Exposing the Heart


Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Pro 1:23)


The act of reproof or rebuke is something which is gravely missing today in society, churches and families. It is a two edged sword if done in the wrong spirit will bring condemnation when the person rebuking does it from the judgmental stand point. The Godly intent of reproof is to turn a person around to the God’s best. The reproofs of God results in the pouring out of His Spirit which David having received the rebuke of the prophet in the correct light and knew immediately that he lost the right or steadfastness of spirit (Psa 51:10). A judgmental rebuke results in making the person being rebuked unable to rise above the sin or character flaw that can drive them further away from the path of righteousness and God’s truth. There is only on Righteous Judge (2 Tim 4:8), don’t usurp His position. Therefore the person who rebukes must be one that has learned the humility of Christ (Matt 11:29).


Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1Tim 5:20)


God will chastise those whom He loves (Heb 12:8) and will send people to reproof us; hence we should not allow pride to stand in the way of the greater work of God to build a strong spirit within us. Poor character is the fruit of having a weak spirit that easily yield to pressures, people with an excellent spirit will not be shaken (Dan 5:12), dwelling in the place of safety without the fear of evil (Prov 1:33). A person reclaimed from transgression will exchanged the fear of everything else for the fear of God.


Create in me a clean heart…… (Psa 51:10)


Godly reproofs expose the heart condition; self will which have taken the place of God’s will. Love for self rather than to love Him with all our heart. Allow godly reproofs, He will take away the stony heart and replace it with a tender heart (Eze 36:26), He will put His spirit within us (Eze 36:27), He will put His Law in our mind and write it on our hearts (Jer 31:33). Thence we will be under the New Covenant of Grace and not of requirements that we will never fulfill….. it is living in the place where ‘He will’.