“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (2 Chron. 16:9).
The Pharisees had a heart condition that grieved Jesus. Their hearts were hard and insensitive. If you’ll look in Mark 3, you’ll see what I’m talking about.
God was right there in their midst, and they, of all people, should have realized it. They knew the Scriptures backward and forward, and Jesus fit every messianic prophecy written there. But the insensitivity of their hearts literally blinded them to Who He was. The hearts of the Pharisees were also hardened to the needs of the people around them.
That very same thing is still happening today.
Just think again about what those Pharisees were doing. They were:
1. Criticizing the minister of God.
2. Protecting their religious traditions instead of obeying the Word of God.
3. Worrying about their own welfare rather than that of those around them.
Have you ever known any believers who fit that description? Sure you have! In fact, every one of us has done those things at some time in our lives.
Every one of us, to one degree or another, has fallen prey to the same mistake the Pharisees did. We’ve gotten so caught up in doing and saying all the “right” things that we’ve let the tender warmth of God’s love inside us grow cold.
I know that’s true because if it weren’t, we’d be seeing tremendous moves of God among us. We’d be seeing revival on every corner.
That’s what God longs to do. God longs to pour out His Spirit in supernatural power and abundance through His Church. But we’ve developed a heart condition that’s holding Him back.
Today if you are desiring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life and the manifestation of His power in your church, check the condition of your heart. If you find any hardness there, repent and ask God to change you. Ask Him to give you the kind of heart that will allow Him to show Himself strong on your behalf.
Scripture Reading: Mark 3:1-6
Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
They have seven ministry offices around the world: United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Ukraine and Latin America. Their God-given directive is to preach and teach the uncompromised WORD of God on every available voice, which is being accomplished through a variety of channels, including our Believer's Voice of Victory TV and radio broadcasts, podcast and magazine; Believers' Conventions, Victory Campaigns and Living Victory meetings; published books, website, and social media channels, to name a few.
With the expansion of technology, they have more work to do now than ever. They are determined to let the world know Jesus is LORD, and they are not slowing down anytime soon!