Matters of the HEART

The condition of your heart in these last days is what you should be most concerned with. We need to understand that the Bible uses the term "heart" as an one-word terminology for the entire person. 

In biology, you learned that every eukaryotic cell has an organelle that is essential to every cell functions, named the nucleus. Nucleus define as "a central or essential part around which other parts are gathered or grouped; a core" Similar to the word 'heart', the central, innermost, or vital part (Oxford Dictionary). Therefore we can say that the heart of every eukaryotes is the nucleus. But wait a minute, there is a 'nucleus' of the nucleus in the cell, a spherical body of the nuclues that contains the DNA templates, called the nucleolus. It contains genetic substances, the DNA, which stores all the genetic information about the cell and it determines everything of the cell being. In the human context, your attitude is the very core being of your heart, it is the ‘heart of your heart’, the DNA that determines everything about you!

We must also understand that Biblically, hearts includes the MIND, the EMOTIONS, the AFFECTIONS, and the WILL. To focus on the heart, then, means to focus on EVERY ASPECT of our being. 

In 2 Chron. 16:9, it says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him". And, in Prov. 4:23, it says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." This includes what we think about, care about, and what we choose to do and where we choose to go. The choices we make helps to determine the condition of our heart. 

Now, as we read these verses, we find the importance of the heart and our responsibility regarding it. 

First of all, the condition of our heart dictates the conduct and quality of our life. Our heart is our wellspring of life--our ability or capacity to live comes from within, NOT from our circumstances. 

In Matt. 12:33-35, Jesus likened our heart to a tree--saying a good tree puts forth good fruit, and a bad tree puts forth bad fruit. And, in Matt. 15:;18-19, He said . . . . "those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man" (Defile means to make filthy or corrupt). Refer over to Luke 6:45--where Luke says that "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks". 

One writer said that "the heart is the warehouse; the hand and the tongue are the shops."

What causes a Christian choose not to go to church? HIS HEART.
What causes him to nurse resentment toward another? HIS HEART. 
What causes him to have concern for the lost, or unsaved? HIS HEART. 
What makes him think of prayer time or reading the Bible is boring or the preaching monotonous? HIS HEART!

God is concerned with our hearts--He doesn't care about the size of our fellowship, or how well your Bible knowledge or how well you sing. It's the condition of our hearts He is concerned with. We get off focus as human beings and look at all these material things, that will not make one bit of difference as far as our spiritual well-being is concern.

God wants and needs hearts that are loyal to HIM. Hearts that live FOR Him, and are fully devoted and dedicated to Him and the things of His Kingdom. 
Also, and ESPECIALLY, in our repentance, the Lord wants us to be wholehearted. In Jer. 29:13, God said, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart". 

Further, it is our RESPONSIBILITY to KEEP our heart---we have to KEEP our physical well-being, our relationships, our finances, and reputations, but the greater of these "keepers" is the keeping of our heart. 
What does that mean? That means to keep false doctrine from entering and entrenching themselves in our minds to keep base or low desires from our emotions and evil choices from governing our wills. 

We should always keep helpful things close to our hearts. Keeping the Word of God fresh in us is especially important. 

God's eyes are constantly going to and fro and He watches and searches our hearts and minds. In Jer. 17:10, it reads: "I the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings". 

When I was preparing for the Saturday Morning Prayer last week, there are two things I have learned about the human heart:

David prayed in one of his Psalm says:
“Teach me your way, O LORD, 
  and I will walk in your truth; 
  give me an undivided heart, 
  that I may fear your name.” - Ps. 86:11

and in Hebrews 4:7 “Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

As you can see, there are two things that can happens to your heart – it can be divided. Secondly, it can be harden. 

When you walk in God’s truth, it requires you to believe and trust IN Him FULLY. Prov 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” Your heart can be divided when doubt arises, and you cannot lean on your own human logical sense to trust the Lord fully. It requires faith to strengthen your heart, but where faith comes from? "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ". Romans 10:17

Sometimes, or more often when God speaks, He whispers thing that we do not like to listen. Especially in the area of forgiveness, we choose not to forgive and nurse resentment toward others hence did not allow God to heal our wounded heart. If you harden your heart again and again and it will eventually become what the Bible says – a heart of stone. Thank God for His grace, there is always hope in Him as He promises:

Eze 11:19-21 ” I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."

The Word of God has the power to speak into human soul, distinguish the desires of our flesh and the desires of our heart; the things from the world and the things from above. Hebrews 4:12 says “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” 

Two weeks ago, we learned a key verse in our first Combined Fellowship, shared on John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

God wants us to learn, but He wants us to APPLY what we learn to our lives daily. He doesn't care how many Scriptures we can quote or how many books we read. The devil can quote the Scriptures. They know the Bible from front to back. God is concerned with what we DO with what we LEARN and how our lives line up WITH the Word. 

What is the different between a FOLLOWER and a DISCIPLE?
A FOLLOWER is one who follows a leader and just goes along.
A DISCIPLE teaches others what his/her leader has taught him/her. 

Jesus had both, and we too should have both. God is seeking for mature, devoted believers who not only know the Word, but a doer of the Word. 

Who do you want to be? It is not enough just to know the Truth, and to follow the Truth. To be a true disciple of Christ, it requires you to hold on to His Word, allowing Him to move freely in your heart, an undivided, heart of flesh. If you breakthrough that, I can assure that your life will never be the same. 

Don't go through life, grow through life. God can change a nobody to be somebody, when your heart is after Him. 

Eric Kim