Having a Heart for God

David loved the LORD. He wrote praises to Him. He sang to Him. He revered Him. Even so, David committed horrible sins. He took Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, while Uriah was off fighting the Ammonites at David's command. When Bathsheba conceived, David had Uriah placed in a position that could only lead to his death. (2 Sam 11)

God was so angry with David that He caused the child to die, cursed David's lineage with bloodshed, and promised to take his wives from Him!

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. -- 2 Sam 12:10 - 11.

Notice that God says that David's sin reflected a lack of regard of the highest level: "thou hast despised Me"! To understand why God punishes us for sin, we must start with understanding how God views sin. We see clearly here that He sees it as the ultimate disrespect. Today, we have the idea that because God loves us, He would never harm us. Truly, God loved David.

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. -- 1 Sam 13:14

But God still punished David. He did not just look the other way. No, David's life after this sin was much more difficult. He faced one serious problem after another. He had problems in his family, and problems in his kingdom. I believe the only thing that kept him was the fact that he still had a heart for God.

To have a heart for God is to consider Him above all else, to put what He regards above all else. David certainly had a heart for what God was concerned with in his day. He fought to free Israel from the sinful nations around them. He fought to keep God on the throne of Israel's heart. He didn't even fight Goliath just to be a hero. No, He fought Goliath, because Goliath disrespected God. David was truly into honoring God for the one true God He is.

We see David's passion for God in many of his Psalms. He speaks intimately to Him, committing all he has unto His care. He doesn't just trust Him. He truly believes Him. There's a familiarity to their relationship. God is not just his God in name. No, He is David's God in truth.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. -- Jam 4:8

I often return to the Psalms to be reminded of their relationship. Wherever David was obedient, we see God blessing, guiding, and delivering David. Wherever David was sinful, we see God reenforcing His boundaries clearly. Indeed, David was sorely punished for his sins, and greatly blessed for his obedience. Through it all David continues to acknowledge that God does right by him. He doesn't take the attitude that he should be blessed regardless. No, he fully understands that he deserves God's wrath.

Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. -- Psa 25:1

If the holy God of Heaven is to be our God, we, too, must take on this attitude. Like David, we must place ourselves in His care. Even in His wrath, He is merciful. Even when we are at our best, we deserve His wrath. We must seriously repent of our sins, but we need also remember that it is His mercy that keeps us.

Remember, O LORD, Thy tender mercies and Thy lovingkindness; for they have been ever of old. -- Psa 25:6

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. -- Psa 25:10

Note that David attested to the need to be obedient. He was a man after God's own heart who understood the price of sin. He shed innocent blood to get what he wanted, greatly disrespecting the God he loved, but he sincerely repented and did not commit that sin again.

Like David, we are guilty of shedding innocent blood. We need to repent, too; but also, we need to get busy about following His call to not allow the shedding of innocent blood. Failing to do otherwise leaves us at odds with God, because even ignoring shedding of innocent blood is sin to Him.

That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. -- Deu 19:10

Some have mistakenly argued that this only applied to Israel. No, although this was originally written to them, it is like many other things no serious person would argue against. It basically assures us that nations are destroyed by the shedding of innocent blood, and there are other Scriptures that back this up.

Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee; sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. -- Eze 35:6

Acceptance of the shedding of blood brings bloodshed to a nation. As a nation, we not only accept the shedding of innocent blood, we promote it.

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. -- Psa 106:37, 38

We need to have a heart like David. When God called him on his sin, he wept and repented. We have wept, but not many have repented like they truly meant it. No, many still turn a blind eye and deaf ear -- expecting that God will forgive them, while they remain in their sin. In reality they despise God, because they do not respect Him enough to obey Him.

Who IS This Uncircumcised Philistine?

And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach of Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? -- 1Sam 17:26

Today the giant is abortion and many quake in their boots for fear of standing against it. The same people who have been prolific and generous about seeking His blessings are hiding under their couches from the disrespectful, God-bashing giant of our day. History truly does repeat itself.

David was unafraid of Goliath, because he knew God would be with Him. He had been in the trenches, and he knew that God would enable him to take Goliath down. Goliath's mistake was daring to dishonor the Holy God of Heaven. David's response was exactly what it should have been, "Oh, NO, you don't!" David brought God to the fight with the intent to kill the giant, and kill the giant he did.

In my opinion the primary reason the pro life community hasn't killed the abortion giant is because we have failed to bring God to the fight with the intent of killing it. We poke at it. We try to incrementally take it down, but we fail to really war against it with all we have expecting God to destroy it for us. We're not working in Davidic faith. We're not really working in faith at all.

Part of the problem has always been that far too many professing Christians are not truly pro life. No, they're quasi-life. They have so many exceptions and so many excuses that they don't really intend for anything to happen at all. Abortion doesn't actually bother them. So, they're not really working at all. Others don't believe miracles still happen. So, they don't really want to bring the Spirit to the fight. No, they believe it's a battle to be fought without expectation of winning. So, they're never going to win. Still others are trusting in their programs or themselves . . . the point is: we're not running at the giant, expecting our weapons to bring it down.

Listen, God has not changed, and abortion has no more power than what we give to it. Seriously. God can take it down just as He took down Goliath. He's just been waiting for someone to come to the battlefield who truly believes He is able.

I am looking at a number of different ways of answering the disrespect shown our God and His word. Folks, this ad was hateful and ugly. Failing to respond is unthinkable. We need to take up the sword of the Spirit and charge it with the full intent to see it abolished. This is our God. If we'll not stand for Him, what do we stand for? Are not our claims of being His mere empty words?

Actions speak louder than words. Being silent is going to be seen as apathy at best, but He might well take it as proof we no longer truly love Him. I don't know about you, but I cannot abide even the idea that He would feel so rejected by me. I just can't. So, I'll be on the battlefield. If I have to preach it on the street corners, I'm taking this fight to them. They don't get to disrespect my God like He is nothing, not on my watch. I invite you to join me. This is as serious as it's ever going to get. This is the line. Make no mistake, the side you come down is going to matter.

All in for Him,

Betty

Faith, From The Air of Heaven

Christian faith is total confidence in God. We do not just think that He will do what He has promised. We know He will. By faith we submit all that we are into His care. We trust in the blessed assurance of His faithfulness.

Christian hope is not like ordinary hope. Ordinary hope expects without knowing. Christian hope is certain because of Whom we hope in. It is hope that enables us to sing even in the valley, putting wings to our souls.

Christian love is the love of God in us. By His love we are able to care for the unlovable, recognizing that we were once just as undeserving. In love He tells us to ask, seek, and knock. He knows that each time we ask and receive, or seek and find, or knock and have the door open before us, our faith grows. In the same way faith grows our love. The more we recognize His answers, the more we love Him for His efforts towards us.

So we expect confidently that He will redeem us from the dead, knowing that He loved us even while we were yet lost in our sins, and invite the lost among us to know the joy of belonging to the One in Whom true hope dwells. So that in love by faith through hope we please the Spirit of God in us, and serve our Father in Heaven as little children should.

. . . but the righteous will live by his faith . . . ‒ Hab 2:4

Belonging to Him means living by faith. Drawing near to Him is by nature a faith building experience. James tells us that faith without works is dead (Jas 2:17). That's because real faith moves us to action. If we truly believe that God is in control and a keeper of His promises, then we will live like we believe it.

Like Noah we will build a boat on dry land when no rain has ever fallen. Like Abraham we will offer up the only son we ever hope to have. Like Moses we will dare to stand before powerful leaders with nothing more than a walking stick by our side. Like David we will attack our Goliaths even when we have nothing but a bag of stones to throw at them. Real faith doesn't sit on the sidelines hoping someone will come along and move the mountain. Real faith tells the mountain to get up and move itself.

"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him." ‒ Mar 11:23

How many times have you actually expected God to lead you? Understand, if you did act like you expected Him to do so, you did not actually believe He would. Here's another one: How many times have you spoken to the mountain in your way? Most just don't. They don't because they don't really believe this promise. We should believe, though, because this is the Lord speaking. Some may discount His words, but I believe He choose them carefully.

Then the disciples came to Yeshua privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you." ‒ Mat 17:19-20

This promise would not be in the New Testament if it were not intended for us. If we can't live like we expect God to honor His promises, what can we do? Think about it. We are to be His light in this dark world. What kind of light are we really shedding if we do not live like His promises are real to us?

This is the danger of ignoring the supernatural effect of God on our lives. When we don't believe that God still speaks to us, that the gifts of the Spirit are still available to us, that we can ask and receive, etc.; we also do not believe that God can or will move our mountains. We have ruled out the supernatural, and mountain moving is supernatural. Then we look at the world around us and assure ourselves that things are the way they are because God wants it that way. No, the Lord expects us to believe Him

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in My name, and I will do it. – Joh 14:12-14

Where are our greater things? We are happy with mediocre. We don't have "greater", because we're not willing to have that kind of faith. Yet, even obedience comes from faith.

Through Him and for His name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. ‒ Rom 1:5

If you think about it, this actually fits, because we have tolerated disobedience like it was a calling; rather than, condemning it for the failing it is. If we don’t have the faith to obey, we certainly won’t have enough faith for greater things.

Too often we want to have just enough faith to squeak by. Yet, the Lord Himself urges us to greater things. He did supernatural things. The disciples did supernatural things. The Spirit does supernatural things through those who give themselves over to Him. All these things were and are done to the glory of God. Yet, today many are afraid of the supernatural! I believe some think this way because they have bought into the idea that acting in the supernatural is about the servant. It isn't. No, living as though we truly believe God is about His supernatural attributes and glorifying Him.

If I touch you and you are healed, I have not healed you. No, that healing would have had to come from God. If I speak blessings on you and you are blessed, I would not have blessed you. How would I do that? No, God would have to bless you through me. I am just a woman. I have no power to bless. Only He does. (Obviously, I'm talking about the kind of blessings we get from God; rather than, just making you feel better.) Again, if I were to speak to your mountain, and it were to remove itself; I would not have moved your mountain. No, God alone moves mountains.

So, if I were to do all these things, it would not be me that you should glorify. No, we both should glorify and credit Him. It is by His mercy that God gives gifts to men and women, and not because we deserve it; but rather, by His mercy. Therefore, whatever wonders He delights to do among us, we must make absolutely certain to credit Him with.


www.children-of-the-heart.com/AoH.shtml

Be Who God Wants You to Be

In the past I have posted things that are pointedly against some of today's popular leaders. Some thought me "mean", others considered me "hard-hearted", and still others "divisive" or "self-serving". However, there has been a real purpose to my pointing out the problems with current day leadership, and -- believe it or not -- it actually has nothing to do with me. It has to do with the way so many view themselves and how God would love to change that misconception. It about changing the status quo to God's glory.

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The point to my complaints against the leaders of our day is that God uses lay people. We have been taught that He prefers the well-educated, denominationally correct, gender specific, etc.; but look at who Christ actually called. He called the fishermen, and the tax-collector. He could have called the Pharisees, but He chose ordinary men. Why? 

Ordinary men tend to know they are ordinary. They aren't looking to themselves to solve the world's problems. If they belong to God, they are looking to God. The Pharisees were looking to themselves. And guess what, so are many of the approved leaders of our day. The Pharisees had no idea how to live by faith. Neither do many of today's leaders.

Brothers and Sisters, the point is that Goliath was felled by a lowly little shepherd boy who had enough faith to believe God and act on it. We need to step into the shoes of David, Peter, etc. We need to stop trusting in human leaders to do the work that desperately needs to be done -- removing our many Goliath's -- and start acting like we know God can work with nothing. We need to remember that everything that is was made by Him from nothing. Therefore, He can take us and make us into Davids, Peters, etc.

It isn't about tearing down the respected leaders of this day. It is about calling out those willing to be used by God despite their own inabilities, etc. I believe God searches for those who will stand like David -- not in their own strength or ability, but in completely dependent faith. I believe He searches and rejoices every time one steps forward. Because, Brothers and Sisters, God is not glorified by the proud, accomplished man who sees himself as someone God's lucky to have. No, God is glorified in the humble, little nobody who sees God as completely willing and able to do everything He says He will.

I don't care how many followers a person has or how famous they are. They are less than nothing if they have forgotten that we are here to glorify and serve Him, not draw attention to ourselves. We didn't save anybody. We couldn't ever save anyone. We are the redeemed, and we are so because He loved us enough to take our well-deserved punishment on His sinless self. He doesn't need us. He isn't blessed by our showy accomplishments. No. Like the Pharisees we have it backwards. No matter how high up on the food-chain we are, our value isn't in us, it is in Him -- and we don't even have that if He isn't the very breath of our lungs and blood of our veins. I'm just saying, Brothers and Sisters, if it isn't about Him, it isn't worth doing.

So, let us set aside the earthly encumbrances that tell us we can't or shouldn't because we aren't "qualified" or "approved", and run the race like Paul -- knowing that our God -- our wonderful, incredibly able, merciful Creator -- is perfectly willing and able to take our frailties and fell every Goliath in our path and make us true fishers of men to His great glory.

Praise God! I tell you the truth, Brothers and Sisters, He is just waiting on us to take hold of this truth and break out in real, mountain-moving faith. Ask Him today. Present yourself to Him today. Say to Him, "Here am I, Father. Send me where You will. Lead me where You would have me go. Take over my life and use me to Your glory." I promise you -- if you are sincere, you will not be disappointed. No, this is where real blessings lie, dear Brothers and Sisters. This is where ordinary becomes extraordinary as God reveals that He is neither silent nor disinterested nor in any way removed from His children. No, this is where we find out how truly awesome our God really is.

I pray some of you will do this today. I pray some of you grab for that joy He holds out to us. I plead with you to consider His nature. Is He not faithful? Is He not true to His word? Yes! Yes, He is. From the beginning to this very day His has proven Himself, repeatedly, to be the great "I AM"! Therefore our success is not limited by His ability; but rather, our willingness to submit to His Supremacy over us -- meaning that the more willing we are to be changed into a "David" the more we will be changed.

So, do not look at yourselves, dear Brothers and Sisters, thinking "I don't have the skills" or "I do not have the training", etc.; but rather look to God and consider that He is able. And do not think that you have no value -- because you know all your faults -- but remember that Peter denied Christ three times, yet Christ still raised him to lead many to salvation. We are not what our earthly leaders say we are nor are we what we think we are. We are what we are willing to let God make of us. Therefore, there stands among us those who could bring down the walls of Jericho, those who could bring plagues upon Pharaoh, those who could slay all our Goliaths -- Brothers and Sisters, the possibilities are endless because the ability of God knows no bounds! Except, of course, the limits put on Him by the failing faith of those who should be living by faith.

Do not be deceived, Brothers and Sisters, the power of God exists in EVERY obedient believer for we are nether abandoned by God to the rulers of this earthly existence nor beyond His ability to deliver. No, we are MORE than conquerors in Christ (Rom 8:37), if indeed, we are truly His.

God's peace,

Betty

Obnoxious and Offensive

by Betty Baker Bailey

I have been urging everyone to recognize the guilt we have before the Lord for failing to deal with the sins our nation now considers completely acceptable. Many see me as harsh, sometimes even too harsh to deal with. But here's the thing: God is the One we have to deal with. Where is the kindness in ignoring the sin that brings His wrath upon us? There is none. We can not escape Him. We can not over-power Him and He will not suffer our disrespect forever. There will come an accounting. Truly even now we are seeing that in our nation.

Do not foolishly believe, as some do, that this is the work of man for the battle is spiritual. We had to be given over by the One who protected us for these things to come to be. Nor should you be comforted by the idea that it is the end times. For the "end times" began with the coming of Christ and may yet continue for another thousand years. Or do you not realize that the early church prepared for Christ’s immediate return? Yet, 2000 years have passed. No, dear brothers and sisters, I tell you the truth, we are in judgment. IF the Lord returns now, He will not be nearly so happy with us as many choose to believe.

For the sin of ignoring the slaughter innocents, we will see bloodshed and death. For the sin of treating Him as though He had no authority over us, we will find ourselves abandoned to those powers that wish evil upon us. For the sin of disrespecting the cross, we will suffer persecution for our faith.

Some like to place the blame for all these rebukes on our governmental leaders, but in truth it belongs with those who call Him Lord; because:

It was our job to stand against the slaughter. It was our job to insist His authority be maintained, and our job to uphold His laws as law.

Our founding fathers set the system up according to Biblical principles. Instead of holding to them, we have incrementally allowed them to be replaced by humanism, secularism, and socialism -- from a nation founded for freedom to worship the God of the Bible as one pleases, to one where the worship of any god except Him is acceptable. So concerned were we with offending others, that we offended Him. So comfortable were we with our wealth that we alienated Him.

So, do not rant, dear brothers and sisters, against the earthly powers that oppress us. They are in place for cause. Look around you. Do we not now see: fornication, adultery, the shedding of innocent blood, lying, stealing, homosexuality, etc. as accepted practices? Even those who call themselves “His” consider these things "inevitable" or "normal". Yet, for such sins Christ suffered and died.

The consequences of these sins are death to a society and its people. We do not show love to the homosexual by embracing his sin. No, we give him over to physical death and judgment -- the very real wrath of God. We do not elevate women by allowing them to kill their children. No, we sentence them to decades of remorse and regret, followed by judgment -- the very real wrath of God.

We act like we've either forgotten or never understood that God did not make laws because He could; but rather, for our own good. We should obey and teach them, because He is God. Failing to do so for that reason, we should then teach them because they are life, itself, to us and our children. As errant children, we have ignored and/or spurned them as though they mattered not.

Yes, people find me obnoxious, and offensive -- and some walk completely away from me, but some listen and turn. To those turning, I am seen as loving to the point of sacrifice, because I risk myself to reach them (far beyond what many know). To those who plug their ears, I am unacceptable and inexcusable. From the later come accusations of self-promotion. Yet, since I do not charge nor am I paid, their argument falls flat. No, my benefit lies purely in knowing that I am obedient, in believing that obedience to Him is imperative, and the hope that by my faithfulness some will be saved from the wrath to come.

Yes, I prefer to be considered offensive to being guilty before Him. If I did not love those caught in sin, I would be silent. They would still be punished, and I would avoid the aggravation of trying to save them. It is to great extent a thankless task. However, I would still find myself trying to explain to God, who knows all – including all He has shown me, how I could be so heartless as to not speak the warning I have been given. Man’s wrath versus God’s? I’ll take man every time. Although I love my brothers and sisters and would be at peace with them, I am nothing without Him. He is my everything. How can I not obey?

Through it all, brothers and sisters, I do know that what I am saying must be said. Truly, I do not sit around thinking of things to say nor do I do scan the Scriptures looking for things to pad my texts. No, I ask God. The things I take a hard stance on are the things He has shown me His offense at. Not only is He still speaking, He has plenty to say about His disappointment in those who have treated His generosity with such disdain.

We have embraced evil by indifference, by silence, and by allowing other gods to be given equal -- or higher positions -- than Him. If the reality of that does not give you pause, perhaps you don't know Him as well as you think you do. These are things the God of the Bible will not long tolerate. We think He will, because He has been patient with us, but His graciousness will come to an end.

Old Testament prophets were usually rejected by those they tried to reach. Both John the Baptist and the Lord were rejected by the religious leaders of the day. The Lord’s earthly mother and brothers came to put Him away, thinking He had lost His senses. The gospel is by its very nature foolishness to those who do not understand it, because it is spiritually discerned. The spiritual leaders of Christ’s day thought themselves so far above Him that they considered it insignificant to kill Him – though they knew who He was!

Therefore, do not put your hope in the leaders of this day. Far too many are more concerned with their own lives than His will. They promote themselves. They speak for themselves. They do not hear Him, because they do not honestly seek Him nor are they interested in His direction for they prefer their own. They are applauded and loved by the world, but they do not serve Him. No, like the priest of Yeshua’s day, they love their position more than Him.

Instead, brothers and sisters, look to God. He -- who took the time to create you, provide for you, and sent His only Son that you might be saved – is still very intimately concerned for you. He is not silent. He did not leave us to the men and women of this world. No, He still seeks a personal relationship with you. He still wants to commune personally with you. If you ask Him . . . if you seek Him, as if looking for pure gold . . . as it is promised in the Scriptures, He will be found. Then you will know that these things I have said to you are from His heart. True to His nature, He does not want anyone to be lost. Therefore, He sends someone to tell those who will listen and those who will not, that it is He coming against them. He does this in order that those who will listen may repent; and that who will not, will have no excuse.

I lament losing some I love to the love of the lie. My heart breaks for them, but they had a choice. I did not make it for them. I have done all I know how to encourage them to choose wisely. If they can hate me for that effort, then I have to let them go – for the only other choice is to choose hell with them. (There are only two sides. We will choose God or we will choose to be without God, refusing to choose results in not choosing God. Behaving as though God does not effect change in one’s life is to not be changed by God; and so, not belong to God. Those are the rules. I didn’t make them; but rather, just report that they are true.)

To those brothers and sisters who know I am speaking according to God’s will, I encourage you to spread the word. We do not know that He will not have mercy on us if we truly repent; only that He will not, if we do not. Even David, though his sin was great, continued to plead for mercy until the child died. For while the child lived, there was still a chance. Let us, too, be faithful to seek repentance instead of acceptance. There is yet time for God to have mercy. It is His nature to give mercy where it is undeserved; but only where there is sincere repentance. Therefore I plead with you to urge repentance to all who will listen.

To those who have separated from me, but long to reconnect – I bear no ill will to anyone. Time is short. If you seek me desiring reconciliation without needing to control, we can be reconciled. Understand, if I let you control me, I will not be led of God. I am hard at work for the Lord, the Spirit urges me onward with conviction. So, I will not be muzzled by those who do not understand. It is enough that I understand and am convinced that it is God who speaks to me. Be assured I have not stopped caring for you; but rather, I have just given you over to the choices you’ve made. You, alone, can unmake them. You know who you are. You know where I am. Do not let a fear of being rejected keep you from seeking resolution.

I am encouraged evermore to stand fast on what I have been shown. I believe the time for repentance is very short. Please, dear brothers and sisters, repent before it is too late. Churchology does not save us. It can’t, because it is manmade. We suffered a supernatural death in Adam. We must be imparted a supernatural life through Christ. It is the only way.

God’s peace.