These are the days of GOD’s movement. Every child of GOD who chooses to walk faithfully is experiencing GOD’s wonders either in personal life or in ministries. It isn’t about walking, but running, and running in a fast pace! It’s not about speed anymore, but acceleration. Not growth anymore, but multiplication.
Many believers may experience being knocked on walls, but still pressing forward – a condition where it seems like there is a power pushing, trying to break through the 'walls' of lives. And if GOD’s children could see it clearly, they will understand that GOD wants HIS children to experience breakthroughs that have never been experienced before. GOD is stirring and preparing something magnificent in the atmosphere, and in the land! And as soon as HE finished all the process, the result will even be bigger than anyone could imagine.
It is a high calling to every child of GOD. HE is rising up radical, uncompromising, and GOD-fearing servants. The world no longer needs people who can preach well, sharing the Word well, or even teaching the Word in deep knowledge. They’re in urgent needs of people who can be examples to them on how to live the life according to the Word, those who are responsible to act according to what they preach or teach.
There are at least four points on how to become role models:
1. Continuously stay on watch
I Tim 4:16 says "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." (NKJV) Emphasize on the phrase 'continue in them' (KJV & NKJV). Being watchful is not a hard thing, either in self or in teaching. Yet, the hard part is not in being watchful, but in continuously be watchful on keeping life on track of GOD’s will. Many believers may have left their personal relationship with GOD, or even became so far away from the truth. The world has witnessed too many cases of anointed pastors and servants of GOD who ended up in who-knows-where.
It is written, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to YOUR Word." (Psalms 119:9 – NKJV). Literally, the verse can be interpreted as “How can a young man continuously cleanse his way? By watching carefully according to YOUR Word.” GOD’s plans in every man’s life are perfect and unfailing. Yet, the plans may ‘fail’ or ‘delayed’ due to man’s negligence. Many believers forget that the test for Christianity integrity is not only for one or two aspects of life. It is in EVERY aspect of life that humans are tested for integrity.
2. Well-responding heart
Some believers may have kept the Word carefully, and even acting carefully according to what is written, yet it is not a guarantee that we may respond well to the Word. Just like physical entity, human’s spiritual entity also has what is called as ‘spiritual muscles’. And just like physical muscles that need to be exercised in order to build up stamina, spiritual muscles need to be exercised as well. To exercise spiritual muscles, bear in mind that there are two things to do, i.e. instant obedience and instant repentance.
GOD doesn’t need offerings, or helps. Offerings are good, indeed. Yet, the Word has spoken that more than anything else that a man could offer, GOD loves obedience. There are many cases in the Bible where men have to suffer the consequences due to disobedience. Saul was rejected as a king, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, Lot’s wife had to become a pillar of salt, etc. The price of disobedience will affect greatly for everyone’s future.
Some people may think that obedience is not pleasant. Yes, it is true. Obedience is unpleasant to our flesh. However, the Word teaches to walk in the SPIRIT and we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16 – NKJV). So, it is the very truth that believers must not allow any life of the flesh to grow bigger than the spiritual life. Remember that “a life of obedience is more enjoyable than a life of personal desires”. As soon as a believer understands this, he will understand that obedience needs faithfulness in the process. Obedience will cost a believer to lay down his dreams on GOD’s altar. Obedience will cost a believer to endure sufferings for relatively a long time. A Joseph had to choose obedience as a slave, rejected and wrongly-accused, rather than all his dreams. Daniel had to choose obedience to stand firm in his faith, even if it means his death in the lions’ mouths. Looking through the Bible, there are so many examples where a believer is expected to be obedient when faced with the Word. It is not easy, yes, but it brings greater glory than ever expected. Daniel was even recorded in the history as a man with excellent spirit.
3. Be a doer, not a mere talker
Remember the principle spoken by JESUS HIMSELF, “a doer of the Word of GOD is a person who builds upon the firm rock foundation.” (Matthew 7:24). Many believers may seem excellent as they talk about a concept in Christianity, yet they’re unable to apply the concept in their daily lives. In fact, some may have fallen and become stumbling block instead of becoming role models to others.
In the days of judgment, it is written that there are even many ministers of the LORD who got rejected from the Kingdom of GOD, only because GOD doesn’t know them (Matthew 7:21-27). This will lead us to a further question: “How can we be known by GOD?” The answer lies in verse 21 of the chapter, in which it is written that “…he who does the will of MY FATHER…” In other words, our ministries, our sermons, our music skills, or any other things that we do will not ‘move’ HIS heart to know us. One thing that will move HIS heart to know us is when we become the doer of the Word as well as we live in the Word. Acknowledgement by GOD is incomparable to any other acknowledgement. It is normal when we get astonished to HIM, but when HE is proud of us, it is really wonderful!
4. Intimacy
Last but not least, and even far more important, is about drawing near to HIM and staying close in HIS presence. A lot of GOD’s children do not realize how important intimacy with the LORD is, or maybe they realize, yet they don’t care if they have no personal relationship with GOD. King David was a good example of realizing the importance of having close relationship with GOD, as he cried out to GOD in Psalms 51:11 (Indonesian: verse 13) “Do not cast me away from YOUR presence, and do not take YOUR HOLY SPIRIT from me.” This verse reflects the condition where a human’s spirit is longing to commune with the HOLY SPIRIT. David cried out as he repented from his sins of adultery, betrayal and murder, and he realized that he had to suffer any consequences from his sins. But still he cried out to GOD, begging HIM that though HE had to take everything from David, there is one thing that must not be taken from him, which is the HOLY SPIRIT.
An intimate relationship with GOD will bring us higher and closer to HIM, and will bring us to know HIM more and to grow our spiritual sensitivity as well; understanding HIS will, feeling HIS heart desire, and doing things that HE likes. We’ll get into more personal experiences with GOD, and it's such a privilege for us to know a living GOD like HIM. Being invited to draw near to GOD is the highest invitation of all. There are so many benefit that we may get by being close to HIM, and it is really foolish to be ignorant of the invitation. Imagine, that the OWNER of the universe HIMSELF has called us to live together with HIM, and to experience HIM more.
In the end, let us now renew our commitment to become the children of GOD, living without compromising the world, and radical on the Word. It has been so long since the devil stole so many values of life from us, and it is now the time to take it back with GOD’s authority!
STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH, SHINE LIKE A STAR, AND WE'RE GONNA TEAR THE DEVIL'S KINGDOM DOWN !!!
