Matters Of The Heart

What is the condition of your heart? In truth, most people don’t think about the condition of their hearts.

We have entered into a new era. Things are rapidly changing on earth. “Church as usual” is over. God is calling the church to turn! The church as we’ve known it is about to change. We are not called to “do” church. We are called to “be” the church. It’s time to take off the “old self with its old practices” and be “renewed in knowledge in the image of the creator” (Col. 3:9-10).

Righteous ones, its time to seek the Lord like never before. God has been calling His people to change from the inside out. Change is necessary for all of God’s people. It’s time to let go of the past. Let go of religion. Let go of sin and anything that keeps you from drawing closer to God in obedience.

When Jesus told Peter, “on this rock I will build my church,” He wasn’t talking about a physical building. He was speaking of His Kingdom people. Christ is the cornerstone of the church. We are joined together with Him and growing into a holy temple in the Lord. The church is being built as a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Eph. 2:20-22).

I hope this message will open your eyes to the truth about your own heart.  The Apostle Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus that the eyes of their heart would be enlightened so they would know the hope to which they had been called, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in His Holy people, and His great power for those who believe. That same power He put forth when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the highest place of honor and supreme authority.

Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”  2 Chronicles 2:20b

The prophet Jeremiah declared God’s desire for repentance and righteousness regarding individuals and nations. He also prophesied of a future day when God would write His law on human hearts (Jer. 31:33, cf Rom. 2:15).

Jeremiah called out the children of Israel because of their unfaithfulness to God. He pleaded with them to repent, calling them to return to God as a nation (Jer. 3:12; cf 4:1; 25;5: 36:15). They were still thinking that they were under the protection of God, yet they had forfeited His protection because of disobedience. Their hearts had become corrupt. They had become great and rich. They did not judge the cause of the fatherless with justice, nor defend the rights of the needy. This was sinful the eyes of God (Jer. 5:27-28).

There is no injustice found in God. He is faithful to keep His covenant promises. It is difficult for God as a loving Father, to deal harshly with His  beloved people. Rather than inflict a penalty on the whole people, the Lord tries to purify them (Jer. 9:7). Sadly, all attempts at purification was of no avail. Filled with a sense of security, the people scorned the warnings of the prophets.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 reveals the condition of mankind’s heart.  Jeremiah says that the heart is desperately wicked and “deceitful above all things . . . . Who can know it” (v. 9). Only Christ can diagnose the condition of our hearts and bring the necessary healing. The next time you say, “God knows my heart!” You may be surprised what God sees there.

. . . . a prophet has a responsibility for the moment, an openness to what the moment reveals. He is a person who knows what time it is. 

Abraham Herschel, The Prophets 

Years ago, God began to deal with me about the condition of my heart and the importance of keeping it guarded, not allowing negative things or experiences to cause it to become hardened. At the time I was having difficulties in my personal life, constantly warring against my flesh. My mind would war against my heart. My thoughts and emotions would try to overrule what I knew to be the truth. I struggled to bring them under subjection to God’s truth. I would cry out to God to “create in me a clean heart, and a steadfast spirit.” After finding freedom in Christ, I have maintained this posture whenever my thoughts and personal struggles would try to overtake me.

Your heart can deceive you. You can be doing “good works” for God with a bad heart. Our preconceived thoughts can move us far away from what God expects from us as His children. There are times we need to ask ourselves “what is the condition of my  heart towards God and His people?”

Blessings,