Fine Art in the Heart
THE PRIZE OF LIFE
“I REALLY LIKE this article! The imagery is warming to my heart. I like seeing in my mind Him walking the halls of my heart, opening each door that may have been barred and scarred with wounds, and seeing his redeeming portrait there!” B., TX
What know I of Christ? What pictures of Him do I possess in the gallery of my heart? Who is He to me? Who do I say that He is? What impressions of Him remain of all the preaching I have heard? Of the Scripture I have studied? Do I know Him in various aspects of His attributes, or, have I not retained that which I have been privileged to hear?
“Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” Luke 8:18
Is there not the imminent danger of losing that which I do not retain of the knowledge of God which I have heard?
“That I may know him.” Philippians 3:10
Knowing God. Is this not that for which we have been created and apprehended? Is this not what that great apostle sought so fervently after?
“That I may know him…Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus (to know Him)…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (to know Him). Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you…let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me (as I seek to Know Christ more)…” Philippians 3:10-17
Jesus Christ is the Perfect, Permanent, Portrait of God.
Does the image of our LORD Jesus Christ appear upon the walls of your heart? If so, to what degree might that be?
There are deceptive extra-biblical writings that are designed to mislead (Colossians 2:8-10). It’s important to read God’s Word, literal Word, the King James Bible, for ourselves. That’s when all the deception was vanquished for me – that’s when all the false imagery and notions and philosophies begin to be cut away from your heart and mind and when the true image of our God begins to emerge, to be etched upon the canvass of our hearts (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.). God’s Word cannot and will not begin to get into me until I get into it. The pure portrait of who He is can only begin to be brushed upon the table of our hearts as we diligently, faithfully, daily ingest His words.
The incorruptible seed which is His Word, is encoded with His nature, which is etched upon the table of the seekers heart as it sprouts forth life. The image of God is inherent in His Word, which was granted us that we might know Him. (1 Pet. 1:23; Rom. 1:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4; John 5:39,20:31…) Truly this is the ‘prize of life’ – to know Him. (John 17:3; Phil. 3:10)
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“The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11
Remember that the seed is powerless to produce unless it is sown. Until it is buried in the ground, a seed will not begin to germinate and sprout forth. So it is with the Word, which, according to Christ, is the “seed.” Until it is planted in the soil of one’s heart, it will not begin to germinate and bring forth a root, then fruit, even the image of God.
Is your heart being cultivated by the Holy Spirit and your own will, to see and receive Christ, the Prize of life? Is the seed, the Word, being planted into your heart on a daily basis to bring forth the revelation of Christ in your heart? Can one expect a crop unless his heart is receiving the seed? Are we praying that Christ would be revealed to us?
PICTURES IN THE HEART
But oh, what a picture gallery is the hungry, godly heart which owns a growing collection of Messianic portraits upon its garnished walls. At its corridor (entrance) there is the Christ of redemption, then as you go in further, there is the Christ of provision, the Christ of healing and comfort and love and chastening and grace and deliverance and mercy and justice and peace and forgiveness… Surely, this is the true treasure of life – to see Christ in all of His diverse attributes, now and eternal.
Surely there are a multitude of attributes He possesses. There are four Gospels not one. Four human scribes who penned His glory, each from a different direction. Christ is the Theme of all of holy Scripture. Over forty men, who wrote the Scriptures under God’s inspiration, saw the Multi-faceted Diamond (Messiah) from different angles, yet it sparkled from each nonetheless. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
He is our all in all. He is every single thing we will ever need Him to be – Savior, Mender of our broken hearts, Healer, Deliverer, Protector, Counselor, Guide, etc… As He told Pharaoh, king of Egypt, so is He today – “I am that I am.” He is the Author and Finisher (Completer) of the faith He has begun in us. He is all we will ever need and much more. Do we see Him as such?
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (whatever you need), and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Oh that another portrait would be hung upon the open and waiting walls of this heart, as I seek His face. Oh that I would see my infinite Master in a fresh new way – a new attribute – that I might understand and know Him, so that this life might be filled with portraits of the Savior – that I might worship as Moses, with new pictures and purpose. Is this not why I am alive – to know Him and His ways? How can I possibly be perfectly pleasing to Him if I do not see Him for who He is?
NEW PICTURES FOR MOSES
Moses so desperately cried out to see His glory – to see the Lord in a new measure of His glory. Exodus 33:13,18… “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people…And he said, I beseech thee,show me thy glory.” Because He sought God, Moses was told by the Lord: “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest…And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken (asked): for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” Exodus 33:14,17
Then God told Moses to stand upon a rock because He was going to reveal Himself to Moses in a new way (Exodus 33:18-23). The Lord showed Moses His “back parts.” v23 At this unveiling Moses worshipped in a whole new way. “Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” Exodus 34:8
According to God’s prescription, the Bible, turning to the Lord, like Moses did, is the key to seeing Him in a fresh, new way:
“Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:16
Now there was a new picture in Moses’ heart gallery of divine art. He knew God in yet more of His infinite characteristics, and could from there forward reflect upon Him in light of those ways. Here is what the eternal God revealed to Moses in His visitation:
Exodus 34:5-7 “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Israel had just rebelled in worshipping a golden calf and needed God’s mercy. (Exodus 32)
In what new ways did Moses now see God for who He is? Here is what God’s revelation to Moses included:
According to Exodus 34:5-7, God Is:
· Merciful
· Gracious
· Longsuffering
· Abundant in goodness
· Abundant in truth
· Keeping mercy
· Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin
· Will by no means clear the guilty
· Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
WILL GOD ADD HIS ART TO THE GALLERY OF MY HEART?
Does not the New Testament disclose to us that we are “partakers of the divine nature” through the “exceeding great and precious promises” of Holy Scripture? 2 Peter 1:4 The message conveyed here seems to indicate that the power and Word of God privilege us to have a deposit of “the divine nature” in our redeemed souls. Could this also reveal that we are then blessed to see a touch of His “divine nature” this side of Heaven?
He is ever so present in that heart with which He has been continually invited to commune. That heart which cries out to know Him and to see His holiness. His love can be found in that heart where He has been faithfully sought after. Your Creator has given you a promise – He promised that He will reveal Himself to you, if you will fervently seek Him:
“If thou seek him, he will be found of thee.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
His presence abides in that heart which He has transformed into His resting place. He is the Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price, permanently fixed within the heart which seeks His face. (Ps 101:6; Is. 66:2)
We can be filled with who He is. For God has promised:
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
“They” are those who “hunger and thirst” after Him – to know Him. Like Moses, when we desire and behold Him, we are changed into His image, even the image of Christ to which we have been predestined to be conformed:
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Like Moses, when we “behold” and see His “glory” in a new way, we are “changed…from glory to glory.”
TREASURE IN THE HEART
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
Is it time for you to pray like Moses prayed…”Show me thy glory.” Exodus 33:18?
PRAYER: LORD, please help me to know you more today. Help me to enter into a place with You that I have never been. LORD, make me holy as You are holy. Please draw me Father as I seek Your face with a whole heart. Show me Yourself that I may know and love Thee more. In Jesus’ name, amen.
For a topical study of deeper proportions on this subject, see The Blood of Jesus.
If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here okay: Born Again: What is It?
Sign up for free email devotional HERE… The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.
Abiding
“They that are Christ’s” [podcast]
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
We “fight” by dying and not by rising up:
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12).
When we die downward, Christ, who is “the resurrection and the life” raises our lives upward, in His infinite divine power to glorify Him (John 11:25). This is exactly how our LORD Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave!
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:14
You may be wondering why you haven’t overcome sin. Here’s how to overcome sin – and beware of those not preaching this cross! (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 5:34, etc.).
“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
Read that again!
No one is “freed from sin” until they are “dead” – crucified with Christ.
The truly God-fearing man realizes his utter need for the grace of Christ. He realizes that he must continue, to abide in Christ, to “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12). He views salvation as a present reality and responsibility—to remain in an intimate, abiding relationship with Christ (John 15:1-16); Colossians 2:6-7).
Those who don’t walk in the cross lifestyle, will revert to type— sinful type.
The authentic disciple builds his whole life around the Bible, the cross and the throne of God (Jeremiah 17:12; Hebrews 4:14-16).
WHEN our love for God is supreme, we will daily seek Him.
When we are hungering and thirsting after His righteousness, He is filling us with His overcoming, victorious grace (Matthew 5:6).
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
WHATEVER you do, never get away from the cross message – the crucified life Jesus calls every one who will be His to.
Many fancy their devotion to very intelligent men in ministry and yet, only God knows what’s in their hearts. Having mega intellectual knowledge, understanding and the ability to articulate, in no way means a man is crucified with Christ. And if he’s not “crucified with Christ” he’s not overcoming sin – which means he’s living in sin.
“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]
Prayer: I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ that liveth in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at the STORE page and amazon. English and Spanish.
The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]
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Abiding
The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The reason God gave His only begotten Son was to clear you of all your sin in His regeneration, to bring you into His eternal family for fellowship with Him.
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3
When God clears a man at the moment of salvation or thereafter, so should we! When any man truly repents there will be definite fruit to prove it. When one obeys sound biblical doctrine the result will always be that he will bring forth fruit to demonstrate he truly repented, and is cleared by the LORD and must be cleared by us. After the fornicator in the church of Corinth repented, he was cleared and the LORD, through Paul, instructed the believers in that assembly to forgive, clear, and love him.
“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
Remember this from the prodigal son parable our LORD taught us?
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance … 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:7, 10
When someone returns to the LORD from sin, regardless of their past, with or without Christ, there is great celebration in Heaven and should be also among the saints of Christ on the earth.
A fresh reading of Luke 15 is highly recommended where Jesus gives us 3 parables to teach the restorative love of God!
WATCH THIS: When we repent we openly renounce and are clear…. God is good.
Godly Sorrow brings the blessings of God and a clearing of past sin.
“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what CLEARING OF YOURSELVES, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be CLEAR in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:11
Example: Remember how the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5 was turned over to Satan and then repented and God cleared Him? Read 2 Corinthians 2 for the “CLEARING.” In this verse above, Paul is addressing this very issue and the sorrow, diligent obedience, and consequent “CLEARING” the Corinthian saints experienced. First they allowed the fornicator to function in their midst whereas Paul had to come in and instruct them to turn the transgressor over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5). Then, as a result, the backslider repented.
“He says, what clearing of yourselves. This does not mean that they tried to justify or excuse themselves, but rather that by taking resolute action, they tried to clear themselves of any further guilt or blame in the matter. Their change in attitude led to this change in action. What indignation may refer to their attitude toward the sinner because of the reproach he brought on the name of Christ. But more probably it refers to their attitude toward themselves for ever having allowed such a thing to go on for so long without taking action on it. Paul then adds: In all things you ‘ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.’ Of course, we are not to understand by this that they were never to blame, but simply that they had done everything they could to take the proper action and to act as they should have acted in the first place.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Clearing of yourselves – From either sharing in, or approving of, his sin. Indignation – That ye had not immediately corrected the offender. Fear – Of God’s displeasure, or lest I should come with a rod. Vehement desire – To see me again. Zeal – For the glory of God, and the soul of that sinner. Yea, revenge – Ye took a kind of holy revenge upon yourselves, being scarce able to forgive yourselves. In all things ye – As a church. Have approved yourselves to be pure – That is, free from blame, since ye received my letter.” John Wesley
“In all things, etc. – In the whole of your conduct in this affair since ye have received my letter, ye have approved yourselves to be clear, ἁγνους; not only to be clear of contumacy and obstinate persistence in your former conduct, but to have done all in the compass of your power to rectify the abuses which had crept in among you. The Corinthians were not clear, i.e. innocent or void of blame in the fact, but they were clear of all blame in their endeavors to remove the evil.” Adam Clarke
The Corinthian saints repented, obeyed God by turning the unrepentant sinner in their midst over to Satan, and were then forgiven and cleared of their sin of allowing the un-repentant fornicator to remain in their company (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2 and 7).
Today, is the LORD showing you something in your life that you must turn back over to Satan where it came from – to rid your heart, your life of a sin?
Interestingly, this 2 Corinthians 7 chapter begins with this:
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
When we simply agree with the LORD, His Word, and turn to Him afresh and away from what He calls sin, confessing it to Him for what it is, He will immediately forgive us and promises to grant us a clearing, a clear conscience.
“Now the end (chief purpose) of the commandment (written Word) is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 1:5
The LORD made it clear that He intends for His children to be possessed with a clear conscience which is a gift He alone provided through the perfect sacrifice of His only begotten Son.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14
“A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.” Austin Phelps
Have you ever had a past sin nag you for many years after you committed and even confessed and were forgiven for it?
WHEN we DO what is right, then and only then do we have the bless-ed confirmation of a clear conscience. AND, doing what’s right begins with re-turning, turning afresh to our LORD and confessing all sin.
“God is greater than our heart”
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:18-21
In fellowshipping with other men who serve our LORD, I’ve often heard them say how that sins they committed in the past still bother them in a hindering way. Yet, we know that God knows all these things and “is greater than our heart” and provided a complete salvation through the blood of His only begotten Son!
“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3
Even though 90% of today’s pastors prove themselves to be false by never mentioning this, we must never ever lose sight of the truth that God is “Holy, holy, holy” and He commands us to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8).
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Are we presently allowing sin in our own lives, including keeping company with someone who claims to be Christ’s and yet is living in sin? Are you in need of doing an inventory check on your current friends – namely those who name Jesus as their Savior? Read this unchanging divine truth and note the many specific sins listed here:
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
When we truly repent and obey the counsel, the Word of God, only then will we be cleared in conscience and before God and His people. True repentance always, without exception, brings forth a changed life – a life set apart to the LORD (Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 19:1-10).
The fact that our LORD is correcting us today clearly proves how much He loves us. When the LORD points out our sin, it’s because He loves us, He wants us to repent, to return to Him, agree with Him, and depart from that sin. This is all so He can clear us!
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Refreshing Always Follows Fresh Repentance
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Read 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Corinthians 2 and 7.
Yes, we’ve all been hurt by others and we have also hurt others, right? Let’s take accountability for our own evil and watch what God does. Blaming others without taking the blame due to us is a deep, endless ditch.
This morning I prayed “LORD, if I have angered or hurt someone, anyone, please let it be revealed so that amends can be made, in Jesus’ name, amen Father.”
In this passage below, our LORD is addressing being easily angered as well as making amends when we intentionally or unintentionally have harmed another.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly…” Matthew 5:22-25
PRAYER: My Father in Heaven, I come to You now on the sole basis of the holy name and blood of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Here and now I ask You LORD to convict, grant repentance, and complete clearing of any and all sin in my life. Please sanctify my life dear LORD. LORD Jesus thank You for dying on that cross, shedding Your precious blood for all my sins. Please bless me with a oneness with You and the Father and a clear conscience. Be glorified in my life dear LORD. I love You LORD Jesus. Amen.
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Abiding
Risen with Christ [podcast]
Resurrection Grace (below)
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” Colossians 3:1-7
Those who teach that unholy people will be in glory are false teachers:
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27
Charles Pray writes: “Father, please help us Lord to turn from our wicked ways and let You come into our hearts so we may have eternal life with You in Your kingdom. Time is running out for the hour is late when soon no one will be able to be saved or able to call upon the name of the Lord. Burden our hearts Lord for all those who still do not know you as Lord and Savior in their lives. Let us become the light we are called to be in this darkened world so others will come to know and receive your Son Jesus as Savior in their life. Amen!”
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