Hearts alive, awake, and responding now is the pursuit of God. You and I happen to be caught in the middle of this grand story of grace, frailty and eternal life. Regardless of our season of life the truth remains that our heavenly Father is continuously pursuing our hearts.
Through these “blogs” my prayer is that this phrase will become more to you than the title of our new single & album, and that you will understand the heart of the song, which is a response and a discovery of the depth, the reality, and the relentless truth that God the Father, the Son, and most presently His Holy Spirit is pursuing your heart.
George Frideric Handel is highly regarded as one of the most prolific composers who ever lived. A God fearing man who lived passionately to express his worship through original compositions.
Handel was born in Germany but spent most of his adult life in England. His father was a renowned physician and had hoped that George would follow in his steps. But he lived and breathed with an overwhelming interest in music. Handel proceeded to write over 20 oratorios, more than 40 full operas, as well as numerous concertos, cantatas, anthems, and sonatas.
Behind the scenes however, Handel’s life was anything but peaceful. He was notoriously known for his temper, for frequently engaging in fights with other musicians. Handel lived an especially low point in 1741 at the age of 57. He was hopelessly in debt and was suffering from severe depression, and was living through some creative and mental challenges.
One day a young and notable poet named Charles Jennens appeared unannounced at his door. With conviction and urgency he delivered to Handel a simple collection of biblical passages under the title of “A Sacred Oratorio”. Handel in his depression and apathy began to half-heartedly read the words of God. As he did, the prophetic utterance of Isaiah concerning the coming of Messiah began to lift him from his dark depression and reverberated in his soul: “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!”
An awakening had begun. It was as if by divine compulsion, that Handel began to respond, with composition, with prayer, with repentance. He remained in total seclusion for the next twenty-five days, often going without food lest he be interrupted from his work. Uncharacteristically, Handel would frequently leap into the air, waving his hands, and shout “Hallelujah!, Holy, Worthy is the Lamb”. When it was done, he said: “I think I did see all heaven before me, and the Great God Himself.” What Handel wrote we know as the “Messiah”. A composition nearly three hours in duration that filled 260 pages of manuscript. As one author put it, “Considering the immensity of the work and the short time involved, it will remain, perhaps forever, the greatest feat in the whole history of musical composition” (Sir Newman Flower).
“Messiah” was first performed on April 13th, 1742. As the choir began to sing the majestic and now world-famous “Hallelujah Chorus”, King George II of England was so stirred and inspired that he rose to his feet. The audience spontaneously followed suit and remained standing until the chorus had ended. This response of has been customary ever since.
This one piece of music has brought more nations together in adoration than nearly any other. By universal consensus this chorus is the single most inspiring and spiritually charged song of praise and worship ever written.
My question is what moved Handel to write it? What inspired him? What did he seen or hear or feel that led him to compose this hymn of praise?
The “Messiah” and the “Hallelujah Chorus” were inspired by Handel’s meditation and revelation on the living words of God. Words that spoke of the exalted, majestic and sovereign portrait of God in Revelation 4-5. What Handel discovered lifted His spirit, renewed His energy, and calmed His soul. It came to Him through a simple delivery, a package of life giving words delivered from a stranger on a mission.
Handel then went on to live His greatest era of composing and performing, His gift took Him before Kings and governments.
What speaks to me about this story is that just like God did for Handel, He does many times done for me. God often interrupt our lives, He sends His word to heal, He continually brings what we need, when we need it. By His Spirit He lifts us from our current circumstance, He pursues us.
“A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.” John 4:23 AMP
The word “seeking” here is defined as searching, longing, and passionately pursuing. It’s very clear that the Father is seeking, desiring and pursuing worshipers!
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:5 NKJV
It is as if the Holy Spirit says to us “I am longing, anticipating and jealously desiring relationship with you”. These words from James 4 echo the many prophecies pertaining to the Holy Spirit, who is now with us on the earth, and more importantly Who dwells within us as the true believers of Jesus Christ.
It reminds me of February 2010, the moments right before I was preparing for marriage with my amazing wife Mary Ironside. She had needed to visit Colombia to spend time with her family, and to organize her wedding dress before returning to Sydney, Australia, where we were married. Every single day I would wait by the phone anticipating the moment that I knew she was available to talk. I remember that feeling of excitement, passionate expectation, and of fervent desire to be close (at least on the same continent) to my future bride – “Yearning Jealously”.
The word of God teaches us that we, the church, the believers on the earth are the BRIDE OF CHRIST. With jealous anticipation the Holy Spirit of God yearns, searches and pursues for His Bride consistently. There is no room for anything, or anyone else. God is jealous for us, He is actively seeking and pursuing and intimate relationship with us, with you! Just like I had to act the gentleman, jealously patient for my wife to get of that plane arriving for our wedding, the beautiful thing is that the Holy Spirit is the original gentleman, He will not force His will, He is patient, pursuing, and waiting jealously for authentic relationship with you. The ball is in your court; it’s your time to respond.
For millennium for generations and throughout history God has been pursuing his most prized creation: mankind, that’s you and me! Through creation, through His law, through the Prophets, through the Kings, through Psalmists, through Jesus himself. And then through the apostles, through the early church, through missionaries, through the Godly leaders of our History, through the printed word of God, through local Churches, through family, friends and people around your life and most of all through His precious Holy Spirit, God has been, and He is right now, and He will forever be the pursuer of your heart.
Just like with “Handel”, your best and most inspired years and work can be ahead of you. The greatest expression of your life can start today. Its the desire of the Father in His pursuit to restore you, to bless you and to guide you back to HIs original design. By His Spirit, He will continue pursuing you through multiple forms of communication, just to let you know that He is with you, that you are loved, that you are an immensely valuable treasure born for a purpose and a time such as this.
Open spiritual ears. Open spiritual eyes, because now it’s your turn to respond to the pursuer of your heart. alive + awake + responding now
nathanironside 