NEWS A Perfect Heart
I just finished reading T. Austin Sparks' book, "The Arm of the Lord." It is easily one of the finest spiritual writings I have come across in my journey with Jesus. I would encourage readers to print out the entire book and read it slowly cover to cover (click on book title above for links to each chapter).
The conclusion of the book is powerful and I have taken the liberty of reprinting it below. It directly answers the question: To whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? Let us see the answer (bold added for emphasis):
"And so we finish where we began. "To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" If we have any interest in, or concern for, knowing God with us and for us in power, in support, in protection, in deliverance, in succour, this is the way. The answer to that question in Isaiah 53 is found in that same chapter: it is revealed to this One who goes to the Cross, who suffers the Cross; to the One who lets go all in the Cross; who goes down into shame and dishonour in the Cross; who loses all His own in the Cross: to Him the arm of the Lord is revealed. And it is revealed to all those who go that way with Him. History is the great proof of it. Throughout history, God's arm has been, and ever will be, bared for His Son, and for all those who are with His Son as crucified men and women - crucified churches - a crucified Church.
There is a passage of which we are all very fond: "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 Cross is the instrument for testing whether our hearts are perfect toward the Lord, or whether we have personal interests, or worldly interests, or divided interests in any way. That word 'perfect' means 'complete' or, 'whole': the Lord will show Himself mighty on behalf of him whose heart is complete toward Him. And where could we find a greater embodiment of one whose heart was completely, wholly for God, than in the Lord Jesus on that Cross?"
May your heart be perfect toward the Lord.
Agape,
Steve
The conclusion of the book is powerful and I have taken the liberty of reprinting it below. It directly answers the question: To whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? Let us see the answer (bold added for emphasis):
"And so we finish where we began. "To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" If we have any interest in, or concern for, knowing God with us and for us in power, in support, in protection, in deliverance, in succour, this is the way. The answer to that question in Isaiah 53 is found in that same chapter: it is revealed to this One who goes to the Cross, who suffers the Cross; to the One who lets go all in the Cross; who goes down into shame and dishonour in the Cross; who loses all His own in the Cross: to Him the arm of the Lord is revealed. And it is revealed to all those who go that way with Him. History is the great proof of it. Throughout history, God's arm has been, and ever will be, bared for His Son, and for all those who are with His Son as crucified men and women - crucified churches - a crucified Church.
There is a passage of which we are all very fond: "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 Cross is the instrument for testing whether our hearts are perfect toward the Lord, or whether we have personal interests, or worldly interests, or divided interests in any way. That word 'perfect' means 'complete' or, 'whole': the Lord will show Himself mighty on behalf of him whose heart is complete toward Him. And where could we find a greater embodiment of one whose heart was completely, wholly for God, than in the Lord Jesus on that Cross?"
May your heart be perfect toward the Lord.
Agape,
Steve
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