Desires of your heart?
Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Written by: Teresa Ann, Host of Let's Talk Studio
When you hear the question, "What are the desires of your heart?" What say you?
I admit that most of the time my desires have not been of eternal value. They were of monetary rhetoric; the kind which moth eat and rust destroys as recorded in the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 6:19-24).
This whole blog entry began this morning due to a simple word search for REJOICE that set me on course to a DIVINE "rabbit trail". It was an adventurous path that simply wooed me to hunger for more of a desire to fellowship with GOD. The internet search led to me none other than a write up from the early 1900's from the church to it's congregants. It was a "newsletter" of sorts from May, 1921, titled, "The Latter Rain Evangel" and it was subtitled, "The Days of Heaven On The Earth".
This newsletter written so long ago was speaking even past the far reaching of what we would call, "now". I was in awe of the order of writings and how every point was as an arrow that pointed the church back to the Father God by looking to Jesus as they allowed the Holy Spirit to baptize them with fire and passion for GOD and the lost.
As I read this newsletter from long ago on a particular Chinese man, who happened to be a high ranking general, I was in awe of the report from the missionary to China. This particular general had been converted because of him witnessing a particular woman who said "Slay me but spare them." She died and yet her death caused resurrection life in so many from that moment on. It became the ripple effect of many high ranking military men within China to pursue the heart of GOD like no one had ever seen. To the point when their enemies surrendered, one of the generals gave each surrendered soldier money to go back home as their lives were spared with the Gospel being preached, so these soldiers who had surrendered would know the love of GOD with tangible evidence. Even as I read this newsletter, it was as though I became a witness of these Chinese military men who were converted by the love of GOD shown through a few missionaries. They began to even see their time of war as a mission field in the midst of the battlefield.
It led me to greater awe of all these months that GOD has had me parked in Luke 6:27-38; Matthew 5:44-48; Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans 12:9-21, it was outrageously inspiring, to see their lives demonstrate the goodness of GOD that leads man to repentance. They were revealing the Kingdom of GOD within the earth by loving their enemies.
With all that said, when the missionary was with many of the men within the Chinese military, they had a prayer meeting and before prayer they were all studying Matthew chapters 18-20. After reading, the missionary began to ask these powerful men, "What are your deepest desires of your hearts? Please state them before we go into prayer."
Their answers awakened me to the core:
One general answered, "My greatest wish before GOD is that all 9,000 of my men may turn to the LORD." Then a colonel answered, "Mine is that we may have grace given us to live lives so genuine that we will commend this salvation of the Lord Jesus to all men." Another colonel spoke up and said, "That GOD may use our brigade to convert all the soldiers of China." Then the general and the three colonels led in prayer among others.
As I stated in the beginning, now I ask again, "What is your greatest desire?" I have a feeling that like me, your answer may have shifted to one of great eternal value?
Would you like to share your hearts desire? Your life giving feedback is encouraging.
Written by: Teresa Ann, Host of Let's Talk Studio
I admit that most of the time my desires have not been of eternal value. They were of monetary rhetoric; the kind which moth eat and rust destroys as recorded in the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 6:19-24).
This whole blog entry began this morning due to a simple word search for REJOICE that set me on course to a DIVINE "rabbit trail". It was an adventurous path that simply wooed me to hunger for more of a desire to fellowship with GOD. The internet search led to me none other than a write up from the early 1900's from the church to it's congregants. It was a "newsletter" of sorts from May, 1921, titled, "The Latter Rain Evangel" and it was subtitled, "The Days of Heaven On The Earth".
This newsletter written so long ago was speaking even past the far reaching of what we would call, "now". I was in awe of the order of writings and how every point was as an arrow that pointed the church back to the Father God by looking to Jesus as they allowed the Holy Spirit to baptize them with fire and passion for GOD and the lost.
As I read this newsletter from long ago on a particular Chinese man, who happened to be a high ranking general, I was in awe of the report from the missionary to China. This particular general had been converted because of him witnessing a particular woman who said "Slay me but spare them." She died and yet her death caused resurrection life in so many from that moment on. It became the ripple effect of many high ranking military men within China to pursue the heart of GOD like no one had ever seen. To the point when their enemies surrendered, one of the generals gave each surrendered soldier money to go back home as their lives were spared with the Gospel being preached, so these soldiers who had surrendered would know the love of GOD with tangible evidence. Even as I read this newsletter, it was as though I became a witness of these Chinese military men who were converted by the love of GOD shown through a few missionaries. They began to even see their time of war as a mission field in the midst of the battlefield.
It led me to greater awe of all these months that GOD has had me parked in Luke 6:27-38; Matthew 5:44-48; Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans 12:9-21, it was outrageously inspiring, to see their lives demonstrate the goodness of GOD that leads man to repentance. They were revealing the Kingdom of GOD within the earth by loving their enemies.
With all that said, when the missionary was with many of the men within the Chinese military, they had a prayer meeting and before prayer they were all studying Matthew chapters 18-20. After reading, the missionary began to ask these powerful men, "What are your deepest desires of your hearts? Please state them before we go into prayer."
Their answers awakened me to the core:
One general answered, "My greatest wish before GOD is that all 9,000 of my men may turn to the LORD." Then a colonel answered, "Mine is that we may have grace given us to live lives so genuine that we will commend this salvation of the Lord Jesus to all men." Another colonel spoke up and said, "That GOD may use our brigade to convert all the soldiers of China." Then the general and the three colonels led in prayer among others.
As I stated in the beginning, now I ask again, "What is your greatest desire?" I have a feeling that like me, your answer may have shifted to one of great eternal value?
Would you like to share your hearts desire? Your life giving feedback is encouraging.
Hello sister Teresa. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blolgger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you as well as know you and about your interest in Godly things and desires of your heart. I am so blessed and encouraged reminded me to put first the desires of eternal valuses rather than that of earthly values(Monatery values)by your blog post on the same. The responses to the missionary from the Chines militery personal were so encouraging to the question missionary asked. I am truly blessed by the post. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 40 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richestof richand theh poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encouage young and the adults to come to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have your young children come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. I AM SURE THEY WILL HAVE a live changing experience. Loking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede.
ReplyDelete