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Nugget 7 Life or Death in the Heart April 1982 Some weeks ago, the Lord spoke to my heart, that there is life or death in the heart - spintual or physical life, as well as spiritual or physical death. It was made very clear that spiritual health produces physical health. This is the reason the Lord calls us to overcoming, from victory to victory, until that last enemy (death) be also put under foot. THE HEART: The natural heart is the center or seat of the physical being. Even so, the spiritual heart is the center of the spiritual being. The heart performs a very important function in the human system, involving the blood, which is the life of the flesh. One can easily use the "heart" in reference to the entire mental and moral activity, involving intellect and emotion. Figuratively, it can be considered as a well-spring of life. The heart, therefore, can be either depraved by sin, which defiles the man, thus causing corrupt actions (Matthew 15:19), or can be the sphere of Divine influence (Romans 2:15 and Acts 15:9). "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts , murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Matthew 15:19. "Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." Romans 2:15. "And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." Acts 15:9. The heart contains the real man - his true character - expressed or unexpressed. It is really the expression of the soul. A hard or stony heart does not submit to the will of God. The heart must be guarded. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23. The pure in heart shall see God. Yes, there is a difference between the clean heart and the pure heart. The clean heart is one that has repented and is forgiven. A pure heart is one that has been purified by the indwelling and operation of Christ, through faith, which enables one to comprehend the love of God. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love..." Ephesians 3:17. The Word of God, when hidden in the center of the heart, will be life, healing and health. "Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." Proverbs 4: 21-22. The characteristics of the impure heart are:
The characteristics of the PURE HEART are found in Galatians 5:22-23.
"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things." Matthew 12:35a. The secrets of every heart are known to God. He perceives every thought, He knows the intent of the heart, and this knowledge is reserved unto God alone. The devil does not have this power and authority. A tree is identified by its fruit. No good, healthy tree bears decayed, worthless, stale fruit, nor can a decayed, worthless tree produce good fruit. In the same manner the upright and honorable person, out of the storehouse of his heart produces upright and honorable deeds. In Genesis 6:5, we see God looking down into the hearts of that generation. He beheld the magnitude of wickedness in the earth, "that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." God saw hearts full of depravity, desecration, lust for power, degenerate, base, violently vicious, and corrupt humanity departed and departing from God's established principles of life. Men preferred evil to good, and had set their hearts to do evil. The implication here is that they were creating a society, where good would be exterminated; one in which the greatest sin against society would be to be good. The redeeming factor is that Noah's heart was right before the Lord (verse 8), thus God saved him and his family. The principle is that "righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34. INTEGRITY OF THE HEART: God places a certain integrity in man's heart, which he can cultivate or destroy - he has the choice. This is the reason parents are encouraged to help their children develop a good character, or integrity, by resisting the evil or wrong suggestions that visit their young hearts (possibly from familiar weaknesses - familiar spirits). The sin of the father shall visit the third and fourth generation of them that hate (disobey) God. See Exodus 20:5. Those of us who are delivered from disobedience, through the blood of Jesus Christ and the grace of God, are able to break the power of sin and bondage, not only for themselves, but for their household. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31. We have the responsibility to teach the children the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, at an early age. They should realize that there is a punishment for evil (disobedience, etc). This helps to give the incentive to resist the evil and do the good. In order to partake of the tree of life, we must resist the devil, refuse evil and choose good. Lack of integrity of heart puts a very low premium on the most valuable things in life. Example: Esau sold his birthright for food (that which satisfied the flesh); Judas, for thirty pieces of silver, his bishoprick was taken away; we could go on and on with examples. Who knows how many from day to day are making the same choice and selling out for NOTHING, or on the other hand selling out for the THE PEARL OF GREATEST PRICE. "FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2. Let us lay hold of this Law of Life, and let us plant it in the center of our hearts, that we may be established in Him.
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