God’s HEARTBEAT is gracious; it’s merciful; it’s slow to anger; and it’s of GREAT kindness. Jonah knew this of God. However, he still became angry with God simply because he didn't get his WAY with the people of Nineveh. Still, God showed compassion for Jonah in spite of Jonah’s ways.
This goes to show us that regardless how we may feel about a certain city, a certain culture, or a certain individual, God has the last word. He has a HEART with great compassion and love for His people, especially when they TURN from their wicked ways.
Jonah didn’t have the HEARTBEAT of God within him. He knew of God, but he was lacking intimacy, he didn’t have the HEARTBEAT of God for the people.
How many churches know of God, know of His word, know of his people, but don’t KNOW Him because of the lack of intimacy?
How do we become intimate? By spending TIME with Him, by reading His Word, by walking with Him, by talking with Him, by crying out to Him, by acknowledging Him in ALL our ways, and by continuously seeking His face. In other words, by letting down our hair. (Worship). Yes, it’s a process, and the more we draw nigh to Him the more he draws nigh to us. He continuously goes deeper and deeper within us, and His seed starts to grow. Many churches are lacking this HEARTBEAT.
Gen 4:1 and 25 tells us that Adam KNEW his wife, Eve, and she conceived.
When churches become intimate with the Holy Spirit, they become spiritually pregnant with his seed, His Spirit. This will enable the church to guard, to protect, and to nourish what He has placed within. Ultimately, it causes His love to spring forth like rivers of living water. It causes the church to have a deep love for the things of God. In other words, His HEARTBEAT for His people. By the church staying intimate with Him, His love flows within us. It gives us the power to forgive, the power to dismiss ALL false accusations, the power to be merciful, the power to be gracious, the power to be slow to anger, and the power to give great, loving kindness to the people.
This is an excerpt for Chapter 2 of There's Too Much Hell in the Church by Michele Mills. Used with permission of the author.
