A Perfect heart

I believe God is calling His people to have a heart after Him. Having a perfect heart has been part of the life of faith from the time God first spoke to Abraham: “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1)

To understand the Biblical concept of perfection, we first must understand that perfection does not mean a sinless, flawless existence. No, perfection in the Lord’s eyes means something entirely different. It means completeness, maturity. It means to finish what has been started, to make a complete performance.

The perfect heart cries out with David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me.” (Psalm 139:23-24).

The perfect heart wants the Holy Spirit to come and search out the innermost man, to shine into all hidden parts, to investigate, expose and dig out all that is unlike Christ. The Lord’s heart-searchings are not vindictive, but redemptive. His purpose is not to catch us in sin or condemn us, but rather to prepare us to come into his holy presence as clean, pure vessels

The perfect heart yearns for more than security or a covering for sin. It seeks to be in God’s presence always, to dwell in communion. Communion means talking with the Lord, sharing sweet fellowship with him, seeking his face and knowing his presence. . “Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord.” (Psalm 24:3-5).

We can so often become busy serving Christ as Martha did, and we fail to sit in communion with him like Lazarus, or to sit at his feet in worship like Mary. John 12:2-3 “Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

All three things - service, communion and worship are essential in our lives. But like Martha, we can become tired, frustrated and sometimes even bitter in serving because we have lost the joy of a perfect heart that comes out of worship and communion.

May the joy of fellowship with Jesus sustain you, invigorate you, and inspire you as you walk out the call and ministry on your life.

Yours in Christ,

Andy Clark

God is in Control

God is in Control

As I was contemplating the changes that are constantly occurring in our world, and the challenges it brings at times to our ministry, I was reminded by the verse below that we can be at peace because ultimately God is in control.

“Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength.” (I Chronicles 29:11-12 TLB)

I am also reading through the prophets now in my personal devotions. I love looking at history through the eyes of the prophets, which is a God-perspective on history. We see how God raises up and pulls down rulers and nations. God has not changed! He has a plan and He has never failed. Failure is not in His nature. The heart of the king, (president, prime minister) is in the hand of the Lord, like rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Ps.21:1) In the chaos of the political and economic conditions in the world today, we need to affirm God’s Word that “He is the Ruler of all mankind, and His hand controls power and might.”

On a personal level I never cease to be amazed at how God orchestrates our personal lives and ministry and works things out for our good. You may be facing changes and challenges in your life and ministry. Some may appear to be positive, while others may seem to be negative. Our response in both cases depends on our trust that God is still “Ruler of all mankind.” Instead of becoming negative, discouraged or frustrated over these changes, I encourage you to try to remember where God has brought you from, Declare His sovereignty over your life and ministry and ask: “what are you doing God and how do you want me to participate in what you are doing?”

When Israel was in seven years of famine, God spoke to Elijah to go to the brook Kerith and “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” (I Kings 17:4) Commanded is past tense. The provision was already put in place by God. Elijah simply had to find out what God was doing and participate in His plan.

Lord, “we adore you as being in control of everything.” May God grant you the vision to see His plan and the wisdom on how to participate in what He is doing.

Your brother in God’s service,

Andy Clark

The Battle is Not Yours

Sometimes we fight battles that God does not call us to fight. Oftentimes the devil wants to occupy our time, energy, spiritual and natural resources in fighting these battles so that we are distracted or ineffective in what God wants us to do.

In 2 Chronicles 20 a vast army from Moab and Ammon comes against Jehoshaphat and Israel. Let’s look at Jehoshaphat’s response to this threat from the enemy.

1. He resolved to inquire of the Lord. 20:3
2. He proclaimed a national fast. 20:3
3. He prayed.
1. He glorified God. 20:6
2. He reviewed what God had done. 20:7
3. He reminded God of His promise.20:8-9

Ps. 105:8 “He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,…”

2 Cor. 1:20-22 “For all the promises of God in Him (Christ) are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” NKJV God did this for a reason. He did all this to fulfill His promise/covenant and bring you to the Promised Land, a place of destiny.

4. He stated the problem. 20:10-11
5. He declared their dependence on God. 20:12
3. God responds with encouragement and direction. 20:14-17

2 Chron. 20:15 “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.” NIV

2 Chron. 20:17 “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you,…” NIV

5. Jehoshaphat’s response.
1. Praise and worship. 20:18-19
2. Faith in God and His word. 20:20-21
3. Obedience 20:21
6. God’s deliverance. 20:22-24
1. Divine provision. 20:25-26
2. Rejoicing 20:27-28
3. Fear of God and peace. 20:29-30

How do you handle challenges, problems and attacks of the enemy? Do you try to resolve the problem yourself? Maybe pray and then resolve the problem? Or do you seek to hear the voice of God, declare your dependence on him, and respond in obedience to his word? Be encouraged. The victory is ours!

Andy Clark

A Spirit of Expectation

2 Peter 3:10-14

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;” NKJV

The words looking for in this passage have the sense of great expectation, leaning forward with expectation, a posture of faith. I would like to illustrate it as though you are waiting for the bus. As you wait, you lean back on the bench, relaxed and looking around. But as the time of the arrival of the bus approaches, you begin to scoot forward on the bench, looking down the street in expectation. As you see the bus turn the corner, you move from a sitting position to a standing position in expectation of its arrival. Peter says that is how we are to be looking for the coming of the day of God. As we read prophecy and observe what is going on around us, we need to be changing our posture from a relaxed position to a posture of expectation.

The second thing he said is that we are to hasten the coming of the day of God. Our expectation produces the act of hastening what we are expecting. Romans 8:22-23 says, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Paul here compares the coming of the Lord to birth pangs. As the time for delivery gets closer, contractions are closer together. At this point the mother begins to push to hasten the delivery.

Peter goes on to say, “because of which the heavens will be dissolved.” That is an interesting statement. Why are the heavens going to be dissolved? They are going to be dissolved because of the coming of the Lord. I want you to hear this clearly. The new world order under Christ is coming, and it is pushing out the old world order that we live in today. Just like you cannot stop a birth after the contractions have started, the old world order cannot stop the new world order that is being birthed.

We need to be careful that we are not trying to sustain the current world order which is going to be dissolved to make place for the new world order. As we watch the old world order dissolving, Peter’s admonition is that we should be looking for with expectation and hastening, pushing the coming of the day of God. The hosts of heaven are not concerned about the old world order dissolving; they are with great excitement and anticipation preparing for the new world order.

It is time to move from the relaxed position on our bench and slide forward, leaning forward with a spirit of expectation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Andy