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A Heart of Flesh Part 3

The verse that says in part, He was pierced for our transgressions, and He was wounded for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him is found in Isaiah 53.

The heart of flesh is one that can be pierced. The heart of flesh moved in prayer is one that has been pierced. By conviction of sin, by sorrow of the state of the church and the world around us. I contend this is an essential element of prayer that is alignment with the heart of God. Effectual prayer that changes us and influences others around us.

There is only so much that I can include from the scriptures in one short post. I am going to attempt to convey what the scriptures say it means to be “pierced”. I want to apply it to my journey as someone whose heart has been pierced in intercession.

The word pierced can be used in a physical sense of someone being stabbed. To be pierced ‘through” from one side to the other of their body to ensure death.

In 1 Samuel 31 Saul begs his armour bearer to pierce him through so that he will not fall into the hands of the Philistines.

Numbers 25: 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand, 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. “

The sword passes through every layer of flesh, fat, sinew, organ and bone to the other side. In the first Passover God tells them He will “pass through” them to see where the blood has been applied on their doorposts. Then they could be saved from the judgment of the death of their firstborn son. He would pass through to pass over.

The penultimate revelation of the meaning is found in the well known chapter Isaiah 53. He was pierced for OUR transgressions. As prophesied in Psalms 22 His hands and feet were pierced as was His side when He was crucified. He received the punishment the judgment that we deserve and He did not. He took it on Himself, He completely gave Himself over to it, to be “run through” with the sword.

In Luke 2 Simeon prophesies in verse 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Jesus’ death would determine the fall (judgment) and rising (resurrection) of many. And the sword of sorrow that would pierce Mary emotionally in her soul would have a similar effect in a lesser way. It speaks of an exposure of heart. This describes the exposure and conviction of sin before God when He pierces our heart.

 He exposes the depth of the depravity of my heart and my utter inability to remove the selfishness, and arrogance that abides there.

It causes a cry to rise, not unlike Job crying out, I have heard but now I SEE, and I repent in dust and ashes. Revelation is necessary and is a chief task of Holy Spirit. Only He can reach these depths where the hidden things reside. We call it the secret place. Hebrews 4 comes to mind, “ 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and 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. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”

What does it mean to have our hearts pierced in intercession? It is the sharing of the sufferings of Christ. It is to bear within our heart, our minds and sometimes we even feel it in our body. A depth of conviction of our fallen nature and need for a Saviour. Ezekiel 9: 3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; 4 and the  Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

“Go through” Pass through, pierce through the midst of the crowds! Scrutinize, discern and mark the mourners!

True and effectual prayer is where the sword of conviction has pierced our depths and we have a genuine cry for our great Intercessor, our Great High Priest and Advocate to intervene.

Teenagers in every generation sing along on whatever device is used in their time. When I was a teen, I played records. I would passionately sing along with Carole King a song called Home Again. There was a soul cry there, that I connected with and would sing it to God.

“ Sometimes I wonder if I’m never gonna make it home again It’s so far and out of sight

I really need someone to talk to and nobody else (dramatic pause)

knows how to comfort me tonight

Snow is cold, rain is wet Chills my soul right to the MARROW.

I won’t be happy ’til I see you alone again ‘Til I’m home again and feelin’ right

Snow is cold, rain is wet Chills my soul right to the marrow

I won’t be happy ’til I see you alone again ‘Til I’m home again and feelin’ right

‘Til I’m home again and feelin’ right

I wanna be home again and feelin’ right!

This is the song of the prodigal. This is the song of the intercessor on the prodigal’s behalf. Lord, please bring us home to You. We cry out for the Spirit of God, the Spirit of revelation to expose our hearts and convict. We are marked as mourners, God, and we cry out.