Practical

Part II: Life’s continuing: the heart’s role in Revival

A Guarded Heart

Our spiritual health as a Christian is intimately connected with the state of our heart. Thus, the wise man writes, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23 NASB). Keil & Delitzsch say it this way: “Guard it as the most precious of possessions committed to thy trust.” Unfortunately, in the end of his life, Solomon failed in this, and his wives turned away his heart to follow after other gods (1 Kings 11:3-4). How easy it can be for something or someone in our lives to be placed ahead of God in our affections.

• “Guard Your Heart”

A Heart that Left

When the Lord writes to the assembly in Ephesus, He mentions all of the good things they were occupied with. They were an assembly that had been given rich truth (Ephesians) and had been blessed abundantly. They did not have the doctrinal error of Pergamos or the immorality of Thyatira. But it is to Ephesus that the Lord warns of the possibility of the removal of the lampstand of testimony. And why? They had left their first love, their chief-love for Christ– Christ was no longer first in their hearts.

A Heart to Return

If the state of our heart is the reason for our departure, it is what must be affected in order to bring about our return.

What will rekindle my heart to “chief-love” for the Lord? I would like to make a few suggestions.

1. An Attitude of Repentance and Prayer

The message to Ephesus was “Remember! Repent! Renew!” It was a call to remember their former love for Christ. It was a plea for a change of mind and heart. It was a desire to see labors done with the right motive again.

I am reminded of this principle illustrated in Old Testament passages:

• The humble can be restored to intimacy with God: (Isaiah 57:15)  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• Those who have been taken captive by their failures can be returned to the land of blessing through seeking the LORD in repentence: (Deut. 4:29)  But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
• A prayerful return in heart to the house of the LORD brings forgiveness and restoration: (1Kings 8:38-39) What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

2. An Ear for the Scriptures and the Shepherd’s voice

John 15 reminds us of the importance of abiding in Christ. We need to take our strength and sustenance from the living Vine, and have a life connected with His.

The two walking to Emmaus in Luke 24:32 said, “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?” The risen Lord had opened their understanding to the Holy Scriptures, and had revived their faith. They were reminded of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that was prophesied to follow those sufferings. Just as Jacob’s spirit was revived when he finally took in that Joseph was alive (Gen. 45:27), these two were restored to a heart full of joy in a living, glorified Savior. We as well can have our faith and joy renewed as we think upon the love that brought our Savior from above to die for us, and as we view Him seated in glory. It is a fresh appreciation of the sufferings of Christ that warms our hearts and draws out our affections anew. It is the sight of a living Christ that revives and strengthens our spirits.

3. An Eye fixed on Eternity

As I consider a risen Christ, I am reminded that that same Jesus will come again. When my eye is fixed on heavenly things, when I remember that it is only those things that will last for eternity, it will help bring my heart back to the proper state. In Luke 12:34, the Lord Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If I am building for time, putting all my energy into my house, my car, my job, my toys… then my heart will tend to be drawn away from the Savior. But if my life is devoted to the things of God, to building for eternity, to seeking the blessing of God’s people and living with His coming in view, then I will be laying up treasure in heaven, and my heart will be drawn away from things of this earth to heavenly things.  The toys of time will never satisfy, nor bring lasting joy and benefit to others. Let us “keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1 NASB).

In conclusion,

To bring back chief-love for Christ, what I need is not necessarily to listen to messages on revival, though that may be helpful. Centering on our faults and failures will not bring us back to true devotion and commitment. What I need is a heart set on fire by a living Christ. I must have a life connected with His life. A sight for eternity. A fresh look back at the Christ of Calvary, and an earnest look onward and upward to the coming King and my heavenly Bridegroom.

When loved ones die

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For ‘WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?’ Or ‘WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?’ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36 NASB)

Sometimes when God allows into our path something that is difficult to bear, we ask the question, “Why?” Why do I have to go through this? Why did he have to die so young? Why did it have to happen that way?

The verses above remind us that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and there is “no bottom” to His intelligence. We have an all-powerful, all-knowing God “who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). That will is “good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). God is not the author of evil, nor does He delight in bringing calamity into our lives. He says “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked” and asks them “why will ye die?” (Ezek 33:11), but in contrast, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” – they are precious to Him, and they go to be with Him (Psalm 116:15).

God allows difficulties to come our way for reasons which many times He alone knows. God may bring death to preserve someone from something in the future. King Hezekiah likely would have been better off had he accepted death rather than receiving additional years (2Kings 20:5-6). Difficulties come sometimes for the furtherance of the gospel, or they can be for judgment or chastening, among other reasons. Job didn’t understand why God allowed Satan to bring trials into his life, but we understand that it was for Job’s good, developing his character, and ultimately resulted in blessing. In his trial, Job honored God and proved Satan, the accuser, wrong. Job had a right attitude when he went through his trial. He said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21 NASB). He came out of that trial as purified gold, more brilliant and blessed than before (Job 23:10).

God isn’t required to tell us why, but sometimes He does. He often has revealed His secrets to those closest to Him (Gen. 18:17, Ex 5:22-6:1, Daniel 2:19, John 15:15). Joseph didn’t find out the reason for his trial until some time later (Genesis 50:20). We can go into the sanctuary with Asaph for either God’s guidance or His enabling grace (Psalm 73:17). We can say respectfully with Samuel, “Speak, LORD, for Thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9).

I have been considering Romans 11:35 (above) in light of a recent funeral of a young man who had a wife and small child. God is the first Giver, and all we have comes from Him.  We cannot give anything to Him that He has not first given to us. If we have children, they are a gift from Him, given to us as a stewardship to bring up for Him. Ultimately, they still are God’s, and He has the right as Creator and Sustainer to do with them as seems best to Him. The Bible says that Christ “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3 NASB). Colossians 1:17 NASB states, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Daniel 5:23 tells us that our life-breath and all our ways are held in God’s hand, and thus we have an obligation to bring glory to Him.  Again, Acts 17:25 NASB tells us, “nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” One day each one of us must return unto God who gave us life (Eccl 12:7), whether sooner or later. So if each moment on earth is graciously given to us from God, and if he constantly maintains and sustains our lives, surely God is not unrighteous to allow that soul to return to his/her Maker. Whether short or long, our life is only a vapor in comparison to eternity (James 4:14). For the lost that perish, God gave them ample opportunity, and they despised it. For the saved, God says that for them, it is “far better” (Phil. 1:23).

When we are under the load of our trials, it is helpful to think upon the sacrifice that God the Father made on our behalf. He sent His Son into a sinful world that He knew would despise and reject Him, and finally nail Him to a cross to die. Yet in doing so He brought infinite glory to His Son, and infinite blessing to His people. Out of darkness, there came light. Out of poverty, there came riches. Out of sorrow, there came joy. Out of curse, there came blessing. Out of suffering, there came victory. Out of death, there came life. And God is able to bring the same out of our circumstances, to His glory and our blessing.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him (Psalm 42:5,11).

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22)

Be Thou My Vision (Youtube)

Unpopular? Jesus?

The one who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, and even raised the dead? Really? How could He be unpopular?

Today I was reading Mark 10:1-12 and Jesus’ teaching on divorce. It reminded me that the teachings of the Lord Jesus were not popular with everyone in His day, nor are they appreciated by many in ours. So what are some of the reasons why Jesus and His teachings were not popular– so much so, that the “good” and most respected people of His day cried out for His crucifixion?

Reasons for Rejection

He exposed Darkness

Jesus came as a light in a dark world, exposing the sin and evil around Him (John 3:19). Those who didn’t want to face their sinful nature and repent of their wrong rejected Him. Those who in their need were willing to say “cleanse and forgive me, Lord” found Him to be a Friend indeed.  The Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious, pious-looking people of the day. They were too “good” to accept their need of forgiveness, and paraded their good works before others while at the same time committing evil deeds in secret. Thus the Lord Jesus often exposed their sin, expressing grief and giving warning (e.g. Matthew 23:13, Luke 11:35-39 ESV).

He expressed Doctrine

The Lord’s teachings were not accepted by all. He taught that people should not get a divorce (Mark 10:9-12) and that those who divorce one partner and marry another are committing adultery. Yet He went further and said that even to look at a woman lustfully was to commit adultery, bringing eternal judgment (Matthew 5:27-29 ESV).  (Note that the act is a separate sin, and not the same thing.)

Again, the Lord foretold the judgement that was coming on the religious rulers of His day because they had rejected God’s Son, and this led them to seek His arrest (Matt 21:43-46 ESV). Instead of receiving His teaching as the truth, they tried to tempt Him into saying something wrong, and even sent spies to try to get Him in trouble with the law (Luke 20:20-23).

The Lord Jesus spoke more of hell than of heaven. He passionately warned of coming wrath for those who did not take refuge in Him and believe His words.

The Lord spoke against religious traditions, offending the religious rulers (Matthew 15:12). The religious people of that day were consumed with keeping the Sabbath, following made-up rules not found in the Bible (Matt. 15:9), ceremonial washing (Matt. 15:2), and eating the proper foods. Yet they turned the Sabbath into something God never intended it to be, failed to care for their parents out of greed (Matthew 15:5 ESV), and were all taken up with outward show instead of inward righteousness (Matthew 15:8). They even tried to accuse the Lord for healing people on the Sabbath day (the day God set aside for rest). On one occasion, He explained how healing a man was not breaking God’s law, and proceeded graciously to heal a man (Matthew 12:1-14). Their response: they conspired together how to destroy Him.

He assumed Deity

The Lord Jesus was unpopular because He claimed to be the Son of God. The Jews took this as blasphemy of the deepest sort, and eventually used this as the principle reason to justify His crucifixion (John 5:18, Matthew 26:63-66, John 19:7). They ignored the proofs He gave that He was who He said He was, including the plain teaching of the Old Testament.

He endangered their Desires

The Jews were afraid that if Jesus received widespread acceptance, their place of authority and prestige would be taken away (John 11:47-48). In short, they were envious and self-centered, causing their minds to be distorted and closed to truth.

Received by Some

I should mention that the Lord Jesus was not unpopular across the board. The religious people of His day said of Him, “He is a friend of tax-gatherers (thieves) and sinners” (Matt. 11:19). They couldn’t understand how a good man could associate Himself with ungodly people, even to eat with them! We read, “the common people heard Him gladly” (Mark 12:37). The Lord Jesus was willing to associate Himself with those who were willing to receive His word.

Crowds followed Him pretty much wherever He went, but most were only interested in what He could do for them rather than recognizing His true worth (John 6:26-27). Yet, though they were not large in number, there were those who recognized who He truly was and believed in Him. It was to these faithful few that the Lord Jesus revealed the truth of God, and it was to these He appeared after His resurrection.

Lessons for Believers

The Lord Jesus Himself gave us a lesson from this. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” (John 15:20). Those who are true Christians can expect to be shunned and looked down upon, even hated. The Lord Jesus was “hated without a cause” — for doing good (John 15:25). So we should be ready to do good, even if it means we must suffer for it.

People tried to find a reason to accuse the Lord Jesus, but could find none. So may our manner of life be “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27 ESV). May we not be found using the name of the Lord as an empty word, or bringing dishonor to the name of Christ. May we not turn the Bible into a means for personal gain (2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV), but  instead, let us speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

I am challenged by the words of the book of Acts to be bold for the cause of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, that those who hear may readily acknowledge: “he has been with Jesus!” (Acts 4:13 ESV).