Rewarding Faith:

 

                   The Full Gospel Man

 

 

The way of the [consistently] righteous – those living in religious and moral rectitude in every area and relationship of their lives – is level and straight; You, O Lord, Who are upright, direct aright and level the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous (Man). Isaiah 26:7.

 

But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you. Jeremiah 7:23.

 

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the (Gospel) message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion.

[And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring [Me] safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:17-18.

 

Who is the full gospel man?

 

According to the above scriptures and many others throughout the word of God the full gospel man would have to be the one who is consistently righteous, whose path is directed by the Lord and who walks forth proclaiming the full gospel message of deliverance and preservation unto the safety of His kingdom.

 

When Paul added the word Amen at the end of verse eighteen he wasn’t just saying adios or so long until next time, he was signifying with one word that the revelation he had just shared was in fact true and final. This word means so be it, or it is done. This word speaks volumes in that it tells the reader that what the writer has stated is something that he believes is truth and there is absolutely no backing down from his statements because he has proven them [by faith] to be true.

 

I don’t believe we have to look much further than the apostle Paul for the perfect example of a full gospel man. Thank God he was delivered from his traditional, religious thinking mindset.

 

Our first scripture from Isaiah tells us that the Lord will direct and make level the path of the uncompromisingly righteous man. We know for a fact from his teachings that Paul was indeed this kind of man. He was bold and kept nothing to himself just as he stated in Acts 20:27 when he said, “For I never shrank or kept back or fell short from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan and counsel of God”.

 

How many men in today’s society can make the claim that he is uncompromisingly righteous?

 

First of all righteousness is not even talked about as a possibility in North American social circles. As a matter of fact people who attempt to practice righteousness are usually laughed at these days. What once was considered normal is now considered abnormal. If you were invited to your neighbors bar BQ and you brought up the subject of redemption you probably would not be invited back.

 

But thank God there are still men who refuse to compromise His living word. They may be few and far between but they are still out there and they seem to be gaining ground. Where sin does abound grace does much more abound. I believe the Lord is preparing His army for the greatest onslaught that the world has ever seen.

 

Executing judgement is once again catching on in the church. There are certain individuals who have decided to pay the price and go all out for Jesus. Not at all resembling those who have settled in their pews and are simply waiting for the Lord to come. The ones who are uncompromisingly righteous are the ones who study Paul’s revelation and accept who they really are in Christ. They are not afraid to proclaim that, “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

 

Who is the full gospel man?

 

He is the one who shouts victory even when faith seems weak and victory seems lost. He is the one who imitates his Father just as Jesus imitated His Father.

 

How can he say, “I only do what I see my Father do?”

 

Because his heart has been conditioned by the word of life to take first place over the triune man and to lead him into all the truth. When life presents before him a problem of mountainous proportions he does not sink back in fear and cry, “Why have You done this to me?” Instead he raises up the shield of faith, he draws on the sword of the spirit and just as David proved himself before King Saul, he runs toward the giant proclaiming victory in the name of the Lord.

 

This word that I hold in my hand is as useless as a three legged race horse until I plant the seed in my heart (inner man) as Jesus commanded and allow it to take root and grow there until I begin to see victory through the eye of faith.

 

“The sower sows the word, these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty fold, some sixty and some a hundred.” Mark 4:14 & 20.

 

There will be no victory in the life of the one who compromises. We either hear the word, accept it as truth and act on it or we lay it down and do something else.

 

Thank God brother Paul became obedient to the Lord and decided to agree with the Master and say, “Not my will but Your will be done.”

 

A full gospel man is the one who strives to be like the master, he is anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, he lets his request be made known to God.           Philippians 4:6.

 

His number one concern is to do unto others, as he would have them do unto him. He has matured in the word and he has arrived at the place where selfishness has given way to obedience. He joins in chorus with the Psalmist and proclaims, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

 

In other words he is indeed a word man. He agrees with the apostle when he said, “the word is near you even in your mouth and in your heart” (that is the word of faith which we preach). He is so grounded in the word that all opposition (fiery darts) slams into the shield of faith and drops to the ground as if unspoken.

 

What has he done?

 

He has taken up the full armor of God and he is well able to stand in the evil day. He is strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. He has studied the enemy and he knows when and where to attach the breastplate of righteousness, he has prepared himself with the gospel of peace, with the helmet of salvation in place he continuously moves forward, neither looking to the left nor to the right but thrusting forth the sword of the spirit (the word of God) and praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Ephesians 6: 10-18.

 

Does this man have the joy of the Lord?

 

Look at this, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1: 2- 4.

 

It seems to me that brother James has acquired some wisdom over the years, I wonder who he might have been talking to?

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. O, but there’s more, but let him ask in faith, with no doubting.

James 1: 5-6.

 

Let the uncompromisingly righteous man ask in faith, with no doubting. Now I think I see it. The full gospel man must have faith and patience, he must let patience have its perfect work in order for him to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing, and above all he must have this faith in God the rewarder without the slightest notion of doubting.

 

I’ve heard it said that doubt is the badge of unbelief. Where did this atrocious mongrel come from?

 

He was born in the pit of hell and then introduced into the earth way back in the Garden of Eden. Look at this, “Has God indeed said?” How about this, “You will not surely die.” Genesis 3: 1-4.

Of course Eve was ignorant of who the serpent (devil) really was but nonetheless she opened the door to doubt and he’s been here ever since.

 

Just as faith in the word brings results to the believing one so also does doubt bring fear to the heart of the one who gives it first place in his life. Faith is of God, fear is of Satan the enemy of God. This my friend is why the uncompromisingly righteous man has got to take a stand and having done all to stand he must stand therefore.

 

Written by : R W Nagle.