A cry for holiness and purity of heart
Today, as I read 2Kings 20,21 we are left with the account of Manasseh:
2 Kings 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
There must be a total consecration to Jesus, and the authority of His Word, without compromise.
Why? Satan is a liar:
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
He is a mind blinding spirit, and unless we stay in the Word of God, in clean fellowship with a strong local church, and deliberately seeking God daily, we will be deceived. As we read the accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah, we stand amazed that they keep leaving God, building idol temples, performing demonic sacrifices, and listening to actual demons. Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, man of God, served as king for 55 years, yet did evil in the sight of the Lord, and departed from Him.
Seems having a godly family can help us, but ultimately, we must choose our own way in life, whether to serve God, or ultimately, devils. If we do not actively choose God, we will serve demons. Demons know how to implant thoughts in our minds, to get us off.
I realized this some years ago, after reading a little book by A.W. Tozer entitled ‘The knowledge of the Holy’, taken from the passage in Proverbs:
Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Seems that wisdom is the principal thing, but for a young man of God starting out, I saw wisdom was not the be all and end all. Solomon cried out for wisdom, in humility before the Lord, and yet erred in using his wisdom, to sin against God, and take 1000 wives, that corrupted him, and drew him away from God.
Twice in my life, after doing some great exploits for God, I have had God appear to me, in His glory, leaving me on my face before Him, simply attempting to breath.
Twice He has asked me, “Child, what you have done, is pleasing in my sight, ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.’ Twice I have said the same thing:
“Father, I want to be holy and pure in heart”
So began the preparation for ministry,that has involved incredible hardship, suffering, rejection, and pain, as He has stripped away my soulical desires, and ravished my heart with His love and presence. It has been over 25 years since those encounters, yet I see His faithfulness in answering them, as I have met with Him, over and over again, and seen the dross of my own desires, consumed in the fire of His love: my passions met in the power of the cross, that I might live solely, to do His will, His way, for His motive.
Publicly, I am a fool for Christ, misunderstood at best by most people, and many Christians, but there is One upon whose face I sense a smile, a grin that draws the great cloud of witnesses into peeking over the balconies of heaven, as I run my race before Him. I am heard upon High, and nations shake as I pray, demons are terrified of my presence, my authority, my words, and angels stand to attention, at the name of Jesus uttered from my lips. I have become one of whom the world is not worthy, crucified with Christ, sold out totally to Him and His call upon my life.
There is a joy and a peace in this, that nothing can compare to nor take away.
Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
As my heart is purified by His fire, separated from my desires, that I may see His, my eyes are opened to see Him, the living God, high and lifted up, moving in incredible power and majesty throughout the earth.
Let me pray for you:
‘Father God, I know you love us, and want us happy and blessed, yet I also know that there is no greater happiness, than holiness. Purify our hearts of our sin and selfish ways, that our desires line up with your desires. Fill us with your love, light, and presence today, and give us courage, to abandon all for the sake of your call upon our lives. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!’