Becoming a Man after Gods own Heart. Part 1

There is little doubt that our enemy, the adversary is waging a full scale attack against believers today. One of the most overlooked portions of the Bible is found in Revelation 12:9-10 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan which decieveth the whole world : he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Yes Satan is the father of all lies and a murderer, but as these two verses of scripture teach us, he is a deceiver and an accuser as well.

Now, the Bible makes it plain that he is the deceiver of the world. The unsaved who are following the worlds philosophy and headed towards a co-existing one world religion are in fact being deceived. The true believers, the universal church made up of individual believers are not deceived, yet rather they suffer persecution and a constant barrage of accusations from our enemy.

Now concerning this deception, perhaps within the last 25 years there seems to be a greater attack upon masculinity than in any other time in history, church history included. Slowly through the media, music, movies and television programming men have become im masculated.

Now it would be easy to point out skinny jeans, died hair and a penchant for smart phones, but I digress. I honestly believe the biggest downfall every man faces is the ownership of their life and the problems that do suffice when we choose not to live for the Father and live for ourselves.

When we consider David, we see a giant slayer who many times couldn't even slay the giants in his own personal life. Perhaps no other time was David living under the defeat of the enemy than during the adulterous and murderous affair with Bathsheba. 2nd Samuel chapters 11-12.

However the deception of the enemy ceased when David was confronted by Uriah the prophet and the absolute wickedness of his sinfulness. David made no excuse for his actions after being singled out by Uriah. He repented of his sin and owned up to accepted the consequences of his actions.

Whether we are in the full time ministry, or serving on staff at a church, nothing will lead us to becoming a man "or woman" after Gods own heart like ownership of the life God has entrusted you to live. Nobody can live the Christian life for you. It is yours to either let waste away or make the most out of.

Now with that brief overview in mind, lets spend the next two blog posts together discovering how we csan become a man after Gods own heart.

We find in Psalm 51 what is known as the penitents psalm. It is the one that best describes Davids' heart cry and pleading with God after his sinful ways with Bathsheba and Uriah his wife. It is showing us the open and extreme vulnerability that only comes when we have a heart that cries out for God

As we search scripture and experience the human condition, there are four things that we find God doesn't simply turn away from.

A broken heart,

A bended knee,

A wet eye,

A bowed head.

We see all of these actions taking place with Psalm 51. We also see as I mentioned earlier, the ownership of His own life through personal repentance and the realization that God can and will use a broken man.

Psalm 51:1-3 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my sin is ever before me.

What we see in these three verses of scripture is David's heart cry of conviction. David reminds us that he was was guilty, like as we all are before an almighty, thrice holy God. Romans 3:23-For all have sinned and come short the glory of God.

The psalmist acts God for mercy based upon Gods own merciful character, and His love for us as His children. Yes children do foolish things, make mistakes, and will break their parents hearts. It's all part of the growing process. And just like children, those who have been redeemed must come home to the Father, and seek after His mercy.

Our transgressions can have a lasting impact upon our relationship with God, if they go unconfessed. 1 John 1:9- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now in verse #3 David makes a profund statement. God has blessed us with the ability to remember all the things we endure. Trials and testings are good for us. And our Father in Heaven has given us the Holy Spirit, and a conciense as well to help us remember what it is we've done and what has influenced us in the past to draw away from Him in fellowship.

If we as believers can learn to recognize in our walk with God, how we fail, fall and falter, then we have half of the spiritual battle already won.James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither he tempteth any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

We may not all be tempted by the same things, but we are all tempted the same way. The enemy isn't going to entice you with the situations to fall which your not going to respond to.

Psalm 51:4-6 Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

True confession of sin always involves repentance, which is not only a change of mind and heart, but the first word of the gospel message. Even after covering his sins and thinking he could get away with it, God sent Nathan to confront him. And as we see not only in the chapters describing his wicked fall into sin, we see that Davids confession wasn't some cheap prayer made with the lips.

I find it ironic how Davids son with Bathsheba penned those words in Proverbs 15:3-The eyes of the Lord are every place beholding the evil and the good. It's no doubt a personal issue with Solomon who ended up having "women issues" as well as he got older and more secure in his wealth and Power. On a side note, lets never forget that when Moses was giving the Ten Commandments, He gave us the following words as well straight from the very lips of God almighty.

Exodus 20:5b-for I the Lord am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love, and keep my commandments.

A true confession of sin always causes the confessor to ultimately compare their sinfulness and the complete perfection, holiness and righteousness of an almighty God.

In Verse #6 We see a very simple explanation of how the believer can be in a right fellowship with God. God desires the truth because He alone is the center of all truth and authore of it. Truth by it's very nature is exclusive in all of it's aspects.

David was willing to recognize his sinful nature as the root of all of His wickedness. as Paul the Apostle would write in Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short the glory of God. If we were sinless we wouldn't be in need of confession and in need of a savior.

One of the great realties of the Christian life is that the person who once walked with God and was lead by Gods mighty hand and has since turned away and is trying to find their way back to God, is the most miserable person in the world. Nothing will destroy a believers life more than the stronghold of a guilty conscience.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God already knows what it is that is separating you from a complete and surrendered walk of faith with Him. Confession of sin is for your benefit and for the restoring of fellowship with the Father.

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