Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Man after God’s own heart

God’s testimony – What is in man?

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On March 11, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Sandwiched between the acceptance of Noah’s offerings and God’s vow to not curse the ground again or smite any living creatures of his, is what would seem like an unfitting statement. This reads “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” While this directly speaks to the just nature of God, meaning, that he would not punish the ground with a curse as he had done, on account of man, deeper scrutiny of the scripture reveals a hidden treasure about the very omniscience of God. God the creator, knew his creation (man). God knew the propensity of man to be continuously evil which was a result of the first Adam’s disobedience.

In the gospel according to John in chapter 2 verses 24 and 25, it is written that Jesus knew all men and he did not have the need for anyone to testify to him about men, for he knew what was in man. In man, is a heart that is inclined to wickedness for in sin are all humans conceived (Psalm 51:5). God knows that the source from which springs the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23), out of that very source proceeds things that define a man, such as evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies (Matthew 15:19-20). This is why we all ought to ask God to create in us a clean heart and to renew a steadfast Sprit within us (Psalm 51:10) so that we would have a heart that is after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

Points to ponder:
God knows what is in man – in you and me. If God was to see into our heart today, what would he say – what would be God’s testimony of you and me? Will he find a heart that is prone to perpetual evil or will he find a pardoned heart that is after his very own?

Genesis 8:21 (KJV)
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Matthew 15:19-20 (KJV)
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: …

Acts 13:22 (KJV)
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

The Armor David Wore :: Powerful Prayer

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On October 26, 2010

In Christian

Though King David is known to have been to be a great warrior and giant killer, he was an even greater warrior of a different kind. He was a prayer warrior. In fact, the Bible has in it various kinds of prayers that David prayed; some of which are the prayer of praises and adoration (1 Chronicles 29:10-13), the prayer of petition (Psalm 70), the prayer of deliverance (Psalm 25), the fasting prayer of intercession (2 Samuel 12:16), and the well known prayer of earnest repentance (Psalm 51).

Though it is not explicitly stated that David prayed before facing the giant Goliath, we can be certain that David faced Goliath not on his own strengths, skills and savvy, but in the name of the Lord, with whom he had an intimate relationship. Such a relationship is only possible when one spends time (and may I say in communication/prayer) with the Lord. David’s one desire was that he would dwell in the house of the Lord and gaze on the beauty of the Lord all the days of his life and to enquire (pray/talk with/seek) Him in His temple (Psalm 27:4). We share the deepest of our feelings and plans with those whom we love and spend time with. It is certainly not far fetched to recognize that David spent so much time with the Lord, talking with Him (in prayer), that God shared his deepest feelings and plans with David, so much so that God was able to testify that David was a man after God’s own heart.

Ephesians 6:11-18 teaches us about the items that make the Armor of God, and often many of us stop with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, but the Scripture continues to inform us that we must continuously (unceasingly) “Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;“. For us to be victorious in spiritual warfare, we must fight on our knees with ceaseless prayer from our hearts and lips. One thing the devil and his demons dread is to see a sinner on his knees praying for the Salvation of his/her soul or a saint on his/her knees in prayer and supplication in the Spirit for themselves and other saints.

When the disciples asked Jesus as to why they were unable to cast a demon out of a possessed boy, Jesus’ response was that such a kind can be cast out only by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:14-21). Without prayer (and fasting), some of the demonic strongholds cannot be broken. To hold the sword of the Spirit (word of God) and not be in prayer is akin to having a sheathed sword; it would not be optimal in spiritual battle (against demonic strongholds). The breaking of chains and the bringing down of giants is possible by prayer (communion with God).

Are/Am you/I a prayer warrior? In fact, to pray is to engage in battle.

Ephesians 6:18 (KJV)
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The Armor David Wore :: Breastplate of Righteousness

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On October 19, 2010

In Christian

The Bible records that David, the shepherd boy chose not to wear the armor of a soldier, that King Saul armed him with, when he averred to fight the giant, Goliath (1 Samuel 17:38-39). But David did wear another kind of armor, an armor that was more effective than the physical armor that he chose not to wear, against an armored foe. It was a spiritual armor that He wore.

A breastplate guards for the most part the main and important organs in a human body. One of the vital organs is the heart. When the heart stops beating, one no longer lives. David was known to be a man after God’s own heart. In other words, he guarded his heart so that his life was one that was pleasing to God. The Bible tells us that out of the heart comes the issues (wellspring) of life (Proverbs 4:23) and at the same time, out of it comes the things that defile a man (Matthew 15:19-20). At the time of the battle with Goliath, David wore the breastplate of righteousness, standing strong with an emboldened heart that did not fail in fear, for He trusted in the One called The RIGHTEOUS (Jeremiah 23:6). The Lord is my Righteousness (Romans 3:22).

We must also recognize that the man whose heart was after God’s own heart, at a later stage in his life, lets his guard down, when he lets his heart wander away from God. In other words, the moment when David took off his breastplate of righteousness as he saw Bathsheba, he faltered and fell into the sin of adultery and murder. Like Samson, the man who fought the lion in the fields, now could not fight the lust within, because he took off the guard (breastplate) over his heart. He let his heart to be wounded as he grieved over the life of his son, and even worse as he felt that the joy of God’s Salvation could be taken from him (Psalm 51:12).

Let us be fervent in our prayers to be always armed with the breastplate of Righteousness, lest we let our hearts to be pierced.

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Heart’s desires given

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On February 18, 2010

In Christian

Take a moment and think about what your heart desires. If you were granted an opportunity to get whatever your heart desired, what would it be? Think about it.

My dear friend and brother in Christ, Suresh Chandra Bose Ganesh Bose shared a beautiful verse in response to the article posted on “Delight in the Lord” from Psalm 37:4 which states Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. While this verse on the onset may seem like a sure recipe for success, for getting anything our heart fancied, I wondered, what if the desires of the heart are not in line with God’s plan or will? King David who is attributed to be a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) is an example we can learn from. Though King David is attributed for having a heart after God’s own heart and known for having delighted himself in the Lord (as is evident from his Songs/Psalms), his act of adultery (with Bathsheba) and murder (of Uriah) was certainly not according to God’s plan, but instead something his heart desired in carnality. His actions brought displeasure to God and pain and dishonor to himself and the ones he loved. He was rebuked by God through His prophet Nathan and reprimanded by God for his sin.  God who is Love personified does not delight in evil, but always rejoices (delights) with the truth.

So if God is to grant the desires of our heart, we ought to have our heart after His own. When we are aligned with God’s own heart, His strength is made perfect in our weakness and shown to those around us. The assurance of His grace being sufficient for us, despite the circumstances, can help us delight in Him, no matter what. 2 Chronicles 16:9 states that the eyes of the LORD are searching to and fro throughout the whole earth, to find the one whose heart is perfect toward God so that God’s strength can be shown through them.

Points to ponder:

  • Is our heart after God’s own heart?
  • Are you/me in the line of sight of God as He searches the whole world for one whose heart is perfect toward Him?
  • Now, take a moment and think about what your heart desires. If you were granted an opportunity to get whatever your heart desired, what would it be? Think about it.

Let it be said of us that our heart was after God’s own heart, which means as we delight in Him, our heart desires (which is really His heart’s desire) will be given/granted.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (KJV)
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Psalm 37:4 (KJV)
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

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