Some of you may have wondered where we've been, but rest assured we have been studying, worshiping, and praising the Lord every week! We are a small group who look at the Word, pray in the Spirit as a group, and allow the Spirit of God to freely move and speak to us. We have had tongues, interpretation (in word and drama!), singing, and prophetic words of encouragement. We've had healings and miracles in finances and business and in the lives of our children and extended family members. We have learned that we are no longer sinners, but precious sons of Abba Daddy God who loves us as much as His dear son, Jesus, because we are IN Jesus! How freeing! The Lord is purging religion out of our lives and bringing us deeper into the Gospel of Grace that Paul preached. The power of the New Covenant is knowing we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and that there is NOTHING more we need to do to please our Heavenly Father.
That being said, we hit a stumbling block in looking at Hebrews, particularly the first 4 chapters, because there is much discussion regarding the hardness of men's hearts. Many of us have been taught that it is impossible to discern the heart of a man, but the Word tells us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Jesus also tells us that we will know men by their fruit. Hebrews warns and encourages us to be careful and not harden our own hearts like Israel did in the wilderness, refusing to believe in the promises and blessings Jesus bought for us on the cross. While examining our own hearts, we couldn't help but examine those of our family and friends.
All of us determined that there may be loved ones in our lives who have hardened their hearts toward the Lord and aren't truly born again. That is a tough reality to swallow, given the propensity of many main-line denominations in North America to make assumptions that most church-goers are saved. But in looking closely at Scripture, we see that we must come to the truth and acknowledge that some have been deceived. At first blush there is sadness at this revelation, but then we were reminded by the Lord to pray! Like Abraham did for Lot, Moses did for Israel, and David did for Solomon, there is power in the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man to intercede for our loved ones and claim them as protected and part of the household of God! Rahab the harlot got all of her family, including her parents, into her house on the day Israel came to conquer Jericho and they all came out unscathed, including their goods and things. If God will do that for Rahab, certainly He will do it for us!
All of us in the group are interceding in prayer for those hard-hearted loved ones in our lives and are claiming them as saved! Praise God for that wonderful privilege and opportunity to pray with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ! We know are prayers will be answered. Thank you Lord that you will manifest the desires of our heart, just as you did for Rahab the harlot - mother to Boaz who married Ruth!
