Wednesday, March 8, 2017

What's on your heart? – Part 1


1 Samuel 16:7 “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.” 

This week Michael reminds us that God knows the heart of every man and woman. Mark 4 speaks about the types of hearts of men and women. The four different soils represent the receptiveness of man's and woman’s heart to grow and to bring forth fruit. There is a process that culminates in bringing forth fruit. First, Listen with meekness. Second, accept by faith. Third, Obey: be ye doers of the word and not hearers only. Jesus taught in parables to paint a picture, an illustration of the depth of spiritual wisdom.

Mark 4:3-8 “A Sower went forth to sow. Some Seed fell upon the hard packed path and did not take root.  Some fell among rocky soil and when the sun came up, the shoots that  that sprung up withered and died since they had no depth of root.  Other seed fell among the weeds and the thorns and when it grew it was choked out.  Some fell among good ground and flourished and bore fruit some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred fold.”

The interpretation of parables can be perceived only from a spiritual, not an earthly perspective. Only those who have (spiritual) ears to hear will hear. That which is hidden in darkness (of earthly wisdom) is revealed only by the light of spiritual perception and awareness. To be spiritually aware requires being born of the spirit. Parables are to illustrate a spiritual truth. Truth can only be seen through spiritual eyes. For the natural man understandeth not the things of the spirit for they are spiritually discerned. Jesus came to open the eyes and ears of those born spiritually blind and deaf. God has offered us a gift:  the gift of salvation through The Lord Jesus Christ.  A man or woman is not saved by forsaking sin, but rather by accepting the Savior from sin.

I cannot perceive unless God gives me the gift of the Spirit. The gift of God's Spirit is both a receiver and a transmitter, (i.e. a spiritual transceiver). My natural mind only perceives on the wavelength that is perceived through my five senses. The Spirit is the sixth sense: tune my heart to sing thy praise ...  to perceive from the wavelength of spiritual truth. The Holy Spirit is also a transducer ... it changes one form of energy into another form of energy: the potential power of the Spirit (Greek word “Dynamis”) into kinetic energy (Greek word “energeo”) to perform God's work within you. For it is God which worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Salvation is available to all ... whosoever will may come. For God so loved the world that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. God's gift is offered through those who speak the truth in love. Go ye therefore and teach all nations. That which thou hast heard of me among many brethren, the same commit thou unto faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. Jesus said that they that come after me, the works that I do shall they do also, and greater works shall they do because I go unto my father. The greater works is our calling to be ambassadors for Christ to offer spiritual life through our savior Jesus Christ. God has committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation ...  we pray ye in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God.

Our job is to make the truth available so that God can open their spiritual eyes. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God ...  but how shall they hear unless it be preached?

Let’s continue Michael’s message on “What’s in Your Heart” on the next post.                 
In Christ, Brian

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