RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-06-29	Biblical View of The Heart
		In the Bible, the heart (kardia) is not the physical pump that keeps our body's alive. The word is used over 800 times. It is equivalent to the inner man (Ep.3:16-17). One important characteristic of the heart is that it is said to be hidden (Ro.2:28-29; 8:27; 1Co.4:5; 14:25). The Bible says what is in this hidden part of man will come out (Pr.23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”). Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. The heart primarily controls the INTELLECT, and secondarily the WILL and EMOTIONS as they are influenced by the intellect. If you are committed to something it will affect your will, which in turn will affect your emotions. The heart is supernatural and spiritual in nature. Though it is spiritual, it can be influenced from external stimuli, thus we are to ‘guard our heart with all diligence’ (Pr.4:23). Pro 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. The heart could be taught what the brain could never know. The same God who created physical light in the universe, creates supernatural light in our hearts (2Co.4:6; Ep.1:18). 2Co 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Concerning the unbeliever, the heart is considered the worst part of mankind (Je.17:9) Jer 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God. His great need is for the provision of a ‘new heart’ (Ro.2:29; Mt.15:18-19; Ps.10:3; Pr.20:9). Psa 10:3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD. Pro 20:9 Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"? Any attempt of obedience from an unconverted heart will produce, at best, self-interest, and can never please God. Concerning the believer, the heart is the seat of faith (Ro.10:9; Ep.5:19). Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. It is with our heart that we express our faith (Cl.3:16). Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. The heart is where the Holy Spirit resides (Ga.4:6; Ro.5:5; 2Co.1:22). Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" The great need of the believer is to guard our hearts from either selfish thoughts or external influence from the world. Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. Sin is connected to the heart. And it is the heart that God looks at. Sin breaks fellowship with God. So we may pray to God, but if sin is present, do not expect Him to even hear your prayer. Mat 9:4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? Because sin begins in the heart, we must constantly guard what goes into our hearts Before we pray we may do what David did before he prayed. Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; Psa 139:24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. We often need to take a spiritual bath and confess our sins (1Jn.1:9). This will restore our fellowship and open the way for God to hear our prayer. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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