Transcript [00:02] The Jerusalem channel is made with the [00:04] support of you, our viewers. Thank you [00:07] for watching. [00:11] The Bible's King David has the wonderful [00:14] distinction of being described as a man [00:18] after God's own heart. [00:21] Have you ever known anybody like that? [00:23] In my lifetime, I've known some choice [00:25] servants of the Almighty who have [00:28] pursued God with all their hearts. And I [00:31] certainly include women. Are you a woman [00:34] after God's own heart? Are you a man [00:37] after God's own heart? [00:51] Shalom. I'm Christine Daric. A woman of [00:54] God eagerly does the work that God has [00:57] assigned to her. And if she is an older [00:59] woman, she's to set an example for the [01:03] younger women in conduct and department. [01:06] A woman of God approaches God with a [01:09] grateful heart and casts all of her [01:12] anxieties on him because she's learned [01:15] to trust in God's ability and his love. [01:18] And so she brings her worship and her [01:20] concerns to his throne of grace boldly [01:23] and daily. [01:26] I believe the best description of a [01:28] woman of God is found in the Proverbs [01:31] chapter 31 woman where she is called in [01:34] Hebrew an eschet hyel. Echet is the [01:38] construct form of isha, the Hebrew word [01:41] for a woman or a wife. And the adjective [01:44] hyal in the Bible denotes, and I love [01:48] this, bravery, courage, and strength. As [01:52] in a valiant warrior, as in a female [01:55] soldier who is capable and triumphant. [01:59] Isn't that rich? She is a lioness. [02:03] Now, the adjective hyel is also used in [02:07] some Bible verses to conote wealth. [02:10] Thus, the Lord's eschet hayel, the [02:13] Lord's woman of valor, is a treasure in [02:15] God's sight, far above rubies. [02:19] Traditionally, the woman of valor [02:21] passage from Proverbs 31 is recited by [02:24] husbands at the beginning of the Friday [02:26] evening meal after the Shabbat candles [02:29] are lit and the wife is praised for her [02:32] excellence in front of her children and [02:35] the children are also blessed. [02:38] I believe the corporate bride of Messiah [02:41] is the ultimate eschet hyel whom the [02:44] Lord is seeking in this hour and in her [02:47] tongue is the law of kindness. [02:50] She the body of Messiah is brave, noble, [02:54] honorable, modest, chasteed, resourceful [02:58] and faithful. She has a sense of [03:01] adventure and humor because that chapter [03:04] says she laughs the laugh of faith. And [03:08] Proverbs 31:18 testifies her lamp does [03:12] not go out at night. She's watching for [03:15] her coming king. [03:18] Now, in defining a woman of God, let's [03:20] look at what the Bible says about men of [03:22] God. Since according to the Apostle Paul [03:26] in Galatians 3:28, [03:28] there is neither male nor female in [03:31] Messiah, for we are all one in the Lord. [03:35] The commentaries say Paul's egalitarian [03:37] scripture in the book of Galatians [03:39] proves that all believers are in the [03:42] fullest sense sons of God, children of [03:45] God. There are no exceptions and no [03:48] inequalities. [03:50] All believers alike, no matter what our [03:52] race, our status or gender, male or [03:55] female, we stand on the same equal [03:58] footing of adoption and sunship before [04:01] God. What's true of one believer is true [04:05] of all. [04:07] But from time to time, because of the [04:09] election of God, [04:12] there are outstanding men of God and [04:14] women of God who serve the Lord's [04:16] purposes in their generation and who are [04:19] called to do exploits for him. [04:22] Men of God is a title of respect in the [04:25] Bible and many cultures in the Christian [04:28] world, particularly I saw it in Africa [04:30] and Asia, still make use of the honorary [04:33] title, man of God. [04:36] Some are truly worthy of the title. [04:38] Others may take it upon themselves in a [04:40] promotional manner. But of course, the [04:43] Lord knows and distinguishes. [04:46] The designation man of God is simple yet [04:50] incredibly profound. A man of God means [04:54] on its face a person who is not his own. [04:57] He belongs wholly to God. He's [05:01] consecrated. one who has parted with his [05:04] rights and preferences to give over his [05:07] life wholly for God's cause. And what an [05:11] honor to be described as belonging to [05:13] God. But it's also a very grave [05:16] responsibility that will bring harsher [05:19] judgment if careless. [05:23] Now in the Hebrew Bible, the title man [05:25] of God is ish Elohim or Isha Elohim. And [05:30] the honorific is applied 77 times in 71 [05:35] verses to various leaders and prophets, [05:38] at least 12 individuals. So let's take a [05:42] brief look at some of them. First of [05:44] all, of course, there's Moses. He's [05:46] called a man of God in six Bible verses [05:48] beginning with Deuteronomy 33:1. [05:52] And Psalm 90 starts off with a prayer of [05:56] Moses, the man of God. In Judges chapter [06:00] 13, the angel of the Lord who appeared [06:03] to Samson's mother is called a man of [06:06] God. [06:08] God chooses for special service men and [06:10] women who live close to his heart and [06:13] who are in total sympathy with his [06:15] purposes and who are willing to speak [06:17] out. [06:18] The man who sternly and boldly rebuked [06:22] Ellie the priest in 1st Samuel chapter 2 [06:27] is not named, but he's described as an [06:30] ish Elohim, a man of God, a seer, a [06:33] prophet who was not afraid to rebuke [06:37] Elli, the high priest. [06:40] The man of God gave a scathing rebuke in [06:42] the mode of a true biblical prophet, [06:45] asking why the high priest had honored [06:47] his apostate sons more than God, and he [06:51] predicted the downfall of Eli's [06:54] household. [06:56] Instead, God raised up Samuel, the [06:59] prophet, who is called a man of God, in [07:01] four different verses. As one of [07:04] Israel's greatest judges, Samuel was [07:07] instrumental in the transition from a [07:09] loose confederation of Hebrew tribes to [07:13] Israel's centralized monarchy. [07:16] Samuel is mentioned by name in the hall [07:18] of faith in the New Testament in Hebrews [07:21] chapter 11. And I find this so [07:24] interesting that we learn in Jeremiah [07:27] 15:1 [07:28] how highly God regarded Samuel because [07:32] in that verse, God gives a judgment [07:34] saying that even if Moses and Samuel [07:37] were to stand before me, he said, "My [07:39] heart would not go out to this people." [07:42] And the verse reminds me of God's [07:44] mention of the luminaries also of Noah, [07:47] Daniel, and Job in Ezekiel 14:14 [07:51] as intercessors who were able to deliver [07:54] their own souls only by their [07:56] righteousness. And in Jeremiah 15:1, [08:01] both Moses and Samuel are named as [08:04] having been conspicuous examples of the [08:07] power of prayer and intercession. [08:11] You see, Samuel was a quintessential man [08:13] of God because he had learned to hear [08:16] and to obey the voice of God from an [08:18] early age. We learn that his mother [08:21] Hannah had dedicated him to the Lord. [08:25] And Samuel was called by God and walked [08:27] with God, worshiping God. We have to [08:30] consider that divine callings are all [08:33] about relationships with God. [08:36] Samuel spoke the truth and God did not [08:39] allow any of Samuel's words to fall to [08:42] the ground. That expression in the [08:45] Hebrew means that God fulfilled [08:47] everything that Samuel prophesied. [08:50] However, in this is a troubling reality [08:53] in life. The great Samuel had two sorry [08:58] goodfor-no sons. They were named Joel, [09:01] meaning in Hebrew, Yehovah is God, and [09:04] Abby, meaning my father is Yah. Their [09:08] names were indicative of devout parents. [09:11] But Samuel's sons did not walk in the [09:14] Lord's ways. They turned aside, taking [09:17] bribes and perverting justice. [09:20] So here we see that the Bible plainly [09:22] teaches us that character is not [09:25] hereditary. [09:26] The commentaries say that the sinner [09:29] begets a sinner, but a saint does not [09:32] necessarily beget a saint. You see, [09:35] hereditary relationship exerts a [09:37] powerful influence on a child's mind and [09:40] disposition. But nothing but divine [09:43] grace can bring about a change in a [09:45] person's heart. [09:47] And when children of a good man or a [09:50] good woman turn out to be bad, the [09:52] commentaries say that the cause may [09:54] generally be traced to some defect in [09:56] their training [09:58] uh through attention to other duties, [10:01] being absent from the home, excessive [10:04] strictness, [10:06] or their association with evil [10:08] companions, and so on and so forth. [10:11] Well, the Bible doesn't tell us details [10:13] of Samuel's household, but the most [10:16] perfect education is limited in its [10:19] power over character. [10:22] Well, not only is David described in the [10:25] Bible as a man of God, but he also has [10:27] the wonderful distinction of being [10:29] described as a man after God's own [10:32] heart. This phrase was descriptive of [10:34] David's character in contrast to the [10:37] character of his predecessor, King Saul. [10:40] who failed and disobeyed God. [10:45] What does it mean to be a person after [10:47] God's own heart? Well, it means [10:49] primarily to have a heart devoted to the [10:52] honor of God. A heart totally dependent [10:56] upon God for success. A heart that [10:59] quickly repents at God's reproof on [11:02] account of sin. A heart in sympathy with [11:05] the people of God in their struggles. [11:08] wholehearted overall sincerity in [11:11] relation to God and his plans. [11:15] Well, now in First Kings 13, [11:18] we have the fascinating and grizzly [11:20] account of the unnamed man of God from [11:23] Judah who cried out against King [11:25] Jeroboam of Israel and the altar. The [11:29] rabbis identify him as Edido the seer [11:31] who lived during the reigns of King [11:33] Solomon and Solomon's descendants. [11:37] So the unnamed man of God from Judah [11:39] came to Bethl to prophesy against the [11:42] pagan altar there. God was with him with [11:45] outstanding signs and wonders in this [11:47] chapter. But he had been given very [11:51] definite marching orders by God to do [11:55] his prophetic act and leave. He was [11:58] forbidden to dine and have fellowship [12:00] there in Bethl. So after the man of God [12:03] departed, he was sidetracked, deceived, [12:06] and ruined by the intervention of an old [12:09] prophet who invited him back to dine. [12:14] And when the man of God appealed to his [12:15] marching orders, the old prophet [12:17] answered deceitfully, making up a story [12:19] that an angel of the Lord had instructed [12:22] him to bring the man of God to his house [12:26] for refreshments. And so tragically, the [12:29] man of God fell for that. and he made [12:31] the mistake of disobedience and not [12:33] discerning a lie rather than following [12:35] God's explicit instructions. I think of [12:39] how Paul said in the book of Galatians, [12:42] "If I or an angel from heaven preach [12:45] another gospel, let him be accursed." [12:48] So, we mustn't even be sidetracked by [12:50] angels. [12:52] Now, the man of God from Judah was [12:54] doomed because of his disobedience. And [12:56] he was killed by a lion on the road. And [12:59] did you know 1 Corinthians 10:11 [13:01] testifies that this incident in all [13:03] scriptures are recorded for our benefit? [13:07] That verse says, "Now these things [13:08] happen unto them by way of example and [13:12] they were written for our admonition [13:14] upon whom the ends of the ages are [13:17] come." I recall a time when God gave me [13:20] a very specific assignment and he was [13:22] very firm with his instructions and it [13:25] turned out hallelujah to be a very [13:28] successful mission by the grace of God. [13:31] But a minister with a big reputation [13:33] whom I encountered along the way had [13:35] advised me not to carry through with the [13:37] assignment because it was perceived just [13:40] to be too dangerous. But by the grace of [13:43] God, I didn't listen to the ill advice. [13:46] I carry through with my instructions [13:47] from the Lord and to this day I rejoice [13:50] in the exploits that God enabled us to [13:53] do because in today's environment the [13:56] same assignment would have not been [13:58] possible humanly speaking. [14:02] May we pray that we're not sidelined in [14:04] these last days because there are many [14:06] pitfalls and deceptions on every side. [14:11] Now among other men of God less known [14:14] both the prophets Elijah and Elisha are [14:18] referred to numerous times in the Bible [14:20] as men of God. And what about the New [14:23] Testament? The expression men of God is [14:26] used only twice in the New Testament. [14:28] However, it takes one to know one [14:31] because the phrase is applied to Timothy [14:34] by an educated Hebraic thinker, the [14:36] Apostle Paul himself. [14:39] By referring to Timothy as a man of God, [14:42] Paul was including Timothy in a rich [14:44] Hebraic tradition. Paul certainly was [14:47] the quintessential man of God, and he [14:50] suffered everything willingly in his [14:52] calling and commissioning by God. At one [14:55] point, Paul wrote, "I despared even of [14:58] life." But he said, "Things happened to [15:00] make him rely not on himself, but on the [15:03] God who raises the dead." [15:05] Paul knew the pressure of hard places [15:07] makes us value life. As the great [15:10] missionary evangelist AB Simpson once [15:12] wrote, "Some people have a shallowess [15:15] about them. Yet a man or a woman who has [15:18] experienced great suffering is tender [15:21] and gentle and understands from [15:23] experience what suffering really means." [15:27] So who qualifies today? [15:30] There are many believers and confessors [15:32] of faith, but not all believers qualify [15:34] as an ish Elohim in the biblical sense. [15:40] What separates the men from the boys? [15:43] Well, first of all, I'd say the man or [15:46] woman of God, the eschetal, [15:49] has a strong attachment to God, to say [15:52] the least. And from time to time, God [15:54] shares his secrets with them and gives [15:57] them special assignments [15:59] because they've proven themselves [16:01] trustworthy. [16:03] Think of Abraham. The Lord asked in [16:05] Genesis 18:17, "Should I hide my plan [16:09] from Abraham?" [16:10] Although the scriptures don't refer to [16:12] Abraham as a man of God, he was called [16:15] the friend of God. In James 2:23 in the [16:18] New Testament testifies of Abraham, he [16:20] believed God and it was credited to him [16:23] as righteousness and he was called God's [16:27] friend. [16:28] Deborah the judge, the prophetess was a [16:32] woman of God in the sense that God was [16:34] communicating his plans and thoughts to [16:36] her. Whereas General Bareric in the book [16:39] of Judges relied upon Deborah for [16:42] direction due to her knowledge of God. [16:46] By the way, the Talmood regards Deborah [16:49] as one of the Hebrew Bible's seven [16:51] female prophets. The other six being [16:54] Sarah, Miriam, Hannah, Abigail, the wife [16:58] of David, Hula, and Esther. [17:02] I've known some great women of God in my [17:04] generation, and I've read about others [17:06] in past generations who have been women [17:08] after God's own heart. women such as [17:11] Mary of Bethany, who sat at the feet of [17:14] Jesus and who anointed his head with [17:17] oil. She truly acted out the anointing [17:21] of Messiah's kingship for time and [17:24] eternity. What a visionary she was to do [17:26] such a thing. No man, none of Jesus's [17:30] male disciples thought to do it. [17:34] And Anna the prophetess in the New [17:36] Testament was certainly a woman of God [17:38] because she served him in the temple [17:40] with fastings and prayers and she was [17:42] able to recognize Messiah when he came. [17:47] Although the Bible doesn't specifically [17:49] call any female a woman of God, there [17:52] are a number of prophetesses and [17:54] important women throughout the Bible and [17:57] of course innumerable notable women in [17:59] the history of the church. And I'd say [18:01] it's impossible for a woman to be a [18:03] genuine prophetess and not be a woman of [18:06] God because a prophetess must know God [18:10] intimately. She must know his voice, his [18:12] ways in order to speak for him. Mary, [18:16] the mother of our Lord, was certainly a [18:18] prophetess as demonstrated in her words [18:21] in the Magnificat. [18:25] Besides being of sterling character, the [18:27] man or woman of God has cultivated such [18:29] an intimate relationship with the father [18:31] that he or she can be entrusted with the [18:35] works that are upon Aba's heart in each [18:38] generation. The man or woman of God is [18:42] given insights through friendship with [18:44] God into the secrets of his heart and [18:47] therefore suffers a certain loneliness [18:50] among human companions because God's [18:52] ways and secrets just can't be shared [18:54] with everybody. And even if they could [18:56] be, they wouldn't be understood nor [18:58] appreciated. [19:00] So, a minister who doesn't understand [19:03] God's covenant with Israel and his plans [19:05] to save Israel in the last days to my [19:08] mind can't be a genuine man or woman of [19:10] God. For how can they know God and not [19:13] know his heart concerning this [19:15] allconsuming matter? Bible prophecy [19:18] overflows concerning it. I've also [19:22] learned from the Lord that God's man and [19:24] God's woman while having many [19:26] acquaintances and admirers and also many [19:29] detractors [19:30] just can't be buddies with everybody. [19:33] So to be a close friend of a man or a [19:36] woman of God is truly an honor. In a [19:39] sense, any friend of a man or woman of [19:41] God also potentially becomes [19:45] their protege through association. [19:49] Moses was called the man of God and his [19:51] protege Joshua became characteristically [19:54] a man of God. And in the new covenant in [19:58] Paul's letters to Timothy, [19:59] characteristics and attributes of a man [20:02] or a woman of God are unveiled. Let's [20:05] consider what Paul said to Timothy in 1 [20:07] Timothy 6:es 10 to 11. Paul wrote, "For [20:11] the love of money is a root of all kinds [20:13] of evil. Some people eager for money [20:16] have wandered from the faith and pierced [20:19] themselves through with many griefs. But [20:21] thou, oh men, oh God, flee these things [20:24] and follow after righteousness, [20:26] godliness, faith, love, patience, and [20:29] meekness. [20:31] In recent years among teachers in the [20:33] body of Messiah, there's been a lot of [20:35] emphasis upon getting rich. But Paul [20:38] observed that a man of God must not lust [20:40] for money and material things and must [20:43] avoid greed and covetousness. His [20:46] pursuit should be after God's calling [20:48] and directions, personal holiness, right [20:50] standing with God and with men, as well [20:53] as everinccreasing faith, love for the [20:56] brethren, and personal growth in [20:58] patience, humility, and meekness. [21:02] I think a great example of a man of God [21:04] concerning finances was Ree Howells, the [21:07] Welsh coal miner who lived a life of [21:09] intercession and missions and later [21:11] served as an educator in Wales. His [21:15] biography, The Intercessor by Norman [21:17] Grub, is my favorite book outside of the [21:20] Bible. Ree House handled growing amounts [21:24] of finances in his ministry as he [21:26] founded a Bible college. But he had [21:28] learned early in the school of the Holy [21:30] Spirit how to account for every penny [21:32] before God. [21:34] Those who set a price on God's service [21:36] are in danger of devaluing it. A [21:40] characteristic of false prophets is [21:42] their craving for money and riches. In [21:45] the Bible, we see the prophetering [21:47] prophet Balum, Elisha's grasping [21:50] servant, Gahazi, [21:52] and Judas, the Lord's treasurer, [21:55] Pilford. And they were all sidetracked [21:58] by greed. [22:01] It's impossible for a person to be a man [22:03] or a woman of God and love money. [22:09] A second New Covenant reference to a man [22:10] of God concerns his relationship with [22:13] the scriptures. The passage is 2 Timothy [22:17] 3:16-17 [22:19] where Paul said, "All scripture is given [22:21] by inspiration of God that the man of [22:24] God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished [22:28] unto all good works." [22:31] I discovered the strong man of God [22:33] website describes four characteristics [22:35] of a true man of God. Number one, he [22:38] accepts the roles God assigns him. [22:43] He obeys God unto death. He relies on [22:47] God for everything. [22:49] And he trusts God for vindication. [22:53] And I'd like to say that these four [22:55] characteristics also describe a true [22:57] woman of God. She accepts the roles that [23:00] God assigns to her. She obeys God into [23:04] death. She relies on God for everything. [23:06] And she trusts God for vindication. [23:10] because there are many critics out [23:11] there. [23:13] Furthermore, those four characteristics [23:15] surely describe the life and ministry of [23:17] Jesus. [23:19] Number one, he accepted the role God [23:21] assigned to him before the foundation of [23:23] the earth. Before creation, Yeshua, [23:26] that's his Hebrew name, humbly accepted [23:29] his father's assignment to be the lamb [23:32] of God as well as King Messiah. [23:35] Secondly, he obeyed his father to his [23:37] death, even the humiliating death on the [23:39] cross. [23:40] Three, he relied upon God for [23:42] everything. He testified that he only [23:44] did what he saw his father doing. And [23:47] fourthly, he trusted God for [23:49] vindication. [23:51] He died by faith, trusting his father to [23:54] vindicate him and his mission by raising [23:57] him from the dead. And therefore, God [24:00] also has highly exalted him and given [24:03] him the name which is above every name. [24:06] Amen. [24:09] Well, to be a man or woman of God is a [24:11] high calling. I'd like to mention four [24:14] additional important characteristics. [24:17] Number one, he or she shuns sexual sins [24:20] and affairs of the heart. A man or a [24:23] woman of God is hallmarked by righteous [24:25] behavior and sets the example that there [24:28] are sins to shun at all costs. God's men [24:32] and God's woman must flee from sexual [24:35] immorality and youthful lusts. [24:39] Secondly, a man or a woman of God is [24:41] well acquainted with battles and accepts [24:43] that spiritual warfare is a way of life. [24:47] You see, God has many righteous causes [24:49] in every generation for which he needs a [24:52] spokesperson. [24:54] and a man or a woman of God struggles [24:56] against secularism, anti-semitism, [24:59] against apathy and apostasy in the [25:01] churches and all sorts of manifestations [25:04] of sin in society. Some of the bravest [25:07] women of God that I know are involved in [25:09] the battle to save life in the womb. [25:13] Thirdly, he or she is often not [25:15] appreciated on the home front. After [25:18] all, Jesus said, "A prophet is honored [25:20] except in his town and among his [25:23] family." And he was no exception. [25:26] Among most believers, the man or woman [25:29] of God is an alien. The author Awtoer [25:33] said it best. He searched for friends [25:36] upon whose garments could be detected [25:39] the smell of myrr and aloe and cassia [25:42] out of the ivory palaces. But finding [25:44] few or none, like Mary of old, he keeps [25:48] these things in his heart. And it's this [25:50] very loneliness in his heart that throws [25:53] him back upon God. His inability to find [25:56] human companionship drives him to seek [25:59] in God what he can't find in friendship [26:02] elsewhere. [26:04] And number four, here's an aspect that [26:07] is unavoidable. [26:08] A man or woman of God will be a truly [26:12] broken individual. [26:14] The world at large doesn't comprehend [26:16] brokenness. [26:17] But the Lord has his own boot camp where [26:20] a believer is trained to overcome [26:22] obstacles and to overcome sin in their [26:26] life and to move from faith to faith, [26:29] victory to victory, and from glory to [26:31] glory. In other words, to go from being [26:34] a diamond in the rough to becoming a [26:36] compassionate, meek, and polished godly [26:42] person, a diamond. [26:45] Well, I want to encourage you in these [26:46] days of deception and apostasy to ask [26:49] God to reveal to you the truth about our [26:52] savior Jesus. And God will because the [26:56] Bible says, "Seek the Lord while he may [26:58] still be found." Amen. And in John 14:6, [27:02] Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, [27:04] and the life. No man comes unto the [27:07] Father but by me." [27:11] I want to invite you to watch our free [27:12] video library and to visit our website [27:14] at exploits.tv. [27:16] And I would enjoy connecting on social [27:18] media. Don't forget also to download our [27:21] free Jerusalem Channel mobile app so you [27:24] can watch our videos on your phones or [27:25] tablets anytime. [27:28] Until next time, I'll always be [27:30] contending for the faith and praying [27:32] earnestly for the peace of Jerusalem. [27:35] Marinatha, our Lord, come quickly. The [27:39] grace of the Lord be with you. I'm [27:41] Christine Dar. [27:43] Shalom. It's great to be able to keep in [27:47] touch in this digital world. And when [27:49] you download our free Jerusalem Channel [27:51] app to your mobile phone or tablet, [27:53] you'll be the first to see all our new [27:55] video teachings. You can also explore [27:58] our bookshop and read the Bible. And you [28:01] can help to support the channel through [28:02] our donation page. So look for Jerusalem [28:06] channel in the Apple or Google store and [28:08] start to share in the good news of the [28:10] gospel. [28:19] [music]
