For the last several weeks, the Holy Spirit has been prompting me with scriptures in my sleep and when I awake. When I read them, I start to see a theme, something He brings to my attention. Most of the time it turns into a message. Lately, He has been directing me to instill the understanding of Jesus Christ being the Word of God made manifest on the earth. It is one thing to know with our intellect that Jesus is the Word, but it is entirely different when we believe it in our hearts.
12 For the Word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things [are] naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we [must give] account. - Heb 4:12-13 NKJV
When we believe that Jesus is the Word of God and was with God before He came to earth, it does something supernatural in our hearts. Supernaturally, the Word of God is full of energy, and when it is released, it will do something to the receiver. It will penetrate the very core of who we are, but only if we allow open our hearts. Nobody can hide from the Word of God because Jesus is the Word who became flesh. He exposed every dark work when it got in His way. The Word of God does that to us when we read and apply it. Jesus did not go looking for the darkness, but rather He walked as the Light of the world and darkness was exposed!
Jesus said, the things that come out of our mouths come from our hearts, and they defile us. 21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 "All these evil things come from within and defile a man." - Mar 7:21-23
Jesus spoke to the Pharisees as He addressed their religious spirit, which is an evil spirit that causes people to do evil things. The word evil that Jesus used is defined as a bad nature, wicked, which brings hardships, toils, and perils to the hearer. The religious spirit the Pharisees operated out of put undue burdens on the people while Jesus was trying to set them free from the curse the law brought. Evil is also used to describe the work of Satan and his demons.
Everything Jesus addressed the Pharisees with is things that break the commandments of God and causes destruction. Jesus ramped up the commandments of God by bringing the heart into it – a heart of love does not sin.
The Ten Commandments start with "you shall have no other god." Yet these men put their traditions before God making their religion god and causing the Word of God to be of no effect. The Commandments continue stating we are not to use God's name in vain because it is blasphemy. We are not to murder, commit adultery, steal, speak falsely (lie), or covet that which belongs to another. Jesus called these men hypocrites because their very accusations went against the character of God, who sent His only Son to save them. Their foolish and prideful hearts would eventually lead to their destruction and fall.
We need to understand that there is a difference between hating a person and hating the things a person does. You can hate sin and be angry about it, but not allow it to cause you to sin. However, most of the time, our mouths speak out of the abundance of our hearts. Hate speaks curses, and love speaks blessing. Even hating a person's deeds can lead us to curse them instead of praying for God's mercy in their lives that they would change.
The word hate is used by God to denote His intense and passionate dislike of sin. Some sins are specifically detestable to God. The difference between God's hate and human hate is how the emotion is handled. People who hate and develop hostility toward a person may act out of emotion and sin. God is not man and does not respond the way we do.
I strongly dislike the beliefs of some organizations and religions, and if I am not careful, the hate of their works can manifest as curses towards them as people. There is a fine line between our heart and God's, and His Word divides the two, helping us choose wisely.
A Heart Exposed Is A Heart Healed
When things of the dark are exposed, they become defenseless. For this reason, many people are freed from guilt, shame, and condemnation when they share something deep within their souls. The demonic powers that once held them captive are now forbidden access because the Light of Jesus has now entered the room.
King David understood the importance of seeking a holy God for his heart condition. David said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts;" - Psa 139:23 KJV David is asking God to examine his heart – the Word try means to examine. He understood that God's Spirit goes deep into the heart of a matter which causes a mind to understand.
Our hearts are the center of all that we do; out of it can flow blessings or cursing. A heart condition in the natural is not easily determined, which is why so many die unexpectantly from heart attacks. Even those who go to a heart specialist for an examination do not always leave well informed about their heart.
It is the same for us in our emotional hearts. We must be like David and ask God to search us, create in us a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit with us (Ps 51:10). God desires truth in our inward parts, which are our hearts and they are hidden from the rest of the world (Ps 51:6).
Jesus knew the heart of every person; He was always perceiving or knowing what was in them. He called it out on several occasions. Jesus said, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. - Luk 16:15
God approves of pure and undefiled religion, one that includes visiting orphans and widows in their trouble. He commands us to keep ourselves undefiled from the world (Jas 1:27). This is the opposite of the heart that the religious leaders were coming from.
A person's heart releases what is in them, fear or courage. When we apply the Word to our minds, we can become aware of what is in our hearts; if not, we can remain unaware of our true heart condition.
The Word of God is the discerner of the heart's intention. Jesus was the Word and knew every evil thought of man when He walked the earth. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. - Mat 12:25
When we are not aware of the condition our heart is in, we may act contrary to God's Word and His will, making excuses for our behavior. When Christians act this way, they behave like hypocrites because they confess with their mouths to be followers of Jesus while living like followers of the world. The Word of God will disciple us, or the world will.
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, [you] hypocrites? - Mat 22:18
A hypocrite is a liar, a person who pretends to be someone or something they are not, but God desires truth and commands His people not to lie. We lie when we say all is good with our soul when the truth is, our hurts, wounds, and sins are hidden deep in the secret crevices of our heart. God knows, and He can reveal these things to people, His prophets you, if you will search the matter out. Because, It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. - Pro 25:2 ESV
Let's pray,
Heavenly thank You for being longsuffering and merciful with me as I grow and mature in Your Word. I confess that some of my deeds have not been motivated by love but have come from a defiled place within my heart. I thank You that Your word has helped me to discern my true heart condition. I wish to please You and serve You in all that I do but I desire to do the pure and undefiled things of Your kingdom. Help me see the way You see. In Jesus' name, Amen.