Needed: A New Heart-1

The turning point, or major key, in getting to know God personally is the “new birth.” Jesus said it is impossible to really understand God or have a close relationship with Him until we are born again, or experience a spiritual heart conversion to God. Until that time, we know about God or about theology and religion, but we don’t know Him in a personal, saving way.

The reason for this is that we are born dead, spiritually speaking. The Bible teaches this in many places.  Ephesians 2:1 says we are dead, but God resurrects us to new life when we trust in Jesus as our personal Savior. Titus 3:3-7 describes this same before and after experience. Baptism, Paul says, is the symbol that we have been raised from the dead to live a new life just like Jesus was when he died and rose again. We don’t need to be better; we need a resurrection, which is just what God promises to do for us in the new birth.

The heart of our problem is the human heart. When the Bible speaks of “the heart” it means the core of who we are—our will, mind, and emotions. Solomon wrote, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Prov. 4:23

Since the Fall (the entrance of sin into our world), we are born with sinful hearts. David wrote, “I was born in iniquity; in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5). He means he was born naturally oriented toward sin and that sin was a part of his nature. Later he wrote: “Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies.” (Psalm 58:3). Since all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious perfection (Romans 3:23), Ps. 58:3 applies to everyone.

Jesus described the heart this way:  “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.” (Matthew 15:19).

The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) And Paul wrote “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away. . . .There is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12).

What does this mean? One writer puts it this way:  “It is impossible to change ourselves. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." "The sinful heart is at enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Job 14:4; Romans 8:7). Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper place, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. (Steps to Christ, p. 18).

How does this happen? That is precisely the question a man named Nicodemus asked Jesus one night: “How can a man be born again when he is old?”

 Nicodemus was a very religious man, a leader in his faith and known for his generosity and good deeds. But with all of that, he felt something was seriously missing in his life. When he heard the teachings of Jesus, it spoke to his heart; and he decided to look Jesus up.

Jesus told him that he could not truly know God or his kingdom unless he was first born again.  When Nicodemus asked how, Jesus said it was something only the Spirit of God could do: “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:6-8).

It is the job of the Spirit of God to create new life in us when we trust in Jesus as our Savior. God promises:  “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ^ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26). David prayed, “Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in me.” (Psalm 51:10). Paul wrote, “God saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 2:5-6).

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw us to God’s Saving Son Jesus. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. . . All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:44, 37. Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born again, but the original word in Greek can be translated, “from above.” Jesus was describing the Source and direction of the new birth. It is from God.

The metaphor of “birth” is significant. Birth takes place after conception and months of gestation.  In the same way, God speaks to our hearts in many ways, sometimes over a long period of time, planting his truth and revealing His character and love to us--all to prepare us for new birth. When we consciously believe in and commit ourselves to Jesus as our Savior, we are born again.

Jesus used the metaphor of wind to describe the Spirit’s work to Nicodemus. One author explains: “The wind is heard among the branches of the trees, rustling the leaves and flowers; yet it is invisible, and no one knows where it comes from or where it is going. So with the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. . .By the Holy Spirit who is as unseen as the wind, Jesus is constantly working upon the heart. Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to us, impressions are made that draw the soul to Christ. These may be received through meditating upon Him, reading the Scriptures, or hearing a sermon. Suddenly, as the Spirit comes with more direct appeal, a person gladly surrenders themselves to Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of long drawing by the Spirit of God,--a patient, protracted process. 

“While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every action by a person who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God.” The Desire of Ages, p. 173

Even after all the explanation, Nicodemus was still perplexed about how this could happen, so Jesus reminded him of a story he knew well: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15).

After Israel was delivered from their bondage in Egypt, they lived in the wilderness for many years. Sometimes they rebelled against God, and He could not protect them in their sin. During one mutiny, poisonous snakes, began biting them. These “fiery serpents” were always there; but without God’s protection, the people were dying.

The people turned in repentance and God told Moses to make a snake out of bronze and hang it on a pole in the middle of the camp. Anyone who looked at the snake, trusting God to heal them would be healed.

Jesus said this was a symbol of His death for our sins and how we are brought from death to life.  “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15).

About three years after Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross. Nicodemus remembered what Jesus said and finally understood that Jesus was the Savior of the world—and his Savior too. He gave his life to Him, was born again, and followed Christ the rest of his life.

Nicodemus had believed that God’s favor could be earned by good works. He had trusted that he was a good person and did good things, so God would accept him. But acceptance with God is purely an act of God’s mercy. God can only give us personal salvation when we admit we cannot change or save ourselves. “Blessed are those who admit their spiritual poverty; then the kingdom belongs to them.” (Matthew 5:3).

As you have read this, have you understood the problem of the sinful heart, and your need of the new birth? Maybe you experienced this. On the other hand, you might not be sure. So what can you do? Come to Jesus just as you are. Don’t depend on your good works or religious practices. It is a new heart you need. Ask God to prepare you and give it to you. He is the Divine Surgeon who loves to help us. Read about Jesus, especially the story of His death for you. Ask God to open your eyes to see what He did for you and to open your heart to receive Him.

He will, because His Son died to do this for you.

Michael Brownfield

Power to Help

Last weekend after our worship service, a lady came up saying her new car (less than 100 miles on it) appeared dead. It would not start, and none of the electronics were functioning. Everything was unresponsive.

Some of our men analyzed the situation and concluded she had left something turned on, draining the new battery to nothing. They recommended she get her car jump-started and let the battery re-charge. Common problem. Probably happened to most of us more than once.

 Sometimes we feel like that spiritually. We might look good on the outside, but we feel a little (or a lot) dead inside. We don't really feel much toward God. When we try to focus on spiritual things or read the Bible, something like a low-lying June fog clouds our brain. Doubts flit around our mind like flies on a sultry summer day. We are tired, distracted, and unfocused. How can we connect with God? Is there any help?

The last two days, I have been writing about the importance of God's word. Today, I want to point out that power is available to help us know and understand God, and really connect with Him.

Writing to the Ephesian Christians, Paul told them he was praying that their eyes would be opened to see the power that was available to them. The Greek word he uses for “power” is dunamis.  This is the word we get our English words dynamite, dynamic, and dynamo from. Paul is clearly trying to tell us that a lot of power is available to help us know God and experience his power in our lives.

Here are a few other verses about the power available to us. Notice how many times Paul uses the word “power.”

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 ^“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corintians 3:4, 5

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. . .” Philippians 3:10 (When Paul says he wants to know the power of Christ’s resurrection in his life, he is not thinking here about the Resurrection at the Second Coming. He is saying He wants God’s resurrecting power to be at work in his life now, on a daily basis.

That is what he was saying in Ephesians 1:18-20 too. “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know (by experience). . .his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead.”

What kind of power does it take to raise the dead? The power God is offering to jump start and maintain our spiritual life is the power of the Holy Spirit. (He is very powerful. He created the world at God’s command, gives us new birth when we trust Jesus as our Savior, and will someday raise us from the dead at the Resurrection.) Actually, we don’t need a jump start; we need a resurrection or new creation. That’s because the Bible describes us as being dead—as in dead, dead.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. . .but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,^ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:1-5

Our spiritual deadness is why the writers of the Bible cry out to God to resurrect them spiritually and to create a new heart in them. David wrote, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm 51:10,11

So when we pray for God’s help to understand the Bible, we are admitting we are a little (or a lot) dead and need His creative power to resurrect us. When we admit our sin and our need, He can help us. In fact it is His great pleasure to help us. But first we have to admit our need; because if we don’t see a need and think we can figure it out on our own, He can’t do much to help us.

God absolutely loves to help us, His children. Jesus died to make that possible. All we have to do is admit our need, ask His help, and believe He will do it (that’s faith). Chances are He is already at work.

Michael Brownfield

Italics Mine. Scripture quotations from the New International Version of the Bible; 1984 by the International Bible Society

A Little Help from Your Friend

Yesterday I wrote about "God's Word in Your Life--Why You Need It." (http://tosdachurch.blogspot.com/) Today, I am beginning a new blog site for this series. But here's a summary of what I wrote yesterday: 

God guided in the writing of the Bible so that all the elements for a relationship with Him are available to us. Like food which digests into various components for energy, repair, and growth, the Bible contains the building blocks of spiritual life with God.

Beyond that, and even more important, the Bible makes God's supernatural power available to us for this new life. It is a new life, not a natural one. It takes the old life with its problems and starts a new and better life. Jesus told Nicodemus he could be born "from above," that is, through the creative power of God's Spirit working on the heart. The same power is at work in us that raised Jesus from the dead, according to Paul. (Eph. 1:17-22)

The Spirit works through the Bible. As we see God's character, read His promises, and understand His redeeming plans for us, the Spirit speaks to our minds. As we believe and choose these things for ourselves, the Spirit deepens our understanding and writes the lessons on our hearts, weaving them into our lives.

So, what do we do if the Bible has not been interesting to us, or we feel to busy to read it? Here are a few things that have helped me.

1. Know that God is drawing you. If you have any desire to open the Bible, it is because God Himself is leading you there. Recognize it is His love at work in you.
2. Ask God for the desire to read His word. That is a prayer He loves to answer. 
3. Ask for His help each time you read. Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9-13). That's a promise from God! You can believe it. He will send his Spirit to help you.
4. David prayed that God would "open his eyes so he could see wonderful things in His word." (Psalm 119:18). Paul prayed that our eyes would be opened so we could know God better. I pray these prayers for myself; you can too (Ephesians 1:15-23 and 3:14-21). We need God to "open our eyes" because our natural heart doesn't innately know or understand God without His help.
5. If you lead a busy life (who doesn't these days?), Ask God to help you find the time you can spend with Him. Be sure to take Him up on it when he does. I've been asking God to wake me up when He wants, and He has been doing it (and I love my sleep!).
6. Read the Bible to know God, not primarily for facts and information. Jesus told the religious people of His day that they were searching the Scriptures, but they were not coming into a personal relationship with Him. (John 5:39). They studied to develop theories about God and to debate theology but neglected to open their hearts to Him. And, yes we need think carefully about what we believe.
7. Keep a Bible close at hand, so when you have a few spare moments you can read it; or install one on your cell phone or electronic device. 
8. God will start showing you things. Bookmark them, write them out on cards, or keep a journal of the things you are learning and what they mean to you. I've found that when I write things down, I remember them better.
9. Expect God will start teaching you. That's what the Spirit specializes in. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26).
10. Remember how important this is. It is your life!

Several years ago, I met an artist who taught at liberal arts college. He was a very good artist and very interesting to talk to. He had traveled around the world doing research for his art projects. 

There was a time when he did not know God personally very well, so he decided to start reading his Bible. He said that at first, it was like taking medicine. Then he began to look forward to it in the way he would enjoy eating a good meal. Then he said, with a twinkle in his eye, "Now it is like desert!"

It may take time for the Bible to become like desert to you. But if you begin and keep going, God will help you get to that place. There is no alternative. Jesus said that if His words are in us, we will have life, the new life He promised.

Michael Brownfield

God's Word in Your Life--Why You Need It

A young nephew of mine has had trouble for several months absorbing nutrients and gaining weight. He was born with Diamond Blackfan Amenia (inability to produce red blood cells), endured months of blood transfusions and then a bone marrow transplant at the age of two. My devoted sister has spent countless hours at clinics and in doctor's offices while specialists try to help. 

The ability to absorb nutrients is absolutely essential to physical growth, and it is critical for spiritual growth as well. God's word, the Bible, contains the elements for our spiritual growth. In fact, it is what God has given us for supernatual life. Jesus referred to this when He said, "The words I have spoken to you, they are spirit and life." (John 6:63 NIV) 

Many see the Bible as merely a collection of history, beliefs, and rules; but it is so much more than that. It is a spiritual book designed to produce spiritual life in us. The same power God exercised in creation exists in the Bible through the work of the Holy Spirit. As we read His word, depending on God to teach and feed us, we are changed; and we grow.

Referring to his death for us and the meaning of that, Jesus said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." (John 6:53). His listeners criticized Him for this strange saying, but he was referring to His death for our sins and the power of God's word and gospel as we believe and internalize it.

We are born with defective natures, damaged by sin. Also, there is so much we don't know about God or the spiritual life. Jesus offers us a new spiritual birth and new life through His word. "You have been born again through through the enduring word of God." (1 Peter 1:23). 

Paul wrote to his young student, Timothy:  "There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another--showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (2 Timothy 3:15-17 TM: emphasis mine). 

More than half of Americans (57%) read the Bible fewer than five times a year according to a survey report released by the American Bible Society on March 26, 2013. In the age category of 18-28, 57% read Scripture three times a year or never. How is it for you?

If God's word is literally life for us,and we don't read or understand it, what is happening for my young nephew is occuring for us in a spiritual sense .We are trying to live without eating or absorbing what we do ingest. We fail to grow. We repeat the same mistakes over and over. We are religious, but not satisfied.

I understand many people find the Bible boring or hard to understand. They don't know where to begin. Finding time is also a big problem today. So in the next day or two I will share what has helped me over the years. God's word was created to help us thrive and grow--to be filled with love, goodness, deep happiness and peace. It is a banquet of good food. But we may not know how to enjoy it. Join me again tomorrow.

Pastor Michael Brownfield