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A Study of the Heart -
06-10-08, 11:01 AM
Study of the Heart
..> In today's secular society, we often hear the instruction on how to make life decisions with a common piece of advice; "Follow your heart." Is this truly sound instruction that those still living in the flesh should take heed to and listen. Is it possible that the heart living after the flesh is NOT something that should be considered? A simple examination of scripture gives a clear indication of the state of man's heart when it is not right with the Lord.
Quote:
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Pro 4:23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.
Pro 4:24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
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Are any born with a right heart? In the second scripture posted, we see that the heart has evil present from a very young age. Let us examine scripture from that point of view.
Quote:
Pro 22:15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Psa 14:1 [[To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.
Pro 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
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What exactly is the heart capable of? Jesus Himself explains it very clearly in the following.
Quote:
Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Mat 15:18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
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We as Children of God, thankfully,are given a chance to cleanse this filthy heart with a heart only the Lord Jesus can provide. By being born again, we are given a new, pure, and upright heart. This is only given as we TRULY seek after Him. Only then are we broken from the curse of what iniquity a heart of flesh leads to. We, as David did, must seek out the heart of God, that it may become ours. Remember, God looks onto our heart to discover whether we seek after Him.
Quote:
1Sa 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee.
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Act 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will
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The Lord knows all the imaginations of the heart, and there is no hiding it from Him. He can see whether it is pure or impure. A careful study of David's son Solomon warns us to remain pure and perfect in heart, so as not to be turned from the Lord.
Quote:
1Ch 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
1Ch 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all [these things], and to build the palace, [for] the which I have made provision.
2Ch 1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
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What was the heritage of Solomon, after his heart turned against God?
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1Ki 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.
1Ki 11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice
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It is quite apparent through the study of scripture that only perfect heart, prepared to seek after the Lord, can bring the blessings the Lord has to offer.
Quote:
1Ki 2:3And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
1Ki 2:4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
1Ch 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
1Ch 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
1Ch 29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Psa 24:3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
Psa 24:4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Psa 24:5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Psa 119:2 Blessed [are] they that keep his testimonies, [and that] seek him with the whole heart.
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The ladder only offers a heritage of defeat. We see from the following that the Isrealites were given over to the enemy when their HEARTS were not right before the Lord.
Quote:
Psa 78:8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation [that] set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Psa 78:37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
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A full reading of Psalm 78 will make this more clear.
As stated before and so is evidenced in some of the previous Scriptures, only the Lord and a fervent seeking after His will can create in all of us a clean, pure, and perfect heart.
Quote:
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
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Once the Lord has purged our hearts of all filthiness of the flesh can this next scripture truly be manifest unto us.
Quote:
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Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
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He must give us a"change of heart" so to say, and only then will our will and desires match what his will and desires are for us.
I apologize that this has gone on so long, but this study has taught me alot concerning the heart of man. I a world that lives so much in the flesh, i find it very dangerous and destructive to follow after the heart which has not been prepared to seek after the Lord. I will conclude with few other scriptures to ponder.
Quote:
Psa 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:
Rom 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
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Having come into salvation and righteousness in Christ Jesus, walk after the Holy Spirit inside which has given you a clean, pure, and perfect heart. Only then are you free to "follow your heart."
Grace and peace
Hisalone
Jesus Christ IS come in the flesh, I confess.
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