Cut to the Heart

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

God's Word is alive and more sharp than a laser, uncovering the truth often concealed in the hearts of men.  Men often do not perceive their own hypocrisy until it is pointed out to them, and those who fear God and love His Word have the benefit of hearing that still, small voice which corrects often.  I don't know a man alive who enjoys being corrected by others, but wise men see great value in learning to walk in the way which fully pleases God.  The same word which is loved by one is hated by another.  Proverbs 9:8 says, "Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."  In the book of Acts there are two contrasting examples provided.

After Stephen was brought before the High Priest and Jewish rulers, he gave a stirring historical overview in Acts 7,  He spoke of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.  He explained how Moses knew he had been called by God to deliver the people from bondage yet was pushed away when he tried to bring peace to fighting Hebrews.  After 40 years, God appeared to Moses and sent him back to Egypt.  God brought forth His people with a mighty hand, and Moses led the people out.  Yet it was not long until the people's hearts longed to go back to Egypt and refused to obey Moses.  Stephen said in Acts 7:37, "This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear."  The covenant of Law came through Moses, but the covenant of faith came through Jesus.

Stephen connected the rejection of Moses by the people to his hearer's rejection and murder of Jesus Christ.  The comparison cut them to the heart and infuriated them.  Stephen said in Acts 7:51-58, "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, ⁵³ who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it." ⁵⁴ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" ⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city and stoned him..."  Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the truth, yet these men refused to hear.  They literally stopped up their ears, violently cast Stephen out of the city and savagely stoned him to death - proving again their resistance to the Holy Spirit.

Earlier in Acts, there is one other mention of people being "cut to the heart."  On the Day of Pentecost at 9am, Peter and the disciples who gathered together in one accord received the "promise of the Father," the baptism with the Holy Spirit.  As people gathered around in amazement hearing them speak the wonderful works of God in languages foreign to the speakers, Peter addressed the multitude.  Peter told his curious listeners they were seeing a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy of the Holy Spirit being poured out.  Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus was indeed the Christ, the One promised by God.  He had been rejected and crucified by wicked men.  He said in Acts 2:32-38, "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. ³³ Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, ³⁵ Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ' ³⁶ "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

The response of Peter's hearers provides a stark contrast from those Stephen addressed.  When these people were cut to the heart, they did not shout, stop up their ears, lay hands on Peter, and stone him.  The asked an honest question, acknowledging the truth of what Peter said:  "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"  They did not only ask a question, but they heeded the words of Peter.  Acts 2:41 reveals the miraculous effect of the ministry of the Holy Spirit through Peter:  "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them."  Jesus was preached on two occasions where people were "cut to the heart."  The truth of God's Word had skewered these people with opposite results.  The same good word led to the salvation of 3,000 glad souls and also preceded the martyrdom of Steven by an enraged mob.  How could the reactions be so different?

Hebrews 4:12 quoted above is following on from a previous statement, as it starts with the word "For."  The writer of Hebrews used the children of Israel who came out of Egypt as a example and warning.  They had the Word and Law of God and the presence of God with them, yet they were unable to enter into the land because of unbelief.  It is one thing to be brought out of bondage, but we must also enter into the rest God has prepared for us through faith.  Hebrews 4:1-2 says, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."  For the Word of God to have God's desired effect upon our hearts, it must be mixed with faith in God.  That is the difference.  There are many people who have been cut to the heart with God's Word and they react violently to it, lashing out with anger and hatred.  Others who are cut to the heart mourn over their sin and repent, the Word being mixed with faith in Jesus Christ.

When we are cut to the heart, faith in God enables us to humble ourselves.  A violent reaction or humble response to God's Word reveals if we are walking in the flesh or by faith in the Living God.  How do you respond when the Word cuts deep?  Do you close the Bible, shut your ears, and lash out?  Or do you ask God "What shall I do?" as you commit to obey His answer?

Evergreen Leaves

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Psalm 1:3

When Jesus was approached by Nicodemus at night, He compared the movement of the Holy Spirit to wind.  No man can control the wind or the Holy Spirit, but the effect of wind and the presence of the Holy Spirit are easily seen.  Trees do not move by themselves on a still day, yet strong wind causes leaves to shake and limbs to bend and creak.  The Holy Spirit is the One who regenerates a soul that repents and trusts in Jesus, bringing transformation to the life of that person by His grace.

There are no formulas to manipulate the Holy Spirit of God to act according to your will.  Born-again Christians are like trees which ought to bend to His will.  A sailboat by virtue of sitting in the water cannot cause the breeze to blow, but sailors adjust the sails to catch the wind to move the boat towards their destination.  When I was a kid, we used to climb a large Chinaberry tree in our front yard.  I used to climb into the canopy and shake the branches, later collecting bunches of berries which fell to the ground.  I could make branches of the tree shake like the wind was whipping past, but I had no control over the wind.  Through the effort of the flesh people can imitate a move of the Holy Spirit, but it ought not be mistaken for the real thing.

The Psalmist compared the man who delights in God and His law to be like a flourishing tree in a well-watered location.  This tree brings forth fruit in due season and its leaves shall not wither.  Chinaberry trees are deciduous and drop their leaves in autumn, but the Christian is not compared to a deciduous tree:  our leaves shall not wither.  They should be evergreen, soft, and flexible.  Strong winds may move branches and twigs, but how much more sensitive are green leaves to the subtle, passing currents of air!  When a Christian is walking with Jesus in a lifestyle of repentance, obedience, and walking in Christ's love, such a one will grow and flourish.  A Christian filled with the living water of the Holy Spirit will bear spiritual fruit and be increasingly sensitive to His leading.

If we sin by ceasing to walk in love, it is as if leaves begin to dry and drop.  Our hearts become cold as winter, hard as frozen stone.  We begin to lose sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit.  Personal conviction and sorrow for our sin seems a thing of the distant past.  We may still be able to operate in our spiritual gifting, but the fruit of the Spirit falls before it is ripe.  Blessed is the man whom God corrects, who mourns over his own sin and dryness instead of being focused on the faults of others!  Only when we confess our sin and repent can we be sensitive to the still small voice of the Spirit.  Consider your life:  how much of your everyday decisions and life is guided and governed by the Holy Spirit?  When was the last time you heard Him speak?  What did He say?

Jesus supplies Living Water and provides rest for our souls.  We cannot make the Holy Spirit to move, but when He moves we are quick to respond in humble obedience.  My desire is for my life and those in the church to fulfill the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3:14-21:  "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Open the Dam!

We had a lovely time of prayer at Calvary Chapel Sydney last Saturday evening.  Many people gathered to seek the LORD and pray for one another, and it is always special when God's people unite in prayer.  Leading up the evening I felt I needed to "get out of the way" and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and move according to His will.  Instead of spending a great deal of time sharing requests with one another, I felt God directing us to "let our requests be made known unto God" as we gathered as one (Phil. 4:6).  As believers we must be cautious not to approach God with our own agendas, even though they often seem good and reasonable to us.  There is no formula to conjure a move of God's Spirit, though many things often accompany His move.  Jesus compared the movement to the Spirit as the wind blowing through the trees, and no amount of shaking trees will cause Him to blow.  We are to be like the trees with flexible boughs and leaves sensitive to the most subtle current of the Holy Spirit's presence so we might respond in obedience as He leads.

During our meeting, I was reminded of the Waikato river which collects above the Aratiatia rapids in Rotorua, New Zealand.  These rapids only flow a few times each day when the dam of the Waikato river is released to generate hydroelectric power.  As I was praying in silence in my mind I could see the water surging and building around the dam, creating great pressure.  Below the dam there stretched a valley which was dry.  The water swirled around violently, but it could not pass through the dam to water the valley.  I felt like the water was a picture of the Holy Spirit, and our group was the dry valley.  There was a strong dam in between.  How we needed His Living Water, His power, His refreshment!

"Break the dam," I prayed.  "Break it down."  The impression I had from the LORD was immediate:  "You do not break dams:  you open them."  Instantly I understood.  I wanted God to do something only we could do by His grace.  God's presence was among us as we worshiped and prayed, for He inhabits the praises of His people.  Where two or three gather in Christ's name, there He is in the midst.  Yet if we remained unwilling to pour out our hearts in worship, to open up to one another with honesty, and give space to the Holy Spirit to move in full surrender, we restricted the movement of the Holy Spirit.  We can deny ourselves the Living Water God has provided, having sent Him to comfort, teach, and guide into all truth.  I believe many experienced the presence and move of the Holy Spirit.  He spoke to other hearts as well as mine.  Yet I am convinced there is more for us when we all open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit without confining Him to our expectations or previous experiences - or perceived lack thereof.

The dam which creates the Aratiatia rapids is only opened a few times each day, and many spectators wait around for scheduled opening times.  How sad it would be for this to be a reflection of our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit!  It would be tragic for God to only have the freedom to move in and through the lives of His people on Sundays or during prayer meetings.  God forbid there would be spectators at prayer meetings!  We should continuously cultivate the presence of the Holy Spirit, for this Living Water is without limit.  The more we open the gates of what dams our praise, worship, and humbly pouring our complaints before God, the more this Living Water will flow.  And though we may position ourselves properly to catch the wind in our sails, God's grace does not depend on us.  This is a wonderful truth.  We are called to believe, seek, ask, obey, and present ourselves living sacrifices before God, yet no one can make Him move.  As C.S. Lewis famously repeated in his books concerning Aslan who is a picture of Christ, "He is not a tame lion."  We cannot make Him move, but when the Spirit moves let us be sensitive and obedient to His leading.

The Blessing of Jesus Christ

"To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Acts 3:26

Peter said this to men of Israel who gathered at the temple in Jerusalem, amazed at the miraculous healing performed on a lame man in the name of Jesus.  As I consider what Peter said, what strikes me is how Jesus has been sent to bless people.  People ask for God to bless them, yet I wonder if people know what they are asking for.  Blessing from God is not health, wealth, and comforts - though those are blessings indeed.  The blessing provided by Jesus Peter referenced was very specific:  "in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Have you ever thought God's blessing is to turn you from your sins?  The thing about our sin is it is always personal.  I used to have an idea that sin is always terrible, awful, and disgusting.  It is all this and more.  But the truth is, our sin (especially at the beginning) does not seem bad to us.  In fact, it may seem strangely exciting, even liberating.  Sin always appeals to our flesh.  It has a strong upside which allows us to justify our behaviour.  And because our flesh is by nature sinful, the roots reach down into our very soul - almost tangled up in our personality.  To deny our sin is to deny a part of us - a part we have grown very fond of and helps to define us as a person.  God wants to bless us, and Jesus was sent to turn us from our sin.  This is indeed a blessing for which we ought to be thankful and rejoice in.

In the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the "Ring of Power" provides a great example of sin in the life of a person.  The Ring came to Frodo, having ensnared and corrupted all who held it previously.  All previous ring-bearers held and stroked the bright ring with wide eyes, yet it was actually the Ring which gripped them.  The three Lord of the Rings films chronicle the epic tale of Frodo's trek to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring.  Heavier and heavier it became as Frodo carried it along.  When he finally held the Ring over the river of lava which would destroy it, a wicked gleam came into his eyes.  He was unable to drop the Ring, nor did he want to.  "The ring is mine!" said Frodo as he slipped it onto his finger.  Frodo found himself just as far from destroying the Ring in Mount Doom as he was in Rivendell or the Shire.  Frodo, nor anyone who had been taken by the Ring would be capable of destroying it, and the same can be said of sin.  Once it has you, it will never let go.

Praise be to God, for He has blessed us by sending Jesus in turning away all of us from our sins.  He grants faith and makes repentance possible.  So the next time you pray for God to bless you, realise as a Christian He has blessed you and wants to continue blessing you:  He desires that we would turn from all sins which easily ensnare us.  The blood of Jesus is able to cleanse us from all sin.  In turning away from sin, let us turn to Jesus.  Only He can lead us to walk in righteousness and enable us to experience the peace and joy He supplies.