Avondale Church of God Service
February 2, 2025 – Evening Service
Chairman: Brother Nathan
Speaker: Brother Mark Smith
Introduction
The evening service at Avondale Church of God was filled with a spirit of reverence and expectation as Brother Mark Smith took the pulpit. He expressed gratitude for the morning messages and shared how they had prepared the congregation’s hearts for the evening’s topic: The Circumcision of the Heart. This message was the culmination of four months of deep study on sanctification, a subject he described as one of the most enlightening and spiritually enriching studies he had ever undertaken.
Brother Mark introduced the key passage: Romans 2:28-29—“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly… but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.” He explained that while physical circumcision was a defining mark of God’s covenant in the Old Testament, the true mark of belonging to God in the New Covenant is a transformed heart—fully surrendered to His will.
The Old Covenant: A Physical Mark of Separation
Brother Mark first examined the origins of circumcision as introduced in Genesis 17:9-14. He explained how God established a covenant with Abraham and required circumcision as a physical sign of separation. Every male in Abraham’s lineage was commanded to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth, and this practice was to be observed by every generation as a mark of God’s covenant. This act was not optional—it was a requirement for remaining part of the people of God.
He further emphasized the seriousness of this command by highlighting that any male who was not circumcised was to be cut off from the people of God. This demonstrated that obedience to God’s command was not a matter of preference, but of necessity. Circumcision was more than just a ritual; it was an act of separation and consecration. It identified the Israelites as distinct from the surrounding nations and signified their dedication to the one true God.
Over time, however, the Israelites began to take pride in their physical circumcision while neglecting the spiritual devotion that it was meant to represent. The Jews viewed circumcision as a sign of superiority and often referred to outsiders as “uncircumcised” in a derogatory way. Brother Mark referenced 1 Samuel 17:26, where David confronted Goliath and said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” This demonstrated how circumcision became an external badge of religious identity rather than a reflection of inward righteousness.
Despite its significance in the Old Covenant, physical circumcision alone was insufficient to change the heart. Many who bore the outward mark of circumcision still lived in rebellion and disobedience to God. This led to the deeper reality that God was pointing toward—a circumcision not of the flesh, but of the heart.
The Spiritual Reality: God’s Desire for a Transformed Heart
Transitioning from the Old Covenant, Brother Mark showed how God had always intended for circumcision to be more than just an external act. The real circumcision God desired was the circumcision of the heart—a life fully surrendered to Him.
He referenced Deuteronomy 10:12-16, where God commanded Israel to “circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.” This revealed that even in the Old Testament, God was calling His people to internal transformation, not just external conformity. The problem was not merely physical—their hearts remained hardened and resistant to God’s will.
Jeremiah echoed this truth in Jeremiah 4:3-4, urging the people to “break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart.” The imagery of breaking up fallow ground illustrated the need for a softened, receptive heart—a heart that is willing to yield completely to God’s shaping and instruction.
In the New Testament, Stephen boldly confronted the Jews in Acts 7:51, calling them “stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears” because they always resisted the Holy Spirit. Brother Mark pointed out that Stephen’s words cut deeply, as he was addressing a people who were physically circumcised but spiritually rebellious. This statement enraged them, ultimately leading to his martyrdom. His message, however, underscored the central truth: God desires willing, obedient hearts, not empty rituals.
The New Covenant: Sanctification as the True Circumcision
With the coming of Christ, the Old Covenant—including its physical requirements—was fulfilled. Circumcision, in the New Covenant, was no longer about an outward sign but about an inward work of grace through sanctification.
Brother Mark read from Colossians 2:11, which states, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.” This revealed that the true circumcision happens in the heart, as Christ removes the carnal nature from a believer’s life.
He further explained that just as a Jewish baby was circumcised on the eighth day—after a complete seven-day cycle—spiritual circumcision, or sanctification, comes after salvation. It is a second work of grace, a deeper transformation that fully sets a believer apart for God’s service.
Brother Mark likened this process to cutting away anything that hinders full devotion to God. Sanctification is not simply about stopping sinful behavior—it is about the removal of self-will, pride, and anything that resists God’s perfect will. This is the ultimate fulfillment of circumcision, where God’s people are set apart not by a physical mark, but by a pure heart wholly devoted to Him.
Exhortation: A Call to Surrender
As he concluded, Brother Mark gave a heartfelt appeal for believers to examine their lives. He asked, “Have you truly been circumcised in heart, or are you still holding onto something that needs to be cut away?” He urged those who had not yet experienced the fullness of sanctification to seek it earnestly, just as Abraham’s descendants had to submit to circumcision to remain in God’s covenant.
He reminded the congregation that resisting the deeper work of sanctification is no different from the Jews who resisted the Holy Spirit in Stephen’s day. God is calling for a holy people—fully surrendered, fully sanctified, and fully His.
Reflection Questions for Personal Application
1. Have I truly allowed God to circumcise my heart, or am I still holding on to my own will?
2. How does sanctification separate me from sin and prepare me for God’s service?
3. Are there areas of my life that are still “stiff-necked,” resisting God’s complete control?
4. Do I place more emphasis on outward Christian identity than on inward transformation?
5. What steps do I need to take to fully yield to God’s sanctifying work in my life?
Scriptures for Further Study
• Genesis 17:9-14 – God’s covenant with Abraham and the command of circumcision.
• Deuteronomy 10:12-16 – The call to circumcise the heart.
• Jeremiah 4:3-4 – Breaking up fallow ground and removing sin.
• Acts 7:51 – Stephen’s rebuke of the uncircumcised hearts.
• Colossians 2:11 – The circumcision made without hands—sanctification.
Conclusion
Brother Mark left the congregation with a final thought:
“God has always desired a people who are truly set apart for Him. The question is, have you been circumcised in heart?”
He urged every believer to surrender fully, embrace sanctification, and allow God to cut away anything that keeps them from living in complete obedience and holiness.
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