Raise the Standard

Bible Text: Isaiah 59:19 | Spiritual Standard

Raising a standard is creating a rallying point for like-minded people. Noah is an example of someone raising a standard in his generation. Here are some of Noah’s characteristics:

1. He was perfect in his generations: Enoch (‘dedicated’: son of Cain) walked with God and was not; Methuselah: ‘javelin’ – honoured parents and lived longest on earth; Lamech (‘wild’) became a man of faith mentioned in Luke 3:36 in Christ’s ancestry. You can become the first person in your family to raise a spiritual standard.
2. Found favour with God – ‘grace’ – we find grace through faith in Christ – throne of grace where we obtain mercy to help in our time of need – (Gen 6:8) – received divine instructions concerning things to come and obeyed them – (Gen 6:22) God established a covenant of mercy & peace with Noah and showed kindness to him.
3. Became a preacher of righteousness – first farmer, then shipbuilder and then preacher – flood of judgment coming – the ark is the accurate Church (not just individual believers!)

Stumbling blocks to raise a standard

1. Misconceptions – about God, about the Church, about people and about yourself. Truth of the word of God will set you free. (John 8:32) God loves you and believes in you. He will perfect that which concerns you if you let Him. He knows what is best for you. He is not a miser or a bully.
2. Not knowing God’s will – faith begins where the will of God is known.
3. Veil of ignorance preventing understanding – false teaching and false doctrine prevent people from believing truth – Apostolic doctrine lifts the veil. (2 Corinthians 3:14, 15)
4. Not knowing purpose allows abuse – if you do not know what a microphone is used for you might use it like a hammer to knock in some nails! If you know someone’s purpose you will not abuse them. (Romans 8:28, Acts 26:16)

Characteristics of an accurate Church

1. Worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24
2. Faith towards God. Hebrews 6:1,2
3. Repentance as a life style. 1 Corinthians 15:31 – die daily; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10
4. Commissioned to go to all nations. Matthew 28:19
5. Commanded to love one another as Christ loved us. John 13:34