The Holy Astonishment
- Pastor Michael Heil
- Jul 26, 2018
- 3 min read
"'For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.' When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled." -Ezra 9:2-3
Our church worships God often by singing a song called “Hosanna”; it is such a beautiful song and brings me to tears of reverence every time we sing it. One phrase in the song moves me deeply, it is a truth that needs to happen often in the saints of God, the phrase is “break my heart for what breaks yours”. May the Lord fill my heart-and the heart of all His saints- with such an intimacy and reverence. May we, His church, fall on our faces and repent any time our heart senses the smallest affront to our Lord!
This holy humbling, this sacred shocking, far from being wrong, is innate within us. It is what instantly sprung up in Ezra; it is what immediately grieved Paul (Acts 17:16); and it is what moved Jesus to drive the money changers from the temple (Matthew 21:12). Let the world call us extremists because our heart is so completely interwoven with the heart of God; let others giggle and mock behind our backs because our eyes fill with tears when our Lord was demeaned. If the world didn’t understand our Lord, it won’t understand us. What a joy to be identified with Him who loves us.
"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14
Like I said, far from being wrong, may the Spirit of God place this instant upsetting within us. It is what will drive us to holiness in our walk before God, ripping and dragging all the cancers of the flesh out of our lives. It is what will move us to spread into society the honor and reverence for Jehovah God. After Ezra mourned, he and the leaders had publically directed the nation to separate themselves unto God. Revival broke out, and Israel returned to the Lord.
I firmly believe the times we live in are shocking to our spirit. Every day it seems new depth of depravity happen often driven by national leaders. May you and I-the saints of God-be like Ezra and confront these doors to destruction for the honor and glory of our God for the hope of a peaceful, Godly life for all.
Pastor Michael Heil
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the GOD of all Mercy and Compassion, but You are also the God of Justice. May I live a godly and peaceful life humbly before You and hear Your voice of discipline and instruction. Lead me in Your ways, O GOD, and create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Show me, O LORD, if there is anything within me that is offensive and displeasing to You. LORD, change my heart and let revival begin with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
Comments