiritual discernment. He knows that one of the devil’s most successful weapons to deceive self-seeking men and to try to crush Godly men is to wave before their sight auras of power, fame, and pride of the men of the world. These ideals are manifested in various ways such as riches, the accumulation of fine material goods, the fame and honor due to worldly men for their physical strength, intelligence, rhetoric, and social services. He knows that the loudness of a man is not an indicator of his importance. He knows that the number of applauds and attention that the men around him receive is not associated with his eternal standing and inheritance. His strength and glory come from his standing before His Father and his inheritance shared with His Savior Brother.

¹⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

   “In repentance and rest is your salvation, 
   in quietness and trust is your strength, 
   but you would have none of it. 
¹⁶ You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ 
   Therefore you will flee! 
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ 
   Therefore your pursuers will be swift! Is 30

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD FINDS CONTENTMENT IN HIS FATHER IN SPITE OF THE EARTHLY GLORIFICATION OF OTHER MEN.

8.     His self-assessment comes from who he is rather than what he does.

Unlike other men who judge themselves based on the work of their hands quantified by numerical values of people, currencies, rankings, and space, his assessment of his own progress is based on his Spirit-revealed knowledge of the condition of his heart. He knows that “God can rise up children for Himself from the rocks” and that “no flesh can boast before Him”. He knows that the Hand of the Sovereign God will surely fulfill the Ultimate Plan. His strivings are to align his heart, mind, body, and soul with the character of Jesus Christ. He strives to be conformed to the image of Christ. Above any deed which he performs, he seeks to be a true and devoted follower of His Lord Jesus Christ. He is not mesmerized or challenged by the works of [even Christian] men around him who seem to be progressing rapidly in their outward performance. He is more content to humbly obey the will of His Father and be known by no man than to conquer the world and have a heart of stone. He is content with any job if only he may be near to his Father and please Him in every way.

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. I John 2

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD IS TRUE BECAUSE OF HIS CHARACTER NOT THE MAGNITUDE OF HIS VISIBLE WORK.

9.     He turns back false battles and only fights real battles.

He leaves behind most of the battles fought by other men. He knows that the battles between men around him are not the battles that his Father has trained and commanded him to fight. His battle is always the battles in the Spiritual realms. He shows true love and humility to all men as he is given insight into the souls of others. He consciously arms himself with the helmet of salvation, the Sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, and his feet are shod with the readiness to share the Gospel of Peace. He does not involve himself in battles that the enemy has contrived in the sons of men. He is led by the Spirit of love into the only battle of His Father, the victorious One, who bestows heavenly weapons that demolish every Gospel-opposing pretension.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 2 Tim 2:1-4

³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD ONLY FIGHTS HIS FATHER’S BATTLE.

10. He seeks heavenly pleasure rather than earthly pleasure.

His trials of discipline from His Father and persecutions have caused him to suffer greatly in his body such that he is done with sins of the flesh or is growing towards this end. His visions of the glory of God in prayer and knowledge of the Words of his Father have caused him to know the joys of knowing His Triune Lord. He is enraptured by the glories and joys of heaven. He puts his faith in the joy set before him that he may endure opposition from sinful men and from his flesh that wages war against him.

¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. ² As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. I Peter 4

You have made known to me the path of life; 
   You will fill me with joy in your presence, 
   with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Ps 16:11

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD IS SATISFIED ONLY BY ETERNAL PLEASURE.

11. His manhood is not threatened by the vilest feminism.

Regardless of the spirit of pride and feminism in women around him, he knows that God has made him a man and has given him His purpose. He knows that these women are still women created in the image of his Father. He sees and loves the masked frail souls of feminist women and treats them with humility, gentleness, and respect while not wavering in his manhood. He does not try to outwardly dominate over her in anger nor shrivels inwardly. Rather he lets the peace of Christ rule his heart. He is unshakeable.

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, 
   I will not be disgraced. 
Therefore have I set my face like flint, 
   and I know I will not be put to shame. Is 50:7

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD DOES NOT FLINCH IN THE FACE OF FEMINISM.

12. He is able to love all women with Agape.

He does not remain indifferent to women in the world. He does not despise the immoral women for her provocation. He does not succumb to evil seduction. He does not disrespect a woman though she disrespects herself by her seductive heart. His heart is pure and he is able to love the prostitute with grace and unconditional brotherliness. He does not condemn women for her many faults but teaches and reflects the words of Christ “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more”. His Father has taught him to treat all women in the church as his beloved sisters with absolute purity.

Treat younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.1 Timothy 5

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD LOVES ALL WOMEN WITH PURE AGAPE.

13. He lays down his life for his family (both Spiritual and physical)

In living he lays down his life for Spiritual and physical family. He labors and toils to provide for and to protect his family. He will do anything, even the woman jobs, without thought of himself, because His work, labor, and endurance are prompted by faith, love, and hope in His heavenly Father. He is not complacent or lazy, but is filled with the zeal of the Lord. In death he lays down his life. Need we say more?

But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; 
   I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. 
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, 
   and my reward is with my God.” Is 49:4

⁸ We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. ⁹ Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the Gospel of God to you. I Thes 2

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD WILLINGLY EXHAUSTS HIMSELF IN LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

14. His heart is set on eternal riches.

He knows that his inheritance is kept in heaven for him and he thinks little of his earthly financial security. He sees earthly currency as a blessing and provision of His Father to enable him to fulfill His purpose. Yet he trusts in the loving Hand of His Father to give him no less and no more than he ought to have at any given time. He accepts the lot given to him without longing for what the men around him have nor fearing the state of the poor men around him. He is not afraid to accept God’s gifts to him given through others, but knows that everything belongs to his Father. If God allows him to lose his job, he does not turn towards suicide, self-contempt, anger, or fear, but his heart is strengthened and renewed. His job search is directed by selfless love and steadfast faith in His Sovereign Father. His Father teaches him more about who he truly is and where his worth comes from through times like these. His Father also teaches him to wait for His deliverance and provision for him and his earthly family. When he is blessed, he does not set his heart on, take pride in, or assume power based on what is in his possession, but gives generously that he may be welcomed into his heavenly dwelling. His “food is to do the will of [H]his Father and to finish His work”.

³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6

THE TRUE MAN OF GOD WORKS FOR HEAVENLY RICHES AND IS NOT SHAKEN BY FINANCIAL PROSPERITY OR DISASTER.

Dear Father,

There is so much more… but I commit the things written above to You. Please bless my Spiritual brothers to see Your glory and be conformed to the image of Christ.

In Jesus Christ’s Name,

Amen