The Will - Barbara Parker

With apologies to linguists who love the study of English grammar, I must confess that I hated the seemingly endless hours of diagramming sentences and studying the differences between nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, articles, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, periods, commas, exclamation and question marks, asterisks, parentheses, colons and semi-colons…  Even that last sentence seems to have gone on and on and on, doesn’t it?  But I guess I must grudgingly thank Mrs. Light, Mr. Bruneli and all of those other teachers who drummed such knowledge into my head; for without it, accurate comprehension of our language—especially in it’s written form—would be difficult.  Whether it is the deciphering of a document such as a lease or a purchase agreement, a fun read of a fast-paced novel, an inquisitive perusal of a news account, or an in-depth study of the Bible; it turns out that grammar is important.  Consider will. It can be used as a noun (refers to a person, place, thing or action), a verb (expresses existence, action or occurrence); or, in one of its other forms such as willed, willful, willing or willingly, it could be an adjective, adverb or participle (we’ll leave those definitions for those who love linguistics!!!); and could indicate past, present or future. Fortunately for us, we generally comprehend the meaning of the word by the context—in everyday language it’s fairly obvious if the word is descriptive or active; but for purposes of this discussion let’s look first at how will is used grammatically as a noun in the English language.  Once we know that, all of its iterations seem to make even more sense and we may gain a better comprehension of what God has to say about will in the His Word.

In 1928, Noah Webster described it well.  Will can mean, “that faculty of the mind by which we determine either to do or forbear an action; the faculty which is exercised in deciding, among two or more objects, which we shall embrace or pursue.  The will is directed or influenced by the judgment.  The understanding or reason compares different objects, which operate as motives; the judgment determines which is preferable, and the will decides which to pursue.  In other words, we reason with respect to the value or importance of things; we then judge which is to be preferred; and we will to take the most valuable.”¹ It should be noted that while these are actions commonly thought of as originating from the intellect or soul of man, they may also occur out of the spirit; and, since we are created in God’s image, they mirror his capacity for reason, judgment and will.  That man has a will is evident:

• Matthew 21:31a—“Which of the two did the will of his father?”  They said to Him, “The first.”


• Romans 9:16—So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.


• Titus 1:7—For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money.”


• 2 Peter 4:19—for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

And God’s will is spoken of repeatedly:

• Mark 3:35—Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”


• Romans 8:27—Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.


• Romans 12:2—And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


• Ephesians 6:6—not with eyeservice, as men pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Will can have to do with disposition, inclination or desire and we need to pray, as in the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”² We should also seek His will as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”³

We’ve all seen cartoon representations of a person with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other—each working to influence the will of the individual.  Funny, yes; but also a good illustration of the ongoing battle we face between good and bad choices—choices of will.  We can emulate the will of God or the will of evil, and we should be aware that with the ungodly choices come devastating consequences:

• Genesis 3—Out of an act of their will, Adam and Eve set the precedent and became the first example of the consequences of the ungodly use of free will when they chose to eat the fruit that God had forbidden.  Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.  So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.


• Luke 7:30—But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves


• Matthew 23—Jesus denounced the evil acts of the scribes and Pharisees, who he described as hypocrites; and seven times he declared woe upon them, adding in verses 33, 35-36, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? …that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.  Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

On the other hand, godly choices result in a myriad of blessings.

• Jeremiah 26:13—Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you.


• John 2:17—And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.


• Hebrews 10:35-39—Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise: “ For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

David pleaded for God to insert Himself into a situation to overcome the will of his enemies, “Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.” ⁴

OK, so man has a will and God has a will; we each have a choice, and it is clear that we are to follow His will rather than our own; but how do we know what that is?  Sometimes we can make the process of determining God’s will a very difficult thing—at least I know I have.  How many times have I agonized over the question, “What is God’s will for my life?”  More than I can count.  But God is faithful—He doesn’t leave us floundering around with no answers.  When we look to His Word and internalize its truth, determining His will becomes much easier.  God has not only given us the Bible as an instruction manual, but he has also illustrated it with real-life illustrations regarding how to do things (or not!)—all we have to do is read and follow His directions.  We can choose to be confused and frustrated like the stereotypical image of a parent who refuses to read the instructions before putting a toy together for his child at the last minute on Christmas Eve, ending up with a disaster on his hands.  Or, we can imitate one who sets aside plenty of time, studies the instructions, follows them step-by-step, and assembles the perfect gift in a fraction of the time.

Can it really be that easy?  It sounds too simple—just follow God’s how-to manual.  But what about this?  And what about that?  How do I know where to go and what to do next?  How do I choose the perfect mate?  How do I deal with my bills, my health, my spouse, my kids????  Life is not easy—in fact, it’s hard; and learning to live by faith can be a challenge.  It requires a determination of our will to conform to the truth of God’s Word.  For example, I’m absolutely certain that Jesus meant it when he said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble;”⁵ but how often do we choose to ignore his direction as we worry about this, that or whatever.

But once again, the question arises, “How do I do that?”  Consider this; all of us experience times when we just know what our spouse or child or best friend is thinking because we are so close to them—they don’t have to say a word.  It’s pretty much the same with God; the more intimate we become with Him, the more we know what He’s thinking.  Our spirits become so attuned to the Holy Spirit that we sense His will in any given situation—it may appear as a hesitancy or dread if we’re about to make a mistake; or as a sense of lightness and freedom if we’re on the right path; or any number of other ways in which He chooses to communicate.  It’s not always easy to move ahead in faith without knowing what comes next, but determining to walk by faith and not by sight is an act of our will that the LORD loves.  I submit that life not only falls into place much easier, but also is also a lot less stressful when He becomes our first priority.  Just try it—take a leap of faith!

Look at this account from the Apostle Paul (previously known as Saul), “Then a certain Ananias…came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’  And at that same hour I looked up at him.  Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.  For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.  And now why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’”⁶ It’s pretty clear that Saul’s knowledge about God’s will was to grow out of a relationship with Jesus; he simply needed to pursue Him.  Obviously he heeded that instruction, for it is Paul who later wrote to the Ephesians, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.⁷ God’s will is revealed in His Son, and Jesus himself said, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” ⁸

The more we study the life of Jesus and the better we get to know Him, the easier it is to determine the will of God.  It starts with redemption; it continues with relationship; it is evidenced by the choices we make out of our will.  And once again the Apostle Paul offers some great advice regarding how to proceed, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”⁹

But it gets even better.  Will may also refer to a legal document called a testament that dictates the disposition of an estate; and The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.¹⁰ And, In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.¹¹ According to His will, He has willed us an unparalleled inheritance and He communicates that knowledge to us through His Spirit.

And finally, we are the recipients of this amazing promise, presented as a Biblical example of will as an auxiliary verb signifying the future tense.  He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.  I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.  And I will write on him My new name.<sup>12

 

1</sup> Webster, Noah. (1928). American Dictionary of the English Language. (Facsimile Edition 1967).  Chesapeake, Virginia: Foundation for American Christian Education

² Matthew 6:9-10

³ Luke 20:41-42

⁴ Psalm 27:12

⁵ Matthew 6:33-34

⁶ Acts 22:12-16

⁷ Ephesians 1:7-10

⁸ John 7:17

⁹ Philippians 4:4-8

¹⁰ Romans 8:16-18

¹¹Ephesians 1:11-12

¹² Revelation 3:12

 

Understanding the Spirit - Barbara Parker

In the days of rabbit ears and black and white television, viewing choices were limited.  But one cold, rainy day I was fortunate enough to catch the tale of George and Marion Kerby, two fun-loving ghosts trying to do a good deed that would get them out of limbo and into heaven.  The movie was Topper, and the fact that it was already more than twenty years old didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the story.   Perhaps it was just because I was bored that I enjoyed it so much, or perhaps I fell prey to the mystique that surrounds the concept of spirits who once inhabited human bodies, in which case I was not alone.  Topper, released in 1938, spawned two sequels in 1938 and 1941, a television series in 1953, a television pilot in 1973 and a yet-to-be-released remake of the original film starring Steve Martin in 2010; and Topper is not alone in it’s ability to enchant viewers with ideas about what happens after we die.  In Carousel, Billy Bigelow was turned away from heaven’s gate until his spirit returned to earth and alleviated all of the distress he’d caused in his lifetime. In Here Comes Mr. Jordan, remade in 1978 as Heaven Can Wait, a the spirit of a sports figure accidentally killed before his time is sent back to earth to inhabit the body of someone who’s time is up. ¹ And the list goes on, for who can forget the more current films and TV series such as Ghost, The Sixth Sense, or Medium? But, as entertaining as these media presentations may be, do they give us an accurate picture of the spirit of man?  Unfortunately, many people seem to adopt such popular stories as their own personal beliefs; perhaps because they feel so good and offer such happy explanations to perplexing questions; but the Christian must turn to the only truth that is valid for information regarding the spirit of man—the Word of God.  Let’s look at what God has to say.

The Bible is clear that man is multidimensional—a triune being consisting of three parts; in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 we read, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. A couple of other things are also clear:

• God is the creator of man’s spirit.  Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. (Zechariah 12:1)


• Without the spirit, there is no physical life.  No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death.
  (Ecclesiastes 8:8) and, for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)


• Outside of Christ our spirits are dead to, or separated from, God.  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1-2)

We understand the body because we can see and touch it; and we have a fair comprehension of the soul because it is generally understood to have to do with our mind, will and emotion.  But what of the spirit?  It seems so much more esoteric, and every –ism that exists seems to offer a different slant on it.  Perhaps some of the confusion is because the triune being of man exists in a multi-dimensional universe of which he has little or no comprehension.  Many may assume that if something is outside of the realms of time and space it doesn’t exist—it’s make believe or science fiction.  And so, where ignorance exists, the enemy steps in and creates confusion in the form of superstition and false belief systems.  Certainly, down through the ages, civilization after civilization has fallen into paganism; worshiping unseen spirits of the moon, the harvest, the sun, whatever seemed important to them—creating their own spiritual deities because they did not comprehend the truth. Unfortunately, evil not only exists in spirit form but also works overtime to skew mankind’s understanding of the spiritual realm.  Man can even be inhabited or possessed by evil spirits:

• Numbers 5:30 speaks of when the spirit of jealousy comes on a man.


• A distressing spirit overcame Saul. (1 Samuel 16:16)


• There are also perverse spirits, false spirits, lying spirits, foul spirits, defiant spirits, and all manner of evil and unclean spirits that bring destruction upon mankind.²

So that’s the bad news; and the enemy would love for us to believe that’s all there is.  BUT, and it’s a big but; while there are many kinds of spirits, only mankind shares His image, so it is reasonable to assume that our spirit is meant to be a mirror image of His, and His Word shows us the truth.  The spirit of man is the “designation of that aspect of existence that is noncorporeal and immaterial.  Its Latin derivation (as with the Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible—ruach and pneuma) denotes blowing or breathing (Jb 41:16; Is 25:4).  So the noun spiritus signifies breath and life.  God, the source of all life, is himself Spirit (Jn 4:24).  He put a spirit within all human beings so that they could commune with him in his realm and in his nature.  A Christian’s experience of Jesus Christ is made real when that person experiences the Spirit of Jesus Christ in his or her spirit.^”3

Good news indeed!  The evidence is clear in scripture:

• 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 assures us that we receive revelation from God through His Spirit—things that man alone could not comprehend.  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


• Job 32:8—But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.


• Haggai 1:14-15—The LORD motivates us through our spirits to accomplish His work.  So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.


• Romans 8:14—For as many as are led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God


• Proverbs 17:27b—And a man of understanding is of calm spirit.


• Proverbs 18:14— The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?


• Proverbs 20:27—The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching


• all the inner depths of his heart.


• Luke 1:80 speaks of John the Baptist, so the child grew and became strong in spirit…


• God’s power over the evil spirits is evident repeatedly throughout the New Testament as both Jesus and his followers cast the evil spirits out of people.  In Matthew 8:16 we see it only took a word; when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.  And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.


• Galatians 5:22-23 speaks of the fruit of God’s Spirit that is available to be manifested in our spirits.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.

God is so gracious to give us all the instruction we need to deal with anything, including spiritual matters, if we only seek his truth.  We are provided with both instructions and the examples of those who have gone before.

• Proverbs 29:23—A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.


• 1 Corinthians 14:15 shows us that we are to both pray and sing with our spirits.


• Galatians 6:1— Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.


• In Acts 11:12 sets an example for us regarding following the Spirit; Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing.


• 1 Corinthian 12:4-11 instructs us about the gifts that the Spirit of God manifests in our spirits; there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.


• Genesis 41 relates the story of Joseph from his betrayal by his brothers to his position as second in command of Egypt.  He was so sold out to God that even the pagan king acknowledged it; and Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”


• And then there’s Daniel, who was introduced to Belshazzar as a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God.  And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers


• In Acts 11:24 we see in the life of Barnabas how evangelism grows out of the fullness of the Spirit of God; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  And a great many people were added to the Lord.


• Galatians 6:1—Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.


• 1 John 4:1-3—We are to be discerning of spiritual things.  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

Yes, we are to test the spirits; so here we are, right back at the movies.  What about all of that?  Is it OK to talk to the dead?  Do our spirits have opportunities to come back and make things right after we die?  Again, the Bible is specific:

1 Samuel 28 :3-20 relates the story of King Saul, so desperate for a prophetic word and he made a very bad decision that cost him greatly, and we see in 1 Chronicles 10:13 that the penalty was death.  The entire account is related here because it is so very appropriate for today.

 

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.  Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem.  So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.  Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”  And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.”  So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”  Then the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”  And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”  Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”  And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”  When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”  And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?”  And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.”  So he said to her, “What is his form?”  And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.  Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”  And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”  Then Samuel said: “So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy?  And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.  Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.  Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”  Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night.



So, God’s opinion of seeking after the spirits of the dead is quite clear:

• The penalty for interacting with evil spirits or who acted as a medium within the spiritual realm was severe.  A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:27)


• And in Hebrews 9:27 we see that there are no second chances, for it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…

But once again, there’s some really good news.  Hebrews 9:28 continues the last thought; so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.  Jesus is again the answer to our every question—whether in regard to the things of this world or the things of the spiritual realm of which we have so little comprehension.  And it gets even better, for we have God’s wonderful promise; and you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.   Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:13-15)

 

 

 

Footnotes:

¹ Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topper_%28film%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel_%28film%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_Mr._Jordan

² Isaiah 19:14; Micah 2:11; Matthew 12:43-46; 1 Kings 22:22-23; Luke 11:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:8

³ Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). Tyndale Bible dictionary. Tyndale reference library. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

 

 

Matters of the Heart (Part 2) - Barbara Parker

It appears very possible that the heart does exist in each part of our being—body, soul and spirit—but regardless of where it resides, one thing is abundantly clear; the heart, in its fallen state, is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9) We often fictionalize and laugh at the concept of evil within the heart, enjoying tales of black-hearted pirates and evil black knights, or joking about someone with a cold or hard heart. One of our songs when I was sang with Sweet Adelines was Hard Hearted Hannah—she was described as the vamp from Savannah, the meanest girl in town; and she had quite a reputation for loving and leaving all the men unlucky enough to encounter her. Unfortunately, it’s really not a laughing matter. There is nothing so serious in life as a hard heart—the consequences are dire.

• Exodus 7-14—Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart when there was relief from the plagues, until finally God made it a permanent condition.
• Joshua 11:20—For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
• 1 Samuel 25:37-38—So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. Then it happened, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.
• Daniel 5:20—But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
• Psalm 95:7b-11—Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways. ’So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ “
• Proverbs 28:14 But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
• Zechariah 7:12—Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.
• Mark 3:5—And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts…
• Mark 6:52—For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
• Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
• Romans 2:5—But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Consider the contrast of the softened, flexible, receptive heart; the way God desires it to be:

• 2 Kings 22:19—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants… I also have heard you,” says the LORD.
• Proverbs 7:2-3—Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
• Proverbs 10:8—The wise in heart will receive commands…
• Proverbs 14:30—A sound heart is life to the body…
• Proverbs 21:1— The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
• Proverbs 27:19—As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5—He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment.
• Isaiah 16:11—Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab,
• Isaiah 60:5a—Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy
• Ezekiel 11:19—Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.
• Jeremiah 24:7—Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
• Jeremiah 31:33—But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
• John 7:38—He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
• Acts 14:17—Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

When we speak of “getting to the heart of a matter” it is generally understood that we want to discover a central issue, and it seems that the heart is indeed the central issue of our lives. It is here where our true motivations and intentions are hidden, unseen by anyone except God Himself. It is here where our actions are initiated. It is here that we store our treasures, as if hidden in a bank vault. It is here we experience both condemnation and redemption.

• Exodus 35:21-22—Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD
• 1 Samuel 16:7—But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
• 2 Samuel 24:10—And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
• Psalm 64:6—They devise iniquities: “We have perfected a shrewd scheme.” Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
• Isaiah 32:6—For the foolish person will speak foolishness, and his heart will work iniquity: to practice ungodliness, to utter error against the LORD, to keep the hungry unsatisfied, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
• Matthew 12:34-35—Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
• Matthew 15:18-19—But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
• Mark 2:8—But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
• Mark 7:6—He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘ This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
• Luke 3:15—Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not
• Luke 12:34—For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• Galatians 4:6—And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
• 1 Corinthians 4:5—Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
• 1 Peter 3:4—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
• 1 John 3:19-21—And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

Throughout the scriptures we find verses contrasting the heart that is godly versus the heart that is evil. It only seems logical that man would choose to have his heart described as loyal, upright, willing, faithful, glad, perfect, or merry rather than boastful, proud, wicked, deceitful, arrogant, perverse or haughty—but that’s not the case. Instead of heeding the oft repeated admonition to love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mark 12:30), so many like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). And how sad that is, for without the redemption of the heart, the individual must live in a state of brokenness, with the defects in the spirit carrying over and affecting day-to-day life in the physical realm

• Psalm 38:8—I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.
• Psalm 69:20—Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.
• Proverbs 15:13—A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
• Proverbs 17:22—A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
• Jeremiah 23:9—My heart within me is broken Because of the prophets; all my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, And like a man whom wine has overcome, Because of the LORD, And because of His holy words.
• Ezekiel 21:6—Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes.
• Hosea 10:2—Their heart is divided; Now they are held guilty. He will break down their altars; He will ruin their sacred pillars.

We would do well to heed God’s word in regard to the heart, whether in the context of the Old or New Testaments, the message remains the same. “I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today… so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober. “The LORD would not spare him; for then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the LORD would blot out his name from under heaven. (Deuteronomy 29:14-15, 18-20) And, what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8—10) It doesn’t get much clearer than that!

Matters of the Heart (Part 1) - Barbara Parker

Have you ever played a game of word association in which each person must indicate the very first word that comes to mind when another word is spoken? The end result can be hilarious as the original word morphs into something completely different and totally unexpected—and the more players, the stranger it gets. Word association might also be a tool that a psychologist would use in an attempt to learn more about a patient’s underlying issues; or by a market researcher in an effort to ensure the proper message is conveyed in the promotion of a product.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind at the mention of the word, heart? If you’ve just been dumped by the love of your life, it might be broken. Around February 14th, you may respond with valentine or flowers—something to do with an expression of love. But if you are a cardiac patient, it’s more likely that you will think of such words as angina, pacemaker, bypass, hospital, medicine, fear, or death—it all depends on the individual point of reference. In written or verbal communication, context generally defines the meaning of heart. We easily differentiate between the physical organ beating away in our chests and a heart-shaped image on a valentine; a reference to the center of something, as in artichoke hearts; or a representation of one’s feelings or emotions. So it should come as no surprise that, as in everyday communication, the Bible also refers to heart in a variety of ways that validate our personal experience.
On the sixth day of creation God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them…Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:26-27, 31) “Indeed, it was very good”—so what a sad commentary it is that within just ten generations, the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6:5-6) God’s original intent was that man’s heart would mirror His own, but it was quickly corrupted once Adam and Eve made the choice to be disobedient, and it appears that the heart became the battleground of good versus evil. On the one hand, Jesus died for us so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Ephesians 3:17) On the other, the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (Luke 8:12) Affairs of the heart; with God always making a way for mankind to be reconciled to Himself, and evil always scheming to mess things up:
• Jeremiah 32:40—And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
• Acts 5:3—But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
• Acts 16:14—Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
• Romans 16:18—For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
• Revelation 17:17—For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
• Luke 6:45—A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
But what is the context of the word heart that the Bible uses so frequently—over 900 times in fact? I have a couple of friends who are very logical left-brain thinkers that have a tremendous amount of difficulty with the term—to them, heart means the physical organ beating in our chests, and the concept of an immaterial heart is illogical and makes no sense. But surely God doesn’t mean for his Word to be confusing, so let’s examine it for some clues as to the definition and function of the heart.
We have already determined that man is a triune being—body, soul and spirit—so where does the heart reside? The physical aspect as a part of the body is obvious; the intangible or spiritual less so—does it reside in the soul, the spirit or both? Scriptures do not clearly state the answer, but there is evidence to suggest the heart is present in each aspect of a person.
1. The heart does not appear to be exclusively a part of the soul. Repeatedly, scriptures list the two separately as we are encouraged to seek or serve the LORD with heart and soul, which could imply that the heart must exist in the spirit.

a. Deuteronomy 4:29—But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
b. Deuteronomy 11:13—And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
c. Joshua 22:5—But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
d. 1 Kings 2:4—that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
e. 2 Kings 23:25—Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.
f. 1 Chronicles 22:19—Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.
g. 2 Chronicles 15:15—And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.
h. Matthew 22:37—Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
i. Luke 10:27—So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

2. The Bible uses the words spirit and heart frequently in such a way as to imply that the heart is closely associated with the spirit. While the implication could be that the heart resides within the spirit, a case could also be made that it resides in the soul as well. What if the word heart in the context of the scriptures below could refer to the soul, in which case the verses would be about soul and spirit?

a. Exodus 35:21—Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing…
b. Deuteronomy 2:30—“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.
c. Joshua 5:1—that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.
d. Psalm 51:10—Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
e. Psalm 51:17—The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
f. Psalm 77:6—I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.
g. Psalm 143:4—Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.
h. Proverbs 15:13—A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
i. Isaiah 57:15—For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “ I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
j. Ezekiel 18:31—Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?
k. Ezekiel 36:26—I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
l. Daniel 5:20—But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
m. 1 Peter 3:4—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Understanding the Soul (Part 2) – Barbara Parker

Suffering plagued Job’s life for a time, as he lost everything except his life.  Thus, the references to soul in the book of Job reflect a tremendous amount of anguish and include cursing of the soul as well as the consignment/redemption of the soul to the Pit.  Some examples:

• Job 3:20—Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter of soul


• Job 6:6-7—Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?  Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?  My soul refuses to touch them; they are as loathsome food to me.


• Job 7:11—Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.


• Job 7:15—So that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my body.


• Job 10:1—My soul loathes life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.


• Job 19:2—How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words.


• Job 30:16—And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; the days of affliction take hold of me.


• Job 31:30—Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for a curse on his soul.


• Job 33:22—Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, and his life to the executioners.


• Job 33:30—He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, and his life shall see the light.

Over one hundred references to soul in Psalms and Proverbs reflect previous lessons learned and also introduce new truth.  As we discover that there are terrible places and trials that the soul can experience, we are comforted by the wonderful descriptions of how God rescues and ministers to us:

• Psalm 16:10—For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.


• Psalm 19:7—The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.


• Psalm 23:3—He restores my soul.


• Psalm 30:3—O LORD, you brought my soul up from the grave; you have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the Pit.


• Psalm 31:7I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy, for you have known my soul in adversities.


• Psalm 33:19—to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.


• Psalm 49:15—But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me.


• Psalm 57:6—They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.


• Psalm 66:9—God keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved.


• Psalm 86:13—For great is your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.


• Psalm 94:17,19—Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence…in the multitude of anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul.


• Psalm 119:20—My soul breaks with longing for your judgments at all times.


• Psalm 124:5,7—Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul…our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.


• Psalm 142:7—Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise your name; the righteous shall surround me, for you shall deal bountifully with me.


• Proverbs 24:12—He who keeps your soul, does he not know it?  And will he not render to each man according to his deeds?


• Proverbs 22:4-5—By humility and fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.  Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards his soul will be far from them.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that the things we do for ourselves, in our own strength, do not bring satisfaction:

• Ecclesiastes 6:3—If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness…a stillborn child is better than he.


• Ecclesiastes 6:7—All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied.

Throughout the writings of the prophets the truths already learned about the soul are re-emphasized.  Isaiah contrasts the dire consequences of rejecting God with the wonders that God supplies to his children:

• Isaiah 29:8—It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look—he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is still empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look—he drinks; but he awakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves: so the multitude of all the nations shall be, who fight against Mount Zion.


• Isaiah 58:11—The LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.


• Isaiah 61:10—I will rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.

The New Testament is full of the story of redemption. Again, previous lessons apply, but now we read the words of Jesus himself as he gives warnings, instructions and promises, often quoting from some of the Old Testament scriptures:

• Matthew 10:28—And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But, rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.


• Matthew 11:29—Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.


• Mark 12:30—And you shall love the LORD you God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment.

Remember how David’s and Jonathon’s souls were as one?  In the early church that same concept of souls being bound together occurs again in the form of unity within the body; “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” (Acts 4:32)

Paul wrote of the power of God’s word upon the soul; “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.” (Hebrews 4:12)  And other New Testament writers continue the theme of the salvation of souls:

• James 1:21—Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.


• 1 Peter 1:8-9—Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls.

Way back in the beginning—in Genesis—one of the first lessons learned was that the soul had to do with the concept of life, of a living being.  And so the Bible ends with the triumphant declaration of the living souls of Revelation 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.  Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.  And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

What an indelible image of a soul committed to God; a soul that overcomes; a soul that has withstood the trials and temptations of life; a soul that is not confined to one of those horrible dark places such as the Pit, Sheol, or Death, but who lives in victory in the very Presence of God!  And the words of another old song come to mind, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus; life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ…”<sup>6

1</sup> Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music

² From Soul Man, by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, 1967; as recorded by Sam & Dave, Stax/Atlantic S-231

³ From Little Bit O Soul, by John Carter and Ken Lewis, 1964; as recorded by The Music Explosion, Laurie 3380—5/67

⁴ From Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul, S & B Sykes, 1940, 1945 New Spring (Admin. by Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia Pty)

⁵ From My Soul in Sad Exile, Henry L. Gilmour

⁶ From It Will Be Worth It All, Esther Kerr Rushthoi