The Heart of the Matter
On Independence Day American Christians must be careful not to embrace the popular culture who seeks to declare independence from almighty God… The culture says that Americans are sufficient in their own power…that they are dependent on no one but themselves. As Christians, we should celebrate each day as “dependence day” for we are not sufficient of ourselves…Our sufficiency is only in Him.
We have been set free from the Old Testament law of sin and death when we walk according to the spirit of life in Christ. This freedom is characterized by loving God above all and loving our neighbor as ourselves. To understand the heart of God, love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. The Old Testament says that God has wanted all of our heart ever since the giving of the Mosaic law. Jesus said, “if ye love me keep my commandments.” Therefore, may the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto thee O Lord my strength and my redeemer.
Today our nation is at risk. The war is not in the Middle East. How close are the terrorists? The root of the physical warfare is the spiritual warfare. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. The adversary convinces the culture that it’s the presence of Christians that causes “people feel uncomfortable.” How do we affect what really matters in this nation? The conscience of the nation is borne by those who uphold the truth of the Word of God. When a man of God speaks, the duty of the Holy Spirit is to “comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.”
According to Jeremiah 17:8 the heart of man is deceitfully wicked. The context of this verse says, “cursed is the man who puts his trust in man and makes the flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Satan has two lies. The first thing he’ll say is “you can do it on your own.” Then he says, “doubt that God can deliver… just trust in others to deliver you.” This brings about the curse of the man who trusts in man and not in God.
Jesus told the church of Laodecea, “you’re rich and you think you have need of nothing.” They had enshrined their “Declaration of Independence” from Almighty God. This is the curse of many churches in America today. They think that they are prosperous and blessed in the physical realm because of their own good works and their own priority to accumulate physical “blessings.” However, the warning of God is “take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he posesseth.” To walk in fellowship with God, we must keep a “light touch” on the things of this earth. To live the abundant life we must seek the Blessor and not the blessings. Therefore, blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and blessed are those who wait upon the Lord. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but looses his soul.
The nature of God is loving kindness and tender mercy. His nature is to bless those who call upon the name of the Lord. How can we walk in love and show the mercy of God? An act of love expects nothing in return. The word of God says, “in everything give thanks.” We can even be thankful in the midst of trials and tribulations. In these times of trial we can rejoice despite suffering when we set our affections on things above. God will change our mind and our mindset when we focus on him and not on ourselves. For tribulation works patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
According to Corinthians, know ye not that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit? American Christians are afraid that they will loose their “dignity.” However, sometimes God calls us to dance unashamedly and unabashedly. Our heart will be set free when our “shame is undone.” For I am not ashamed of the gospel of the cross of Christ. For it is unto those who are saved the sweet smelling fragrance of life unto life.
What is the heart of the matter? The first and great commandment is to Love the lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and and strength. It’s not about behavior modification. It’s about heart modification. As David said, create within me a new heart O Lord. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael