Didn't our Hearts Burn
When Jesus appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus, He opened the Scriptures to explain why the Christ had to die. As yet they didn't know who He was, but they persuaded Him to stay for a meal. When He broke the bread, their eyes were opened, and then He vanished. Their response is a favorite one in all of the Bible.
"Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking?" (Luke 24:32).
That is exactly what happens when we read of what this same Jesus has done in the lives of those who have given themselves for more. Our hearts burn to cultivate the presence of God. If someone felt led, they would stand up and begin to pray or preach. Truly, the Spirit of God is the leader of those meetings. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for fourteen years. We can only say that God revealed Himself to us, and we have such an experience of His love. We did not present any new truths, and yet God touches those around us. We don't want to go back where we were before. It's difficult for most to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit because we are so limited in our experience with Him. Most know Him only as the One who convicts of sin or gives comfort when we're troubled. The bottom line is we are not accustomed to recognizing the Holy Spirit's actual presence. We are acquainted with a small thoughts of acceptable manifestations that sometimes happen when He shows up, such as tears, or perhaps a sense of peace when our favorite song is sung. But few recognize just Him alone. To make matters worse, many unknowingly reject Him because He either shows up in a way that they are unaccustomed to, or He failed to come as He has in the past. (Consider automatically rejecting everything that we don't understand or have never recognized the Scriptures to say. It implies that if God hasn't done it or shown it to us first, He wouldn't possibly do it to someone else.) While few would admit it, the attitude of the Church in recent days has been, "If I'm uncomfortable with something, it must not be from God." This attitude has given rise to many self-appointed watchdogs who put the brakes on in the Church with their own fears. Hunger for God then gives way to fear of deception. What do I trust most, my ability to be deceived or His ability to keep me? And why do you think He gave us the Comforter? He knew His ways would make us uncomfortable first.
The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: "He is good! His faithful love endures forever!" At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God. (2 Chronicles 5:13-14 NLT)
The truth is His world has been breaking into ours with regularity in salvations, healings, deliverances from the beginning. The manifestations of that invasion vary. They are quite fascinating, and too numerous to catalogue. While some are difficult to understand at first glance, we know that God always works redemptively. On many occasions laughter has filled a room, bringing healing to broken hearts. Gold dust sometimes covers people's faces, hands, or clothing during worship or ministry time. Oil sometimes appears on the hands of His people; and it especially happens among children. A wind has come into a room with no open windows, doors, vents, etc. At some locations, believers have seen an actual cloud of His presence appearing over the heads of worshiping people. We've also had the fragrance of heaven fill a room so that you could actually taste it, these have all happened as they worshiped God.
Like generations before us they are close to regulating God's work by a new and revised thought of acceptable manifestations. No longer is it just tears during a special song or a time of repentance following a moving sermon. Weve seen others falling, shaking, laughter, to name a few. We must learn to recognize His move by recognizing His presence. Our thoughts are only good for revealing our present understanding or experience. Could our thoughts keep us from certain types of victories. the Presence of God is discovered in prayer and while that is an obvious truth, many people learn to pray without the Presence, thinking their discipline is what God is looking for. Discipline has an important part in walking with Christ, for sure. Christianity must be known for its passion more than its disciplines. Prayer is the ultimate expression of partnership with God. It is the adventure of discovering and praying His heart. So many spend their life praying to God, when they could be praying with God. This partnership, with its answers and breakthroughs, is the source of our fullness of joy if we embrace Him.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude 1:20
What can 'praying in the Spirit' be to us like if we are praying with God?
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:32
When we pray anointed prayers, we are praying the heart of God. His heart is being expressed through words, emotion, and decree and passions. Finding the heart of God is a sure way of locking into His Presence. This privilege of co-laboring is a part of the assignment given for those who would give themselves to carry His Presence. Praying in tongues brings us edification and personal strength. In that kind of praying the Presence of God washes over us to bring great refreshing. Any gift from God is wonderful, glorious, and extremely necessary to live in His full intentions for us. This particular gift is brilliantly useful for living in His Presence continually.
