I want your heart

“Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men) so they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers.” (1 Kings 8:39b)

God knows your heart.  This may bring you comfort or unease. In the scriptures the heart represents the essence of who you are. The real you; the deepest area of your being.  While the mind is considered the seat of the soul, the heart is considered the seat of the spirit.  It is the place within us where we commune, or have fellowship, with God. It is the place where God gives us new life in Christ. To say that God knows your heart is to say that he knows what’s really going on inside you. He sees beyond the carefully scripted stories we live before others. He sees past the masks that we wear to hide our real selves from the people around us. He sees past the religiousness to know whether we really love him for who he is (not just for what he can give us). He knows. He knows everything about you and is interested in you, anyway.

He wants you to give your heart to him. He wants you to have more than an intellectual knowledge of him.  While it is good to learn facts about God and it is good to have an intellectual understanding of who he is (we need to know the differences between the real God and all the false “gods” in the many religions of the world);  that is not enough.  He wants you to know him with your heart and that means to have an intimate relationship with him.  This can occur through a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the one who opens the way for us to have access to God’s heart through the forgiveness of our sin. Sin is what blocks us from God’s heart. But Jesus through his cross and blood has paid the penalty that would keep us out of the presence of God.  As we are cleansed by him, our hearts become the place of habitation for the Holy Spirit who takes up residence within us.  He gives us new life — God’s life. Remember that he no longer lives in buildings (as in the days of Solomon) but instead dwells in us within our born-again spirit.

In order to know him intimately and with increasing understanding, you must offer yourself to him. It requires giving him your heart. It requires believing with your heart. You can believe something with your mind and never act upon that belief. However, the heart is the place wherein the will is contained; thus the heart is the place wherein action is prompted. When you give your heart to something, you give your whole self to it. No holding back. So it is as you give your heart to God. No more holding back. Allow him into every place within you — your failures, your successes, your weaknesses and your strengths.  Allow him to love you for who you are and to change you into who he wants you to become (a man or woman after his own heart).

Have you given your heart to God today?  Why not do it right now?

Resurrection Life

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Cor 15:55-56)

My dad died in 1997 after a three year battle with cancer. He was diagnosed in early 1994 with lymphoma that he contracted as a result of exposure to the defoliation chemical called Agent Orange used in the jungles of Viet Nam during the war there. At Christmastime 1994, I had the great privilege of leading my dad to faith in Jesus Christ. When he died in July 1997, two things stand out in my memory. First, he told me on the morning of his death that he would be with Jesus in paradise that day.  There was a calm assurance and a steadiness in his eye despite the tremendous pain and intense fatigue that his body was experiencing. Second, following his death as I prepared to preach at his funeral (my first sermon) two scriptures kept rolling through my mind.  They were: “Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24b-25) and also “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting…but thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Cor 15:55-56).

For the Christian, death is not the end! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our assurance that we, too, will be raised from the dead. It is Christ’s resurrection that seals the fact that we have been forgiven of our sins and therefore, stand justified before God Almighty (1Cor 15:17).  His death was payment for sin! His resurrection is the proof that the payment was enough and satisfied the cost! If the resurrection had not occurred, then we are to be pitied more than all others because it would mean that we are still in our sins. But the good news is that death is no longer the master. The grave could not hold him. The tomb was not the end. Therefore, sin’s sting is not what it once was. Something stronger than death has come. That something stronger than death is resurrection life!

Holy Spirit Gifts

“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1)

This may be one of the most neglected verses in the bible.  Most Christians emphasize either the first half of the verse, “Follow the way of love,” and completely overlook the second half; or else they emphasize the second half of the verse, “Eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy,” but do so in an unloving or non-biblical manner.  But if we are going to call ourselves biblical people we must emphasize both!  Make no mistake love is absolutely essential – Paul just spent a whole chapter defining love. However, notice that he rooted the definition of love in the midst of two chapters on the existence of spiritual gifts (chapter 12) and the exhortation toward and instruction on the proper use of those gifts (chapter 14). He never forbids the use of spiritual gifts nor does he say that spiritual gifts ended at some point in the church’s history (despite what those of a Dispensationalist theological bent might argue).  Instead he exhorts us to, “eagerly desire them”! He also says, “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophecy,” (verse 5).  Please meditate on this verse – does God really mean this?

It’s interesting that while the Holy Spirit sovereignly distributes the gifts (1 Cor 12:11), we are also told that our desire for the spiritual gifts is part of the equation in our reception of them.  Three times in chapter 14, Paul speaks about the role of our desire with regard to the use of the gifts (vv. 1, 12, 39). Eagerness is important. God will not violate our wills nor will he force us to use the spiritual gifts (notice that they are called “gifts”).  Gifts must be received and actively engaged in cooperation with the Spirit’s promptings. Paul is clear that in using the gifts, a person doesn’t lose control of themselves; “For the spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets…God is not a God of disorder but of peace,” (verse 32-33). We are active participants not passive automatons when it comes to the use of the spiritual gifts.

The gifts, when used in a loving way (that means in an other-centered not self-centered way — see yesterday’s post “True Love”) are wonderful for individual believers, for the corporate gathering of the church, and also as a sign for unbelievers that God is alive and present. The gift of tongues function in two ways. For individual believers it serves to personally edify the person in their relationship with God. In this sense it serves as a kind of personal prayer language with which the person’s spirit by way of the mouth gives praise and thanks and worship and intercession to God.  In a corporate setting, the gift of tongues serves as a sign to unbelievers that God is real.  However, to be in order, the gift of interpretation must follow it.  And when the gift of tongues is combined with the gift of interpretation it amounts to prophecy.  Prophecy edifies the church by strengthening, encouraging and comforting. Prophecy builds up the church, but it can also serve to convict and convert the unbeliever as the secrets of the heart are laid bare (verse 24-25).

Let me just leave you with these words from the scripture: “Be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (verse 39-40).

Real Love

^“So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” (1 Cor 13:7b – The Message)

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons in England, told the following story. The little daughter of the princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to get too close to her daughter and especially not to kiss her as this would endanger her life by breathing the child’s breath. However, one night the child was struggling to breathe and the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, “Momma, kiss me!” Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She herself contracted the diphtheria and some days later went to be forever with the Lord.

Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn’t fear the cost.  According to the bible, love is never about the self (that’s lust), but always about giving the self away for others.  I think the best synonym for love is the word ‘sacrifice’. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13).  And that is exactly what Jesus demonstrated as he died on the cross for the sins of the world. As Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13, love is always other centered. Incidentally, the kind of love he is speaking about has nothing to do with feelings and it certainly isn’t something you can “fall out of”. Instead he says: “Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end,” (The Message).

How to eat the Meal

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1Cor 11:26)

 

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul gives us an account of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist/Mass/Holy Communion) and then tells of its value. It was established on the night in which Christ was handed over to suffering and death. That night marked the greatest betrayal in human history and encapsulated every betrayal and sin by every person who has ever lived (including you and me).  The Lord of Glory – the God of Love – the King of Heaven allowed himself to be slain for the sin of the world. What a mystery! What a tragedy! But now it is to be celebrated as the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever known. For you! For me! What an amazing Love!! The bread is his body broken for us and in our place. The cup is the new covenant made through the shedding of his blood. God has pledged that all who come to him in faith, trusting in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross have forgiveness of sin. There is no sin too great for Christ to forgive. There is no sin to heinous for the blood of Christ to cleanse. And through this cleansing by his blood we may approach God with confidence, sharing intimacy of relationship (communion) with him.

Paul tells us we should be careful not to eat or drink in an unworthy manner.  Mind you, Paul never tells us we must be “worthy” to eat at the Lord’s Table, for if that were the case, no one could partake. Though we are not worthy, we can partake in a worthy manner. To do so, he says we ought to “examine ourselves” (v 28). This means:

1. We need to face our sins honestly, judge them, and confess them to the Lord — if we will judge ourselves and seek his mercy, God will not have to judge us — (v 31-32).
2. We need to have love for our brothers and sisters. “Don’t think only of yourselves, think of others” (v 33). So often we come to church asking, “What am I going to get out of this service?” when we should be asking, “What can I say or do or pray to give someone else a blessing?” If we would come to worship in this way, our services would overflow with the presence and life of the Holy Spirit.
3. We need to remember him with thankful and loving hearts as we receive his body and blood (“do this in remembrance of me” vv. 24-25). Think on Christ when you go to the table. Allow your mind to engage with him.  Allow your heart to overflow with praise. He longs for your love and adoration and heartfelt worship!

 

 

Thankfulness Purifies

“If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:30-31)

In the midst of his discussion about the believer’s freedom in Christ in 1 Corinthians 10, the apostle Paul alludes to the purifying power of thankfulness. Paul has just finished exhorting the Corinthians that it was permissible for them to eat anything sold in the meat market (v 25). They were concerned that the meat they were purchasing had been offered in sacrifice to false gods (demons) before being sold and therefore was spiritually defiled. Having just come out of paganism, the Corinthians believers were anxious to leave behind their former sinful practices. But Paul reassures them they have freedom (“everything is permissible” – v 23) and that they need not fear (“the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” – v 26). He never says the food isn’t defiled, he simply points to the greatness of God and the attitude which purifies the food.  And what is that attitude?  Thankfulness.

Paul says, in effect, if you’re grateful for what you’ve received, your thankfulness has a purifying power (“If I take part in the meal with thankfulness.. do all to the glory of God.” – v 30).  Elsewhere Paul writes, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” (1Timothy 4:1-5).

Paul says that thanksgiving combined with the word of God and prayer has a purifying power. It overcomes the demonic by consecrating the meal to God — that is making it holy unto the Lord by setting it apart for God and his purpose. Thanksgiving has the power to change that which is unclean or unholy into that which is good and pure. Why does this matter for us?  Because the principle extends beyond food sacrificed to demons. Every situation in your life in which you find other powers at work besides the power of God, can be consecrated to him through thanksgiving.  By giving thanks to God in all situations, our enemy is dislodged and we are established in God’s goodness and divine purpose for our lives. Instead of becoming unhinged by an adverse situation, thankfulness enables you to hold on to the truth of God’s goodness particularly when you are tempted to believe otherwise. Remember that your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1Peter 5:8). Thankfulness removes the devil’s “teeth” and reestablishes your faith in almighty God.

What’s Your Purpose in Life?

“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” (1 Cor. 9:22)

I once read about a high powered headhunter – not the guy in the jungle, but a corporate recruiter – a man who helps business executives find placement in companies.  This fellow said that as part of his interviewing process — he would sit  the interviewees down and begin to get to know them.  He would intentionally seek to put them at ease.  He would talk about anything that would relax them – baseball, the weather, trips they’d been on, family.  Then about the time that they would lean back and make themselves comfortable he would quickly ask them, “What is your purpose in life?”

“You’d be amazed,” he said, “at how few of these high powered professional people could answer the question.”  Some would speak of retiring early and others about obtaining power or financial success.  “But most,” he said, “Would simply fumble and stammer and be totally unclear.”

Well, one day, as he was going through the interviewing routine with a man in his office – talking about football — he noticed the man begin to relax. So, he hit him with the question,  “What is your purpose in life?”

And without blinking an eye, the interviewee replied, “To go to heaven and to take as many people with me as I can.”

The interviewer was blown away.

You see that’s a purpose.  It’s a bigger story with focused intention.  It has eternal perspective and eternal significance.  It has goals built into it.  And it goes way beyond the little soap operas that most people spend their lives living.  It doesn’t neglect the temporal things (the things of this world), but it doesn’t make them the primary motivator nor the chief place of investment.

Let me ask you, “Do you know your purpose in life?”

If it’s to retire early – or to enjoy retirement – it’s not big enough. If it’s to live in a big house in the suburbs or on one of the islands – it’s not big enough.  Is your purpose merely about yourself and accumulating the things and the esteem of this world – or is your purpose grounded  upon God Almighty and his intentions and pleasure?

The apostle Paul said, “I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor 9:22). His life was focused on bringing people to the saving knowledge of Christ. He knew that not everyone would be saved, but he made it his purpose to do all that was in his power to reach as many people as he possibly could.  This included giving up his rights: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them, (v 19).  Likewise he willingly sacrificed and disciplined himself because he knew that his efforts in serving Christ would be met with eternal reward: “So I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like a man shadow boxing. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others I myself will not be disqualified from the prize,” (vv. 26-27).

So what’s your purpose in life?  If you don’t know, may I suggest you spend some time seeking God’s heart on the matter through prayer and the scriptures? Be assured, God has made you for an eternal purpose and he desires that you know what that purpose is.

The Stumbling-Block Principle

“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” (1 Cor 8:9)

In 1 Corinthians 8, the apostle Paul gives us a practical example of Jesus’ command that we love our neighbors by putting their needs above our privileges.  It has been referred to as the “stumbling-block” principle.  Paul tells us that we who are mature in Christ are to be willing to give up our rights and our freedoms for our “weaker brothers and sisters.”

Specifically, Paul was addressing a question the Corinthians had written to him about; namely, was it right to eat meat that had been offered in sacrifice to idols (false gods)? It may seem strange to us, but this was a serious matter for the Corinthians who had left their pagan backgrounds when they encountered the Living Christ.  Because meat which had been offered in pagan rituals was later sold in the public market, the Corinthians were trying to figure out if they could purchase it for personal consumption and also whether they could eat in their pagan neighbors’ houses (who regularly sacrificed and served this meat). Would eating this meat defile them? Would knowingly receiving meat offered to another “god” make them a participant in the worship of this other “god”?  This was a serious matter of discipleship within the context of a pagan culture.  And because people in the church were coming to different conclusions on the matter, it was becoming a matter of division within the body of Christ.

Paul’s answer?  LOVE!  Love was to trump knowledge. Love was to guide their actions. Those who rightly understood that this meat couldn’t defile them spiritually because of the  greatness of God and the righteousness and power of Christ who lived in them (verse 6), were to be willing to forsake their freedom for the sake of their fellow Christians whose consciences were offended by the pagan practices.  Love is always willing to lay down its rights for the sake of another. Isn’t this exactly what Jesus modeled for us in his incarnation and crucifixion?

Paul writes, “You must be careful with this freedom of yours. Do not cause a brother or sister with a weaker conscience to stumble,” (v 9).  “You know there is nothing wrong with it, but they will be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been dedicated to an idol,” (v 10b).  “So because of your superior knowledge, a weak Christian for whom Christ died, will be destroyed. And you are sinning against Christ when you sin against other Christians by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong.  If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live – for I don’t want to make another Christian stumble,” (vv 11-13).

Here’s a contemporary application of this principle.  You’ve invited a group of Christian friends to your home for dinner.  You discover that one of them believes it is wrong for Christians to drink alcohol.  (Perhaps they come from a Christian tradition that emphasizes this). While you know that you are free to drink alcohol (in moderation), you willingly forsake serving alcohol to the party for the sake of your brother or sister whose conscience would be violated by your freedom.  You might be tempted to think of yourself as superior to them (“knowledge puffs up” — verse 1), but you remember that humility and love always win the day (“love builds up”). Let’s follow the way of love for the sake of Christ and his church!

 

Undivided Devotion

“I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1 Cor 7:35)

The story is told that Napoleon Bonaparte made a lonely surprise visit one night to the outpost sentries on one of the vital positions of his battlefield. Stealthily he moved along in the gray light of the morning. One sentry after another immediately challenged him. Finally, the crafty warrior stole up to a strategic spot. There was no sentry to challenge him. The wily Napoleon moved closer and saw a pair of boots protruding from under a shock of corn and a rifle propped beside them. He made no comment – just picked up the rifle and himself stood guard, waiting for the awakening of the snoozing soldier. Finally the corn stirred, and up jumped the guilty defender and grabbed for the gun that was gone. Can you imagine his confusion and chagrin? What a bitter and shattering experience – caught napping by Napoleon!  When the Lord of glory returns, will He find us Christians sleeping at our post of duty?

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul reminds us that, “this world in its present form is passing away (v. 31b);” therefore he says, “live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord,” (v 35b). God is looking for people who will lay themselves out for his kingdom and his purposes in this world.  He is looking for people who will join him in his vast endeavor to demonstrate his great love and win the lost to himself.  I just returned from India where there are 1 billion people.  Of those billion people approximately 970 million do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and will spend eternity apart from him. What I saw there were people desperately hungry to know the real God and when Jesus revealed himself to them, they gladly responded.

While there were many things that amazed me in India, I was particularly impressed by the Indian Christians and the few foreign missionaries living among them.  I observed these people living lives of extraordinary commitment to Christ and his call to reach the lost in the midst of a dark and sin-sick culture. These people were not confused about the task at hand. They were willing to suffer if need be. They lived “lean” lives unencumbered by wealth and personal holdings. Their hearts burned with zeal as they passionately worshiped the Lord and pursued his great harvest of souls.  They were not living in this world as if it were a “cruise ship” but instead, they lived the “battle ship” lifestyle.  I was deeply moved and challenged by these everyday people living not for this life nor themselves, but for eternity and for Christ.

May I encourage you during this Lenten season to ask the Lord to explore your heart and show you the places where you have a divided devotion?  Ask him to show you whether you, like Napoleon’s sentry, have fallen asleep at your post.  Ask him to put zeal and fire and passion and His deep love and concern for the lost within you. And then, ask him to show you where to join him in his great work of redeeming the world to himself.

The Past Tense is Important

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1Cor 6:11)

I absolutely love this verse! It is a verse of transformation and renewal! It is a verse of victory and strength! It is a verse that declares God’s Kingdom and power in the lives of his people. Make no mistake, the cross of Christ, his resurrection from the dead, and the giving of the Holy Spirit mean that sin does not have to be the last word in our lives. (If you are struggling with sin or unclear on your identity in Christ, then memorize this verse!)

Paul makes clear that we should not be deceived into thinking that somehow sinful people will have eternal life.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  The Scripture is unequivocal in its declaration that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God (verse 9). Not because God is mean, but because nothing evil, impure or rebellious can be in his presence.  To come into the kingdom is to yield to the King.  The wicked will choose their sin and their lives in this world over the life that God offers them, and therefore will perish.  It is the great tragedy of this fallen planet.  And who are the wicked?  Paul gives a partial list in verses 9 and 10 — the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexual offenders, thieves, the greedy, drunks, slanderers, and swindlers.  Revelation 21:8 also includes the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, murderers, those who practice magic, and all liars.  Is anyone of us excluded from this list?  NO! And if you think you are excluded, then you are lying and I refer you back to Revelation 21:8. AND THAT’S THE POINT!  Paul is not seeking to isolate any one type of sin, but to expose the reality that we are all lost apart from the grace of God.

And that’s where the Good News comes in! Remember that God does not desire the death of the wicked but that everyone would come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. Paul boldly declares the gospel, “And that is what you were.”  The Gospel is not merely the forgiveness of our sin (it absolutely includes this!) but also the transformation of our nature through the infusion of the Holy Spirit within us.  When we are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit who makes us a NEW CREATION!  We are no longer primarily defined by sin, but by Christ who lives within us.  We must learn to live from this truth as our primary reality. Through faith, we were washed of the filth of our sin.  Through faith, we were sanctified (set apart and made sacred) for God’s purposes. Through faith we were justified (declared in right relationship to God).  Therefore, we need no longer yield to the sinful nature — it is in the past. And while it still clamor and growls at you, it is defeated.  So start living like it is defeated.

When you struggle with sin, or the enemy accuses you regarding a slip you have made into transgression, repent and return to the Lord. Then preach the Gospel to yourself and overcome your adversary by declaring the truth: I WAS WASHED! I WAS SANCTIFIED! I WAS JUSTIFIED! IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BY THE SPIRIT OF MY GOD!!!