All the desires of your heart

January 22, 2008

All the Desires of Your Heart:

Ps. 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Desires - From H7592; a request:—desire, petition. (H7592) A primitive root; to inquire; by implication to request; by extension to demand:—ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.

Heart - A form of H3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything:

Alright, I'm going to look at a lot of verses, although not every reference to desire/desires by any means! I will begin with negative references to desires.

Negative References:

Ps. 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

Here is a great reference to check yourself and see if all you care about is stuff. Is it your only goal? Are you covetous? Focused on having what other people have or better than them? Or perhaps you just go around telling everyone about how much God has blessed you (better than he's blessed them, of course!). That is a wicked attitude in connection with desires.

Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

On the same note, if all we are desiring is to be above everyone, greater than everyone, or the best… then Jesus says we are as good as last in his Kingdom order. Things don't work that way. It all comes down to motive. I don't believe he is saying here that we cannot desire things to better ourselves, but it is about why… the heart reasons.

Ecc. 6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Just sometimes all those dreams are worthless, because what you have now is just fine! Weigh it and determine if those goals and dreams are deserving of your desire.

Then we have Mark 10:35-40

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

Now he doesn't actually tell them that they will not sit on his right or left hand, but clearly they asked something that they cannot have an immediate answer to. Sometimes our desires are not desires that can be answered.

Positive references to desire:

Prov. 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Prov. 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Prov. 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Prov. 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

Prov. 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

I guess these are pretty self explanatory, but basically, righteous people desire good things (so makes sense that God would give them their desires!), desires fulfilled make our life abundant (tree of life - isn't that the kind of life we are supposed to have?), accomplished desire is actually contrasted with the foolish man, desires lead a man to seek wisdom, and it is desire that is a source of kindness.

Now here are some things that men in the Bible have desired -

David desired to live his whole life over again in surrender to God even if he didn't have an everlasting covenant, and he desired the Lord above all else:

II Sam. 23:5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

Ps. 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

Judah said that they sought the Lord with their whole desire:

II Chron 15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

Nehemiah desired to fear the name of the Lord:

Neh. 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Job desired to reason with God and to have an answer from God.

Job 13:3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Job. 31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

Isaiah says that the land of Judah will one day sing that their desire is the name of the LORD.

Is. 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

Paul's desire was that Israel would be saved, that fruit would abound to his fellow Christians at Philippi, and that the church of Colossi would be filled with all the knowledge of his will.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Phil 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

Col. 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

The Corinthian Church had great desire to get right from sin.

2 Cor 7:11 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.

Good things to desire:

I Cor. 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

I Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

I Pet. 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Well, we are pretty much commanded to desire spiritual gifts and the Word of God… and for all you men out there it's a good thing to desire the office of a bishop!

The Lord's Desire:

Song. 7:10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

It doesn't get much better than that! Seeing's as my Jesus' desire is toward's me… His beloved!!... Of course he wants to give me my heart's desire. That's what a bridegroom does.

Sometimes gaining the desires of our heart seems to hinge on something:

Ps. 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Ps. 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Prov. 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

Ps. 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

So we see that the Lord hears/grants the desires of the humble and the righteous, those that fear him, and those who delight in him. But does this exclude all others from receiving their desires? Who is righteous? As Christians we all have the righteousness of God, so we are all included in that verse… I suppose the others focus more on Christian who like David make God their one thing. These verses do not say what the desires are that will be answered, nor does it say that because we delight in him our desires will be his, although I believe that that often happens as we draw closer and closer to him.

Gaining our desires with no apparent strings attatched:

Ps. 21:2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

Ps. 78:29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

Ps. 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Here we see God granting desires without it saying why. The first one was David, so we could conclude that he was righteous, humble, feared God or delighted in Him, etc… so of course he got what he wanted, but it doesn't say that's why… but just in case that's what we decide it means lets look at the others. Psalm 78 is a song of Asaph about the children of Israel… and that clearly had nothing to do with them! In fact in verse 21 you find that God had just been pretty mad at them, and if you know the story, the only reason he sent them the quail in verse 29 was because they were whining… again! So, not a good example of someone being humble, fearing God, or doing something to get a desire granted, and yet God gives! Psalm 145 we see that God satisfies the desire of every living thing. That would include us. He satisfies my mouth with good things! (Psalm 103:5) And now my personal favorite in Mark, if you believe you SHALL have it! That's what it says.

Now, we have seen that desire can be good and bad, but it's mostly a good thing in Scripture. It is primarily spiritual in focus, but when it comes to requesting things there is no limit to what we desire. God never says "You may only desire spiritual things," In fact, on the contrary, we see proof that it could be for material things with the last three verses I quoted. But we should remember that we need to guard our desires from covetousness and boastfulness as we seek to be more like Christ.

Lift Him Higher and Higher

Nov 21, 2007
I just want to take this moment to praise Jesus a little bit. I don't think we do that often enough in our daily living. Lift Him higher and higher! For He is not only our Saviour, Redeemer and Friend, but He is the Great I Am, the very God and Creator of the Universe! Alelluia! Praise His name! Get excited for Jesus Christ a little bit today!! Love him out loud!

My testimony

August 17, 2007
During my early teenage years I doubted my salvation. I only went through the outward motions of Christianity, but I had no desire to have anything personal with God. When I was asked to give my testimony, I had to ask my mom for all the details. My own memories were very faint, and I had no peace inside that I was saved. But I ignored those feelings because everyone else was so certain that I was, and I didn't want to seem silly. One time I went forward at youth camp to talk about getting saved, but my counselor spent the whole time convincing me I already was, so I figured it was useless to say anything to anyone else.

I met my future husband Chris at church. We were friends for several years, and that friendship grew into love. By this time had I been honest with myself I knew that I wasn't saved, but it was much easier to go on as if I was. When the Pastor asked me how sure I was that Chris was the one for me I told him "As sure as I know that I'm saved," And I knew it was a lie. We were married on September 15, 2001. The longer we were married, the more I doubted that I was truly saved. It bothered me that Chris really enjoyed all the "Christian stuff." He read his Bible all the time, prayed all the time, and really, genuinely walked with God. I didn't have any of that, and didn't want any of that. It was enough for me that I knew the facts of the Bible front to back, that I went to church all the time, and that I was a good person. I became very angry at him for spending so much time doing things that I didn't want to do. When I was at church I would always try to slip out during the invitation because I hated the feelings that I would get. The pastor would ask if anyone needed to be saved and I would stand there gripping my hands together to keep from raising them all the while saying to myself, "You were saved when you were four, you don't need to do it again." And so many times I would hear the words, "I don't want to end this invitation, we will sing one more verse because I feel there is one person here who needs to come forward to be saved." And I would think to myself, "I know that it is me, but I can't do it." The longer I was around my husband, the more certain I became that I was not saved. But I never told him or anyone else for fear of what they might think of me. I started to think up as many excuses as possible to miss church, and always left the room when Chris spent time with God.

In May of 2002 we attended Camp Meeting at Fellowship Baptist Church and heard Terry Unruh preach about Sri Lanka, and how he needed help passing out ten and a half million tracts. We volunteered to go. I was very excited because I was finally going to get the missionary adventure I had always wanted. Meanwhile I reassured myself all the time that I had to be saved because of all the times God had answered my prayers and done things for me, and because my mom said that I prayed when I was four. I pretty much convinced myself that I was okay. In fact, I even looked for proofs of salvation. When I would lead someone to the Lord I would get all excited and then say, "I must be saved because I am happy when someone else gets saved," not realizing that I was just happy because I was being a 'good Christian.'

On Sunday night, March 3, 2003 at church I went forward during the invitation. I told God that I was tired of the way I had been feeling and that He needed to leave me alone. I then said that I didn't know for sure what it was He wanted but the answer was definitely NO. On the way home I was terrified, and told Chris that I had to get home so I would be safe because I was afraid that God was going to kill me. I actually thought I would be safe in my own house! Chris asked me why, and I told him what I had been going through. We talked for a very long time most of which was me giving excuses such as how I didn't want to be one of the hypocrites I grew up around, I was afraid that I was going be forced to be just like my parents (that's a story all in itself), God had been so good to me, I had led people to the Lord, I had had prayers answered, and my mom said I had prayed when I was four. Of course his answers were that none of those were good reasons to go to hell, but still I resisted. Then he asked if Jesus was in my heart. I had no idea how to answer that question. So he asked me if we were married, and of course, I said we were. Then he asked if I had to think back to our wedding day, which I hadn't; I knew right then. The last question he asked was if Jesus was in my heart right then. I answered that I didn't know, and started to cry. I knew then what I needed to do but I was still scared to do it so I asked to pray after him. He started out with "Dear Jesus, this is Becky, I know I'm saved," and I couldn't say it, I just cried more. Then he said "Dear Jesus, this is Becky, I'm not sure if I'm saved," and I couldn't even say that. Finally he said "Dear Jesus, this is Becky, I'm not saved," and I felt this intense inner struggle. I knew that I had to say those words. I prayed with him, and then sent him out and prayed again by myself because I wanted to know for sure that it was the real thing.

Just a few weeks later we went to Sri Lanka. It was a life-changing experience for me. Missions became more than adventure; it was giving other people a chance to be saved just like I was. I was baptized a few weeks after our trip at Bethel Baptist Church in Ravenna.

God gave me the verse Romans 2:4 about a month after I was saved, showing me that all of the things I thought were proofs of salvation were the things that He did to lead me to salvation! Praise God for His goodness that leads to repentance!

Adendum:

What's interesting in all this is since then Becky has died! I no longer live, but Christ! And also I've changed so much as a person.... Becky really no longer exists! I'm Rebecca or Becca now. And it's so funny as I look back over all my fears... all the excuses that I had... none of them were real. And as I think about that time I remember how intense that struggle was. How real Satan was as he whispered in my ear trying to keep me from making the most important choice of my life. And Jesus is HERE! With me! I know that He is here... and I haven't doubted for one moment since that day. I can't describe it to you... but once you have Him, you KNOW! And I've learned that Jesus doesn't desire cookie cutters. He made each of us the way we are; unique, individual, with a purpose! His purpose! Only I can do what He wants of me. That verse in Scripture about the unsaved being Spiritually blind is so true... because on the other side it becomes so clear. And you just marvel at what God has done! I know I do.

"You are a marvelous God and I am so in love with you!"

Cherubims and Shekinah Glory

August 13, 2007

This is a study I did today on cherubims and the Shekinah glory of God:

I am uncertain as to the exact number of cherubims that are in heaven, although many think there are seven. I would say that the number is unknown because in Genesis it is a pluralized form with no exact number, so to me it could have been two or more (unimportant details again, but can't be exact). In Ezekiel it says four were around the throne, but when it says that one of the cherubs reached in for a coal it does not say that it was one of the cherubs who was one of the four. In Ezekiel there are four mentioned of course of this kind, but once again does not limit the amound of other kinds of cherubims. And of course Satan was the cherub who would have been above the four who surrounded the throne.

Ezekiel 10 it describes the four cherubs that surround the throne of God. They surround His glory. They have the likenesses of a man, an eagle, an ox, and a lion these are the four facets of Jesus Christ!!!

Interesting how everything that He created was created to show a truth!

These are found in the gospels as we see that Matthew shows Jesus as the the King - the Lion. Mark shows Jesus as the Servant - the Ox (a Preacher). Luke shows Jesus as the Son of Man - the man, and John shows Jesus as the Son of God - the eagle (who soars above the other three!)

Which is why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels-- they have the same viewpoint but never quite show Jesus as who he Truly is- John is just so high above all of them! Jesus is GOD!!! :0)

We see these four facets appear again here:

Revelation 4:6-7

Quote:

"And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle."

Perhaps our dear brother John thought that cherubims were beasts? Or perhaps there really are cherubims and beasts? Interesting anyway. Of course they probably are separate going by the description that Ezekiel gives of cherubims...

Now I will jump over to Shekinah glory for a moment.

Shekinah glory was in the cloud and the pillar of fire that led the children of Israel across the Red Sea and through the Wilderness. It is also on Sinai when Moses saw God and came down 'glowing.'

Back to the cherubims:

2 Kings 19:15

Quote:

"And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth."

Isaiah 37:16

Quote:

"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, that art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth."

And we see this all throughout the Old Testament in various ways... God is always dwelling between the cherubims.

Now we move to the time of the Old Testament temple:

The Shekinah glory that dwelt in the temple between the two cherubims was the full glory of God, yet it was only a symbol of what was to come as we see in I Kings 8:27 as Solomon refers to God dwelling in the temple,

Quote:

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee: how much less this house that I have builded?"

and Acts 7:48

Quote:

"Hobeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,"

He was there but He was separate from the people... He could not be revealed in His fullness.

But God did choose to allow His glory to rest upon His chosen people of Israel, not only in the temple, but also as a nation: Isaiah 60:1-2 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."

We have the Shekinah showing up again in the New Testament with the angels in Luke 2:9

Quote:

"And the glory of the Lord shone round about them"

as they announced the Saviour's birth. Why? you may ask.... hmm.. because of course! The ultimate Glory of the Lord had come to earth! Refer back to I Kings 8:27 Will God indeed dwell on the earth? OH YES!!! He did indeed dwell on the earth! Matthew 17:5

Quote:

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

shows the Glory of God upon Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration.

The other word in the New Testament that I found that translates closest to Shekinah (that exact word does not happen) is Romans 9:4

Quote:

"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;"

Which is the passage that shows what Christ has in store for those who believe Him and are counted part of Spiritual Israel. (context Paul is sad for those who have these promises available to them but goes on to say that they are not all Israel that are of Israel) So here we see that we are partakers of the actual Glory of God!!!
And as that veil was rent at the cross the shekinah glory was free for all who accepted the sacrifice of the beloved Son Jesus to enter boldly and experience it in their own lives. I have seen the Glory of the Lord! And as Moses may it be said of me that I have a shine that is so bright that others cannot dare to behold! "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace" Heb 4:16

And to bring this back to the cherubims (for I don't like to leave loose ends... everything is always connected) In Christ we are seated in heavenly places... we are one in Him... in actuality as He is seated on the right hand of the Father, so are we... but as He and His Father are one... He sits on the throne of Heaven... therefore so do we... we are, as saved people in the midst of the four cherubims, the four facets of Jesus Christ! IN HIM! (Keeping in mind that the vessel NEVER becomes the contents and the contents NEVER becomes the vessel... we are simply filled with Him and are given the greatest honour ever bestowed upon man. No wonder Satan tries so hard to defeat us.)
Revelation 3:21

Quote:

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

I'm amazed at all the references to cherubims and God, and the glory of God... this has been fun! I could just keep on going...

Oh... one more addition...

II Corinthians 4:17

Quote:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

That's the end of the matter! God has in store for us great Shekinah! His Glory! (Shekinah meaning glory dwelling and weight of glory having that same connotation)

Have you forgotten us?

Seriously, God... I know that you are all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing and everything, but where the heck are you? I mean that with all due respect... but come on. Things are tough. Things are hard. Things are worse than they've been in a long time. There's no visible way out. And it doesn't look like you are coming with the rescue squad anytime soon either. What's up? I really don't have much else to say except that if our help doesn't come from the Lord, we don't have any hope at all.... and if we don't have any hope what sets us apart from the unsaved people of the world? I'm asking, no begging you for direction, guidance, mercy, compassion, HELP! because you are the only one who can provide it. I'm asking you upon your very name and reputation. Please Lord. Where are you?

Dream Giver

I just finished part 1 of the Dream Giver. Wow! It's amazing. It was hard not to cry through the whole thing. I'm still left sitting here wondering what my dream is. It's all well and good that Ordinary got a Big Dream from the Dream Giver. But he had a pretty feather to show for it. And he remembered having that dream when he was a child. And his dad remembered him having that dream when he was a child. It's really not fair. I don't have a feather. I don't know what my dream is. I can't remember. I remember all kinds of crazy thing that I wanted to do when I was a kid (In thinking about this I've also remembered wanting to be a journalist [not just any journalist, but an investigative reporter who travels all over the world for the best most insane stories!] and an MAF pilot, a pilot of a 747, and an ice skater). My husband said it's really no good trying to dig it up... only God can tell me, just like in the story. The Dream Giver came and whispered in Ordinary's ear that he had a Big Dream. I know that I have one. God has at least told me that much. In fact, in so doing he has again giving me reason to live... I'm here for a reason, I have to discover what it is!! But why hasn't he revealed that reason to me? Why is it so obscured from my view? If I have a purpose, and if he wants me to live to fulfill that purpose, why isn't he just handing it to me on a silver platter?

Oh, the 'why's of life!!