It’s War, And The Battle Is For The Heart 5p3i4j

It’s War, and the battle is for the Heart

Catherine C. Rothwell

Copyright © 2012 by Catherine C. Rothwell.

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction Caution!

Chapter I The Pure In Heart

Chapter II Treasure Of The Heart

Chapter III Out Of The Abundance Of The Heart

Chapter IV A Waxed Heart

Chapter V The Sown Word

Chapter VI A Defiled Heart

Chapter VII A Clean And Broken Heart

Beloved, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Prov. 4:23

From the Author; Jesus spoke about the matter of the heart. The heart is the seat of the soul’s emotions. He is looking at the very condition of your heart. You need to sound the alarm and put on your war garment. It’s war and it’s for your heart. The Devil wants your heart in order to do all kinds of evil. He has assigned many demons to cause your heart to become hard and callous. He wants to give you a heart attack in the natural and in the spiritual. Apply the Blood of Jesus over your heart—win the fight, walk in total health, love, peace, and forgiveness. You have the keys to unlock your heart and to set yourself free. I pray this book will bless your heart, give you wisdom and understanding to the condition of your heart.

Be Blessed God’s Precious Jewels!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is first dedicated to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. For His Glory. To those whose lives that will be changed forever. To my mother Valerie Powell, brother Leonard Rothwell, brothers Shimron and Charles Rothwell, Nyasia and Pamela Roberts, and all family . To sister Archer and Deaconess D. Hampton—two very special women in my life. Also to Apostle Harriet; a great woman of God who will not compromise the gospel. To my spiritual mothers, Pastor Renee Edwards and M. Johnson—great women of God who encourage me, love on me, correct me and walk with me in the valley and on the mountaintop. To my Church of God in Christ family—Bishop Green, Newport News, VA. and Pastor G. Williams, Richmond, VA. To my new family, Antioch Baptist Church of Brooklyn, NY., to my mothers of Antioch—Mother Margaret Jennings, Deaconess Gardner, Deaconess Lewis, Deaconess Richards, Deaconess Carn, Deaconess Roberta Wright, Mother Jackie, spiritual Dad, Deacon John McAllister, the late Deacon Leroy Phillips Jr. and Sister Barbara Phillips for the kindness they showed me, and faithful usher Miss Mary. To my sister Janet, and the Garland family of whom I am a part. To my dearest friends Robin Adams, and Alice Peterson, Minister Gerry Perry of Richmond, VA., and Pastor Kevin Williams and The Peoples Baptist Church family of Brooklyn, NY. Apostle Prophetess J.B. Woods of Wailing Women and Praying Priests Inc., for pouring into my life. God Bless.

INTRODUCTION

Caution!

Beloved this book is to encourage, exhort, reproof, correct. For out of your heart are the issues of life. You must keep your heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:2123). That means to guard, make effort, eagerness. It takes hard work beloved. Are you ready to put the work in? The Father wants to give you a new heart and new mind set—to stop acting like the world and looking like the world. Dark and light cannot reside in the same space. He doesn’t want you to be unequally yoked to unbelievers (II Cor. 6:14-16). Yoked means to be paired, teamed, coupled together. You must keep yourselves clean little children. God wants to sharpen you (Proverbs 27:17) I know you don’t want to became dull and die. God says to receive His Words, hide them, incline thine ear unto wisdom, apply thine heart to understanding, (Proverbs 1:7). Is the fear of the Lord in you? God says not to fear man who can kill the body but rather fear Him (Matthew 10:28) He’s your Father. When your earthly father told you not to do something and you did it anyway, what happened? God will also chasten those He loves (Hebrew 12:6-8). He wants to bring you from milk to meat to many are still on milk (Hebrew 5:12-14). Look at these mothers that are continuing to give milk to a grown child when they need to be on meat. The Father is trying to get His people to walk in the Spirit (Roman 8:14). Do you want the form of godliness but deny the power (II Timothy 3:5). Jesus said He gave us power (Acts 1:8, Luke 10:1920). That means you also have the power to live right, walk right, talk right, who will you yield your to – righteousness or unrighteousness (Roman 6:13)? I encourage you to bring your body into subjection (I Corinthians 9:27). Reading this book will expose you to the very nature of your heart, all motives, intentions, and desires. Your heart will be completely vulnerable to the true condition of your heart everything hidden will be exposed. The light of God’s Word will not leave one speck of darkness in your heart to remain. Let the sword of God’s Word cut away everything that will cut you off from the true vine. Let the pruning begin. He knows how to handle the knife. Are you ready to expose

your heart? Break up that fallow ground and receive a new heart, one of flesh not of stone? It’s the enemy’s job to rob you of the sown word in your heart. To sow hate, unforgiveness, pride, lust greed, to move Jesus out and place everything dark and wicked in its place. Is that what you want? Beloved, the fight is on! Pray, Fast, seek God like never before to show you your heart. Blessed are the pure in heart. Do you really want to see Jesus? The strength of Israel cannot lie when He said all that is abominable, fearful, unbelieving, shall have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). Let the gentle fire of God’s Word pull up all weeds. That will lead you to Heaven, not to eternal damnation (Revelation 22:11); so which are you? I pray you get your bible, read all scripture that is given throughout this book. The Word says to study ( II Timothy 2:15). May the Grace of God lead you and guide you in all truth Read on!

CHAPTER I

The Pure In Heart

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8

When you take a look at the pure in heart you go back to Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel. Adam, our first father walked with God, fellowshipped with Him—to the point of being given the privilege and great knowledge to name all the animals. Let’s look at that. In Genesis, Chapter 1:24, God creates the animals and in verse 26 He creates man who names all the animals which God had created. And God said it was good. So that means Adam had a pure heart in the beginning. Oh, but the fall of Adam and Eve opened their hearts to evil. Let’s take a step back. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life; and man became a living soul (Hebrew for breathed is naphach defined: to inflate, blow hard; Hebrew for breath is nephesh defined: life, breath, soul. Adam and Eve opened their hearts to the knowledge of good and evil something God was trying to keep them both from. God told Adam not to eat of the tree of good and evil in the garden. Adam got his instruction directly from God. Just like he received the gift of life directly from God. He is the only one in creation to have God put his mouth directly on him. Can you imagine God himself the most Holy of Holies taking his mouth and breathing into the nose of Adam? Can you picture that? That lets you know right there the breath you breathe is not yours but God’s. This brings us to their two sons. Because of their parents they also were exposed

to the knowledge of good and evil. One son, Abel, did what was right in the sight of God, had a heart for the things of God, loved God, followed God, and honored God with his best for an offering and was accepted by God. The other son, Cain, did what was evil in the sight of God. Evil was brewing on the inside of Cain’s heart against his brother. Out of his heart came murder. God rejected Cain’s offering and told him “sin lieth at your door”. What door? The Heart. Do you have a murdering spirit like Cain? You can kill someone with your mouth, and ruin a reputation with gossip. Don’t be a Cain, offer up good fruits from your heart to the Lord and you will be accepted (Gen 4:3-7). All because Abel’s heart was pure and Cain’s was tainted with evil. Is that not like church families today? You see a person who loves the Lord, they do all they can for the Kingdom, will give anything to anyone, do anything for anyone out of the kindness of the Heart that comes from God. But because we live in a world of “me first” people—backbiting, envy, coveting, jealousy, murder, and much more God cannot bless the church. And the Holy Spirit exposes our very own hearts to ourselves. Have you taken a look at your heart today? Do you want a heart like Abel or a heart like Cain?

Now we have come to the point of going to war – on active duty. It is our duty to guard our hearts (Prov. 4:21-23). There are steps we must take to maintain a healthy heart. As in the natural without proper exercise and diet one can surely die from a heart attack. One can also have a spiritual heart attack. That’s why God said he will give us a new heart (Ezek. 36:26). The heart is the most important part of the body. If it stops you are dead! The heart, in the Greek, “kardia”, is the chief organ of physical life and occupies the most important place in the human system. It stands at the center of man’s entire mental and moral activity—both rational and emotional elements. It is figuratively the seat of the hidden springs of personal life. The seat of total depravity, the principle in the center of man’s inward life that defiles all that he does. It is the sphere of divine influence of the hidden man-the real man. It represents the true character, but also conceals it. That’s why in the book of I Samuel 16:7, the Lord said, “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”. Are you going to accept heart failure or get your heart in shape? Do what is required of you to have a healthy heart? Are you on active duty? Or are you just sitting around waiting for a heart attack to happen?

The Lord Himself had to go into the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40). When He went to hell He went straight for the heart where all the issues of life lie. Oh, but when He rose, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men (Efh 4:8). Do you understand that beloved? He stripped the devil of all his gifts and gave them to us. Wow! What an awesome God we serve!! Look at the scripture Ezekiel 28:12-14. God the father describes the design of Lucifer. Oh Beloved, ask the Lord to give you understanding of all that Jesus our Lord went down in Hell and took back for you and me. He also snatched back the anointing from the one who was once called the son of the morning. Do you understand how much he hates us, those that God has anointed in this hour and imparted gifts to His glory? Look out, you have what Lucifer once had and he wants it back! He wants to possess those who have what was once his. That is why David said, “create in me a clean heart . . .” our hearts must be cleansed from all the evil it can imagine. God said the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth (Gen. 8:21). Look at the world today. More evil than we could ever imagine. Oh, but the end of the matter. The King of Kings shall come in all His glory and wipe every tear!

To keep a pure and clean heart you must follow the commandment of Jesus; “to love the Lord they God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind. And thy neighbor as thyself.” He said, “Do this and thou shalt live” (Lev. 19:18, Deut. 6:5, Luke 10:27-28). Don’t you want to live? Don’t you want to love God with all your heart? That means there is no room for envy, hate, jealousy, etc. If you are loving God with all your heart evil has got to flee. Will you answer the knock at the door of your heart? Will you respond to His voice while He is knocking? (Rev. 3:20). Do you love yourself so that you can love your neighbor? Check it out; see where you lack love for yourself. Would you curse yourself, steal, lie, and cheat, pray evil wishes for yourself? Then why do it to your neighbor, church member, co-worker or the stranger? Only God can show you the motives, intents of the heart. He said “it’s deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it”? God says He does (Jer. 17:9-10), because he searches it. Like the old saying “God knows my heart”. Yes, He does. Only He can make it good again after we have surrendered our hearts to Him to clean it up and cut away all the weeds that are trying choke the goodness of God out of our hearts.

One of the hardest things for any person to do is to forgive from the heart. Jesus said we must forgive from the heart (Matt. 18:35). Why do you think He said from the heart? Because he knows we lock things up in our hearts. We lay it up to bring it up again. Oh but beloved, does Jesus bring up our sins and offenses toward Him again? Does He tell you I forgive you but I will never forget? God can’t lie. He separates us from our sins and offenses against Him and re them no more (Heb. 10:17). He’s not like men that he should lie (Num. 23:19). Some people become so bitter with unforgiveness. It causes sickness in the body and the spirit—just what the enemy, the devil wants for you. When you loose the offender and yourself in God’s hands healing begins. God said if you don’t forgive others He cannot forgive you (Matt. 6:14-15). He can’t lie, Jesus knew people would hurt us over and over again. Sometimes the same person we forgive for one thing comes along doing something else to throw more dirt on a wound that hasn’t completely healed. Oh, but Jesus said forgive seventy times seven. He also said even when you stand praying you must forgive (Luke 17:3-4, Mark 11:25). The Word says if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me (Ps. 66:18). The Heart is deep (Ps. 64:6) meaning it can hold much evil for many years. Let it go!!

CHAPTER II

Treasure Of The Heart

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. Matthew 6:21

Are you storing up earthly treasure or Heavenly treasure in your heart? The Word of God states “where your treasure is there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). The Word says “except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it: . . . .” (Ps. 127:1)). Whatever you lay up in your heart if God is not in it then it is in vain. God’s Word is true. The treasure God wants us to possess is the power of God—”But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Cor. 4:7). There was a time in my life when I collected things I knew I would never use. I loved collecting new things just so I could say I had them; but never put those things to use. I liken it to what Jesus said about the unclean spirit leaving his old house and then return finding it empty. No love, joy, peace, faith, longsuffering —no fruit of the Spirit moved in. So what did the unclean spirit do—brought seven more spirits with him (Mark 12:43—45). What are you being filled with? God metaphorically compares us to real stones. He covered Lucifer with every precious stone we desire to have today (Eze. 28:12-13). The Word of God says we are living stones building up a spiritual house; “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:5). The Word says it is not the outer man God is concerned with but the hidden man of the heart (I Peter 3:4), which is of a great price in the sight of God. Beloved I don’t know about you but I want to hear those oh so sweet words, “well done my good and faithful

servant” (Matt. 25:21), don’t you? “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart; be acceptable in thy sight O Lord” (Ps. 19:14). Ask yourself this question, do you want the meditation of your heart to be acceptable? Can the meditation of your heart stand an examination by God? What do you meditate on day and night? It is written that we are to meditate on the Word of God day and night and we are to write them upon our hearts and teach the same to our children (Ps. 19:14, Josh. 1:8, Deut. 6:5-8). It is so important that your heart is of the truth when you enter into prayer. That your very own heart doesn’t condemn you so that you can have the confidence you need when you go boldly to the throne of grace (I John 3:19-21, Heb. 4:16). If God is trying to show you those things you hold so near and dear expose your heart to Him; let Him search it out. If God shows you a stone in your heart, that is of no value let Him cut it out. He is the Master Stone Cutter; don’t harden your heart when He shows you where your treasure is (Heb. 3:8). It will only make the process harder, longer, and painful. You might have to go around that mountain again and again carrying that heavy load God want to take from you. Can you imagine carrying a bag full of heavy precious jewels day in and day out never unloading or giving any away? That’s just like carrying the weight of sin (Heb. 12:1). Won’t you unload the treasure that will decay in exchange for the treasure that is more precious than gold (I Peter 1:7)? God is looking for a cheerful giver. You can’t go through life with two mitts on your hands never throwing anything back, always catching—always receiving. Which brings me to the story of a rich man who’s ground brought forth plentifully (Luke 12:16-21). Now he has all this food and he’s already rich, so what does he do? He builds bigger barns, hoarding the food not going out to find anyone to bless. Now I know there had to be some families back then who could have used some of that food. But he thought within himself, “I’m ok, I’ll eat, drink, and be merry. Oh, but God sees this as being very sinful. The rich man was coveting his own goods. Not sharing with anyone, being greedy—a glutton. You can’t keep storing and storing and don’t bless anybody. Now God called the rich man’s soul on home. So whose stuff is it now? We must be rich toward God. Build treasure to His glory. Which brings me to another rich man in the bible who walked a poor man everyday and didn’t think to lift him up, feed him some food, or evengive him a job. If you are rich you can create jobs for others. How many people have you walked by? Did you bless them, encourage them, buy them anything to eat? Or did you just walk by with your nose in the air. That’s what the rich man did ( Luke 16:19-31). Search your heart to see if you’re rich toward God. Not like the rich man who pleaded to the poor man to cool the

tip of his tongue. One can covet to the point that God will allow things to be taken away from you. Your possessions, your children-be careful because we will surely reap what we sow. Our God is a jealous God and will have no other god before him. What are you sowing (Gal. 6:7)? When God gives you a treasure you must guard it with your life. When Jesus took captivity captive he gave gifts to men Eph4:88-11. He went down and snatched the treasures then imparted them to men Amen. What God gives us we are not to take lightly. Balaam the prophet had a gift of prophesy that the king wanted him to use to curse the children of Israel. Now why would the king think he could hire the prophet unless he heard about him through the grapevine. But God say to yourselve but God. There are times in your life when all is against you, the enemy has send his best general against you. You must say but God. God wont allow you nor anyone else to use his gifts treasures for evil or gain. God told Balaam not to go Oh but the word says in the night God spoke ti him and said go, but when I looked at the word night in Greek and Hebrew Layilmeans adversity choshek means misery. When you read Numbers 22-22 God sent an adversary he was tested in the night, he failed Ps33-17. In strongs it means to form or determine. He examined it Ps 26-2. God knows whats really in our hearts.

His motors wasn’t right, that’s why God sent his angel to slay him read Num22chapter. God knows when your heart is not towards him. Amen Beloved. Which brings us to king Jeroboam God sent a prophet to him to speak against him because he wasn’t focus on what God gifted him with but moved out of his lane into the lane of the priest out of order he still tried to operate in someone else’s gift. Where was his treasure of his heart leading him out of the will of God 1kings chapter 13 Read IT. Beloved not only did he mess it but the prophet of God missed it as well, he was deceived by a man who claimed to be a prophet. He tricked them, he made him doubt what God already had told him 1john4-1 test the spirits. Search out people treasure chest, you really won’t be surprise what you see. If you use your gift Jesus gives you Beloved if a prophet tells you something other then what God already had told you don’t listen to them Read 1cor14-29-33 Beloved I encourage you to see where the treasure of your heart will lead you in or out of your purpose. Yes the calling and gifts of God are without repentance ROM 11-29. But you have to accept the calling and the gift

God won’t force it on you it’s your choice.

CHAPTER III

Out Of The Abundance Of The Heart

O generatiom of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things? For out of the adundance of the heart the mouth speaketh MATT12:34. Beloved in this chapter we are going to search your words. What is coimg out of your mouth? The mouh speaks whats is in the heart. I know you’ve heard the saying A Drunk Person Speaks The Truth. They are moved by what in the heart its moved by emotions. The word is clear your belly shall be satisfied by the fruit of your mouth Prov15:20. The word also states by every idle word you will give you will be justified or condemned Matt12:36. That’s why every morning you should ask the Lord to set a watch over your mouth ps141:3-4. Word cut to the very core of our hearts. Words starts wars rumor of war, family feud, murder, lies, stife, a choice word can separate or bring together. God says to guard your heart also to out away a forward and a perverse mouth. Forward in Greek halah-farway thus far. Move it keep it farway think before you speak. Words are important God spoke a word and it all began use them wisely. Beloved check your mouth. Now that we have come to the understanding that words have power. When Samuel anointed David with a ram horn anointing, but Saul was giving a vial anointing big difference. David had a greater anointing 1Samuel16:13 1Samuel10:1. Saul listen to words that was spoken by the women of the town. Saul hath slain his thousands but David hath slain his ten thousands. Saul was wroth and eyed David from that day forward 1Samuel 7-10. God allowed a evil spirit to trouble Saul. God knew that the adundance of Saul heart was evil and the words proceed his heart 1Samuel 18-11 read what he said. David only spoke words of confidence that why he took Goliath down his brothers spoke against him he claim to know David’s heart. David knew he had a covenant with his God. His words backed up his actions 1Samuel 17:16vs28 1Samuel 45:47. David brother was a man of war why didn’t he go out to fight? He didn’t have the confident, faith or trust. He couldn’t speak with strong conviction because it

wasn’t in his heart. Amen. People know if you have faith trust or confidence people could smell fear. God people fainted and spoke that they was grasshoppers Num13:31vs33. What’s in your heart fear or faith? Is your heart confident towards your God? The mouth can pour forth many words. The word states a multitude of words there wanteth not sin. Wanteth in Greek and Hebrew means chacer lacking. Meaning the more you talk sin is not lacking WOW. A wise person refraineth his word Prov10:19vs20. Which bring us to nabal. David was on the run for his life living in the wilderness spirit soul and body. Nabal sheared near by David protected Nabal goods 1Samuel 25:4-8. All David wanted was some food for hod men but read the words of Nabel 1Samuel 25-11. His very words came back to haunt him he had a heart of little words, meaning it was very wicked Prov 1020. But Abigail rush before David with a brave heart humble herself with confidence and spoke words of wisdom 1Samuel 25:25-31. She had a tongue filled with choice sliver. After she saved her whole household Nabal was none the wiser he did what he did he got drunk with a merry heart. David knew Abigail words was bless 1Samuel 25:32-35. Nabal is the first record of a heart attack vs37. When he heard the words his wife spoke to him fear set in because of the very words that was spoken. Words can cause you to go out and kill a person. Don’t let your words beloved be the death of you. It lies in the tongue Prov18-21. So according to the previous chapters its safe to say as a man think so is he Nabal thought death, he died Saul eyes David he died. The people thought they was grasshoppers and died in the wilderness Prov23-7. What do you think about yourself? What are you saying about yourself? Most importantly what are you believing others are saying about you? Which bring us the Gideon. The word says that Israel was greatly improverished Juds6-6 to the point Gideon and his farther are threshing in the wine press underground hiding. Israel was not in the right relationship of the heat with God at that time Deut11-18vs24. God promised if their heart was his he would fight for them give them the land, their days would be multiplied. Every place they step would be theirs. So what was going on their heart and mouth moved from God and when the Angel came to Gideon he said the Lord is with the mighty man of Valour Judge6:12. Gideon was hiding that does sound like mighty man to me and Gideon sure didn’t agree with him either, because Gideon knew the people did evil in the sight of the Lord Judge 6-1. He spoke these words read Judge6-13. He stated they were forsaken and given into the hands of their enemy. If a angel tells me God is with me

confidence will rise up. How about you? What whill you say ? Beloved right away Gideon put God to a test to prove if God was with him Judge6:17-24, when his faith was restored he built an altar and meet the God of peace Jehovah Shalom. He went from fearful to confident. God knew what tool was needed before the fight peace Amen. God don’t give us a spirit of fear 2tim1:7. God encouraged him and he went forward. God encouraged Gideon those who are fearful send them home. The army was down sized to threehundred men that lapped like a dog Judges 7-3:7. Lapping like a dog was a war tatic, your head is up but you’re also bowed down. God can search your heart and your mind when your going into war. Are you confident when you enter into spiritual war? What does your mouth say when your in trouble? Is your heart fearful when storms come? Is the prince of peace establish in your heart when the the battle is raging? Watch your mouth and listen to your heart, the greater one lives in you 1John 4:4, you have nothing to fear guard your heart trust God he would bring you through he cant fail. Who had your heart and mind Rom12:1-2.

CHAPTER IV

A Waxed Heart

“For this peoples heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them”. Matthew 13:15

When I look up the word wax in Webster, was means to enlarge, increase, grow, expand, and flourish. In Strong’s Greek and Hebrew waxed means to walk; live a certain way, to become callous. Looking at the word callous it is defined as heartless, indifferent, unfeeling, hardened, and insensitive. In this chapter we are going to take a good hard look at this heart condition. This condition can be very dangerous. Please open your heart to the truth of God’s Word. Let it examine your heart to see if it has become waxed in anyway. This brings us to King Nebuchadnezzar who took Israel into captivity. When you read the book of Daniel it is clear that all things work for good to those who love God and are called for his purpose (Romans 8:28). Daniel and his friends are in the King’s house for such a time as this. The King had a dream and no one could interpret the dream for him except Daniel. None of his sorcerers, Chaldeans, magicians, astrologers could tell him what God was saying in that hour (Daniel 2:2, 11-12). The King was so filled with anger and rage—the kind that can cause one to make rash decisions without thinking. His command was to destroy all wise men of Babylon; because of a dream. Would you have someone killed because they could not tell you what a dream meant? Well, King Nebuchadnezzar was willing to do just that! But God allowed Daniel to go into captivity just so He could save those sinful men of Babylon. Daniel in turn, turned to God, he blessed God, acknowledged that God revealeth the deep secret things. He changeth the season. He puts up one King and takes down another. Looking further He knoweth what

is in the darkness—the darkness of the heart and soul. God’s light, the light of God’s word searches out those dark places in your heart (Daniel 2:21-23). So, Daniel told the King all that his heart desired concerning the meaning of the dream. Daniel’s gift made room for him (Proverbs 20:16). Daniel was exalted by the King and made a ruler. Daniel brought his friends with him in his new exalted state (Daniel 2:47-49). Now when you know who you are in God and he allows others to set you up as ruler you search out your friends to rule with you. That’s a humble heart that doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight. Now as time goes on the King makes an image he wants everyone to bow down and worship. Again, in his hasty spoken words he orders Daniel’s friends to be put in the fire, a fiery fire seven times hotter than it normally was. Bound in their coats, hoe, hats, garments. The King didn’t care that his own loyal servants was killed in the process. Selfish motives of the heart doesn’t care who it hurts, when it cries for blood (Daniel 3:7). Now Daniel had a heart that was completely opened to God; trusting that his God had a purpose and a plan for his life and the lives of his friends. Daniel and his friends had the same confidence; sharing the same faith. Note, it matters who you hang out with. Words have power. Faith filled friends can cause you to have confidence in your God, because they wouldn’t bow no matter what. Them boys knew God would show up to deliver them from the hands of the enemy. A heart full of faith; not the fear of man (Matt 10:28, Dan. 3:16-18).

King Nebuchadnezzar saw the Son of God rescue Daniel’s friends from his fiery command. He knew God revealeth the desire of his heart so what was his problem. A man’s heart deviseth many things (Prov. 16:9). The counsel of the Lord will stand (Prov. 19:21) so once again the Lord sent a dream. But this was the dream of all dreams. God was sending a warning to the King about the pride of his heart and if he didn’t get rid of it that he was going to fall (Prov. 16:18). Did he apply his heart to instruction (Prov. 23:12)? He knew God would perform His word. His heart became callous, waxed indifferent to the things of God. He didn’t develop a heart for God; he remained heartless, hardened, and insensitive. He never decided to serve God with all his heart, nor heed the warning. Why? Because he believed he gained everything through his own power and God had nothing to do with it. So God changed his heart from one of a man to a heart of a beast. God said, since you are acting like an animal why not become one! (Dan. 4:16). , he had Godless counsel around him; whatever you surround

yourself with that is what you will become. The Word says don’t be deceived; evil communication corrupts good manners (I Cor. 15:33). In the end when the time ed the King realized that God is God and no one can withstand His hand (Dan. l 4:34-37, 30-31). God was trying to teach the King purpose and to establish him (Prov. 15:22) A certain lawyer came trying to tempt Jesus, concerning how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him “what is written in the law”? The lawyer knew what the law stated; “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, strength and mind” (Matt. 22:37). But Jesus knew what was in his heart was justification. So Jesus put forth a parable. Now this is going to hurt; prepare for surgery. In this parable Jesus describes three kinds of people. Take a good long look into your heart. I pray that you come out of this fully recovered. Rooted and grounded in love. Now a certain man was robbed, stripped, wounded, and left for dead. Along comes a priest who is a man of God—one who offers up forgiveness of sin for the people; goes into the Holy of Holies where no man can go—right into the presence of the Lord. His garment was designed by God Himself. So, for sure he is going to help this man because of his place, his position, his purpose before God. But what does he do? He walks as if he doesn’t see him and has the nerve to walk on the other side of the road. (Luke 10:29-37) Wow! Not the most holy leaving a man to die not even offering up a prayer for the man! How many people do you by looking down your nose and then on Sunday go into the presence of the Lord as if nothing happened? How many times have you entered into his courts and you’ve spoken harsh words or even been mean on the job toward a co-worker? Only you know what words or deed you left uncovered and have not put under the blood of Jesus (Prov. 28:13). Now we come to the Levite. The Levites were assigned to the service of the Tabernacle. God had even given them the tithes of the children of Israel which they offered as a heave offering unto the Lord. Do you understand? God shared what they offered to Him with them! He was their inheritance. Wow! Imagine inheritance God. I wonder what that would have felt like; He has all power, provision, and protection. So that means you lack nothing (Num. 18:20-24). So along comes a Levite down the roads, he sees the man as well. Now I know he is going to help the man. But lo and behold, he doesn’t! What has happened to the heart of the priest and the Levites? It has become waxed—meaning indifferent, uncaring, lifted up, and proud . . . . to saved to save. That’s like people in the

Kingdom who act as if it wasn’t God’s grace that kept them. If it wasn’t for the grace of God where would we be? That brings us to the final person in this story —the Samaritan-the Samaritan with whom the Jews had nothing to do with during that time. But he was the one who stopped to help the injured man. He bound up the man’s injuries, carried him somewhere safe to receive care, paid for his stay, and promised to return to give more money if needed. Check your heart, has it become waxed (Matt. 13:15)? Beloved isn’t that love in action? Not worrying about the danger he might have put himself in by helping the injured man, nor concerned about how much money he had to spend to care for him. That’s just like God. He gave Jesus without giving it a second thought. He saw a need, that’s love. Perfect love casts our fear (1John 4:18). When you know your God you will help people. You won’t walk by with a lifted up heart as if that could never be you—down and out. Oh but the grace and mercy of God. His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23). Are you willing to lend a hand and pick someone up instead of pulling them down? Like a bunch of crabs in a bucket pulling each other down trying to rise to the top. Watch who you step on, on your way up, they could be the very same ones you see on the way down. Keep your heart tender so when a need arrives you will walk with a heart full of love and change someone’s life forever. Do you know you have the power of God in your heart to change a life? I dare you to go out and seek someone you can give a helping hand and lift up. What do you have in your hand?— Powerhouse, to bless someone. Try it you just might like it. Oh, but let it be someone who can’t pay you back that’s the key (Luke 14:12-14, Read 1 John 3; 17-18).

CHAPTER V

The Sown Word

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow. Matt. 4:3

Like a farmer who looks for the yielding up of his harvest; whatever seed he has sown he expects the ground to yield forth the good fruit of his labor. This brings us to the sower of the seed which is the Word of God (Mark 4:3-8, 14-20). It is the farmer’s job to cultivate the ground ensuring that the seed falls onto good ground. He breaks up the soil and removes all hardness from the ground. That’s why God’s Word implies that we must break up that fallow ground of our hearts. No seeds (word) can grow there because the ground is not good. What can we do to ensure that we yield forth a bumper crop; producing a hundred fold? Well, let’s see what the Word says. “As it came to what he sowed fell and the fowls of the air devoured it”. Let’s take a look at the fowls of the air in the Greek and Hebrew. Fowls (ayit) mean a bird of prey according to Strong’s concordance. This brings me to this; so many people have become so worried because they have been preyed upon by families, men, women, co-workers, etc. forgetting the Word. They let it fall by the wayside instead of taking up the Word and applying it to whatever situation they may find themselves in. There is a Word for every situation or problem. When one is preyed upon the Word says “think it not strange . . . .” (I Peter 4:12-16). So many Christians refuse to suffer for the gospel. God says who will harm you if you are a follower of good I Peter 3:13-18. Suffering is part of your walk with Christ. Now let’s look at the one who sowed on stony ground so when it sprang up it had no depth; meaning no deep roots. Now this is a person whose life is full of unforgiveness and bitterness; yet they are reading the Word, going from church to church to church, conference to conference, tape to tape but never applying what was said, taught, or heard at any of these places. Just a hearer never a doer (James 1:22); stony

means hard no joy—walking around frowning all the time, why? Whatever is in the heart will show up on the face. Have you taken a good long look in the mirror lately? What does your face reflect (James 1:23-27)? Let’s look at the sower who sowed among the thorns. Thorn in the Greek and Hebrew Strong’s is qimmashown which means prickly. Now, we know we have some prickly people in our lives; on the job, at home—sharing our bedrooms. When you have been pricked and pricked by thorny people you have to have the Word hidden in your heart (Ps. 119:11), don’t allow unloving people to choke the Word of God right out of you. you were once unloving and a prickly person in someone else’s life too. Don’t turn up with rotten fruit. Produce the fruit of love when someone is working on your last nerve. The love of God is in your heart shedded by the one who sowed on good ground. This is the one who received a new heart and new spirit; one who allowed God to take away that stony heart. Won’t you receive a heart of flesh (Ezek. 26:36)? When you receive your new heart and new spirit God promises to make an everlasting covenant with you not only with you but with your children and their children. What a mighty God who makes provision for the here and now, also for the future (Jer. 32:39-40). That’s what the last sower did. He sowed for himself, his children and the children to come. That’s a harvest worth investing in. Don’t you want to sow beyond your years? The Word says if you sow in tears you shall reap joy. You shall go forth bearing seeds (souls) (Ps. 126:5-6). Where art thou? That was the question God asked Adam (Gen. 3:9). So that is my question to you; where art thou? Now that the question has been put forth what are you willing to do to get in the right position? Are you trying to put old wine in new wine skins (Mark 2:22)? That’s why you must be renewed in the mind (Rom. 12:2). Old wine represents the carnal mindset. New wine represents the spiritual mindset. You must put on the new man (Eph. 4:22-24). Don’t become like the fowls of the air who want to devour up what you have sown. The Word says we are not to devour one another (Gal. 5:15). That’s the work of the prince of the air (Job, Eph. 2:2) “walking around seeking whom he can devour” (I Peter 5:8). Don’t be a Martha, forgetting to do the better half (Luke 10:38-9) reading, praying, fasting, fellowshipping alone with God. Do you know how to welcome the presence of the living God into your home without neglecting him? That’s what Martha did. She invited the King of Kings into her house but what was she worrying about so much. The Word says she was cumbered about with much serving . . . cumbered means to be distracted. You have people who watch you, know you’re rooted in God but they want to distract you with the cares of this world . . . . busy, busy, busy— leading you away from your alone time with God (2 Tim. 3:5-7). Won’t you become a Mary and sit at the master’s feet and learn of Him (Matt. 12:28-30).

So, Let us take one last look at, where art thou? Are you the sower who sowed by the wayside and the fowls of the air devoured what was sown? Are you going through trials, suffering for the sake of the gospel but never taking up the Word which is the sword? Have you checked your armor lately? Tighten it up soldier! (2Tim. 2:3-4). Or are you the one that sows among thorns distracted by prickly people, hateful co-workers, in an unloving marriage, followed by rebellious children-fighting with them in the flesh. We are not warring against the flesh (Eph. 6:11-18), so fight them with the Word. We have to pull down strongholds and change form carnal to spiritual 2 Cor. 10:4-6. Maybe you’re one who has been sowing a stony heart—unforgiving but want forgiveness. Jesus said, if you don’t forgive the father can’t forgive you Matt6:14-15. The Word says “let God be true, but every man be a liar” (Rom. 3:4). Would you like to be the sower of the hundredfold, to be rooted and grounded in God; established in your heart, unmovable, like a tree planted by the waters bringing forth its fruit(Ps. 1:3) Standing strong hiding God’s Word in your heart? You choose which sower you want to be. My prayer is that you reap a hundredfold.

CHAPTER VI

A Defiled Heart

. . . . “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” . . . . Matthew 15:16-20

This part of the book is going to determine whether you are going to go all the way with God. Because God says, “my son despises not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him” (Heb. 12:4-8). In this chapter of the book God is going to deal with those little things in His people lives. The Word says open rebuke is better than secret love (Prov. 27:5). I’d rather have God rebuke me than someone loving me right into hell when they know I am not living right. The church as the power and authority to confront in the natural also in the spirit realm; we are to “bear the infirmities of the weak” (Rom. 15:1-2. As I said in the beginning of the book; “it is the little foxes that spoil the vine” (Song of Sol. 2:15). We will be looking at things that defile the heart. If you allow Jesus to lead you through this process believe it is going to get rough. God’s hand is going to go places you’ve been guarding for many years. That old saying “I’m just human” is not going to cut it anymore, nor is “God knows my heart”. He does know the hidden things of the heart—lust, unforgiveness, and pride. He knows what ticks you off from day to day. He is searching out what comes out of your mouth. When you have a glass of water spill over your papers, what word comes out of your mind? Does a curse word come out? Or when someone jumps in front of your car and flips you the bird? What about when you’ve been waiting in a long line and someone tries to jump the line, how do you react? These foxes spoil the vine. Who are you listening to, the world or Jesus—who calls you friend? (Prov. 27-6) Jesus who is the Word wants you to know faithful is the wounds of a friend (Prov. 27:6). Constructive criticism is not a dirty word. I don’t know about you but if my friend can’t tell me the truth who

will? It may hurt, that’s why the blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil (Prov. 20:30). Trust me when the dust clears you will be glad that the truth was told. Do you want to remain bitter when someone tells you the truth Heb. 12:15) God want you to draw near with a true heart Heb. 10:22. Who are your friends? The Word says, “Be not deceived, evil communication corrupts good manners” (2Cor. 15:33). The Word calls you an adulterer and an adulteress if you are in friendship with the world (James 4:4). Let me tell you; God will take you around and around that mountain of spills, lines, road trips, cooking a nice steak then it hit the floor, What will be your reaction? Wow! God will keep taking you through until the experience leaves you smiling and laughing at the little foxes of life. Believe me I know. I have spilled, dropped, been bumped, toe stepped on, shoved on the train—but today I can honestly say that God has brought me to a place where the little foxes of life cannot hinder me; It’s OK I say with a great big smile and when I do a spirit check I feel good inside, because I’ve died inside, the flesh, the natural me has died inside. The Word says “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” . . . . (John 12:24-26). That is where God wants to bring his people; dying to self. Beloved self must die (Philip. 3:10, Col. 3:3). Flesh doesn’t want to die. The Words says to mortify your which are upon the Earth. Your are the deeds of the flesh that will defile you (Col. 3:5). The Word says he who is unjust let him be still. He who is filthy let him be still. Which are you – filthy, unjust, righteous, or holy (Rev. 22:11)? God knows which one you are. He’s giving you the chance to find out so you can remain whatever you are because there is no middle road; either the narrow way or the wide way, which one will you take (Matt. 7:13-14)? I told you it was going to get rough. But we are not done yet. How about when you’re on your job? Do you fit in or are you set apart for the Master’s use (Col. 3:16-17, 22-25)? We are to let our light shine wherever we are no exceptions (Matt. 5:16). Do you repeat gossip; lie? Or are you a tale bearer? Let’s look at what the Word says about it! It says a tale bearer reveals secrets (Prov. 11:13). Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 12:22). Do you know what the word abomination means in Strong’s Greek and Hebrew? It means filthy, disgusting, unclean, detestable, having a stench. The Word is clear in Prov. 6:1618; “these six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him; proud look, lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, and feet ready to run to do mischief”. Wow! God hates these things in his very own people lives. Why would he say if my people would humble themselves and turn from their wicked way, God says mine people are

wicked (I Chron. 7:14). Your own mouth is full of destruction; your very lips can snare your soul (Prov. 18:8). God spoke twice about the tale bearer; they are like wounds going down in your very own belly (Prov. 26:22), is that what you want to eat (Prov. 18:20-21)? Don’t be a hypocrite with your mouth destroying someone else with it (Prov. 11:9). Beloved the Word is clear. It lets you know that your very own mouth can defile. Cursing and blessing can pour forth from the same mouth (James 3:9-10). “The mouth of the righteous are a well of life” (Prov. 10:11). Jesus said out of your belly comes living water (John 7:38), which fountain are you (James 3:11-12)? Do you spit out hasty angry words? The Word says “make no friendship with an angry man” (Prov. 22:29). The Word says, “it is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry women (Prov. 21:19). Anger defiles the whole body. It poisons the whole system. God’s Word gives you point of anger Eph. 4:26-27. You give place to the devil to rule and rob you of your joy. Beloved, I pray you take heed to the instruction; to search out your heart, read each scripture for yourself looking into the mirror of God’s Word. Let the Holy Ghost help you get rid of those little foxes that are stopping up your wells. I know its hard work to make a life full of bad habits line up with God’s Word. But I’m here to tell you God will give you a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13). God is able to keep you from falling (Jude 1:24). Commit yourself into the Master’s hands. He is the potter and we are the clay. The Potter wants to put you back together again (Jer. 18:3-6).

CHAPTER VII

A Clean And Broken Heart

“Create in me a clean heart O God; and renew a right spirit within me”. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise” Psalm 51:10, 17

Beloved I know going through these chapters are a bit rough but you know its worth it; no pain, no gain. I’ve found that statement to be true. If you have been experiencing any pain in your heart, sharp or a painful pull like something being pulled up that’s the work of pruning being done in your heart. How do I know? I’ve been through the very same process. I’ve felt the same handiwork done in my very own heart. Beloved let me tell you I’ve come out of it with a new and clean heart. Only the Almighty God gives us a new and clean heart. With continuous pruning you can maintain a healthy heart. No man can make his own heart pure (Prov. 20:9). Maintaining a new heart is very hard work like a farmer who watches over his crop so that it brings forth much fruit. Beloved you have to bear fruit in your heart. Do you want to be a fruitful vine or a cursed fig tree that bringeth forth no fruit? (Matt. 12:33, Luke 6:43, Matt. 21:18-22). You must die to self through the Word of God. Jesus compares us to the fruit of a farmer. We have to cultivate our own hearts and watch over them. He points out reaping or sowing (John 12:24-25). In this chapter of the book we will be addressing love, loving your enemies; who are better than Saul and David to walk us through this journey?

Do you want a heart that will love your enemy? Someone who has lied on you, cheated, slandered, cursed you, tried to kill you, and made your life a living hell! People like that can bring you to a broken and clean heart. Is your heart broken from life trials, suffering trauma, or is your heart broken because you realize the state that it is in? God is looking for a broken heart; one that is remorseful towards Him. Do you want to spoil your relationship with the True Vine? He is clear that whoever that does not bear fruit he will remove it. Jesus will prune the fruit you have so that you can bear, bring forth, that good fruit. Apostle Paul spoke about purging. He explained we must leave off the leaven (sin), the hidden thing of our hearts. We must not keep the feast of malice and wickedness (I Cor. 5:6-8). But eat of the bread in sincerity and truth. Jesus said I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35). The Word says, that the heart knows its own bitterness. A stranger won’t even meddle with its joy (Prov. 14:10). Do you understand beloved that the heart takes joy in bitterness. Beloved be purged by mercy and truth. Let the fear of the Lord help you to depart from all evil in your heart (Prov. 16:6). Beloved, unforgiveness is a very stubborn root that deepens and does not want to go. A lot of people believe that if they forgive the offender that they will walk away without receiving any form of punishment. Beloved there is nothing in the book that God has not delivered me from. He’ll do it for you too. Amen. Beloved I’ve been there, wanting vengeance against those who hurt me, put me down, talked about me, mocked, and scorned me. I could go on and on. But God and His mercy can see you through. Vengeance is God’s, He will repay. I always wanted God to get them. But God’s way is not our way (Isaiah 55:8-9). You want me to tell you how He took wanting vengeance out of my heart? By using people over and over again until I just surrendered that root to God. The Word of God cut it right out of me Amen. I’m in a place where I can say Lord I commit this thing into your hands, then walk in love by praying, smiling; doing whatever I can for the very person who hates and curses me. Love is powerful (II Tim. 1:7). If God tells you to love your enemy He will give you the power to do it. Read Matt 18:22-35. God wants us to forgive from the heart. That’s the kind of heart King David had for Saul. People say I forgive you, but I won’t forget. How would you feel if God threw your sin back in your face every time you messed up? God promised to remove our sins as far as the East is from the West (Ps. 103:12). If God forgets your sins and doesn’t them anymore, then we are to do the same, we are to follow His example. God can’t lie (Num. 23:19). Which brings us to the story of Saul and David.

Saul was cut off yet not one of them sought God for His help. King David walked the walk of the highest calling of loving your enemy. David knew what it was to be hunted down like a dog and living in fear for his life, because God had removed His Hand from Saul and now rejected him, David was accepted of God. Sounds like Cain and Abel to me except Abel was killed on the spot. The story started when Saul was King. God told Samuel, the Prophet, to tell Saul to kill all of the Amalek people, “don’t leave anyone alive—men, women, children or animals. They were a very wicked nation (I Sam. 15:1-11. It doesn’t end well for Saul because he did not obey God wholeheartedly. God repented that He had set Saul up as King. Let’s park here. God knows what you’re going to do before you do it. But He lets you make your choice to see what is in your very own heart and he allows you to fail. After you fail it is your choice to confess your sin or cover it up like Saul did (Prov. 28:13). So Samuel comes and rebukes Saul and tells him “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (I Sam. 15:22-23). So Saul is rejected (I Sam. 15:26-29). Samuel is instructed by God to go and anoint the new king. He is told to go to Jesse, the Bethlehemite because He has picked one of his sons to be king (I Sam. 16:1-7). So after some time there comes a giant named Goliath; you know the story. David kills him in spite of his brothers who were not ive and wouldn’t help him (I Sam. 17:28). Do you understand no one had a real relationship with God but David? Saul was cut off. Not one of them sought God for His help. Only David stood firm in his God. Amen. He knew what his God could do (I Sam. 17:50-58). That’s all David did; and that’s when his trouble began. Jonathan, Saul’s son, loved David and made a covenant with him. The Word says their souls became knitted (I Sam. 18:1-3). Love in action. Once the women of Israel sang their song ( I Sam. 18:7-9) that exalted David above Saul the Word says he eyed him from that day forward—an evil spirit came on Saul. David would play music to help him and Saul returned the favor by throwing a javelin at him; not once but two times ( I Sam. 18:10-11, 19:8-10). Saul did nothing but try to make David’s life miserable. He took the wife back he had given to David and had all the priests killed. He took three thousand men with him to search for and kill David, forcing David to live in caves in the wilderness. Saul was ruthless—anyone who helped David he took them out (I Sam. 22:12-20). Saul’s heart was wicked toward David because David was accepted and he was rejected. But David never repaid Saul evil for evil. His servant though God delivered Saul into David’s hand (I Sam. 26:8-10) but David’s heart remained pure (I Sam. 24: 2-6). He continued to behave wisely (I Sam. 18:14). David called Saul his father; he grieved when he cut a little piece of Saul’s clothing (I

Sam. 24:5). In the end Saul realized he had sinned against David (I Sam. 26:21). Beloved would you write a love song or a beautiful poem for someone who had been trying to kill you? Would you even mourn for them in their death? Well beloved David did just that. Read II Sam. 1:11-12, 17-27. Amen. Beloved I’m ending here because God wants you to see David’s heart. It was clean and broken for his friend, a father to him. May God bless you to have a heart like David. Amen.

Catherine C. Rothwell is CEO and Founder of Broken Pieces In The Heart, HIV and AIDS Peer Educator, an alumni of Women Advocacy Project. Catherine received a commendation from the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of VA. She has also been published in the Justice Watch Newsletter of Cincinnati, OH.

It’s War, and the battle is for the Heart!!!

By Catherine C. Rothwell