A Heart That Receives And Brings Forth Life

 

 

“A Heart That Receives & Brings Forth Life”

 

In Exodus chapter 35 I believe God is revealing 4 aspects of the kind of heart He is seeking & desiring from His people whom He uses to accomplish the creation of the tabernacle, which is God’s dwelling place in the midst of His people.

 

We read in Exodus 35:4-29, “4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, 5 Take you from among you an offering (“terumah” in Hebrew, a free will offering) to the LORD: whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass, 6 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, 7 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, 8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, 9 And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. 10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD has commanded; 11 The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his clasps, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets, 12 The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering, 13 The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the show bread, 14 The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light, 15 And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle, 16 The altar of burnt offering, with his brazen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, 17 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court, 18 The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords, 19 The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office. 20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered an offering of gold to the LORD. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them. 24 Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. 26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. 27 And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; 28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering to the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”

 

In what we just read, there are 2 types of heart conditions that I see Father revealing specifically in verses 5, 10, 22 & 25. The Hebrew words used to describe these 2 types of heart conditions are:

 

“Nadiyb“- willing, noble & generous (adjective) (verses 5 & 22)

&

“Khawkawm” – wise, skillful (adjective) (verses 10 & 25)

 

We also see 2 actions of these heart conditions that serve God which I believe can be seen in the Hebrew in verses 21, 26 & 29, and they are:

 

“Nawsaw“- which describes a heart that causes one to rise or respond to God’s desires to honor, exalt & magnify Him. As one would do for their beloved King. (verb) (verses 21 & 26)

&

“Nadab“- which describes a heart that impels one to do the God’s will. (verb) (verses 29) this word is the origin of the Hebrew word “Nadiyb” which is one of the types of heart conditions we see in action.

 

What is being revealed about those who are answering God’s call here?

If you go back and read verses 5-9 & 22-24 we see that these people are willingly and voluntarily bringing those things that are of the highest worth and value of all their possessions as their offerings to God in order to do His will and to serve Him. The hearts of these people are so inclined to the Lord that they value Him and His will more than the riches of this world!

 

Did God need the people’s most valuable possessions in order for His dwelling place to be created?

 Of course not! He was seeking to find those who possessed the right heart condition toward Him in order to use them for His kingdom purposes, to bring about a place where He could dwell with them. Life is found in the presence of the Lord and He only accepts offerings from those whose heart is right toward Him and His Word. When we have this kind of heart toward the Lord then we possess a heart that receives & brings forth life. The Lord will not dwell with those whose heart is not right toward Him and His Word and therefore life will not be found among them.

 

 “A Heart that brings forth death“

 

We read in Genesis chapter 4 the story of Cain & Abel where God accepts Abel’s offering but not Cain’s offering. Why do you think God did not accept Cain’s offering but received Abel’s offering?

 

I believe Cain’s heart condition wasn’t right!

 

*If you haven’t yet, please listen to and/or read the message titled “Drawing Near to God” to get a better understanding of why I believe Cain’s heart condition was the primary reason that led to God not accepting his offering.

Drawing Near To God

 

What do you believe was manifesting or had already manifested in the heart of Cain?

 

-Anger/Fury (toward God and his brother)

-Envy/Jealousy (of his brother’s relationship with God)

-Hatred (toward his brother and possibly toward God)

-Selfishness/Self Centeredness (did he truly bring his best to God with the right heart or was he only thinking of himself?)

-Bitterness (I believe Cain held a grudge against God for not accepting his offering and accepting Abel’s offering)

-Cruelty (to murder his brother without true cause & remorse)

 

Cain clearly lacked the kind of heart that receives and brings forth life and when God didn’t accept his offering Cain acted with a heart that brought forth death, he murdered his brother Abel. I believe Cain’s own desires/will were more important to him than God’s desires & will. Cain lacked love for God and for his brother and I will even go so far as to say because Cain did not love God he was not capable of truly loving his brother.

 

God’s holy day (appointed time) of Passover gives us an excellent spiritual picture of how our heart condition plays into how we are to prepare ourselves to meet with our Heavenly Father and to bring Him an acceptable offering. I believe it reveals to us the kind of heart that is needed to receive and bring forth life. It also reveals the heart that brings forth separation from God and His people which equals death if our heart condition is not right toward Him and our neighbors. Passover is a remembrance and memorial of God freeing Israel from the bondage of Egypt (the world). The wrong heart condition is also a form of bondage, of slavery as it is a slave to sin and carries a great burden that eventually leads to death if not purged, cleansed and healed.

 

We read in Exodus 12:18-20, “18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 Seven days there shall be no leaven (seh-ore) found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened (chamets), that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land. 20 You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”

 

That which is “leavened” or the Hebrew word “chamets” I believe reveals in its very word origin the spiritual meaning that applies to our walk and our heart condition. The meaning of the Hebrew word “chamets” is all of the following:

-to be leavened

-to be sour

-to be embittered

-to be grieved

-to be cruel

-to be oppressive

-to be ruthless

-to be red (as to burn with anger, wrath or hatred)

The Hebrew word in Exodus 12:19 which was first translated as “leaven” is the word “seh-ore” which can mean leaven, swelled or puffed up (pride).

When we are unwilling to turn (repent) from our evil ways due to a leavened heart it is usually caused by a lack of faith in God, due to our own pride, our fear or flesh driven ways which will also keep us from being able to ever truly forgive others and even ourselves. This will cause a heart to be darkened, cold & hardened toward God, His Word and especially toward His people. This is the heart that leads to and brings forth only death.

 

Seeing what I believe to be one of the deeper meanings of what leaven spiritually represents in Scripture how could we describe the heart of Cain now?

It was leavened!

What do you believe is the origin of this kind of leaven and where does it come from?

It comes from the enemy (satan)!

We read in John 10:7-11, “7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

We also read in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

 

*Please also Read James 4:1-12 & Matthew 5:21-48 at the end of this message for further witnesses of the right and wrong heart conditions*

 

With all that has been revealed here what should we be examining our hearts and lives for on a daily basis?

Leavening!!! We need to always be searching our hearts for leaven!

We read in Exodus 25:1-8, “The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution (terumah/free will offering) from every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” (“shittim” and “acacia” wood are used interchangeably depending on translations)

 

Exodus chapter 25 is where God first mentions bringing Him a free will offering for the tabernacle and it’s service. What was the main reason why God was asking for men and women with willing, noble, and generous hearts to bring forth valuable materials and to help build the tabernacle?

God was creating a holy place for Himself to “dwell in their midst” (the Hebrew literally says dwell/tabernacle in their middle in verse 8), He desired to dwell in their hearts and it is a prophetic picture of what He would later accomplish through Yeshua (Jesus), by the greatest act of love for His treasured creation, for us. When we accept God and His Word (Yeshua/Jesus) into our heart by faith and we submit to His will and commit to serving Him (as He is our Master) out of a heart moved by love for Him and what He has done for us, this is when we first begin to have a heart that receives and brings forth life. We receive new life for ourselves and as we shine God’s love and light to all those around us by our good works then all those that turn to God as well to glorify Him are also brought forth into new life. Life in the Lord always brings forth life!

In order to draw closer to God to honor, glorify and to serve our King may we willingly, wisely and whole heartedly subject ourselves to God’s Word and His will. May we continue to examine our hearts for leavening and allow Him to bring the needed healing and cleansing so that we are able to be of greater service to Him and His Kingdom purposes. Let us put our trust and focus in Him and His Word as we open our hearts to Him to clean the leaven out of His spiritual house that is within us, our heart & mind. May it be so!

Until next time, the Lord bless you and guard you.

 

 

Scripture References:

“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand (Genesis 4:1-11)

 

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:1-12)

 

“21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever puts away his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who puts away his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a put away woman commits adultery. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:21-47)