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The heart, biblically, is just completely interwoven in all that cellular memory; it is in the depths of the mind. It is in the heart muscle itself. It is in the enteric nervous system. When your is submitted to the will of God, which flows from your new heart, then this heart can begin to rule and dominate your flesh as well as influence it’s surroundings. It is not immediately accessible to the mind. In Christianity today, we have taken many through a process of renewing their minds but not transforming their hearts. “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV). The Church has labored over the years to bring sound teaching that can empower Christians to experience freedom from the works of the fleshly mind. We must appropriate ourselves of this by first allowing His presence to transform our heart that our minds can be set in life and peace. In this class you will be empowered to truly see a renewing of your mind as you allow God to transform your heart. “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” Matthew 15:18–19 (NKJV).
Yet, we as the Church, especially in the western world have failed to bring Christians to an experiential encounter that transforms the heart so the mind can be set in the spirit. God has not only made a promise for our minds to be renewed but also for our heart to be transformed. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” 1 Peter 1:13 –16 (NKJV). Our heart is more important and vital than we give it credit. Physically it pumps life into every organ and tissue in our body. Spiritually it does the same to every area of our life. The most vital and central part to the success of every person is found in the heart. Jesus stated that the fruit of life comes from your heart. As we examine our heart, we must realize that in His presence we can truly experience freedom from the matters of the heart we have carried for many years. You can experience the transforming power of God in a supernatural way in your heart tonight, but you must first identify your condition, realizing you need a heart transformation. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit” Psalm 51:10 –12 (NKJV). Jesus here exposes two different conditions of the heart. One heart has “good treasure” while the other heart has “evil treasure”.
The heart with good treasure is a heart that has been transformed, redeemed, turned from stone to flesh. But the heart that has evil treasure is a heart that has become hard, filled with things of the world and sin. If Jesus were to evaluate your heart today, what condition would he find it in?
Good Treasure:
The heart with a good treasure produces the fruit of the Spirit. It also produces faith that gives you the confidence and reassurance to walk out your divine calling. It produces forgiveness and understanding so that it can cultivate genuine concern for others. It produces a righteous character and nature. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” Matthew 12:35 (NKJV).
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4 (NKJV). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV). “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 2:2–3 (NKJV).
Evil Treasure:
The heart with an evil treasure produces unbelief, easily wounded, becomes offended, unable to forgive, selfish, pride, ambition, competition. It is a heart that is unable to surrender and submit to God’s Will and Purpose. It produces evil thoughts and harbor contention and resentment toward it’s enemy. It produces immoral behavior, sinful habits and ungodly intentions. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” Luke 6:45 (NKJV). “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good” Psalm 14:1 (NKJV). “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 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” Jeremiah 17:9–10 (NKJV). “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” Matthew 12:34–35 (NKJV).
Our heart reveals our true condition. We really live, reflect and manifest the true condition of our heart above anything else. So often we may live building walls of preservation around us towards others, only revealing that our heart is wounded and hurt. When we lash out in anger, it shows we have deep hurts that need healing. When we refuse to follow directions or instructions from leaders and ministers it reveals that we have a heart that is rebellious and maybe even rejected causing us to protect ourselves from further rejection. If we are proud and arrogant, our heart has been filled with pride and arrogance. “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” Luke 6:43–45 (NKJV).
Our heart reveals and reflects our true identity, do we have Christ's identity, which is humble, kind, compassionate, hating evil and the works of the enemy. A heart that is easily hurt, wounded and offended is a heart that has not experienced the transforming power of Christ. Scripture says, “Guard your heart.” Yes, it is not easy, but as I said, “The heart is constantly changing.” “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV). We cannot rely on our own strength for this transformation, we can only rely on Him and by His grace receive in His presence His great love. The life that flows out of you naturally as the events of life unfold, such as you getting up in the morning and realizing that your alarm clock did not go off, or if you get a phone call as your toast pops up, and you have to have cold toast that day, or as you are driving to work, and there is a big traffic jam, these will all reveal what is in your heart. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts” Proverbs 21:1–2 (NKJV). The heart is the well spring of your life, whether you are feeling wonderful about life and able to handle it or whether you are just feeling beaten down, defeated, and angry all day long, it will come right out of the heart. “If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” Proverbs 24:12 (NKJV). “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” Colossians 3:2 (NKJV).