The prophet Samuel judged and ruled over Israel spiritually, but he failed to reprove his sons whom he had made judges over Israel. They perverted judgment, and so the people asked to have a king rule over them (I Samuel 8:5). Like Samuel, a man of God in authority may not have a heart to criticize or chasten; and yet he knows that much of what God plans to do is based upon his faithfulness and the willingness of God’s people to submit to the chastening, the discipline, and the reproof of the Lord.
In this day, as in Samuel’s time, there must not be two standards: one for the people and another for those who are called to be apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers, elders and other ministries. There can be only one standard. If those who are in authority reprove a lowly brother, they must reprove a brother of authority just as quickly. When the flock is called upon to sacrifice, the leaders are to set the example of sacrifice before them. A pastor should lead the people in sacrifice. Having labored honestly to deserve an image of sacrifice before them, he should not spoil it. For example, if he is given a luxurious car, he should trade it for a model that does not signify extravagance in people’s minds.
This is an hour to walk humbly before God. It is not a time to be at ease in Zion. There is much sacrifice, travail, labor, and warfare to be done. The way we walk before God must be kept pure. A time of discipleship has come in which God is demanding everything: time, money, effort, dedication, and motivation beyond our understanding. Many are giving everything they have to see the Lord bring forth great things for His glory and praise.
Would you like to know what is in the heart of a perfect man? The book of Job will tell you. It is a long book, describing Job’s problems and time of testing and the double portion he finally obtained. However, we are not as much interested in that aspect as we are with what it meant for him to be a perfect man before the Lord.
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil. That was a good recommendation. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And it came about, when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Job 1:1–5.
There cannot be true intercession without repentance. If our ways would be perfect before the Lord, then we must follow Job’s example and continually offer intercession for our brothers and sisters. When Job heard that he had lost everything, he just bowed down and worshiped the Lord. He was a worshiper from his heart, and regardless of what happened to him, he still worshiped. When he lost everything he had, he was not discouraged. He simply worshiped. When he was accused, he did not become angry.
What a difference there was between Job and the “comforters” who came to accuse him. They told him that because of some sin or iniquity God was judging him. Job tried rather feebly to defend himself until God presented Himself to him; then he was utterly undone (Job 38–41). In this we see something very beautiful: Job did not criticize his friends. Even if he thought there might be something to criticize, he was interceding and praying instead. He had prayed for his sons and daughters, saying, “Maybe they have cursed God in their hearts; maybe they have withdrawn; maybe there is something wrong between them and the Lord.” Job’s heart was perfect toward the Lord.
What does it mean for a pastor’s heart to be perfect toward the Lord? Is he constantly searching his heart to see if something wrong has come in? No, this he might do at a less mature state; but now he waits on God, making sacrifices for others. There is no end to the sacrifice of worship and prayer and intercession that he gives to God for his spiritual children. He says, “Perhaps my sons have sinned.” There has to be a time when the door is closed, and he and God are alone. Then he faces what is really important, apart from what anyone else knows. It is in his heart to be burdened for his sons.
The burden of heart for this hour is that we should have the kind of repentance that reaches in and says, “O God, perhaps some of my sons, or my brothers, or my sisters have sinned.” Let there be a rebirth of purity within our hearts so that we do not drift away from God’s purpose, but rather, that we press into His perfect will. This is a crisis hour. We could drift with a great deal of momentum in a good direction, but we must cry out for more than that. God is establishing a unity in the Body of Christ that nothing will be able to break. Nothing will bring a wedge between us as our love for one another grows exceedingly. Then the Lord will prosper the projects we undertake.
Is it in your heart to be like Job, who was perfect in all of his ways before God? What does a perfect man do? He prays for those who need help. If your way would be perfect before the Lord, you must intercede with repentance for your brothers and sisters, as well as for yourself. When Job’s sons were slain, was God still answering Job’s prayers? Did God give him more sons and daughters? I do not doubt that God answered the prayers of Job—do you?
Every movement that has ever come forth has buried its casualties, but God has a way of moving by His Spirit again and again. In this day, He is bringing forth divine order, grace, divine compassion, and intercession. We must learn how to really love one another and to be delivered from any undercurrent of criticism or gossip—the little things which are interesting and intriguing. The spirit of the prophets whom God is bringing forth today is a spirit of grace—not grace to overlook, but grace to overcome. It is grace to pray for one another. It is grace to rebuke a brother when he can hardly understand you because you are weeping for him.
True unity is coming forth today. Unity is more than a state of not being divided from each other; it is an expression of love. Unity is not just refusing a fight; it is assuming a responsibility. The brethren are not united just because they are not in discord and are not contending against one another. They are united when they contend for one another. Contend earnestly for the faith and the unity, so that one Body shall come forth.
Instead of focusing upon the negative, focus upon the positive thing that God can do. Believe with the kind of faith that stands before God and cries day and night with deep repentance until the job is done. Intercede intensely, giving your brothers a lifeline in the Spirit that holds them up during the assaults of Satan. In turn they will strengthen and fortify you. There must be a close bond of Christ’s love, in which you love your brother so much that when you talk with each other, you respond without any sensitivity. Do not retaliate or become angry and critical, but open your heart and say, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend. We will be faithful to help each other.”
This is a time when the brethren must be welded together in unity. If you are more concerned about your brothers’ welfare than about your own, you will be like Job, who was perfect in all of his ways to intercede for his family, continually crying out to the Lord. It is time for believers to grow up and be the true household of God, loving and blessing one another in every way. The time of immaturity is past. It is time to assume sonship and responsibility for one another.
God wants us to become involved with one another in the pure family relationship that He is bringing forth in the earth. No matter what evil we see upon the earth, we must purpose in our hearts to draw near to the Lord and to continually hold up one another. We must recognize the jeopardy in which every one of God’s people walks, because of the assault that comes against them day and night through the viciousness of satanic hordes. Let us recognize that we are in the culmination of the great battle of centuries and of ages past, and that we are destined to be overcomers. With fear and trembling let us wait before God lest any of His people become casualties in the assault that is coming to draw them away from the Lord, and lest they be victims of the great steam-roller tactics of Babylon. Let us purpose to stand together and to love one another and to do God’s will with a perfect heart.
Oh, that our arms might be thousands of miles long to reach all over the world and encircle the brethren. Let us intercede and contend for them, holding them fast and strengthening them while purposing in our hearts to be faithful. Let every Word of the Lord that we speak be instant in season and out of season to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long-suffering (II Timothy 4:2).
The time has come to walk in such purity that whatever is said against you will be only a lie, and the tongue that is lifted up against you will be condemned. If you suffer, it will be unjustly. Determine ahead of time that any persecution shall not be earned or justified. Do not draw back in any degree. With boldness enter in eagerly to hear and to speak what God has to declare. Prepare your heart, for the time has come for the fulfillment of these prophecies: “Blow a trumpet in Zion” (Joel 2:1); “Lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare unto My people their transgression” (Isaiah 58:1). Should this be done viciously? No—you must speak in love.
Ask God to help you know your way and understand your own heart—to understand any reservations or limitations upon your dedication to Him and upon your love for Him, upon your serving Him with all of your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength. As your hands are filled with labor and sacrifice for the Lord, let your heart be perfect toward Him and toward one another. Let there be nothing within you that shall look askance at a brother or hold back anything for his good. If you would see changes come, you must begin in your heart to move into a higher level.
The apostle John wrote of the commandment which we had from the beginning—that we love one another (II John 5). There is no way that the divine order and the gospel of the Kingdom can have any extension of great force without God’s people loving one another intensely. Let us draw close to one another in God’s family, remembering that Job’s love and faith for his children in his intercession led him to repentance for them. Our love will have to be so great that we will be willing to travail and repent before God for one another.
When God speaks a blessing over any one individual, let him not receive it only for himself personally. Let him believe for that promise of blessing to be valid for all the brethren. Let there likewise be the determination that there shall be no sin or transgression upon the Body, such as that of Achan at the walls of Ai (Joshua 7). Whatever is found upon one shall come upon all. The transgression of one requires the repentance of all, and the blessing upon one becomes the blessing upon all.