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Zeal versus Enthusiasm Zeal holds a central role in the Bible, signifying fervent passion and enthusiasm in one’s faith and devotion to God. The Bible emphasizes the importance of directing our zeal towards righteous causes. It calls for wholehearted dedication to God’s commandments and His kingdom. In the Bible, zeal and enthusiasm are closely related but have distinct nuances: Zeal Definition: Zeal in the biblical context refers to an intense, passionate devotion towards God and His purposes. It is often described as a burning desire to please God, do His will, and advance His glory in the world. Characteristics: Zeal involves a deep commitment and is often associated with fervour and strong feelings of enthusiasm. It is not just a natural inclination but a quality that the Holy Spirit instils in believers. Examples: The Bible encourages believers to be zealous in their faith, as seen in Romans 12:11, "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" . Zeal is also highlighted in the book of Revelation, where Jesus rebukes lukewarmness and calls for zealous devotion. Enthusiasm Definition: Enthusiasm in the Bible is understood as a strong excitement or eagerness to do something. It is often linked to a positive outlook and willingness to serve God and others. Characteristics: Enthusiasm is more about the energetic and eager approach to tasks and service. It is a commendable attribute that reflects a readiness to act and a positive spirit. Examples: Verses like Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” emphasize the importance of enthusiasm in serving God. Key Differences Depth of Commitment: Zeal often implies a deeper, more intense commitment and passion, while enthusiasm is more about the energetic and eager approach. Source: Zeal is specifically noted as a quality instilled by the Holy Spirit, reflecting a profound spiritual fervour. Enthusiasm, while also positive, is more about the general attitude and eagerness to serve. Both qualities are highly valued in the Bible and are seen as essential for a vibrant and active faith. Do you have a particular situation in mind where you are exploring these concepts? Amen Personal Prayer

Examples of Godly enthusiasm in action Godly enthusiasm requires action which can manifest in various ways, often reflecting a deep passion and commitment to one’s faith and spiritual practices. Here are examples: Active Participation in Worship : Engaging wholeheartedly in religious services and contexts, singing hymns with fervour, and participating in communal prayers with great devotion. Beaten and whipped for doing deliverance ministry in Philippi here is the response. Acts 16: 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Evangelism : Sharing one’s faith with others, whether through preaching, distributing religious literature, or engaging in conversations about spiritual beliefs. Charity : Demonstrating love and compassion through acts of kindness, such as volunteering at shelters, food banks, helping those in need, and supporting charitable organizations. Personal Devotion : Spending significant time in personal prayer, meditation, and study of the bible, seeking a deeper connection with the Lord. Church life: Taking on various roles within a fellowship community, such as organizing events, leading study groups, or mentoring others in their spiritual journey. These examples highlight how godly enthusiasm can inspire individuals to live out their faith actively and passionately. Do any of these resonate with you? Historical examples of Godly enthusiasm Several historical figures are renowned for their godly enthusiasm, demonstrating deep faith and commitment to their spiritual beliefs. Here are notable examples: Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) : Known as “The Lady with the Lamp,” she felt called by God to become a nurse and revolutionized healthcare with her dedication to improving sanitary conditions and patient care. Florence told her student nurses that 'Jesus was the first nurse' teaching us to to care for the sick. Martin Luther (1483-1546) : A leading figure in the Protestant Reformation, Luther’s enthusiastic advocacy for religious reform and his translation of the Bible into German made the scriptures more accessible to the common people. William Tyndale (1494-1536) : Known for translating the Bible into English, Tyndale’s work made the scriptures accessible to English-speaking laypeople, despite facing significant opposition and eventual martyrdom. John Calvin (1509-1564) : A key figure in the Protestant Reformation, Calvin’s theological writings and teachings on predestination and church governance have shaped various Protestant denominations. These individuals exemplify how godly enthusiasm can drive significant contributions to our faith, society, and culture. Do any of these figures catch your imagination? One less known historical figure known for his godly enthusiasm is Brother Lawrence (1614-1691). He was a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris, France, and is best known for his collection of spiritual teachings compiled in the book 'The Practice of the Presence of God'. Brother Lawrence’s Key Contributions to the faith: Simplicity and Devotion : He emphasized finding joy and fulfilment in simple, everyday tasks (peeling the potatoes) by doing them for the love of God. His approach was to maintain a constant awareness of God’s presence, even in routine chores and activities. Humility and Service : Despite his lowly position as a cook and later a sandal repairer, Brother Lawrence’s deep spirituality and humble service inspired many who sought his advice.  Spiritual writings: His conversations and letters, compiled posthumously, continue to inspire people seeking a deeper, more personal relationship with God. Does his story challenge/inspire you? Amen Personal Prayer

What is Biblical enthusiasm? What things in life are you enthusiastic about? Family, friends, politics, sports, or hobbies such as cooking, art, gardening etc. etc. So what is meant by the word enthusiasm? Dictionary Definition: intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval: Biblical Definition NT Greek word for enthusiasm is   entheos  and is in two parts en=in   theos=God so entheos  simply means ‘ in God.’  It has the idea of being full of God i.e. full of his love. Our love and everything we do in church and in our Christian life ought to be ‘in God.’ Romans 5:5  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit  who was given to us. God’s agape love is being poured into our hearts day by day and is the source of our enthusiasm  or zeal for the Lord and our fellow Christians. It is God’s love in our hearts that helps us to grow through obedience to God's word into mature and stable believers for our ongoing service to the Lord. Our love for God is usually demonstrated in four main ways. 1.      Praise (about God’s person and character)-not affected by our life events-Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25-28). 2.      Thanksgiving (is about what God has done)- expressing our gratitude to God- always be ready and willing to give your testimony as to what God has and is doing in your life, 3.      Worship (see FLS 07) - “worship” derives from the Old Eng. “weordhscipe” and means “worthship,” i.e. worthiness, dignity, or merit, the recognition accorded or due to these, the paying of homage or respect. In Christianity, the term is used for the reverent devotion, service, or honour paid to God, whether in public or private. 4.      Obedience to his word (If you love me keep my commandments)- simply means what God has told us to do in the bible. Biblical Enthusiasm The Bible uses several different words for this idea of being filled with enthusiasm: ardour, zeal, whole-heartedness. A common favourite is “eager.” When you are eager, you are enthusiastic about your service to God and others. This idea is taught repeatedly in the New Testament. We are told to: Be “eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2) Be “eager for the gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:12) Have an “eager willingness” to finish the work of faith we have begun (2 Corinthians 8:11) Wait in “eager expectation” for God (Romans 8:9) Be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). What are you eager to do for God? So we might expect our enthusiasm for all our secular activities ought to be less than our passion and enthusiasm for all things Christian and related to God. Is that true for you? An interesting thing in my own life is that I find when I have various opportunities to do something for God, no matter my initial reaction to hearing about the opportunity if I find my enthusiasm growing then the Lord is calling me to get involved. Amen Personal prayer

Your love must be stronger than your fear Fear is usually dealt with, in a separate way between believers and unbelievers. Fear is debilitating and even paralysing and is opposite to faith. Did you know that faith and fear are mutually exclusive? Choose where you are going to live today, in the house of faith or in the house of fear? God wants to move you from the house of fear into the house of faith. It is important to realise that our fear of the Lord can be the antidote/answer to the wrong type of fear. The right fear overcomes the bad fear. Again, we get to choose which type of fear is going to be active in our lives. Choose well, choose life, choose the fear of the Lord! If we live by our feelings, they can drag us down into the pit of fear. But we need to see our situations in life through the lens of faith and through the lens of the bible not through the lens of doubt and fear. Here is what some well-known believers have said about fear/worry/anxiety. ¨ 'Anxiety is not only a pain which we must ask God to assuage but also a weakness we must ask Him to pardon -- for He's told us to take no care for the morrow.’ - C.S. Lewis ¨ “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” ― George Mueller ¨ “Remember, fear is of the flesh and panic is of the devil. Never fear and never get panicky.” ― A.W. Tozer ¨ The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. “— Oswald Chambers ¨ “Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us.” -- Oswald Chambers Fear and the pandemic Could it be that because modern society is so steeped in fear it has collectively lost the fear of a holy God? Yet many people fear death, sickness, poverty, helplessness, loneliness, future, commitment, failure, etc. So, what is the answer? - Turn to the Prince of Peace. How has the pandemic fear affected the church? Fear in the church has to some extent set some believers against others Infected vs non-infected Masked vs unmasked Vaxxed vs unvaxxed Yet in Matthew 8:3 Jesus touched the leper and healed him. And Princess Diana held the AID’s patient’s hand. Our fear must never overpower of love of any person. What a tremendous witness to the unbelievers it would be to see the church putting their love above their fear? Remember that fear/worry/anxiety and the like are sins. Prayer and ministry Lord we now recognise our sins and repent of all the fear/worry and anxiety that we have let into our lives. We know that according to 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord, we receive your forgiveness by faith through Jesus Christ. Amen Where prayer is needed to cut off certain of your fears (remember the 8 main types) you might need the assistance of a experienced church leader or a mature believer that you trust.

Four more types of fear In part 4 of our study we consider a further 4 types of fear that are experienced by people generally including believers. 5. Fear of circumstances or consequences An example of this type of fear is found with the prophet Elijah who after having destroyed the prophets of Baal, heard that the wicked Queen Jezebel was seeking revenge on Elijah. This produced fear and worry, and Elijah ended up hiding in a cave. At this point God gave Elijah various tasks to keep his mind off the threat of Jezebel. So when you experience this type of fear try to keep busy and remember to rehearse all the promises God has made to you in his word. The enemy says on good deed goes unpunished; the Lord says no good deed goes unrewarded! Scripture Antidote Matthew 6 : 25 (Jesus speaking) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 6. Fear of the unknown or future This is a common type of fear, and a biblical example is that of Gideon. Gideon needed extra assurances from the Lord demonstrated by his laying out a fleece on more than one occasion which surprisingly God honoured. At the end of his career Gideon because he needed to know the future took the gold earrings of the Amalekites and melted them and fashioned the gold into a golden ephod (only the high priest was allowed to do this to get the word of the Lord for the future). So Gideon because of his fears for the future led Israel astray into idolatry [1] . We must realise 3 things about the future a. God has a plan for your life b. God’s grace is sufficient for you c. God will provide exactly what you need at the point it is needed (not before). 7. Fear caused by sin Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. Fear can grip wicked people to the extent they run away even when no one is chasing them! Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Sin produces fear, but righteous living produces peace. We all need to keep short accounts with the Lord using where relevant 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 8. Irrational fears (phobias) These fears are common even amongst believers and include fear of mice, spiders, snakes, and moths etc etc. These phobias are quite lightweight and usually can be removed by believing prayer. Such fears can be like inherited fears where a child sees a parent overreacting to for example a mouse or other creature. It is as though the fear is transmitted from adult to child. Scripture vs Fear 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Perfect love casts out fear, as we deal with fear in our lives the fear demons leave. The more filled we are with his love the less room for fear to enter. The more aware we are of God’s love for us the more confident we are he will help us 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. So where did the fear come from? See Part 4. Prayer : Lord, we thank you for your keys for us to walk free from all ungodly fear. Please give us a revelation of who we are in Christ. Amen Notes [1] The Ephod that Gideon built was his own personal idol ; perhaps a golden calf made from the gold he plundered in the battle, which became a stumbling block to his own household and all of Israel. This is the final downturn of his character and falling away of the one true God (see Judges 8:22-27) .

8 Types of fear we need to deal with Types of fear we need to deal with As a general approach we can specify at least 8 distinct types of fear that are affecting believers today. The list of 8 types of fear is by no means exhaustive and you may think of others (this approach is modified from that of the late Roger Price). The point of this list is for you to identify which if any of these fears is/are still active in your life or the lives of your loved ones. Please make a note of those affecting you as we go through the 8 distinct types of fear. 1. Inherited (familial) fear and 2. Learned fear The inherited type of fear is often produced in the children of nervous mother who are constant worriers. It is thought that babies can even be affected by this in the nervous mother's womb for 9 months. Sometimes the inherited fear after a major accident with trauma can pass to the baby in the womb. One bible teacher suggests it would be helpful to pray over the babies whilst still in the mother's womb during the pregnancy. Learned fear can be when a child sees her mother overreacting to a mouse/spider, and it is as though the fear transfers from the mother to the child. Sometimes an over protected child learns to be fearful in life from his overprotective mothers sensing that he/she ought to be afraid of everything Fears of both these types may require prayer and counselling to remove them. The counselling can employ 2 Corinthians 5:17 with a view to helping the subject get a clear revelation of their fear belonging to the old life and no longer give place to it. Prayer using the blood of Jesus can also be used to cut off these types of fear. 3. Identity related fear Believers often have a faulty self-image (think of the magic mirrors at a fun fair that distort your appearance). Here are three biblical examples of people who had a faulty self-image that produced fear when the Lord called them into service. In Exodus Chapter 4 we find Moses refusing the call of God because he was a poor speaker. God then appointed his brother Aaron to be Moses' speaker. It is interesting to note that there is nowhere in the bible that records Aaron giving any speeches. Moses' self-image was faulty and held him back from serving God. What in your self-image is faulty and stopped you taking up the call of God in your life? Jeremiah was another man with a faulty self-image and argued with God that he was but a child. Who do you think knew best Moses/Jeremiah or the Lord? Gideon was another man of God who argued with the Lord about his calling, he was from the smallest tribe and the least influential part of the family. Yet God saw him as a mighty man of valour. Both introverts and extroverts can be prone to faulty self-images. We need to have a clear picture of our own spiritual identity and walk true to your own identity. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. We need to come to an accurate self-knowledge of ourselves, not too high but not too low. 4. Residual Community Fear Certain communities may carry a residual fear resulting from their horrific treatment in the past such as with the Jews and the holocaust. Other communities may have been conditioned to expect the worst in life which produces fear which often leads to terrible things both expected and happening in their lives. Others are afraid of losing control in their lives. Residual community fear often responds well to prayer by applying the blood of Jesus to the fear and this can set the subjects free. More scripture Antidotes to Fear Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? And when the disciples were caught in a tempest at sea Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith Jesus was asleep in the boat; he rebukes the winds and waves. Have faith that Jesus is in your boat with you today. Amen Prayer

Where did fear come from? There are two main kinds of fear found in the bible; 1] The right kind of fear-which is the fear of the Lord. We are made to fear God but nothing else. Fear God but nought else! God wants to have first place in every part of our lives, but our wrong fear can occupy a place that needs emptied before God can fill it. Perfect love casts out all fear. Amen What is the fear of the Lord? This expression occurs many times in the Hebrew scriptures and once in the New Testament. There are various pictures we can give from scripture. The expression ‘Fear of the Lord’ appears 15 times in the book of Proverbs, whose main theme as you know is wisdom. So, there is a link between the fear of the Lord and wisdom. Here are some examples, Proverbs 1:7 the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 8:13 the fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the forward (perverse) mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. There seems to be three components to the fear of the Lord a) awe and reverence b) hatred of evil c) obedience to God’s word. Let us cultivate them daily! 2] The wrong kind of fear All of us experience the wrong kind of fear at some time in our lives. N.B. Fear should be a dissimilar experience for believers and unbelievers. The wrong fear is debilitating and even paralysing and is opposite to faith. What effects of fear have you noticed in your own or in your loved ones? Did you know that faith and fear are mutually exclusive? Choose where you are going to live today, in the house of faith or in the house of fear? It is important to realise that our fear of the Lord can be the antidote/answer to the wrong type of fear. The right fear overcomes the bad fear. Again, we get to choose which type of fear is going to be active in our lives. Choose well, choose life, choose the fear of the Lord! If we live by our feelings, they can drag us down into the pit of fear. But we need to see our situations in life through the lens of faith and through the lens of the bible not through the lens of doubt and fear. Could it be that because modern society is so steeped in fear it has collectively lost the fear of a holy God? Yet many people fear death, sickness, poverty, helplessness, loneliness, future, commitment, failure, etc. So, what is the answer? Before we look at ow to deal with the wrong fear in our lives let us remind ourselves where and when fear first attacked humankind. The first mention of fear in the bible is when Adam told God that he was afraid. Genesis 3:10 KJV "And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [was] naked; and I hid myself." Fear entered Adam and Eve for the first time at the fall. Fear was first manifested when the Lord had been disobeyed by the couple. However if the fall brought fear into humankind, then surely the new creation through Jesus Christ must be able to remove it and bring us into God’s peace. Two things to remember about fear: 1. God himself has never been afraid and never will be for his plans always succeed. 2. Man made in image of God was not designed/meant to cope with fear, worry, or anxiety. Powerful antidote to fear in a believer's life 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things have become new. We need to enforce the new life in Christ and make sure things like fear are supressed as part of your old life. The revelation of this scripture helps many believers to overcome fear in their lives. Amen Personal Prayer

By making scriptural prayers as in Philippians 4:6-7 We have looked at various ways as to how we might avoid making prayers that appear to go unanswered. A good place to start our prayers is by making them that line up with scripture such as the one in: Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (petition), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Here is a good scriptural approach to making scriptural prayers that God is pleased to answer. v6 God does not want you anxious or worrying , in fact worry is a sin because it doubts Gods ability to bring a timely answer. Furthermore and importantly we ought to pray with concomitant thanking of the Lord. Here is what this looks like in practice... Father God, in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank you that you have heard this prayer , and that you care about the situation and will respond at the appropriate time and manner. Amen Here is what we can hope to happen next; v7  the peace of God comes upon you This peace given by the Lord is beyond our ability to understand it but we can be aware that such peace guards our minds from all doubt , fear and unbelief. We can rest in the Lord once we have prayed correctly according to scripture. This in turn boosts our faith because we have reassured ourselves that God has heard our prayer and the outcome is in his hands and that the Lord cares. Amen Personal Prayer

A worked example: Water Baptism Sometimes it is difficult to understand the many disagreements between people who claim to be true Christian believers. Christians do indeed disagree on a wide range of issues. Christians disagree about the right way to baptize someone – adult versus infant; about the way we interpret the Bible and what we mean when we say it is divinely inspired. Christians disagree about whether women can be clergy, on human sexuality issues pertaining to the life of the Church, and who is allowed to receive communion in their church. We disagree on such issues as capital punishment, divorce, abortion, immigration, and racism. We will now take a look at one of the major areas of disagreement to see if we can find a way to understand the different approaches to Christian baptism. The sacrament of Baptism A sacrament is a ceremony through which Christians believe they receive God’s grace or are brought closer to God. Therefore, a sacrament is something that people can engage in with their senses but realizing that the sacrament has a deeper meaning too. For Protestants, baptism, and the Eucharist (or communion) are sacraments. All four gospels mention Jesus conducting both of these acts. Many Christians believe that baptism is important because Jesus himself was baptised, and after his resurrection he told his disciples that they should be baptised too. John 3:5 No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. John the Baptist was the first Israelite to use baptism to symbolise the forgiveness of sins. John baptised Jesus. Many Christians believe that baptising cleanses people from original sin[1]. Baptism is practised by all Christian denominations as it is seen as a command from God and a way of following Jesus’ example. However, the various denominations practise baptism in different ways. Infant baptism Some Christians believe baptism makes a Christian a member of God’s family. In many denominations babies are baptised, and this is known as infant baptism. For Orthodox Christians, infant baptism involves total immersion. However, other denominations make the sign of the cross on the baby’s head using oil or sprinkle holy water on the forehead. Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 28:19 were to "baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit", so these words are often said during a baptism. There are other elements to a baptism service in various denominations and might include promises made by godparents on behalf to the child to provide a Christian education and upbringing. Believers’ baptism Baptists and Pentecostals believe baptism should only occur once usually in adult life, as it is then that the individual can accept Christianity for themselves. This type of baptism is called believers’ baptism. It is performed using total immersion, where the person being baptised walks down into a pool/body of water and is fully submerged three times (or just once) before walking out into their new life. Some Christians prefer believers’ baptism because Jesus was baptised as an adult and because, as an adult, you are able to make decisions for yourself. The person being baptized is brought up out of the water, which is a picture of their soul being raised from the dead to eternal life. Being brought up out of the water is also a forward-looking picture. It reminds us of God's promise to one day resurrect our physical bodies from the grave just like he did for Jesus. Oneness Pentecostal and a few other churches baptize only in the name of Jesus Christ[2], citing Peter's preaching baptism in the name of Jesus as their authority. Reasons for different approaches to water baptism [3] In the last centuries of the Old Testament era, the Greek word “baptizo” did mean to “immerse.” By the time the New Testament was written that word described the application of water that included immersing, washing, and pouring. This illustrates how the etymology and initial usage of a word is one thing, but current usage is another matter. (Consider how the same thing is true regarding English words.) It is clear from passages like Mark 7:3-4 and Luke 11:38 that the Greek word “baptizo” could mean the application of water in different ways. The context in which the word occurs will drive the meaning and interpretation. In the Bible, God does not specify how to apply the water in Baptism. Baptism is the application of water in connection with God’s word (see Matthew 28:18-19 and Ephesians 5:25-26). Where Christians disagree (in any area) we should remember one of John Wesley’s most famous quotes which gives us an approach to discussing the issue: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things charity.” [4] He is saying that in Christianity there is a core set of beliefs we can all agree on. These are the ‘pillars of the faith’ such as the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, and the physical resurrection of Jesus. These are the essentials and indeed usually produce unity between Christians. The mode of baptism, however, may be considered as non-essential. Some things we will not agree on but let them be the nonessentials. And in both, let us love one another. Footnotes [1] Original sin is an Augustinian Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born sinful. This means that they are born with a built-in urge to do bad things and to disobey God. See link below. https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/originalsin_1.shtml#:~:text=What%20is%20original%20sin%3F,within%20the%20Roman%20Catholic%20Church. [2] Wikipedia reference; Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc". Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-01-09. [3] For reference see Greek word for “baptize” – WELS [4] An aphorism variously attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430), John Wesley (1703 – 1791), and to a number of theologians in between them.

God does not want us to be hard-hearted The heart is mentioned 779 times in the bible. When scripture talks about the heart it is nearly always talking about the seat of our very being, rather than the pump which moves the blood in our circulatory system. The bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23 Above all things guard your heart. The heart is the heart of the problem Mark 7:20-23 it is from out of the human heart that evil proceeds. ‘I am bound to the doctrine of the depravity of the human heart because I find myself depraved in heart and have daily proofs that in my flesh there dwells no good thing’. Charles Spurgeon God himself is Chasidic- his heart is soft and full of loving-kindness and mercy. What kind of heart does God want you to have, a hard heart or a soft heart? Can God change the human heart? It is interesting that scripture talks about the Lord hardening Pharaoh’s heart. What do you think this means? The best explanation I have heard so far is that God simply took what was in Pharaoh’s heart and brought it to fullness. Psalm 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies, and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Many scriptures reflect God’s tender heart and mercy. Good King Josiah had a tender heart and was humble before God and openly showed it, then God heard his prayer. God will hear your soft and tender hearted prayer. 2 Kings 22:19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. Medical atherosclerosis versus spiritual atherosclerosis We are going to compare what can cause us medically speaking to have hardening of the arteries to see if there is spiritual equivalent that can affect our heart, the seat of our very being. Medical atherosclerosis Medically speaking, hardening of the arteries is known as atherosclerosis. Fatty plaques usually made of the ‘bad ‘cholesterol stick to the arterial walls. This causes the arteries (particularly the coronary artery) to lose their elasticity and become hardened and stiff. The flow of blood is restricted through the arteries and in the case of the coronary arteries can lead to a blockage which we call a heart attack. Symptoms of atherosclerosis can vary with sometimes nothing obvious, or chest pain angina, breathlessness, high blood pressure etc. Statins are drugs that not only stop cholesterol binding to the arterial walls but also can to some extent remove the fatty plaques where they already exist. This to put it crudely, is like having your drainpipes cleared out! Spiritual atherosclerosis There is something about day to day living that toughens us and can make us hardened. Especially in our relationships, we can become desensitized, cynical and make us hard hearted. We often hurt the people whom we love most who as the song goes- the one, we should not hurt all. It is not just in our human relationships that can become hard hearted but also in our relationship with God. Here are the possible symptoms are hardening of heart spiritually speaking. 1)      Numbness: You stop feeling the things you should feel. a) Love for God b) Conviction over sin c) Anger over injustice.  d) Compassion for those who are hurting. 2) Dizziness: You lose spiritual equilibrium and balance in life. You become proud of yourself. You become extremely tolerant or intolerant. You become overconfident or less confident. 3) Shortness of Breath When your heart is attacked, you lose your stamina You lose your strength to fight You start things well, but you finish poorly. It is accepted practice for most health care professionals, that they keep a certain distance from their patients. However, as children of God we ought to be committed to true koinonia fellowship [1] with our fellow believers, by which we ought to lead caring and sharing lives. Thus, keeping our distance from each other is not the norm or acceptable practice. Hard heartedness will produce unforgiveness, bitterness and lack of compassion, mercy, and reasonable tolerance of people. Sometimes the hardening process is so gradual we do not notice it. Ask a biologist how to boil a frog? The answer of course is one degree at a time and that is usually how Satan hardens our hearts i.e.  one step a time. If we progressively allow things that we know are not right and compromise our beliefs, then eventually our conscience will become seared, and we may cease to care for and share with our fellow human beings. Romans 5:5 The Holy Spirit pours the love of God/Christ into our heart’s day by day. But that flow can be restricted by various things we allow such as sin, bad attitudes, unforgiveness, and lack of reverence for God etc. We need to keep our hearts wide open (2 Cor 6:11-13) so that the flow of God’s love will keep your heart soft and tender before God. Hebrews 3:15 As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." Three times in the book of Hebrews the writer tells God’s people ‘do not harden your hearts for it leads to rebellion, which in turn causes us to miss out on his blessings. Amen Personal Prayer [1] See Acts 2:42 the Greek word koinonia is translated to the English as fellowship In Part 2 we investigate why King Solomon asked God for a hearing heart.

More reasons for unanswered prayer In Part 1 we saw that were at least 4 possible reasons as to why your prayers may seem to go unanswered. The possible reasons for unanswered prayer we considered included the first two of the four reasons 1) being out of fellowship with the Lord 2) your prayer was not in the will of God. Today we look at two more possible reasons for seemingly unanswered prayer which are. 3) a lack of unity in those praying together 4) Delay in the answer from the Lord arriving. Reason 3. Lack of unity 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Wow, we better take on board the fact that a husband and wife’s prayers can be hindered by disunity. Mathew 18:19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. The so-called prayer of agreement requires two people to be fully agreed i.e. in unity. 4. Delay in the answer Daniel 10 Daniel prayed and fasted for Israel for three weeks, then a holy angel turned up and told him, that God sent the answer on the first day that Daniel had prayed, but a fallen angelic being called the Prince of Persia, had battled with the holy angel to delay Gods answer from coming to Daniel. Romans 1:9-10 Paul wanted to find a way to come and see the church in Rome, but Paul’s prayer appears unanswered? God had plans, and had Paul imprisoned so that he could write his epistles to the church. God can be doing something bigger than we can see. Delayed prayer can eventually increase your faith. 1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, go up, say unto Ahab, prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. Elijah and the rain, the servant eventually saw the prayer answered. “Sometimes the blessing is in the prayer not being answered.” ― Andrena Sawyer. What about you, can you attribute any of the 4 above reasons given so far for your unanswered prayer? Amen

Why do some prayers seem to be unanswered? Recently we covered a three-day mini-series called ‘Teach us to pray’. We covered a few practical aspects of prayer including, who do we pray to, and in what position etc. We also looked briefly at the 5 types of prayer, which include 1) confession of sins, 2) praise 3) thanksgiving 4) intercession and 5) petition. One aspect that we did not cover was the subject of unanswered prayer which we will now consider, is apparently unanswered prayer. We often do not talk about the prayers that appear to be unanswered. Here are the first two of four potential reasons our prayers might be unanswered. Reason 1. Being out of fellowship prevents God from answering prayer. When we enter salvation through Jesus Christ, we form a life-long family relationship which is very robust. However, our day-to-day communion with the Lord is fragile and can be easily broken through our sin. Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Reason 2. God has said no because your prayer was not in the will of God. My grown-up children sometimes say that as a grandparent we let the grandkids away with much more than we did when they were kids. This is true because we have different roles as grandparents. But God is not a kindly old uncle or grandad but a zealous loving heavenly father. God has no grandkids only kids. Each generation must directly connect with him. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. The implication here is that if we ask anything that is not his will then there is no reason to suppose we should be successful in our petition. James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. God promises to meet our need not our greed! Jesus, when in the Garden of Gethsemane said, Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. The Father said ‘no’. We must allow for God to say ‘no’ as He surely knows what is best in any given situation. We need to remember that the Kingdom of God is in a warzone, there is a huge battle raging between God and his army, and Satan and his troops. Sometimes the Lord needs us to step up to the plate. Also, we need to remember that God’s silence is not his absence… Amen Closing Prayer