Heartbeat Lessons of the Cross- Lesson One: The Beating Heart

 

NATURAL FACT:

The physical human heart is a muscular organ with the major function of pumping blood. The blood is pumped throughout the many blood vessels within the human body. The heart completes this task with repeated and rhythmic contractions. The circulatory system that includes the vertebrates is also working within the system of all the body organs to perform vital functions to accomplish continued life of the human being. When our heart beats, every single beat involves five major stages called the cardiac cycle.   The cardiac cycle refers to all the events related to the results of the beginning of each heartbeat.  The five stages include the first two, the “ventricular filling” stage and the last three involve moving the blood flow from the ventricles to the artery and the aorta.  Throughout this cardiac cycle, valves are opened or closed, blood flows or ceases to flow, the heart is relaxed or contracted, the ventricular are empty or full, and blood pressure increases or decreases.  All this happens in a beautifully orchestrated rhythmic beat. Unnoticed to the naked eye and fully trusted by humans, this wonderful well working machine is often forgotten by us as we go about our daily tasks of living.  The healthy heart inside our bodies produces a healthy reproduction that flows not only in our bodies but overflows outwardly to our emotions, feelings, attitude, etc.

SCRIPTURES:

 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  Mark 12:30

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'  “     John 7:38

COMMENTARY

The purpose that Christ was obedient to God in His direction to die on the cross was to bring about reconciliation.  Reconciliation, bringing friendship, once again between God and man, leads to a desire to be and do what God wants. It also rescues us from the death penalty for doing wrong and instead gives us eternal salvation.  Currently, Jesus is sitting on the right hand side of God the Father in heaven. Even after His resurrection and ascension His goal is the same, continued friendship between the human race and God.  We get our every day repeated and rhythmic contractions of our spiritual heart through allowing the heart (God) to pump the blood (his teachings and holy laws) through our veins (heart, soul and mind) in a daily one on one relationship with Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. 

 Just like the cardiac cycle is responsible for moving the blood flow to the whole body, likewise believers in Christ are also called to a “flow” that comes out of the heart. The metaphor Jesus speaks of also has to do with the life and death of a heart.  But most important with the spiritual matters of the heart. When Jesus speaks the above phrase at the feast, He was speaking to us.  He was speaking of the soon to come Holy Spirit after his resurrection and ascension where He is now currently is sitting on the right hand of the heavenly Father in heaven.

 

QUESTIONS

1.  Are you connected to God’s heartbeat? If not, ask Him to connect you to Him. Ask Him for a pure heart and a heart to long after Him

 2.  Would you conform to His heartbeat, daily depending on Him flowing blood of life throughout your body?

3.  Would you acknowledge that He is the One, just like the physical heart, that is crucial in survival?

4.  Is your spiritual heart for God pumping the repeated heart beats of Christ?

5. How is your heart this morning? Do you feel spiritual sluggish, as if you do not have much energy?

6.Could that hindrance be you? Check to see if something has hindered your heart flow to the Lord.

7. In what ways does your heart flow with God?

8. In what ways does your heart resist the flow of God?

PRAYER:

Dear heavenly Father, cause my heart to love you completely, fully and my soul and mind to follow hard after You, Your kingdom and Your will.  As I trust in You, You will guide me and direct my path to do just that. Connect my heart, soul and mind to your heart allowing you to beat and flow your blood throughout my body conforming to Your will.  Lord, help me to yield to a constant rhythmic flow of your heartbeat in all things. Lord may I see where I am not flowing and where I am hindering the spiritual cardiac cycle of our relationship so that I will turn from those things that offend you and your Name. Keep me beating in sync with You all my days and in all my ways.

 Amen 

FURTHER STUDY:

Mark 12:28-34

Matthew 22:34:40

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

John chap 7

Matthew 22:37

Mark 12:30

 

Adapted from Simone’s writing series Heartbeat Lessons of the Cross

 © Copyright 2012- 2014 Simone Lake. All Rights Reserved

 © Copyright 2012- 2014 Deep Roots in Christ Ministries. All Rights Reserved  

 About the author:

Simone Lake is a Christ follower, bride of Pastor Dr. John Lake, Bible teacher and a passionate pray-er.

Visit her: www.simonelake.com, www.deeprootsinchrist.com, facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

 

The Crimson Promise of Christmas

The color red is linked to Christmas is so many ways. Whether it is the bright red holly, elaborate and simple decorations or even our favorite delicious sweet treats, not only is red a primary color in its origin, but a primary color during this festive time of the year.

 

Let’s take a look at this red crimson color from a Biblical view and see how this color was not only primary, for prominent and a everlasting promise throughout all generations…this deep purplish crimson color of red.

 

 

Water, Blood, Birth

As a woman gives birth to her child, there are many fluids involved, including red blood.  As gross as this may sound, this very element is the liquid of life. Mary gave birth to Christ, God is, she birthed His human life, and we who receive are benefactors of eternal life-Praise His holy name!  

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus,
for He will save His people from

                                                                  their sins. ”

Now all this took place to fulfill what was
spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

                  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son,
and they shall call     

   His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the
 angel of the Lord commanded him, and

took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until
she gave birth to a Son; and he called His

                                                   name Jesus.^-Matthew 1:21-25

“While they were there, the days were completed for
her to give birth. And she gave birth to

her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths,
and laid Him in a manger, because there

was no room for them in the inn.- Luke 2:6-7

 

 

Covenant Fulfilled

The Angels of glory and the common shepherds of the earth joined together

in a glorious welcome party for baby Jesus as the guest of honor.  After many many years of prophecy and waiting upon waiting, Jesus came to fulfill the blood covenant that God made with Abraham.  The blood covenant God made swearing by Himself because there is no one greater than Himself.  God walked through the pieces of flesh solidifying the promise so that this day, we can claim that same promise of redemption.

 

“Then Abram  brought all these to God and
cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the

other;…Now when the sun was going down,
a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold,

terror and great darkness fell upon him.
It came about when the sun had set, that it was

very dark, and behold, there appeared a
smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed

between these pieces. Genesis 15:10, 12,17

 

 

Herod Slaughters Babies

As like any great thing of God, there is always a enemy.  T

hose who come to kill, steal and destroy.

 

“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been
tricked by the wise men, became furious,
and he sent and killed all the male children
in Bethlehem and in all that region who were
two years old or under, according to the time
that he had ascertained from the wise men.  
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

            “A voice was heard in Ramah,
           weeping and loud lamentation,

                                                        Rachel weeping for her children;
                                                           she refused to be comforted,
                                                because they are no more. Jeremiah 31:15

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
“Get up, take the Child and His mother,
and go into the land of Israel; for those who
sought the Child’s life are dead. ”
So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother,
and came into the land of Israel.

 Christ is Circumcised

The humanness of the holy God…  Out of a overflowing abundance of love, grace and mercy, conformed Himself to His promise to His people and sealed it as a reminder through the act of circumcision

 

“And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision,
His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel
before He was conceived in the womb.

And when the days for their purification according
to the law of Moses were completed, they

brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

            (as it is written in the Law of the Lord,
“Every firstborn male that opens the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord”),

  and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord,

            “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was
Simeon; and this man was righteous

and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel;
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And it had been revealed to him by the
Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he

had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the
Spirit into the temple; and when the parents

brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for
Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him

into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “
Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant

to depart in peace,  According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

Which You have prepared in
the presence of all peoples,

                  A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”   
Luke 2: 21-32

 

Glory to God in the Highest!

May the Jesus, who is the reason for this season,

 cut your heart for Him and fasten it tightly to His heart

…Holding dear and displaying loudly the Promise

that has come  because of  the crimsons of Christmas

 

 

© Copyright 2013 Simone Lake. All Rights Reserved.

© Copyright 2013 Deep Roots in Christ Ministries. All Rights Reserved

 

 

About the author:

Simone Lake is a Christ follower, bride of Pastor Dr. John Lake, Bible teacher and a passionate pray-er. Visit her: www.simonelake.com, www.deeprootsin christ.com, facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

 

Come!

 

When a person uses the word “Come”, there is anticipation that beckons them to follow.

When a person used the same word “Come!” with intensity and emotion people start to RUN to the caller.  When is used as an imperative, directive or command the urgency increases.

 

Let’s view some of the many times this word is used in scripture

 

John in his gospel, chapter  4, shares the story of a woman who used the command 

“ ‘Come, see a Man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ They went out of the city and came to Him!” 

 

The urgent cry of a woman, calling out to her community, beckoned the whole town to come and discover what she was talking about. This compelling shout out to others was such a

great need that she completely forgot the current task she was doing…gathering water…and instead traded it for something more valuable.  The living water provided by Jesus Christ.

 

The end result of responding to the directive “come”:  

She came to the Lord and the Samaritans came to the Lord.  They had so much belief and faith in Christ that they urged Jesus to stay longer with them and Jesus stayed for two more days sharing with them who He is, getting to know Him more intimately and personally. All because they heeded the call of this women to come. 

 

Matthew writes in chapter 8 of his gospel, about a desperate man who is asking for

the help of Jesus to heal his servant.  Even though the audience that Matthew writes to is

Jewish, Matthew highlights this passage of a centurion man, most likely of Roman ethnicity and a Gentile. 

 “ ‘ Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.’  And he said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’  But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. ^“

 

 

The end result of asking the Son of Man to come : 

Jesus says yes to this Gentile man of high valor when he asks and comes.  This centurion tells Jesus that he is not worthy for Jesus to actually come to his home but to instead just speak the word and his servant will be healed.  Jesus marveled at his faith because it was so high for a centurion, a non Jew to speak such great words of faith.  His servant was healed because he dared to ask Jesus to come. Jesus comes to us when we ask in all sincerity and purity of heart.

 

Invitation to Come to Jesus

After Jesus prays to the heavenly Father, he extends a invitation to any and all to come to Him in Matthew chapter 11

^“ Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

The end result of coming to Jesus? :

He will give us rest in a heavy laden life 

We will learn from Jesus who is the best Teacher ever!

We can glean gentleness, a lowliness of heart and rest for our souls

 

Jesus Himself personally invites you and personally invites me to come to Him!

The holy God of this world wants us to fellowship, visit and get to know Him.  

What an incredible privilege!

 

So, COME!  And see the Savior of world who currently sits on the right hand of God,

praying for us!

 

Chris Rice, a popular song writer and singer says it well with this hymn

 

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

 
Now your burden's  lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't  be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

 

 

 

 

 

 

©Copyright 2013 Simone Lake. All Rights Reserved.

© Copyright 2013 Deep Roots in Christ Ministries. All Rights Reserved

 

About the author:

Simone Lake is a Christ follower, bride of Pastor Dr. John Lake, Bible teacher and a passionate pray-er. Visit her: www.simonelake.com, www.deeprootsinchrist.com, facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn