This past Saturday we used some of the resources for the very first time which we are about to share with you right here. We had prayed that God would bless the preaching of the Law and the Gospel of Grace through the resources we would be using. Before we started, Phillip and I had already handed out various isiZulu tracts that numbered about 210 and about another 300 or so “2010” and “Do You Think You Will Rip?” tracts.
The resources we allude to are ten pictures on large format plastic-coated paper and a guide which we can take sinners through speaking to their conscience. This being our debut, using these new tools, Phillip agreed to hang the first picture THE SINNER'S HEART around his neck (as you will see from the photo below) and translate into isiZulu what I would read from the guide to any passersby.
Here is the introduction to the guide and the text we read, used with the kind permission of Eugene Gschwend -- the grandson of Rev. J.R. Gschwend (see below) -- which was obtained this morning from All Nations Gospel Publishers. The collection of the main Ten Pictures are copyrighted and can be obtained at the address below:THE HEART OF MANOur preaching commenced as follows (we are quoting the parts of the text we used):
OR
THE SPIRITUAL HEART MIRROR
(An Allegorical Representation in Ten Pictures)
This booklet originated in France in 1732, was revised and re-written for the mission fields of Africa by Rev. J.R. Gschwend in 1929, and has subsequently been translated and printed under copyright in over 250 indigenous languages by All Nations Gospel Publishers who are distributing it today in 127 mission countries. People of all languages, classes and religions are being led by this booklet to experience the deep spiritual truth and significance of God’s message to mankind as expressed by the prophet Ezekiel 586 years before Christ, “I will give you a new heart and a new mind ... then you will be my people, and I will be your God!” Ezekiel 36:26-28.
COPYRIGHT
ISBN 0 – 908412 – 16 – 9
ALL NATIONS GOSPEL PUBLISHERS
P. O. BOX 2191, PRETORIA, 0001, R.S.A.
Telephone: +27(0)12 327 4441
Website: www.angp.org
(A Gospel Literature Mission financed by donations)
THE HEART OF MAN
THE TEMPLE OF GOD OR THE WORKSHOP OF SATAN
(1 John 3:4-10)
Whether you are a heathen or a Christian, one who does not believe in Christ or a backslider, you will see yourself as God sees you. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). God sees us as we really are.
This [first] picture shows the heart of a worldly, sinful man or woman, described in the Bible as a sinner, that is, one who is controlled by the evil of this world and by the natural desires and cravings of the human nature.
God tells us by the mouth of His prophet Jeremiah, that “Nobody can understand the human heart. There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Jesus Himself confirms this by saying, “For from the inside, from a person’s heart, come the evil ideas which lead him to do immoral things; to rob, kill, commit adultery, be greedy, and do all sorts of evil things; deceit, indecency, jealousy, slander, pride, and folly – all these evil things come from inside a person and make him unclean” (Mark 7:21-23).
[Please people draw around and examine your own hearts to see what is in them. One day you will have to stand before a Holy God to be judged – will He see your heart clean and righteous or will it be dirty and evil? You be the judge.]
1. THE PEACOCK. – While the beauty of the peacock is admired by everyone, here in the heart of man, it speaks of the sin of pride. Lucifer, once God’s special angel of light, lost his position through pride and so became God’s enemy – the devil (Isaiah 14:9-17; Ezekiel 28:12-17).
Pride comes from the very centre of hell, and reveals itself in many ways. Some people pride themselves on their riches, their standard of education; fashionable clothing by which they expose their bodies in a shameless way; the wearing of jingling ornaments, bracelets, rings, etc., as is so clearly described in Isaiah 3:16-24. Some pride themselves on their forefathers, nationality, culture, sport, etc., forgetting that “God resists the proud, but shows favour to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). God hates pride and self-importance (Proverbs 8:13). “Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall” (Proverbs 16:18).
2. THE DOG. – Represents bodily desires, immorality, adultery. The sins mentioned here have increased in these modern, but last days, to such an extent, that we have to admit the truth of the words of Jesus when He predicted, nearly 2 000 years ago, that the last days will be like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. [These sins] enter the hearts of people by means of cinemas, theatres, obscene literature, [pornography], and in so many other ways, that what God calls sin is being looked upon as modern morality. Immoral and loose-living actors and actresses become the heroes and heroines of the younger generation. The dance halls, too, are very often the breeding places of immorality. Even the old Zulu heathen, who would put an adulterer or adulteress to death, could teach our so-called civilized generation a lesson and stand up against us in condemnation at the Day of Judgment. God tells us not to play with immorality but to avoid it. “Any other sin a man commits does not affect his body; but the man who is guilty of sexual immorality sins against his own body. Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves but to God” (1 Corinthians 6:18,19); “So God’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are His temple” (1 Corinthians 3:17).
We had onlookers, and hopefully hearers of the Word, too3. THE PIG speaks of the sins of drunkenness and gluttony. It is a dirty animal eagerly swallowing up everything in its way, clean or dirty, and in the same way a sinful heart devours every immoral suggestion, expression, picture, literature, etc. The body is made unclean by harmful food and filthy habits such as the smoking or chewing of tobacco, the use of opium and harmful drugs and tablets etc. The habit of smoking tobacco and even “opium” has gripped men and women as never before. Only the power of God can free such poor tobacco victims and slaves of the devil. [Note – I can testify to the Power of God – I was a chain-smoker who smoked sixty (60) cigarettes a day for the greater part of twenty-three (23) years and I was delivered, by the grace of God inside three (3) days – by a fast, prayer and the Power of God!!]
Greed will never be satisfied, will never be filled. “Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty. If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags.” (Proverbs 23:21). Remember that a certain rich man, a glutton and a slave to his desires, died and found himself in hell in great pain. God tells us clearly in His Word that no drunkard will possess the Kingdom of God. Beer is not a food, it is a drink that confuses and affects the mind, so that those who drink it act foolishly. They become immoral and even kill and murder one another which they would not otherwise have done. “Drinking too much makes you loud and foolish. It’s stupid to get drunk” (Proverbs 20:1). [Note – I can testify to the Power of God – I was a slave to alcohol for the greater part of twenty-one (21) years and I was delivered, by the grace of God, immediately from my further foolishness – that is the Power of God!!]
Those who make and sell strong drink are just as guilty before God, for God says, “You are doomed! Heroes of the wine bottle! Brave and fearless when it comes to mixing drinks!” (Isaiah 5:22).
4. THE TORTOISE speaks of laziness, sluggishness to obey and witchcraft. Rebellion is as bad as witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). “A lazy man who refuses to work is only killing himself, all he does is think about what he would like to have” (Proverbs 21:25,26).
God says, “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God” (Hebrews 3:7,8). How many people have died spiritually by putting off salvation for some more convenient day which never came? The day of tomorrow is not yours.
The shell of the tortoise is often used by witch-doctors for the practicing of witchcraft, and points here to the sin of trusting in and practicing witchcraft, fortune-telling or magic or voodoo, instead of trusting the living God.
5. THE LEOPARD is a very savage and cruel beast. Hatred, anger and a bad temper often rule the heart of man and many times lead to murder. You may try, and even manage, to control that bad temper of yours, until it breaks out in all its fierceness. It is better to admit that it is in your heart, and ask Jesus to set you free. “Don’t give in to anger; it only leads to trouble” (Psalm 37:8).
Many cowards drink to encourage themselves to carry out some evil deed or revenge, but it is “like wine made from the venom of snakes” (Deuteronomy 32:33). Revenge is sweet to the sinful heart, but God is the one who punishes all wrongdoing. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Mark 12:31) and “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). God promised to forgive the wrongs we have done, if we forgive others for the wrongs that they have done to us (Matthew 6:12).
6. THE SNAKE tricked Eve in the Garden of Eden and broke up the sweet fellowship and friendship with God. Satan was very jealous of Adam and Eve, when he saw them as rulers over the world, living in perfect unity with God, taking his place. Out of jealousy Satan planned their destruction, and succeeded in breaking up their wonderful friendship and life with God. The same devilish jealousy and envy in the human heart destroys happiness in the hearts of some when they see others are happy and living comfortably.7. THE FROG speaks here of the sins of greediness and the love of money which is the source of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus Himself said, “Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Thousands of men and women of all classes and races are ruining their lives and the lives of their family by the awful desire to obtain great and sudden riches by means of gambling and betting for large sums of money at horse and dog races, [Lotto], etc. The desire to become rich without much trouble leads to stealing and murder as well as suicide. Love of money and greediness have many companions, such as love of fame, of power, it may be political power to rule over others, financial power to oppress the poor; religious power, being more concerned for the name of a church organisation than for God.
“Does a person gain anything if he wins the whole world but loses his life? Of course not” (Mark 8:36). “And so I tell you not to worry about the food you need to stay alive or about the clothes you need for your body ... Instead, be concerned with His Kingdom, and He will provide you with these things ... For your heart will always be where your riches are” (Luke 12:22-34).
8. SATAN, the father of all les and of them that tell lies, is the one who persuades us to sin, and is the ruler of the heart. Jesus said, “You are the children of your father, the devil, and you want to follow your father’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies” (John 8:44). A small lie is as bad as a big one. There are lies which are spoken, written, acted. A hypocrite is a liar for in reality he pretends to be what he is not. God cannot lie – neither can a Christian (Titus 1:2).
9. THE STAR speaks of the conscience in the heart of every man. Here it is, dirty and evil, probably dead through continual and deliberate sinning; blinded and sinful, so that it can no longer judge its own actions.
10. THE EYE of God sees everything that goes on in the heart. Nothing can be hidden from His flaming eye, and therefore He knows and sees all the secret thoughts and intentions of the heart. Whether you do your evil deeds in the darkest night, in the thickest forest, in the deepest ditch or wherever it may be, God sees it.
** From this point on we proclaimed the Law and the Gospel of Grace – to the best of my recollection I have recorded the preaching here, but not verbatim ** It is now time to examine your hearts and see whether what we have been saying to you is in fact the condition of your hearts. The way to do it is to look into the mirror of God’s Holy Law – The Ten Commandments. If you have lied God sees you as a liar, if you have stolen anything, it doesn’t matter the size or the value then God sees you as a thief, if you have looked with lust then God sees you as an adulterer at heart, and if you are sleeping with your boyfriend or girlfriend outside of marriage then you are a fornicator in the eyes of God. There is a Day of Judgment that awaits you and if God gives you the justice you rightfully deserve for breaking His Holy Law then you will be found guilty on that day and God will banish you to hell for eternity. That is the bad news.
The good news is what God did for you, us and all humanity about 2 000 years ago. God is a good God who is rich in mercy. He came down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ – He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, fully God and fully man, Jesus came to earth to show us how to live and He went to the cross to pay a fine He did not owe for crimes He did not commit. You and I deserve to be beaten and hung on crosses and be thrown into hell for all eternity, but God wants us to be reconciled back to Him so He died in our place taking upon Himself the punishment we rightfully deserve. It is no use having just an intellectual understanding of what God did for us through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible says you have to be born again (John 3:3,7) to enter the Kingdom of God. God has to do a miraculous work within your heart to make you alive spiritually. Say, if I had a heart attack and dropped to the floor here, I could not revive myself. I would have to rely on my friend Phillip to administer medical attention to me or someone else would have to help me. The same applies to you – you are spiritually dead and God has to do the miraculous work in your heart. So please people examine yourselves. Jesus was laid in the tomb for three days and three nights and was raised to life. There were more than 500 eyewitnesses who testified that they saw He was alive. The grave could not hold Him, death could not hold Him and He defeated sin once for all. What is required of you is to repent of your sins by turning away and forsaking your sin and putting your full trust in Jesus Christ for what He did for you upon the cross. Then read the Bible and live it out. We thank you for listening.
