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

Where Do You Stand?

1 Kings 18:15 “Then Elijah said, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today." NKJV

The context of this passage is that Israel has been facing three years of no rain and famine due to their idolatry and rebellion against God. 1 Kings 18:11 says, “The word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth." So, Elijah is on his way to meet Ahab when he encounters Ahab’s right hand man named Obadiah, who was out looking for grass for Ahab’s horses. Elijah tells Obadiah to go tell Ahab to come and meet me here. The servant says if I go get Ahab and he comes and you are gone, he will kill me. Then Elijah says, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today."

The thing that strikes me about this verse is Elijah’s comment “before whom I stand.” The Living Bible says “in whose presence I stand.” Elijah had a unique perspective that we do not often have in our materialistic western culture. He had a sense that he perpetually stood in the presence of the Lord of hosts. It was out of this relationship and awareness of God that his powerful prophetic and miracle ministry flowed.

In 2 Kings 6, Elijah is surrounded by horses, chariots and a great host of the Syrian army that have come to arrest him. Elijah is calm and at peace while his servant is seized with fear. Elijah is calm because he sees what his servant does not see, that the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire. He tells his servant, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” “Fear not.” That is a term Jesus often used with His disciples. Why was Jesus calm, while they were worried and fearful? I believe it is because, like Elijah, he understood where He stood.

Ephesians 2:4-7 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

“God has made us alive together with Christ, and has made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” We who are born again are placed in a unique position. We not only operate in this world, but we at the very same time stand in the presence of God by the Spirit. We are given this unique position and view that the world does not have, a heavenly perspective, so that we might show forth his glory and accomplish His purpose in the midst of the world in which we live. Our problem is that we become so caught up in this earthly realm that we lose our heavenly perspective.

Like Elijah and Christ, we can operate with confidence in the midst of turmoil and chaos that surrounds us. Wherever you are and whatever you are facing today, remember that you are in the presence of God Almighty, the Lord of Hosts. It is out of that position that you can operate in His authority and speak into your situation and the lives of those around you.

Andy

A Covenant-Keeping God

Scripture Reading: Luke 13:10-17

“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

“Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.” NIV

It is interesting that in Luke 13:16 Jesus did not know the name of the woman but He remembered His covenant to Abraham. There are many times we see Jesus moved with compassion. But here Jesus is moved to action by His covenant.

Psalms 105:8-9 says: “He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 says: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

All the promises of God, Old Testament and New Testament are YES in Christ and AMEN in Him because all the promises are fulfilled through Him. God loves it when we remind Him or let Him know that you remember and believe His covenant and promises. Moses constantly reminded God of His promises to Abraham, and this is an ongoing theme throughout the Biblical record of Israel’s history.

I want to encourage you today, that God is a covenant-keeping God. Take time to review the covenants in His Word. Pray and allow these to become alive to your situation. Do not let doubt or disobedience hinder you from pressing into those promises. Most covenants have requirements for us to fulfill. Remind God of His promises and be willing to step out in faith and maybe do something that you have never done before. Step out of the box of your routine and ability into the vastness of God’s greatness, and see Him work on your behalf.

May God by His Spirit and Word encourage you today.

Andy Clark

Thirsty

John 7:37-39 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

This was the eight day, the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. In Leviticus 23:37 God called the people on this day to a sacred assembly to culminate the seven days of the feast. John called it “the great day of the feast.” On that day the priest brought forth, in golden vessels, water from the stream of Siloah, which flowed under the temple-mountain, and solemnly poured it upon the altar. Then the words of Isaiah 12:3 were sung, "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation,"

In the midst of this intense celebration with thousands of people, Jesus diverts everyone’s attention when He stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Jesus is our source of life, our source of refreshing. It is not of us, our work, or our ministry that life comes, but it is from Christ that life flows to a thirsty world.

The water no longer flows from the temple-mountain. Today we are the “temple of the Hoy Spirit.” The rivers of living water are to flow out of our hearts. In order for this living water to flow in us and through us, Jesus said we must be thirsty, we must come to Him and drink and we must believe. The kingdom of God operates on the principle of supply and demand. How thirsty are you for God today, for His presence, for His Spirit and His Word? In the midst of a hectic world we live in, I believe the call of Jesus goes out today saying “Come!” “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

We live in a day when we cannot operate on our own. As this world shakes and challenges increase, personal challenges and challenges in ministry, we need more than ever the flow of God’s Spirit in our lives. We cannot wait for crises to come, but today we need a desperation for God that brings us to our knees. A desperation that causes us to tune out the world and to tune in to the voice of the Spirit. A desperation that causes us to act in faith to His Word, no matter the circumstances and consequences.

The call goes forth again in the closing chapter of Revelations, the end of the church age, “And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.” May you drink deeply today, tomorrow, and the coming days of the awesome greatness of our God, “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Andy