“I have found David the son of Jesse,
a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”
Acts 13:22
I. A heart after God’s heart
The characteristics of a heart in a vessel which God shall use:
1. An apostolic heart [a heart of a per son that is sent forth]
We have been seated with Christ in the heavenlies and sent forth to earth for a purpose [a message]: John 17/John 20
Some practical points:
a) A heart of a person that desires to be sent forth by God as His ambassador or His apostle.
b) A heart of a person that desires to be sent forth with a message; realising its greatness and power.
c) A heart of a person that desires to be sent forth with an authority; each and every time.
d) A heart of a person that desires to be sent forth to those about whom he can say these sentences [identifying himself with them]: “I bear them in my heart [even if I’m in chains]; I love for others; I invest my life for their sake; I see my growth in their lives; my joy is with them; their pains and sufferings are mine as well.
It is a hungry heart that longs for God and for an increased fellowship with Him.
2. A daring and bold [confident] heart
This boldness comes as a result of being in the presence of God and being in continuous fellowship with Him.
Practical points:
a) Entering into the divine presence:
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Elijah: “As the LORD, God of Israel lives I am standing before Him.” (1 Kings17:1)
Stephen: “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55)
b) The renewed anointing:
“But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil.” (Psalms 92:10)
c) Absolute obedience:
This boldness involves trust in the Lord and a desire to obey Him continually.
“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19, 20)
“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:”We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5: 29)
d) Bold proclamation:
“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13: 46)
“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” (Acts 14: 3)
e) Help of the Lord in different ways:
The message derives its continuous fuel and strength from God’s continuous accompaniment and His different ways of help.
David:
“Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hands in God.” (1 Samuel 23:16)
“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6)
f) Extension of the Kingdom:
This boldness moves forward in new daring steps in the work of God to dig and pave the way for the manifestation of the ultimate Kingship of Christ. A bold heart is a heart that is set on fire for moving forward for the sake of the Kingdom work and its achievements. The work of God burdens such a heart in a special way. His mind is truly alerted to God’s work.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen…” (Acts 13:16)
“…not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labours, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.” (2 Corinthians 10:15, 16)
“When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21)
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
g) A need for real balance in Spirit:
Boldness is not blind or emotional driven by human enthusiasm, but rather balanced and mature. It is not an ignorant boldness, but it full of knowledge and understanding and moves calmly, continuously accompanied by grace:
“And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)
[Grace & truth: to the same extent of truth and one’s enthusiasm for the truth, is the grace given].
h) Counting the cost and expecting difficulties and learning to wait on God:
This boldness recognises beforehand the presence of difficulties in the path. It understands these difficulties and perseveres with patience and waits until they dissolve or until one is granted the feet that can leap above the difficulties. It accepts pain, suffering, tribulations and understands God’s timings:
Refer to 2 Corinthians 6:4-10:
2Co 6:4
but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
2Co 6:5
beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
2Co 6:6
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit genuine love;
2Co 6:7
by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
2Co 6:8
through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
2Co 6:9
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;
2Co 6:10
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. [ESV]
Act 5:41
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
Act 5:42
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. [ESV]
There is continuity whatever the difficulties were:
“So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”… For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands… And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” (Nehemiah 6: 3, 9, 11)
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” (Daniel 6:10)
3. A contrite heart
It is a heart like the hearts of Moses, Paul and Elijah.
Practical Points:
a) It is not only contrite before God, but also contrite with people through submission. It takes in consideration the points of other’s views and does not insist on its own point of view. [Example: David, Abigail [1Sam 25:33-35—woman of Tekoa, Joab ( 2 Sam14:1,2 19,21)]
b) It is a heart that was humbled because of the many pains it went through and has submitted to such sufferings and accepted them from God’s hands. This heart has bended to the sufferings in acceptance, so, they shaped the person. Hence, he became very sensitive to the pains of others and it became easy for him to identify with them and share their pains.
[Paul’s sufferings increased as he went on his journeys; and his heart became enlarged. God enlarges one’s heart (spirit) through suffering. The contrite hearts and humble spirits are entrusted with spiritual power.]
c) A contrite and a humble spirit pave the way for more of the divine presence and accompaniment of God.
“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15
God has two places to dwell in: heavens and contrite hearts!
d) Serving others with true humility:
+ Paul said: “We have become your servants for the sake of Christ”. [2Cor 4:5]. I should lay myself at the feet of others with pleasure; my soul is not precious for me; I leave behind the hindering self-glory. I learn to let go any hurts from all my heart. I even learn the technique of finding excuses for those who do me wrong. So not only do I forgive, but I may also be able to discover my fault through what they say. Hence, I will be continually learning something new. It is a heart that does not feel that it is spiritually better than others.
e) Giving the Glory to God in every success:
+ One of the most important signs that show that a heart is contrite is that when there are times of spiritual victory or spiritual accomplishments, this heart does not ever feel proud but rather feels more contrite and more humbled. This is the work of the grace of God alone. He feels deeply touched because of God’s goodness and tenderness towards him.
4. A heart of a disciple
It is a heart that is always willing and ready to learn.
Practical points:
a) A heart that daily acquires sensitivity to the Spirit of God.
“Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.” 1 Samuel 24:5
b) Thoughtful [reflecting] heart. It is like the heart of Virgin Mary:” Mary treasured up all things pondering them in her heart” [Lk 2:19]
It is a heart that does not neglect what it comes across, but rather thinks about it carefully and revises it in the presence of God to be able to learn from it.
It always seeks what is best for personal growth, for the ministry, for others and for the glory of God.
+ It is a heart that recognises the meaning of the different encounters and stations that God takes the person to:
Whether these stops or stations are short and quick ones like for example during quiet times, or bigger stations like for example during spiritual retreats that are usually planned and arranged by God where there is a special message for the person.
c) A heart that has learned to renew the fellowship with Jesus [to see Him in a new way]
In the story of the transfiguration, the Bible talks about Jesus saying that: “the appearance of His face was altered…” There is a new appearance. This refers to: renewing the fellowship with God; renewing the fellowship with the believers; a new lesson or a new work in the Kingdom of God. [=Renewing everything and guarding against “boring stagnant spiritual life.”]
5. A right and straight heart
Examining the motives and being purified in order to be in harmony with God’s heart since God’s heart is right and righteous.
It is a heart which is tuned with God heart.
How can this heart be shaped and prepared?
The role of the person:
a) Love and forgivenes
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.” (Matthew 18:15-35)
“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:36 – 50)
So it is about receiving forgiveness [of the Cross] to get the conscious cleansed from guilt and other corruptive scars, and on the other hand releasing forgiveness to others in the Body of Christ.
b) The role of Bridal love which is having the Bridegroom revealing His heart to the Bride and receiving from her comfort in His suffering [because of her sincere and deep love].
The role of God:
Ways of reshaping and chastening.
A. God’s principle [Isaiah 28: 23 – 29]
“Give ear and hear my voice, Listen and hear my speech. Does the ploughman keep ploughing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods? When he has levelled its surface, Does he not sow the black cumin And scatter the cumin, Plant the wheat in rows, The barley in the appointed place, And the spelt in its place? For He instructs him in right judgment, His God teaches him. For the black cumin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cumin; but the black cumin is beaten out with a stick.”
“This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom” v.29
We notice from the above verse that there is: a specific time, specific purpose and specific ways for reshaping and chastening.
B. The Different ways
A list of biblical topics in this respect:
- Weaning [Hosea 11:3,4]
- Shaking the nest [Deut 32:11,12]
- Entering the wilderness [Moses, David]
- Continuous changing of circumstances [Jer 48:11]
- The Opponents [1Kings 11:14,23,26]
- Pruning [Jn 15:2]
- Spiritual bankruptcy [Israel going into exile 2Kings 17:7-23]
- Encampment and laying siege (refer to Isaiah 29:1-8 & 37; Jeremiah 10: 18;Hosea 5:14,15)
- Making people ride over our heads: “You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfilment.” (Psalm 66:12)
- Death and Resurrection: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (John 12: 24)
: “so then death is working in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4: 12
- Special callings
It is deeper fellowship with the Lord’s sufferings. [It is complete submission to the Lord and partaking in the Lord’s suffering]:
When a person shows a deep desire towards the Lord and towards living a dedicated life consecrated for the Lord and glorify God in ministry as a result of being responsive to the movement and stirring of the Holy Spirit inside him, special divine dealings start with this person. The Hand of the Lord is stretched out to reshape this person. Sometimes we resist and hinder this divine Hand. However, when these divine dealings start to take place in the life of a certain person, the result will be that this person will live a life of complete submission to the Lord and would say: “not my will, but Your will Lord.”
The Cup: There are 3 stages: These stages are as follows:
- If it is possible let this cup pass from me. [Matt 26:39]
- Not as I will, but as You will. [Matt 26:39]
- Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me? [Jn 18:11]
The Thorn: Paul pleaded 3 times for the thorn to be taken away, but it wasn’t. There are 2 stages here:
- Accepting to go through death for the sake of others so that life may pass on to them! Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying: “so then death is working in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4: 12
- Accepting the thorns of the people in my body (in a body that has been touched by grace) so that healing may pass on to them.
II. He shall do all my will!
1.Getting prepared for the work of God and receiving the ability to do it:
+ It is not only important to accomplish the work of God, but it is also important to do it in His ways and for His pleasure.
+ A need to receive the anointing:
The true anointing includes:
a) The completion of the inner spiritual work [cleansing by the Blood of Jesus and growing in the Spirit.] Quieting and calming oneself before the Lord; continuous purification and washing and finding rest in the Lord; the healing of hidden experiences; to vigil on the mind and the thoughts that come to it. [To keep it clean and watchful].
b) Accepting brokenness as a part of the work of the anointing. [David, Paul/ Ruthà Ruth 1:20,21/4:14-17].
c) Receiving the commission and the vision with the authority. Spirit of God proclaims the Servant to the people he entrusted with [1Sam 3: 20]. Also receiving understanding, power, joy, success; a divine seal for the completion of the work and its verification.
2. The work:
a) The Vision: A need to gather the “living stones” (evangelism)—but also a need to bring them together into a building;” a dwelling place for God.
Moses and the tabernacle:
“Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (Exodus 24:15-18)
“The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” (Exodus 25:1-9)
David and the temple:
“Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.” Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat …”All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.” (1 Chronicles 28:10, 11, 19)
Building the sanctuary:
The purpose of building a sanctuary is:
- The dwelling of the Lord amidst His people; this leads to an actual and true encounter with God; the flow of the power of life, healing and forgiveness; the manifestation of the Kingdom of God.
- This leads also to the preparation of the Bride for His Second Coming. [Eph 5:27]
b) Moving forward in the work of the Kingdom:
Some Highlights:
- The Earth and man’s responsibility. [Ps 115:16]
- Understanding one’s role and one’s responsibility as a priest who fulfils God’s purposes. [Rev 1:6]
- Considering the discerning of the heavenly scene.
- There is a place for intercession and also battling in Spirit
- Understanding the divine timings [1 Chronicles 12:32 /Lk 12: 56]
+ Amen +
