OH, THE PRICK OF THE HEART!

 

“... Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’  37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ 38 And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself… ‘“   

Acts 2:22-23, 36-41

The Gospel has the power to convict man’s heart about sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-8). This puts power in the message, that is, in the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).  God uses the power of the Gospel to prick the hearts of those lost in sin, producing faith in them (Romans 1:16; 10:17; Acts 2:37-38).  But men must freely choose to obey the Gospel. God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11).  In the book of Acts, many heard the Gospel and were pricked in their hearts.  After hearing the Gospel, they were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:22, 37-38; 8:5, 12, 35; 9:6; 10:5-6; 11:14).  The Gospel pricked their hearts.  Thus they obeyed from the heart.   Oh, the pain of correction, the prick of the heart!

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?"  (Acts 2:37)

Men inspired by the Holy Spirit preached the Gospel.  The Gospel can open men’s hearts with understanding and discernment rather than by a personal and direct operation of the Holy Spirit, as many in the religious world claim.  The culminating act of heeding the Gospel is baptism!

Jesus did not come to this world, suffer and die on the cross so that you and I could indulge in sin.  Jesus came preaching, 

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). 

He came not to send peace, He said, but a sword and division (Matt. 10:34; Luke 12:51). He called the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites (Matt. 23:13). He said not everyone that claimed to be His disciple will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 7:21-27).  Jesus challenges us to think and do better, hear His words of salvation, and convict our hearts of sin.  Sadly, many will be offended when they hear His words.

"Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? 61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this cause you to stumble?"  (John 6:60-61) 

The apostles were concerned and warned Jesus that His words and speech were offensive to the Pharisees (Matt. 15:12). Some were so offended that they “went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:66).   

You see, the Truth, the Word of God, has this effect on some who are not honest and sincere of heart, for they love to live in darkness.  But the Truth spoken out of love for God and the souls of men can prick the honest and sincere heart.  Nevertheless, the first sermon preached was hard to hear.  

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men… 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.  37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' 38 And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself… '"  (Acts 2:22-23, 36-41).

Peter’s sermon was hard to hear (Acts 2:22-41).  Would you dare say that Peter had no love in his heart?  Peter loved and cared, even in his sermon on Pentecost.  But love demands a painful prick of the heart!  

When they heard Peter’s inspired sermon about their participation in the crucifixion of Christ, they were pricked in their heart or cut to the heart (Acts 2:37). You see, the Gospel pricked their conscience.  They felt guilty because they had rejected and murdered the very Son of God!  

Sadly, there are too many today who would rather have their teachers tickle their ears because they love to have it their way (2 Tim. 4:3). Many serve their own belly by speaking smooth words, sugar coating the precious Word of God, giving fair speeches, with no better purpose than to deceive the heart of the simple (Rom. 16:18).  

Jesus did not suffer and died on the cross so that you and I could indulge in sin.  The Word of God must challenge us because that is the only way to prick the heart!  We must allow the Word of God to prick and cut to our hearts to have its effect.  

Thus, we must examine our hearts in the light of God’s everlasting Word.  We must study the Scriptures diligently to make sure that what we hear is the Truth of God (Acts 17:11).  

May we allow the Word of God to prick our hearts to have its effect on us, be pleasing to God, and go to heaven.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  (Hebrews 4:12) 

Luci