#open heart – Boldly For Him

October 31, 2020November 2, 2020

Open Heart Test – Part Two

Two Kings, two hearts, two tests with two very different outcomes;

What does it take to pass an “Open Heart Test?”

This month we will learn the answer to this life-changing question.

Last month we learned about King Asa, a powerful Ruler who once served God with his “Whole Heart.” However, the poisonous seeds of his mother’s demonic influence, the former Queen Maacah, were never removed from the soil of his heart. Therefore the moment pressure from the adversity of an impending attack from a neighboring King presented itself; he turned his back away from God!

Why?…… Because “The High Places” of rebellion, idolatry, and pride in his heart brought forth a harvest of destruction to his life! King Asa failed to understand that there was no amount of earthly money, favor, influence, or aid from another “earthly King” that could ever save him! Indeed, Like King Asa, we will all one day stand before “The King of Kings, and The Lord of Lords” and give an account for “the actions of our Heart.”

Be encouraged, my friend! This month we will learn from the life of another powerful King. One that God describes as “a man after My Own Heart, who will do all My Will and carry out My program fully.” Ref. Acts 13:22 (AMP) It is from the life of this Beloved King that we will learn how to pass an “Open Heart Test!”

The agonizing sound of his son’s painful cries forces him to turn away in guilt. The sight of his distraught wife, Bathsheba, desperately clutching their baby to her chest, causes King David to fall to his knees in absolute sorrow of heart. Sobbing uncontrollably, he begs God to forgive him and to let the child live!

Lying prostrate on the floor, unwilling to eat or drink, King David struggles through a painful self-evaluation:

Why didn’t I, as the King of Israel, lead my troops in battle? I should have gone before them!

Why didn’t I quickly turn away from Bathsheba when I saw her bathing from the rooftop?

How could I sleep with Bathsheba, another man’s wife, and have her husband killed to cover up an adulterous pregnancy?

How could I override my conscience and enlist the help of Joab, my trusted commander in the death of an innocent man?

How could I take Bathsheba and think that God would ignore this great evil and bless the fruit of our sin?

Why do I fear telling Bathsheba the truth behind Uriah’s death?

Perhaps the most important question of King David’s heart surfaces as he quiets his soul before The Lord,

WHEN DID I STOP FEARING YOU GOD AND BREAK FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU?

Suddenly, the excruciating pain of King David’s guilt pierces his soul once again as he remembers the reason for the recent visit of Nathan, the Prophet of God.

II Samuel 12:1-12 (AMP);

“And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came and said to him there were two men in a city, one rich and the other poor.” “The rich man had very many flocks and herds.” “But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought and brought up, and it grew up with him and his children. It ate of his own morsel, and drank from his own cup, lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.” “Now a traveler came to the rich man, and to avoid taking one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.” “Then, David’s anger; was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan. As the Lord lives, the man who has done this is a son [worthy] of death.” “He shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and had no pity.” “Then Nathan said to David. You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel; I anointed you King of Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.” “And I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added that much again.” “Why have you despised the commandment of The Lord, doing evil in His Sight? You have slain Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife. You have murdered him with the sword of the Ammonites.” “Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because [you have not only despised My command but] you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” “Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun,” “For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.”

Gasping for breath, King David is completely caught off guard by The Word of The Lord. Now with his sin exposed, the eyes and ears of King David’s heart are open wide with understanding. It is from this place of “complete soul surrender” that King David quickly repents to the man of God.

II Samuel 12:13 (AMP);

“And David said to Nathan I have sinned against The Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

There is power and protection in “genuine repentance!”

What kind of power and protection?

The power and protection to “Eternally” keeps our soul in a place of safety and Redemption through The Most High God!

Think about it, my friend, because King David was genuinely repentant before The Lord for his sin, Nathan the prophet of God was released to speak words of safety and protection;

“The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

King David’s repenting led to forgiveness (the putting away of his sin) from the Most High God! This action of the Heart is why The Lord allowed him to live!

Glory To God! In this scripture, King David passes, “The Open Heart Test!”

What “Open Heart Test” did King David pass?

One that you and I must pass, my friend, if we are to live upright before God all the days of our life…

The “Open Heart Test” of a “Transparent Heart.”

What is a Transparent Heart?

A Transparent Heart is one of God’s most valued treasures and secret weapons in The Kingdom of Heaven!

Let’s read the definition of the word transparent from The Oxford Languages and The Merriam Webster Dictionary so that we can “See” together why God has placed such a “High Value” on a “Transparent Heart.”

Oxford Languages Dictionary:

TRANSPARENT = (Of a material or article) allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.

Easy to perceive or detect.

Having thoughts, feelings, or motives, that are easily perceived.

Merriam Webster Dictionary:

TRANSPARENT= Fine or sheer enough to be seen through.

Free from pretense or deceit.

Easily-detected or seen through.

In essence, what God is saying to us is that He wants us to have a heart free from darkness. A transparent Heart that others can easily see through to “His Presence” within us. A transparent Heart “free from pretense or deceit.” When God See’s a heart like this, He knows that He can trust that individual with the Secret Plans and Purposes of His Heart! An individual that walks the earth with the Secret Plans and Purposes of God’s Heart leading their thoughts; will defeat the enemy no matter the attack! He or she becomes God’s Trusted and Beloved, “Secret Weapon!”

Can God trust you with the Plans and Purposes of His Heart?

You see, my friend, transparency of heart, develops an intimate walk with The Lord.

It is from this intimate walk with The Lord that childlike faith is born.

What does childlike faith have to do with living with a transparent heart?

EVERYTHING!!!

Do you remember what it was like when you were a child, and you would be out playing with your friends? Sooner or later, someone would do something that they weren’t supposed to do, and someone in the group or perhaps it was you would say something like;

“You weren’t supposed to do that; I’m telling mom, dad, the teacher…..etc. on you!” The point that I’m making here is that our heart must remain in a place of “Total Transparency,” which is “Total Dependency” on God.

Why?

So that when we sin and miss the mark, we QUICKLY REPENT and “tell on ourselves before it’s too late!”

1st Corinthians 11:31 (AMP) shares this principle with us;

“For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgement].”

The transparency of King David’s heart to acknowledge his sin caused him to pass the “Open Heart Test.” However, he could not escape the repercussion of his sin. Nathan the prophet continues with The Word of The Lord;

II Samuel 12:14 (AMP);

“Nevertheless, because by this deed, you have utterly scorned The Lord and given great occasion to the enemies of The Lord to blaspheme, the child that is born to you shall surely die.”

The things that you and I birth out of sin and refuse to repent for will die!

We must be willing to live so transparently, so dependently on The Lord that He Can:

SPEAK TO US

DIRECT US

TRAIN US

ENCOURAGE US

CORRECT US

EQUIP US…..AND ULTIMATELY PROMOTE US!

When we allow God access to our hearts in this manner, we will always receive “His Redemption,” no matter how hard we fall!

In II Samuel 12:24-25 (AMP). We celebrate The Power of God’s Love, Grace, Mercy, and Redemption in the lives of David and Bathsheba.

“David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and went to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and she called his name Solomon. And The Lord loved [the child];” “He sent [a message] by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and [Nathan] called the boy’s [special] name Jedidiah [beloved of The Lord], because The Lord [Loved the child].”

With the birth of their second son Solomon, God blessed David and Bathsheba with the Plans, Purposes, and Desires of His Heart for the future of the nation of Israel. He gave them a “Dawn of a New Hope” for their lives!

The Good News, my friend, is that The Lord now calls you and me His Beloved! He is waiting for our childlike faith to receive all that He has kept for our lives.

Never forget that there is Redemption on the other side of your Repentance!

1st John 3:1 (TPT);

“Look with wonder at the depth; of the Father’s Marvelous Love that He has lavished on us! He has called us and made us His very own BELOVED children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize Him.”

Living with a “Transparent Heart” before The Living God gives us His Grace, the grace and ability to…

“Be Strong and Live Free…….Boldly For Him!”

Photo: Christian Buehner

September 30, 2020November 2, 2020

Open Heart Test – Part One

Two Kings, two hearts, two test’s with two very different outcomes.

Perhaps the greatest test that you and I will ever take will not be taken in a classroom setting, sitting at a desk or administered to us by a teacher on-line. Where will it be taken then? It will be a test of the heart, taken as we go through everyday life. “This “Open Heart Test” my friend, may be one that you are right in the middle of taking right now, and not even aware of.

Emboldened by his past successes and pumped with pride, King Asa impatiently motions for Hanani the seer to approach him in the Throne Room. Expecting an accolade from The Lord for his latest building projects of the cities of Geba and Mizpah, King Asa sits smugly with his arms folded in front of him, lifting his finely chiseled chin he stares down his regal nose at the awaiting seer.

Hanani knows in his heart that there are great risks to this assignment of The Lord, yet as it is with every true voice of God, he has counted the cost and lives for no earthly reward. Indeed, much damage had been done to The Kingdom of God because of King Asa’s rebellion to enter into a league with Ben-hadad King of Syria; now it had to be dealt with! Undergirded by prayer, fasting and a bold love for God, the courageous seer opens his mouth, instantly The Penetrating Word of The Lord shoots forth as a Blazing Arrow of Holy Righteousness, hitting the target, “King Asa’s hardened heart of rebellious pride!”

Un-surprisingly delivering the Word and Judgement of God to an enraged King brings a swift repercussion to Hanani, yet he has no regret for his obedience to The Lord! Indeed Hanani’s confident assurance for the outcome of his life, is secure in the fact that these crucial words of truth and the judgements given are not of his own manufacturing, they belong to The Lord.

Rather than receive the rebuke of The Lord and repent for his spiritual adultery, King Asa hardens his heart even further and foolishly chooses with one quick decision to jail Hanani. Tragically, King Asa fails this, “Open Heart Test,” without realizing that you cannot jail the truth! The repercussions for his actions would live on!

II Chronicles 16:1-10 (AMP) is the astounding account of this dramatic story;

“In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha King of Israel came up against Judah, and built (fortified) Ramah intending to intercept anyone going out or coming in to Asa King of Judah.” “Then Asa brought silver and gold out of the treasuries of The House of The Lord and of the King’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad King of Syria, who dwelt at Damascus, saying,” “Let there be a league between me and you, as was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending you silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha King of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” “And Ben-hadad hearkened to King Asa and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.” “And when Baasha heard it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease.” “Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.” “At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa King of Judah and said to him, Because you relied on the King of Syria and not on the Lord your God, the army of the King of Syria has escaped you.” “Were not the Ethiopians and Libyans a huge host with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied then on The Lord, He gave them into your hand.” “For the eyes of The Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars.” “Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison [in the stocks], for he was enraged with him because of this. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.”

“When leadership fears truth, corruption begins.” This word given to me by The Lord several months ago, applies so well to the life of King Asa, as it does to ours today, if we choose the way of hard hearted rebellion as he did.

You see my friend, the corruption of King Asa’s heart and reign over Judah began long before God sent Hanani the seer to confront him. The corruption of King Asa’s heart began the moment he disconnected from God as his “True Source,” and looked to the, “strength of man” the King of Syria for his deliverance. What is so devastating about this true life account of epic self destruction, is that King Asa takes “the silver and gold out of the treasuries of The House of The Lord and of the King’s house,” treasuries that he once valued with his “Whole Heart” and uses them to bribe the King of Syria with!” In essence, “King Asa deifies himself” above The One True God as a source of provision and protection to another “man!” Oh how far he had fallen and didn’t even know it!!!

How could this happen? Why did it happen? King Asa had so much going for him, how could he so easily forget the past victories that God had given him when he sought The Lord with his “Whole Heart;” and now think that, “the strength of man,” could deliver him?

There is something so deep happening here my friend! When I went to The Lord in the middle of writing this blog and asked Him these questions, He quickly brought King Asa’s mother to my thoughts, the former Queen Maacah, whom King Asa had removed from position as Queen Mother earlier in his reign. The Lord then shared this startling revelation with me:

“HE REMOVED HER FROM POSITION, BUT NOT FROM INFLUENCE”!!!!!!!

Instantly my spirit was open to The Word of the Lord!

Friends, I want to share this revelation with you exactly in the same manner in which The Lord shared it with me.

II Chronicles 15:16-17 (AMP) “Also Maacah, King Asa’s mother, he removed from being Queen Mother, because she had made an abominable image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her idol, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.”

Here in verse 16 is where King Asa, “REMOVES HIS MOTHER FROM POSITION.”

“But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was blameless all his days.”

“However, here in verse 17 is where King Asa, “RETAINS HER INFLUENCE.”

The demonic influences from King Asa’s mother had been planted like poisonous seeds in King Asa’s heart, when he did not take, “the high places out of Israel.”

Though he had removed her from position of Queen Mother, he did not remove the, “influence” of her position from his heart or from his eyes, still leaving the nation of Israel defiled. He allowed those poisonous seeds of rebellion, idolatry and pride to have a place in his heart. When King Asa came under pressure in the natural realm, those seeds of rebellion, idolatry and pride, that were sown in the spiritual realm, came to fruition as a harvest of death and self destruction! Inevitably it would cost him everything!

1. My friend, are there any demonic influences that you need to remove from holding a “position” in your life?

2. Have these seeds of “influence” been allowed to remain or grow in your heart?

If so, uproot any leftover seeds of corruption from the past. You don’t want any residue from any evil influence that could catch your eyes, or change your heart.

You see my friend we are not playing a game called life we are walking out a, “God Planned Purpose” for our lives! “Everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” in our hearts and lives must be taken down or they will take us down! Ref. 2nd Cor. 10:5.

I am prompted by the The Holy Spirit as I am writing this, that some of you, like King Asa, have removed from “position” a source of evil from your lives. However, their “influence” is still “active” in your life, therefore the enemy is just waiting for an opportunity to bring a harvest of self destruction to pass in your life! My friend, my prayer for you is that you will take this word “to heart”, and quickly make the necessary adjustments spirit, soul and body that are needed in order to remove and eradicate every, “influence of evil” that has been sown by these sources from your life and heart!

Please pray the following prayer with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I submit my life and heart to You. Please show me any evil seed that has been planted in my life and heart that would cause me and others to stumble and fall short of the plans and purposes of God. I ask You Father God that every one of those seeds of rebellion, idolatry and pride be uprooted in Jesus Name! I now make a fresh commitment to Plant Your Word in the soil of my heart today, Father God, realizing that You Alone Are THE Source, and Final Authority of my life. I repent of placing myself and others above You in any way Lord, and I receive Your Divine Forgiveness Now in Jesus Mighty Name! Amen and Amen!

Now my friend you can,

“Be Strong and Live Free…………..Boldly For Him!”

Proverbs 4:23 (TPT);

“So above all guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”

*Next months blog will be part two of this message.”

Photo by : Antonino Visalli