Matthew 15:18-20 (ESV) But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
The actions, thoughts, and words from us are a reflection of what is truly in our heart. To say that God knows my heart is true. HE knows how wicked our hearts are. When and what we sin is what is being shown in our hearts. It is a manifestation into the physical realm.
Jeremiah 17:9 (EXB) “·More than anything else [Above all things], ·a person’s mind is evil [the heart is deceitful; the heart is devious/crooked]
and ·cannot be healed [ desperately wicked; it is perverse/sick].
Who can ·understand [know] it?
Proverbs 23:7 KJV For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
James 1:14-15 (CEB)Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. 15 Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death.
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. A good heart cannot commit evil and a bad heart cannot do anything good. To believe otherwise is but delusional. To be in such a delusional state would make one justify of their weaknesses and sin. God will not look at our heart to determine if we make it to heaven or not. He already knows our heart is above everything deceitful. We even will deceive ourselves. HE will give us the proper wages and the wages of sin is DEATH whether we are professing Christians or not. To fear God is to know our hearts are evil.
What must we do? All have fallen short of the glory of God. All have gone their own way like sheep gone astray.
Numbers 16:12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come before you! 13 Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects?
Rebellion was in Korah, Dathan, and Abiram's hearts. They refused a simple instruction. It was not even something hard. But if one cannot follow simple instructions, then how will they follow hard ones? Dathan and Abiram refused to go to Moses. They were refusing to obey. It is a simple matter of obedience. They did not respect Moses. They were jealous of Moses. They felt as though they were equal to Moses as they said, "you now treat us like your subjects?" Their hearts were blinded and such rebellion brough an horrible judgment.
We must not trust in our own hearts. We must seek to obey God not only directly but also indirectly through his servants and civil authorities as all authorities belong to HIM. We must ask for a new heart and spirit as we choose to obey. HE watches to see if we will obey. HE already knows what is in our hearts but HE watches our works! Our works and what we choose to practice will determine which path we walk on. Jesus said in the book of revelation to the seven churches, "I know your works!" The bible says to renew your mind. Renew your minds and hearts with the Word of God and HE will grant us a new heart and spirit. But to obey is to read and apply and put into practice.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.[b] 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
Pastor Steve
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