Hyssop

Create In Me a Clean Heart

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love... for I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me... Create in me a PURE HEART, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Ps. 51:1,3,10)

Like many earnest Christians today, David examined himself by the word of God and found himself wanting. He loved God's law and he desired to please his Lord. But he found in himself an unclean heart that kept separating him from the known will of God. His sin caused a great distress within his soul. This ongoing failure made him aware of his great need: He needed the long awaited promise of the Father – a purified heart.

David's cry will be heard from each man and woman who wants to please God. The Holy Spirit has given them a hunger and thirst to become like their Lord. But their heart remains crooked. It is unable to remain with the Lord on His straight path of true righteousness and holiness. Deep frustration and even depression sets in because they cannot find the heart purity, the holiness to the Lord, the selfless agape love which their dearly loved Lord has asked them to manifest to the lost people of the world.

Every child of God, once they have been driven out of spiritual Egypt and into the desert testing period, will long after an inward purity and rest of soul. But they soon discover how there is no strength within themselves to manifest the light of Christ's life. There is nothing they can do to cut off the natural flow of the carnal nature.

Furthermore, since they are still trying to work out their life by human effort, they will remain worried and upset about many things. They cannot find the soul-rest so often promised to the children of God throughout the Scriptures.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give

you rest. Take my yoke upon you {by living under the control and

power of the Holy Spirit} and learn from me for I am gentle and

humble in heart {as you should also be}, and you will find rest for your

souls. (Matt. 11:28-29)

You will keep in PERFECT PEACE him whose mind is

steadfast, because he trusts in you {in childlike dependence}... The

path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of

the righteous smooth. (Isa. 26:3,7)

Nearly every religion has its book of laws. Multitudes of people are turning to these religious books in an attempt to find a good way to live and a true rest for their souls. There is an innate need within mankind to find a fulfillment for the returning emptiness within the soul and to be set free from the bondage of the sinful nature. But the words from a book will never, in themselves, overcome the problem. The written words on a page of paper cannot satisfy the soul.

David was one of God's most devoted men in the Old Testament. He loved the laws of his Lord. But even when he had the true word of God before him day and night, he still only had a religion of words. He could not enter into the new covenant faith that enables God's children to receive the Living Word from heaven – Jesus Christ – into their life as a new nature.

May my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding

according to your word. May my supplication come before you;

DELIVER ME ACCORDING TO YOUR PROMISE...

May YOUR HAND be ready to help me, for I have chosen your

precepts. I LONG FOR YOUR SALVATION, O Lord, and

your law is my delight. {But} I have strayed {continually} like a lost

sheep... (Ps. 119:169-176)

Even though David had the best book ever written on the subject of how to enter into a good and wholesome life, his book still required a work of human effort to accomplish the goal. Every religion that must depend on following the words in a book will be found wanting. It cannot help someone while they still possess a crooked heart. The book is good, and it will often change the outward actions of the believer, but it cannot change the inner nature.

That is what David was seeking as he cried out to his God. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me." (Ps. 51:10) Deep within his soul he was able to recognize how "the kingdom of God {in the heart} is not a matter of talk {about words} but of power" from God that is able to create a new nature. (1 Cor. 4:20) The difference between the Christian faith and all the other religions of the world is the POWER OF GOD. Only God has the power to give someone a new heart and fill their inner being with His divine Spirit of true righteousness and holiness.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove

from you your {willful} heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh

{that fully yields to the Holy Spirit}. And I will put my Spirit {of life}

in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my

laws. You will live in the land {of Sabbath-rest}...I will save you from

all your uncleanness. (Ezk. 36:26-29)

His divine power has given us everything we need for {a Christ-

like} life and godliness...so that...you may participate in the divine

nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil{willful}

desires. (2 Pet. 1:3-4)

This is what distinguishes the Christian faith from all other religions of the world. God is able to come to those who cry out for a purified heart and fill them with the life and nature of Jesus Christ.

Many people today are still living by the Old Testament way of human effort. They are trying to obey God in the same way David tried. But there will never be anything but continued failure and spiritual bondage in this approach.

To help provide a better understanding about the life we are able to receive when we are living in the presence of the Lord, we will examine His teachings about life in Zion. In this age of fulfillment, we are to enter into the first-fruits of this heavenly life. He is able to manifest the presence of His life from within our eternal soul.

Jesus Christ was serious when He said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." He has come to establish Zion in our heart. He has prepared a banquet and He wants to enable us to feast with Him in the first-fruits of His eternal life. The promise becomes available while we remain in this world. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door {by giving up the self-life}, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev. 4:20)

As the Scriptures depict, God lives in Zion. When we are living in Zion, we will be living in the presence of Christ's life and sharing in His heavenly blessings. These Scriptures will describe some of the benefits of living within His HOLY CITY.

As we approach this study of Zion, we need to remember one very important command from our God. He says, "Make every effort...to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14) In other words, the flesh-life cannot go into Zion and live within the presence of God. He only offers His life to those who are willing to come out from the willful and self-seeking ways of the world. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." (2 Cor. 6:17)

We can begin to see the importance of having the flesh-life cut off by a supernatural circumcision of the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is this circumcision of the flesh-life, which is also referred to as entire sanctification {some other terms are perfect love, baptism of the Holy Spirit, rest of faith, living in the Spirit, pure love} that purifies the heart and lifts the soul into the presence of the Lord on Mount Zion. "Blessed {by God} are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matt. 5:8)

Salvation comes from the life of the Lord. The life of the Lord is in Zion. Therefore, to receive the full salvation of the Lord, the seeker of God must enter Zion – the city of true righteousness and holiness. In Zion everyone is set free from the bondage of their sinful nature and enjoys the first-fruits of Christ's life in the heavenly realms. This is what David so hungrily sought when he cried out to God, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me."

But you {as sanctified saints in this age of fulfillment} have come to

Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God...to

the CHURCH of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.

You have come to {the presence of} God...to the spirits of righteous

men made perfect {in the faith}. (Heb. 12:22-23)

I have installed my King on Zion, my HOLY HILL. {Because the

Lord lives in a place of holiness, we can see why we must enter into a

life of holiness through a purified heart before we will see Him.} (Ps.

2:6)

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matt. 5:8)

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have

never forsaken those who {earnestly} SEEK you {in the HOLY

CITY of Zion}. Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion... Have

mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare your

praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion AND THERE

rejoice IN YOUR SALVATION {which is a union with Christ's

kingdom-life}. (Ps. 9:10-14)

Save me {from the sinful nature}, O God, for the waters have

come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths {of the old sinful nature},

where there is no foothold {to escape for those who live by self-

sufficiency}... I am worn out CALLING FOR HELP... But I

PRAY TO YOU, O Lord, in the time of your favor...answer me

with your SURE SALVATION {of divine life}... Do not hide

your face {which is the divine spiritual image} from your servant;

answer me QUICKLY, for I am in trouble {while remaining in the

sinful nature}... For God will save Zion...and THOSE WHO

LOVE HIS NAME WILL DWELL THERE. (Ps.69:1-36)

The Lord will write in the register of the peoples; "This one was

born in Zion." As they make music they will sing "All my fountains {of

Living Water} are IN YOU." (Ps. 87:6-7)

I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your

dross and remove all your impurities {in the desert testing period}...

Afterward {when you enter the Sabbath-rest} you will be called the

City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Zion will be redeemed with

justice, her penitent ones with {Christ's life of} righteousness. (Isa.

1:25-27)

For the Lord will rebuild Zion {in the heart of fallen man} and

APPEAR in his GLORY. He will RESPOND TO THE

PRAYER of the DESTITUTE; he will not despise their

PLEA {for deliverance}... The children of your servant will LIVE

IN YOUR PRESENCE... (Ps. 102:16-17, 28)

{Jesus said to the Father} I have given them {access to} the

GLORY that you gave me {in a mortal body}, that they may be one

{in life and nature} as we are one: I in them and you in me. {We are to

receive the "Spirit of glory" to enable us to live in a unity of life with

the Father, the Son and all Spirit-filled Christians in Zion.} (John

17:22-23)

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It

is Like precious oil poured on the head {representing the unity of life

and nature that occurs when the Spirit clothes us with power from on

high}... It is as if the dew of Herman were falling on Mount Zion. For

THERE THE LORD BESTOWS HIS BLESSING

{which is the first-fruits of the eternal life}, even life forevermore. (Ps.

133:1-3)

All the believers were one in heart and mind{when their sinful

nature was cut off with the Pentecostal blessing of heart purification}.

No ONE claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they

shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32)

Let the people of Zion be glad in their King...For the Lord takes

delight in his people; he CROWNS the humble with

SALVATION {which is the first-fruits of His eternal life}. (Ps.

149:2, 4)

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion...it was said

among the nations, "THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT

THINGS FOR THEM." The Lord has done great things for

us, and we are FILLED WITH JOY. (Ps. 126:1-3)

For the kingdom of God is...righteousness, peace and joy in the

Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17)

Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see

Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved... There

the Lord will be our Mighty One. It will be a place of broad rivers and

streams {of Living Water}. For...the Lord is our King; it is he who will

save us {from our sinful nature}. (Isa. 33:20-24)

Whoever believes in me {and therefore comes out from the self-

willed ways of the world}, as the Scripture has said, STREAMS

OF LIVING WATER WILL FLOW FROM WITHIN HIM.

(John 7:38)

Whoever drinks the water I give him will NEVER THIRST.

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water

WELLING UP {from within the inner being} to eternal life. (John

4:14)

They will see the GLORY of the Lord {when He fills the temple

of their body}, the splendor of our God... Then will the {spiritually}

lame leap like a deer, the mute shout for joy. Water will gush forth in

the wilderness... And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way

of Holiness...and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter

Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and

joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isa.

35:1-10)

In order to enter into the divine life of the Lord, which includes an ever-flowing source of His supernatural love, joy, and peace, we must be willing to enter into His life of righteousness and holiness. Zion is called both the City of Righteousness and the City of Holiness. We must enter Zion – God's promised Sabbath-rest – in order to "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4:24)

All true righteousness and holiness is found in the life of the Lord. We receive His life of righteousness, peace and joy when we enter His heavenly Jerusalem within His undivided kingdom. This kingdom-life is to be established within our eternal soul today. "For the kingdom of God is...righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 14:17) If we are not filled with Christ's life of righteousness, peace and joy, then we are not yet living within the undivided kingdom of God through power of the Holy Spirit. We receive these new qualities of life by being clothed with power from on high.

Many people attempt to become filled with righteousness, peace and joy through human effort. Most of their efforts depend on the psychology found in human wisdom. It is something they try to develop in their mind with the right words. But everything that’s produced by human effort is in the realm of spiritual death. While these human efforts may produce something we call life for short periods of time, this self-produced spiritual life continues to die, and passes away until we can produce it again. All of these works, even the attempts to produce a righteous Christian life, are totally dependent on one’s circumstances. And there is nothing that demonstrates more clearly how all of our own efforts to produce righteousness, peace and joy remain in the realm of spiritual death than when our circumstances begin to turn sour.

The supernatural flow of Christ's righteousness, peace and joy must come to us from the heavenly realms if it is to overcome our circumstances. The true life of the Lord is designed to flow like an endless river from the heavenly realms. This never-ending river is able to completely satisfy our soul, even while undergoing some of the most severe circumstances this world can throw at us. Everyone born of the Lord's heavenly nature overcomes the world.

There is only one way to enter the life in Zion where everyone becomes one in nature with the Father and the Son. We must come out from the ways of the world and offer our body to Him as a living sacrifice. (Rom. 12:1-2) Only in this way can we become an instrument of His true righteousness and holiness.

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his

dwelling place...ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name {by coming

out from the willful and self-seeking ways of the world}. Bring an

offering {of your body} and come before him; worship the Lord with

the splendor of his holiness. (1 Chron. 16:27-29)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer

your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God... (Rom.

12:1)

When we enter the Sabbath-rest of God and rest from our own works, we then are enabled to enter into the river of divine life that flows from the throne of God. When we are living in Zion, Christ becomes "our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (1 Cor. 1:30) When we are crucified to the self-life and Christ becomes our life, there is nothing in this world that can prevent the light of His divine nature from shining through the temple of our body.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from {human effort

under} law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets

testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus

Christ to all who believe. (Rom. 3:21-22)

Although we must put on the new life of true righteousness and holiness, we cannot do this through our own strength. We perfect God's power in our life by giving up the way of human effort {law} and becoming utterly dependent {faith} on our Lord to manifest His divine life through the temple of our body.

The Second Adam has provided fallen mankind with the opportunity to return to the ancient Highway of Holiness once traveled by the first Adam. Unfortunately, there will not be very many who want to enter into His life and nature. And even when they do receive a hunger to be like Jesus, they often lack pastors and teachers who are able to build them up in the kind of faith that is willing to give up their old life in order to receive the submissive life and nature of Jesus Christ.

Everyone needs to take some time to seriously consider who they are following today. We will spend eternity with our leader. Only those who have died to self-will and are following the path of Jesus Christ, who lived only for the will of the Father in heaven, will follow Him into the eternal life. Everyone who continues to follow the self-willed ways of this world will follow its leader {Satan} into the eternal lake of fire.

Jesus described these two ways as the narrow road and the wide road. We are walking on one of these two roads into our eternity at this moment. If you truly believe in Jesus Christ, you will take His straight and narrow highway of holiness.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is

the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But

small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ONLY A

FEW FIND IT...Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will

enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY HE WHO DOES

THE WILL OF MY FATHER in heaven. (Matt. 7:13-14,21)

Become like David and begin to cry out to your Savior: "Have mercy on me, O God... Create in me a PURE HEART, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Today is the day of salvation. We must pray for God to establish His kingdom-life in our soul while we remain in this world. "Your kingdom come {into my heart}, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroad and look; ask

for the ancient paths {of a Spirit-controlled life}, ask where the good

way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls {within God's

Sabbath-rest}. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" (Jer. 6:16)