Part 6

The Anatomy and Workings of "the Heart"

Definition: "Kardia: 'the heart' (English, 'cardiac,' etc.), the chief organ of physical life ('for the life of the flesh is in the blood,' Lev. 17:11), occupies the most important place in the human system.

By an easy transition the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements. In other words, the heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal life.

The Bible describes human depravity as in the 'heart', because "sin" is a principle which has its seat in the center of man's inward life, and then 'defiles' the whole circuit of his action.

Ephesians 4:17-18 where God exhorts His people not to live like the Gentiles, in the vanity [shallowness] of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart."

1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Matt 15:19-20 out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

"On the other hand, Scripture regards the heart as the sphere of Divine influence. It represents the true character but conceals it" (J. Laidlaw, in Hastings ' Bible Dict.)." (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.)

Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their (Gentiles) hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another...

Acts 15:8-9 God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost (spirit), even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith (in Christ).

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

No Man of Himself Knows His Own Heart

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful (fraudulent to man himself) above all things, and desperately wicked: who (among men) can know it?...

So, who knows man's heart? Here Jeremiah agrees with Rom 2:15 above, saying it's The Lord who knows and reveals Man's Heart to Man via man's Conscience, exposing the heart's motive.

Jeremiah 17:10 ... I The Lord Search The Heart, I Try (penetrate) The Reins (Heb. kilyah, the mind's interior motive), even to give (reveal to) Every Man (saved and unsaved) according to his ways (what he does), and according to the fruit of his doings (the consequence of his doings).

Today, Under Grace, we have His innermost speaking...dividing our soul and spirit, revealing our heart

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Man is cautioned by God to... 4Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Prov 4:23

·         The Heart is the Gateway to our being just as a door to a building.

·         The heart can be open or closed to men and/or to God.

Romans 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.

·         Whatever touches man's inward being, enters in accord with his heart's free will.

There are (4) Four Parts of the Heart of Man.

First, The Heart of man consists of… ALL 3 Soul parts (mind Emotion and will) … Plus the Conscience function of the human spirit. Below are proof text for each part, linked to the heart of man

1) Here we see the Soul's "thoughts" and the "intents" of the will are in the heart

Heb 4:12 …the word (Christ's inward speaking) of God is quick (living)...and is a discerner of the thoughts (mind) and intents (will) of the heart.

Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Mark 2:8 ... Jesus..., Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Luke 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Genesis 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.

2) The Soul's "will" is in the heart.

Acts 11:23…them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Heb 4:12 …the word (Christ's inward speaking) of God is quick (living)...and is a discerner of the thoughts (mind) and intents (of the will) of the heart.

3) The Soul's "emotion" is in the heart

John 16:22 ... your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

John 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

4) THE SPIRIT'S "CONSCIENCE" IS GOD'S LIGHT UNTO THE HEART

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil (troubled) conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart …

All Our Relationships are Maintained According to Our Heart. The Lord Surveys, weighs or measures the Hearts of Men. 1 Samuel 16:7… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

The Lord Speaks from Outside/Into the unsaved… into their hearts via their Conscience.

Romans 2:14-15 ...when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law (the knowledge of good and evil) written in their hearts, their Conscience also Bearing Witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

1.      The Spirit of God speaks … via a mans spirit as the antenna or receiver in man's heart.

2.      God's gateway to the heart of man is man's "conscience."

3.      The Conscience of man confirms "the natural law" that man gained when Adam ate of "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil."

4.      Thus God convicts man's heart of his sin and hopelessness and need for a Savior.

5.      God's Convicts, but then speaks words of love, forgiveness, cleansing & acceptance... In Christ

The Lord knows and exposes our heart...to us.

Jeremiah 17:10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins (the motive), even to give every man (consequences) according to his ways (doings), and according to the fruit of his doings.

The Sovereign Lord permits circumstances & situations of life to challenge us in order to Reveal or Expose man's heart…to the Man. The fruit of  a man's doings are the Consequences of his doings. This is used to teach us our need of the only Righteous One - Christ the Savior..

Do you hear the Lord?

Many Christians say, "I just don't hear God" or "He never reveals things to me." But if your saved you do hear Him.

John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Perhaps you don't recognizing His inner speaking.

·         "Christ in you" speaks, but you may not be attuned to hearing Him.

·         Or sometimes its because we are not "pure," having a mixed motive!

A KEY >> "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

"Pure" is defined as Unmixed (NOT just outwardly "Clean")

·         Pure means: elementally pure, through & through

·         Being without mixture. A mixture means it contains "two or more" elements.

·         Mixed motive: Many seek God BUT they also have other ambitions for themselves.

·         All of us start out as a "self-for self." We proceed in that way until God deals with our heart.

·         A Mixture of motive is like two eyes looking in two directions …making our vision blurred.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)

·         Christians often start with … more than one aim or goal in their heart?

1. Aiming to walk by Christ…

2. … But also to be somebody in their, job, career, ministry, reputation, to be in control.

Mixture could be to seek to have "Christ" plus "OUR OWN" agenda.

BUT, Christ must be our ALL!

God's Work & Your Self-works may LOOK the same, but the MOTIVE of HEART is the issue.

Col. 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness (pure, without mixture) of heart, fearing God:

 

So, The Lord's Must Change (Renew) Our Heart.

13 For it is God Which Worketh In You Both To Will And To Do Of His Good Pleasure. Philip. 2:13

When our heart turned from the Law to Christ alone within us, we see and enjoy the life and Liberty of His "Spirit of Life" and are changed inwardly... in our heart.

15But even unto this day, When Moses (The Law) Is Read, the Vail Is Upon Their Heart. 16Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all (in our soul self), with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are CHANGED (Gk. metamorphoo, transformed inwardly as a caterpillar is into a butterfly) into the Same Image (of Christ) from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2Cor. 3:15-18)

1. He turns us to Him by the circumstance and situations of life in this fallen world. The Law offers no help its dead, being written on stone. Then, recognizing no way out, we are reduced to turning to Him.

2. In Turning, we find His presence in us… and He demonstrates His Unconditional Love.

3. His love … opens our heart and …Touches our Conscience...

… He Exposes "OUR Self-for Self doing" self-reliance Vs. HIS self-less love and His life

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, Purge (Purify) Your Conscience From Dead Works to serve the living God (rather than the law)?

4. He purifies our  conscience as "He shines into our heart … changing us into His Image"

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, Hath Shined In Our Hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Now His love now can flow Out of Our Pure Heart & Conscience.

5Now the end of the commandment is charity (love) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned (without pretending): 1 Tim. 1:5

Paul's "always" dealt with his own conscience.
"herein do I exercise myself, to have always a Conscience Void of Offence toward God, and toward men." Acts 24:16

With our Conscience Cleansed, we have Fellowship … Restored!

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:3-4

We Walk in the Light, keeping our conscience clear and to Maintain Fellowship with Him.

5... God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have (or are in) fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1John 1:5

The Conflict Within Every Believer - Who will reign? If I live independent of Him, then I SIN.

A) The "Christ Me" –  God's Righteous Seed In Ss CANNOT SIN!

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed (sperma) remaineth (stays) in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:9

B) But the "Independent Me" (my independent unrenewed soul/heart) Does Sin When I break that

Union with Him In My Spirit.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8

 

With Fellowship Established … we have … our Intuition and conscience enlivened by the indwelling Christ - we hear Him.

His Spirit "Abideth in You (us)" but we need to "Abide in (union with) Him."

25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even (His) eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth (dwells) IN YOU, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2:25-29

 

We as Believers Already Have the Inner Knowledge (in spirit) called Intuitive Mind of Christ.

It's a sixth sense, that inner sense of "the spirit."

20 But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One (Christ), and ye know all things. (John 2:20 )
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (
1 John 2:27)

This intuitive sense is true, not a lie, but needs a pure heart by which it may flow into our consciousness.

The Inner Sense Knowledge (Gk., "eido") is innate knowledge by the spirit precedes the understanding Then we come to know (ginosko "in mind") by the revelatory experience of the Lord.

·         Spirit Revelation in mind, flowing through our conscience, is needed to truly understand.

·         This begins when He uses whatever is needed to turn our heart to Him.

It's The Lord's Work to Convict us in Heart, usually by enduring situations that Turn us to Him.

·         His light exposes our neediness, then we see our impure heart.

·         Touches our heart with His love, by revealing His Son in us

·         His light Purifies our heart of our other misguided ambitions,

·         The radium of His light purifies our conscience, so Fellowship of Life may be established.

We can live by the Intuitive, Spontaneous Leading of His Spirit in our heart; being empowered and joyful in every situation of life.