Church Strong: The Standard
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In order for the Church to be strong, it has to adhere to the “standard” that God has set up for us. One of the things that has changed over the years in our society is our standards. The so called rules have definitely changed! So it’s really up to the Church to life up God’s standards in this world. The word standard in the Bible is found in the Old Testament. Let’s start there.
22 Thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations,
And set up My standard for the peoples;
They shall bring your sons in their arms,
And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders;
23 Kings shall be your foster fathers,
And their queens your nursing mothers;
They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth,
And lick up the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord,
For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.”
God is the One Who Sets the Standard!
God is the One Who Sets the Standard!
Here the word standard is the Hebrew word “nace” and it means, “something lifted up, standard, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign, sail” In this context, it is used as a signal, rallying point, for the people of God to prepare for a miracle. It really doesn’t matter what the world is doing, we must look for the signal from God on what He is doing because no one but God can do the miraculous to save His people from whatever situations we are in. Look for God’s standard!
17 For [the Lord] put on righteousness as a breastplate or coat of mail, and salvation as a helmet upon His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal [and furious divine jealousy] as a cloak.
18 According as their deeds deserve, so will He repay wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; on the foreign islands and coastlands He will make compensation.
19 So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].
20 He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression, says the Lord.
God’s Standard Defeats the Enemy!
God’s Standard Defeats the Enemy!
The Hebrew word standard here is the word “noos” and in this context means to drive away. When the enemy comes in like a flood, that means from every area, the Lord will drive him away. That’s awesome! No one can stop a flood of attacks except God. When things are overwhelming we need to know that God has a standard that will drive out our enemies. Now because of God’s standard our lives in the present are different.
14 Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! 15 Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night 16 so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.
Our Lives are Changed With the Standard!
Our Lives are Changed With the Standard!
Do everything readily and cheerfully? Wow, that’s a whole nother level. That’s the standard for us. That’s the mark we are shooting for. Do everything, the stuff we like to do and the stuff we don’t like to do. How do we do it? Readily and Cheerfully! No bickering! When we are able to have that standard operating in our lives, we can shine His light and it will be like fresh air in this squalid and polluted society! The word squalid means filthy and degraded. There are a lot of things wrong with our society but if we live according to God’s standard we will be like a breath of fresh air! In order to have that become a reality in our lives, we need the fruit of the Spirit operating in our lives.
19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
We Must Develop the Fruit of the Spirit!
We Must Develop the Fruit of the Spirit!
No law, and by the way, the devil is legalistic to the max, can bring a charge against the Fruit of the Spirit! When we consistently work on developing the fruit, we will start operating according to His standard! We always like the Gifts of the Spirit because it’s exciting and mainly because it requires no effort from us except to be open to the move.
The fruit on the other hand, require work on our part to develop these nine fruit. That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 7:15–20 (NKJV)
15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
God’s standard for us today, becomes reality when we work on developing the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” Let’s be church strong and set God’s standard for our lives!