A Pastor’s Perspective

“Clear Flow of the Spirit” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen (mjhill@ida.net)

The overwhelming stench of sulfur met me at the front door.  My friend apparently brought out the heavy artillery against a clogged drain in the kitchen.  A concentrated solution of sulfuric acid eats away at the most stubborn clogs.  The smell kinda reminded me of our visit to Clay Pots in Yellowstone.  A day later, the drain was still clogged.  What now?  Get at the heart of the problem with what I call “water depth charges.”  After forcing 50 feet of a roto-rooter snake down the drain, my handyman buddy followed up with a steady, high-pressure stream of water.  Breakthrough. 

Jesus said, “‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive” (John 7:37b-39a). From Christ’s words, we learn that He not only wants His Spirit to dwell within us, but to flow through us.  Jesus desires His Living Water to splash upon everyone within our sphere of influence.  Sin clogs the flow.

Most of us would agree that sin is wrong and bad.  We heartily agree that the cruel and calculating acts of the shooter at the mall in Omaha are sinful and evil.  What the gunmen did at the church and the Christian Youth Center in Colorado was tragic and sinful. We’re left shocked and dumbfounded as to why this had to happen.  “Murder is wrong!”  True.  But did you know that God called it murder even before any triggers were pulled?  God’s Word describes a person who has hatred in their heart as a murderer (See 1John 3:15).  Sin isn’t just a destructive outward actions.  Sin begins in the heart.  Jesus said, “…From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you” (Matthew 15:18b-19a NLT).  Sin in the heart blocks the flow of the Living Water through your life.

Most likely, you have never literally killed someone.  But have you ever murdered someone in your heart?  Are you bitter?  Do you have hatred and animosity to another?  Unforgiveness?   I’ve discovered in order to deal with personal sin effectively, I must be willing to allow God to deal with my heart.  The roto-rooter snake broke through the resistant obstruction.  Likewise, God’s Word that is living and powerful, “sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12), will break up the blockage of sin when combined with repentance and prayer. 

If you have murder in your heart, don’t pretend to be so outwardly religious and right.  Humbly ask Jesus to forgive and change you.  He’s in the business of forgiving repentant murderers.  Moses murdered an Egyptian man.  King David murdered the husband of the woman he slept with.  The Apostle Paul consented to the martyrdom of the first Christian.  All these men had blood on their hands which was cleansed through the Blood of the Lamb.  He is ready and able to forgive you.  And, as the high-pressure water flowed through the drain pipe, His Holy Spirit will flow through you to drench others with the love of God.