We are continuing our study of who we are. We know we are a 3 part being. “I am a spirit, I live in a body, and I have a soul, which is my mind, will and emotions.” We know the heart is not a separate entity, but a combination of soul and spirit. Today, we will begin by looking closely at the function of the heart. The heart is the most important part of our being because it is our conscience; therefore, it guides our mind, it guides our will, it guides our emotions. Our heart forms the motives and intentions we live by. Our heart must be pure and clean.
1 Corinthians 3:16: Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? NAS
1 Thessalonians 5:23: May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV
John 3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the (Holy) Spirit is (the human) spirit. KJ emphasis added
John 3:6: Flesh is born of flesh, but (the human) spirit is born of the (Holy) Spirit. Berean emphasis added
FUNCTION OF THE HEART
1 John 4:16: And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Berean
The function of the heart is to love and lead. It directs our conscience to be loving, and tender toward God and mankind. The heart must work to stay in a state of love in order to effectively be led by God. Three steps to a pure heart:
Step 1) Turn your heart to the Lord daily – rid it of darkness.
2 Corinthians 3:15-18: 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. NAS
1 Samuel 7:3: And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods… ESV
Joshua 24: 23a: “Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD,” CSB
1 John 1: 5-9: 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ESV
1 John 2: 9-11: 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. ESV
Mark 11: 24, 25: 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” ESV
Step 2) Exercise faith by believing the Word
Romans 10: 9,10: 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. NAS
Romans 4: 3b: Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. KJ
Hebrews 10: 38: but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” ESV
Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please him (God), for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ESV
Step 3) Beware of a mixed heart. A mixed heart is one that has other loves -> goals, dreams, projects, activities, people, idols, money et al. that come before God. It is a heart that serves Jesus + something else. Our heart should always be Jesus + nothing else. A heart that loves Jesus + other things is a mixed heart.
2 Timothy 1:3: I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day KJ
Revelation 2: 4, 5: 4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. NAS
1 Timothy 1: 3-11: 3 As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines 4 or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.
5 The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. Berean
1 Peter 3: 21: and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, NIV
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Thanks for your comments! If you would take the Bible and go to those Scriptures, it does help!
If you have recognized the need for a Savior, which we all need, then if I may take privilege and
say to you. Jesus died for you, and He wants to be part of your life, if you will ask Him to come
into your heart and be the Lord of your life. He opens our spiritual eyes of understanding at that
point. If you have already accepted the Lord, great! Search the Scriptures, which come with every
message and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth. Sometimes the truth comes over time, as we
grow in our faith. Sometimes we have to set aside things we don’t fully understand, and say, “Lord,
your Word is true, give me wisdom and understanding.” Thanks for your comments! God bless!
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