Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Last Sunday’s Worship Service sermon touched on a point that each of us need to think about seriously and apply in our Christian walk daily. We tend to treat the symptoms and not the illness. When dealing with the unethical, the immoral and the vices in our culture and life, we need to look beyond the outward words and actions and get to the heart of the problem. In Mark 7:20-23 And He (Jesus) said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Mankind was created to be sinless, blameless, innocent, & holy. We were never designed to experience sin and the associated sin nature. Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." It makes sense that man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. God is love. We were designed for the fruitful life of love, joy and peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, led by and walking in step with the Holy Spirit. We were meant for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Sin changed everything. But, we do not deal with the sin nature of our hearts by reading books on “should do this” or “ought to do that” or making a list of things to do and not do as a Christian. We cannot simply clean & wash up our lives and expect true and contented change. Why? I heard a pastor friend of mine once say: “if you put a suit on a pig, then you have a well-dressed pig, who still wants to jump into the pig sty mud.” The point is that the heart of the pig never changed, and therefore the desires of the heart do not change. Changing the outside does not change the inside. We are treating the symptoms and not the root problem. But if you change the heart, to a heart right with God, the actions will follow. Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
That transformation is the transforming of the heart. This never takes place from the outside in because it is of God’s mercy and grace that we receive a new heart. Ezekiel 36:26-27 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” The world system that rejects and opposes God’s purpose, that which we must not conform to, includes Atheism, Pantheism & Pseudo religions. They do not possess the heart’s desire to please God, and work to do that which cannot fill the God-shaped hole in our heart. But Jesus Christ says “done” and we are changed from the inside out. 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
May we pray daily, Lord, lead me to your heart. May the knowledge of our salvation by the mercy and grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ overwhelm our regenerated hearts and renewed minds. May the desire of our hearts be to please our Maker, Father God, the source of our joy; not to die, and not to survive, but to truly live. From the inside out, live for Christ! Revelation 1:6 “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen”
Sin changed everything. But, we do not deal with the sin nature of our hearts by reading books on “should do this” or “ought to do that” or making a list of things to do and not do as a Christian. We cannot simply clean & wash up our lives and expect true and contented change. Why? I heard a pastor friend of mine once say: “if you put a suit on a pig, then you have a well-dressed pig, who still wants to jump into the pig sty mud.” The point is that the heart of the pig never changed, and therefore the desires of the heart do not change. Changing the outside does not change the inside. We are treating the symptoms and not the root problem. But if you change the heart, to a heart right with God, the actions will follow. Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
That transformation is the transforming of the heart. This never takes place from the outside in because it is of God’s mercy and grace that we receive a new heart. Ezekiel 36:26-27 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” The world system that rejects and opposes God’s purpose, that which we must not conform to, includes Atheism, Pantheism & Pseudo religions. They do not possess the heart’s desire to please God, and work to do that which cannot fill the God-shaped hole in our heart. But Jesus Christ says “done” and we are changed from the inside out. 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
May we pray daily, Lord, lead me to your heart. May the knowledge of our salvation by the mercy and grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ overwhelm our regenerated hearts and renewed minds. May the desire of our hearts be to please our Maker, Father God, the source of our joy; not to die, and not to survive, but to truly live. From the inside out, live for Christ! Revelation 1:6 “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen”
Blessings, Brian
5 comments:
Amen.
You very well know that I can relate what it means to go right to the very heart of the problem, instead of just masking the symptoms. Especially now I'm in pain :) I just want to thank you bro. Brian for the precious Scriptures and prayers! I'm feeling better, just achy on and off and I look at it this way: that instead of whining, let this pain drive me to His feet of mercy and grace! I love the messages He gives you through your words! Glory be to our good Father! May you have a blessed week, remaining strong in the Lord's mighty power!
Great post. Thank God for His transforming grace, that He actually doesn't just add salvation to our wretched lives but He works to transform us into the image of His dear Son!
Thanks Pastor Jason for the great message and material for this blog.
RCUBEs, you have a ministry "on & off" the job that brings a view inside the walls into harmony of light being brought into the darkness - Christ into the world, exposing the heart of the problem. You get it, and you articulate the story and the remedy so well. I love the Bible verses that you associate with your messages also, for it is the word, the light, & the truth. glad that you are recovering and may the Lord speak through you & I and all His children always.
Pastor Greg, I totally agree. Transformed hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit is the only work that produces the renewing of our minds. Without repentance & regeneration there is no restoration, and all by the mercy & grace of God. Do we have faith? Do we believe? May we shine like lamps on the hilltop (with the light of Christ) for those walking blindly in darkness on wrong paths in this world, that they may find the Savior and be redeemed, restored and regenerated ... truly tranformed hearts for the Lord.
Based on your blog....a book you'd really enjoy is by A.W. Tozer called "The Purpose of Man" , really a collectioin of essasys.
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