Lesson 17 The Condition of the Heart

     1KIngs 3:9 (Amplified) says, "So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart."
     We've been studying the conditions of the heart or the spirit of a man.  This is a condition that's determined by each man on an individual basis.  Every man has a will of his own that God will not violate.  When God created man, He didn't make a pulpit.  He made someone just like Himself.  Don't be put off by thinking I'm saying that you are God.  You are not.  But, you are in charge of your own will and choices in your life.  God has a plan for every man's life, but it's up to the individual to receive or reject His plan.
     God would that "All men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the Lord," according to 1Timothy 2:3-4 (Amplified), "For such (praying) is good and right, and (it is) pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior."  Verse 4 goes on, "Who wishes all men to be saved and (increasingly) to perceive and discern and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the (divine) truth."
     If God wishes that all men should be saved and know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then why will some men perish?  Because each man has a part to play in his own salvation.  Every person has a will to either yield to God's will for their lives or to reject it.  The hearing heart Solomon speaks about in 1Kings 3:9 is determined by your mindset.  He prayed, or asked for, an understanding mind.  Your mind will determine whether or not you yield to the Spirit of God.  Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), (fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs) be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude) so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
     God has a will for your life that is good and acceptable  and perfect for you.  Having a mind that's not renewed by God's Word is what keeps you from having a hearing heart.  The soul of a man, his mind, his will and his emotions, stands between your heart (your spirit) and the flesh.  Your flesh will respond only to what your mind tells it to do.  The flesh (your natural body) has no mind of its own and only does what your soulish (unrenewed) mind instructs it to do.   Your body cannot get up and go wherever it wishes to go.  It can only go where your mind (the control center) allows it to go.
      This has been a struggle in the lives of Christians for 2,000 years.  When we become born again, our spirit is changed by the power of God, but our minds still think the same way it always did.  Until our mind is renewed by the Word of God, it will continue to dictating the same lusts and the same way of doing things it always did.  This is all it knows.  We spent a lifetime walking in this , and we taught our mind what was right and wrong according to the world.  We totally depended on what we knew from the world to get us through.
     Now that our spirit is born again, it's supposed to lead us by the Word and the voice of the Lord.  Now, when we incur a trial that we've never encountered before, our spirit (by the Holy Spirit) will tell us one thing and our unrenewed mind will tell us something else.  This is the same situation that causes Christians to walk under such guilt and condemnation.  In his heart, the Christian wants to do God's will, but his mind (or soulish realm) is being directed in another way.  He calls upon God for direction in his life, but he's still caught up in his mind as to what or how to do what God says to do.
     James 1:5-8 (Amplified) says that, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and it will be given him."
     This verse tells us that if we ask Him for wisdom, then God will give it.  So, it's not a matter of God giving the wisdom, but of our receiving it.  Verse 6 says, "Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting) for the one who waivers (hesitates, or doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind."
     So, when we asked for wisdom, God gave it.  But, when wisdom came, we began wondering whether it was from God or not and whether it was really the Holy Spirit or not.  Now, we have put ourselves into a place of doubt.  Verse 8 says, "(For being as he is ) a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute) (he is) unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides)."
     When God deals with us in our hearts, we know we need guidance.  Then, we ask God for wisdom to deliver us from whatever we've gotten into.  God is so faithful and gives the wisdom needed to deliver us from the place we are in.  When we don't have a renewed mind, we try reasoning things out in our own way and miss the wisdom God gave us.  And, we continue on in your own way which leads to sin and even death.  1James 14 (Amplified) says, "But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire, lust, and passions."
     These are the dictates of a mind that thinks like it did before we were saved.  This is a deadly trap set for the believer by the enemy.  Your body will only go where you instruct it or allow it to.  It can't commit adultery unless you allow it to.  It has no mind of its own, but we give it a carnal, unrenewed mind of the world or one that's renewed by the Word and the Holy Spirit.  When we ask God for wisdom, but don't know the Word (which is God's will), we make the same mistakes we made before.  This in turn, brings condemnation to your heart (you new spirit) and brings you to the place John speaks about in 1John 3:20 (Amplified) saying, "Whenever our hearts in (tormenting) self-accusations make us feel guilty and condemn us (for we are in God's hands) For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts) and He (perceives and understands) everything (nothing is hidden from Him)."
     Renewing the Christian's mind isn't simply something we should do, bu it's something we must do if we are to ever walk in peace and liberty.  Your mind (your soulish man) stands between your new, born again spirit and the old, carnal man that you were.  God's work in your spirit was perfect and complete but your old, unrenewed man still only knows one way to walk without the Word.  Now, as Christian,  we've come to a place where we are doubled minded and unstable.
     We have the mind of Christ.  Romans 8:5-6 (Amplified) says, "For those who are according to the flesh, and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the things of the flesh (carnal man) . But those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the (Holy) Spirit."  Verse 6 says, "Now the mind of the flesh (which is sens and reason without the Holy Spirit) is death (death that comprises all the miseries that arise from sin, both here and hereafter. But the mind of the (Holy) Spirit is life and (soul) peace (both now and forever)."
     Did you notice how Verse 6 the "Holy Spirit, the mind of Christ, brings (soul) peace?"  This soul peace will quiet the heart from guilt and condemnation and allow peace to enter in (even to your flesh or soul).  1John 3:21 (Amplified) says, "And beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us (if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us) we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God."
     A hearing heart is one that has allowed the mind to be renewed by the Word of God (by the Holy Spirit) making is able to make decisions by the Word and not just emotions.  Emotions are great as long as you control them and don't let them control you.  A carnal (unrenewed mind) will ruled over your heart and lead you into a place of condemnation.  A renewed mind (by the Word) will lead you into a place of peace, healing and the perfect will of God.

Lesson 16 The Condition of the Heart

     1Kings 3:9 (Amplified) says, "So give your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people"
     A hearing heart is essential to every believer.  Without a hearing heart, one that has been purposed to hear, we are without guidance.  The Holy Spirit speaks into your heart or spirit.  You are a spirit and God is a Spirit.  Jesus said that, The words I speak to you are Spirit and they are life, and the Holy Spirit speaks into your spirit."
     Romans 8:16 (Amplified) says that, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit, (assuring us) that we are children of God."
     John 15:26 (Amplified) says, "But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand by) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father. He (Himself) will testify regarding Me."
     The only way to have the revelation of Jesus is by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal Him to our spirit.  The Word is Spirit and is revealed by the Spirit to our spirit.  This spirit is fed and built up through spiritual food, which is the Word of God.  Our spirit must be nourished by the Word of God in order to become strong.  We struggle and strive to walk upright before God and that is commendable.  Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:3 (Amplified) that, "You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you)."
     We have unknowingly dismissed the Holy Spirit to teach God's people.  We've depended on men and doctrines to purify our walk.  A great deal of what we learned came from man's idea of what he thought the Word said.  Once we've received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit becomes our teacher.  We've had the burden of guilt and condemnation heaped upon us because of our not having hearing hearts.  When the Word (truth) is preached and we hear God's Word through the Holy Spirit, it will make us free and not bind us.
     We've allowed ourselves to be in the position of bondage by trying to walk in the Spirit by continually disciplining our flesh.  Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders of His time in Matthew 23:26-27 (Amplified) saying, "You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean."  In Verse 27 He goes on, "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)!  For you are like tombs that have been white washed, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men's bones and everything impure."
     These are the same people Jesus talked to in Matthew 23:13 (Amplified) saying, "But woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites) For you shut the Kingdom of heaven in men's faces; For you neither enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are about to go in to do so."
     These men were trying to walk in the Spirit by containing the flesh.  They were binding and restricting the flesh with rules and regulations without giving the Spirit life in the Word.  Today, we still try doing the same in the Church.  We have rules dictating the way we dress, worship, what we believe or don't believe.  If we were taught that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost was passed , then we bind others with the same thing.  Hence, we haven't entered in and we won't allow them to enter in either.
     The men of the pulpit need to, above all people, to have a hearing heart.  We must allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us from the inside out.  We must learn to truth the Holy Spirit and the Word to cleanse the people and not rely on doctrines thinking they will.  Ephesians 5:25-26 (Amplified) says, "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her."  Verse 26 says, "So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."
     In order to be clean from the inside out, we must clean the inside of the cup and then the outside will be clean.  Matthew 23:26 (Amplified) says that we've been trying to make our flesh do right through laws and customs.  If we will have a hearing heart and allow the Word to deal with our spirit, then the flesh will fall in line with the Word.  We can impose certain things on ourselves by willpower and laws, but we're still not free.  The heart is still unchanged.  You could sit on my chest and hold me down and make me say, "Uncle," but you can't make me mean it.  The same is true with the flesh.  You might hold it down with rules and laws, but you haven't tamed the flesh.  Galatians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "But I say, walk and live (habitually) in the (Holy) Spirit (responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit) then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of the human nature without God)."
     As we set our hearts to hear the Word by the Holy Spirit, then the things of the flesh will lose their power over us and the Holy Spirit will minister the strength of life that's in the Word into our hearts.  We've tried making the spirit obey the flesh by imposing rules and discipline the body.  We should be about making the flesh obey the Spirit by the power of the Word through the Holy Spirit.
     Jesus told His followers in John 15:3 (Amplified) that, "they were cleansed and pruned by His Word and His teachings and not by the laws and restrictions of religion."
     Jesus said that, "The Word is the bread that brings life and that we don't live by bread alone (the natural food), but by the Word."  The life that strengthens our spirit and makes it strong is the Word.  The power of the Word is dispersed through our spirits by the revelation of Jesus by the Holy Spirit.  Only your spirit understands the life that's in the Word.  Our carnal minds can read the words and not discern the power of the truth written in them.  Our carnal mind just sees rules to live by, but our spirit hears truth to help us live above the world of rules and regulations.
     Only your spirit can discern the spirit of the Word of God.  Our carnal mind can read the Word, but not understand it.  Having ears to hear and eyes to see, we don't do either.  He was speaking about reading and hearing the Spirit of the Word by carnal understanding.  A heart that is "dull of hearing," is one that's ruled by the senses, is trying to achieve right standing with God.  A hearing heart is ruled by the Spirit and is simply receiving right standing with God by His Word.  One is a religion by works and the other is a relation by grace.
     The Church still struggles today with not having a hearing heart.  We still prefer to be led by the senses and not by the Spirit.  We prefer to be disciplined by sickness and calamity rather than the teachings and the Word of the Holy Spirit.
     If we would listen with a hearing heart, then we could avoid a lot of the calamities that befall us.  Psalm 23 declares that, "The Lord is my Shepherd."  No shepherd in his right mind will lead his sheep into a place of danger.  If you lead them into fast flowing water with a strong current, then their wool gets wet and will drown them.  If you lead them into briars and thickets, then their wool will get tangled in the branches and they get stuck.  That's why the Good Shepherd lead them beside still water and green pastures.  These are paths are the correct and safe ones.  Psalm 91 says that, "I will dwell in safety with Him, and He will satisfy me with long life and show me His Salvation."
     Our carnal minds declare that God is teaching us to walk with Him by placing hard times on us.  You'll lose a lot of sheep if you put them into strong currents and briars.  Surely, the Lord will go after the sheep and bring them out, but I think it would be better for the sheep to simply follow the Shepherd and stay away from where they don't belong.  A hearing heart will hear and know the voice of the Shepherd and not heed the voice of a stranger.  A hearing heart will become so familiar with the Holy Spirit and won't wander off.  We need to have a hearing heart in order to have a strong heart.
     We feed on people's opinions, on rituals and doctrines that aren't of the Word.  We're always trying to find a different way to interpret the Word and make it line up with our way of doing things.  The Word is unchangeable and forever settled in heaven.  A hearing heat will accept the fact that God's Word is truth and then will walk in that truth. 
     I am in right standing with God (righteous before Him), not because of what I've done, but because of what Jesus has done.  That's a hearing heart.  My sins He remembers no more, not because I' perfect, but because He is perfect.  That's a hearing heart.  I'm not a worm or second class citizen, but a joint-heir with Christ and a son of God.  That's a hearing heart.  A heart that's dull of hearing, still won't accept the truth of the Word even when it's preached.
     When Solomon became dull of hearing and decided to go his own way, things didn't go well with him.  As long as he had a hearing heart, God exalted him.  Let the Spirit of God lead you into liberty and grace.  We don't have to struggle to be right with God because Jesus took care of that.  Today, our part is to let the Holy Spirit guide us "in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" like Psalm 23:3 (Amplified) says that, "He refreshes and restores my life (my self). He leads me in the paths of righteousness (uprightness and right standing with Him-not for my earning it,but) for His name's sake."  Verse 4 goes on, "Yes, though I walk through the (deep, sunless) valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, For You are with Me; Your rod (to protect) and Your staff (to guide) they comfort me."
     the sheep simply rely on the Shepherd to take care of them.  David said in 1Samuel 17:34-37 (Amplified), "And David said to Saul, your servant kept his father's sheep. And when there came a lion or a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it."  Verse 36 goes on, "Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the Living God."  Verse 37 says, "David said, the Lord Who delivered me out of the paws of the lion and out of the paws of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hands of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go and the Lord be with you."
     The sheep were secure in the hands of the Shepherd.  As long as the sheep could hear his voice, they knew they could be at peace.  A hearing heart will rest in the voice of the Shepherd of our soul.  Hebrews 3:19 (Amplified) says, "So we see that they were not able to enter (into His rest) because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God (unbelief had shut them out)."
    

Lesson 15 The Condition of the Heart

     1Kings 3:9 (Amplified) says, "So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people."
     King Solomon was considered the wisest king in all of Israel.  He was the one who wrote most of Proverbs and was the richest man in all of history.  Having a hearing heart was responsible for his great success.  As long as his heart was a "hearing heart," everything that he did brought him great success.
     When Solomon's heart grew dull of hearing, he lost what he'd received from God.  He stopped hearing the instructions from the Lord and began leaning on his own understanding. He took himself wives of other countries and brought their gods into Israel with them.  As they began worshiping other things and other gods, things grew worse for Solomon.
     Many of us today started out with hearing hearts.  We had such a desire to walk with God that we began searching for God and wisdom like after gold and silver.  It was like searching for gold and silver for us.  It was a labor of love searching for the wisdom of God.  Proverbs 3:16 (Amplified) says that, "Length of days is in her right hand (wisdom) and in her left hand are riches and honor."  Over the years, many have turned to one hand or the other.  If we walked straight into Jesus, then we would have had both length of days and riches.
     Hebrews 3:14 (Amplified) says, "For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation (in virtue of which we are believers) firm and unshaken to he end."  We also read in Hebrews 5:11 (Amplified) a writing concerning Jesus' office of High Priest and His perfection of our Salvation, saying, "Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your (spiritual) hearing and sluggish (even slothful in achieving spiritual insight)."  It also says that "When they should be mature and teaching others, they actually had need that someone teach them over again the first principles of the Word over again."
     A hearing heart is one that will always listen to the Holy Spirit, a heart that stays in love with God's Word, a heart that's always seeking to know the Father better and more intimately.  I've known several brothers and sisters in the Lord who have fallen into this trap.
     Do you recall when you first received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues?  You could hardly wait to get alone with God and speak to and praise Him.  A man with a hearing heart will always move in his prayer language because this is his wisdom and hearing.  1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) tells us, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the (Holy) Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to understanding)."  Many people have asked me throughout the years, how do you know what you're saying and why would you need to speak in tongues, anyway?  Well, the first part of 1Corinthians 14:4 (Amplified) sums it up fairly nicely, saying, "He who speaks in a (strange, unknown) tongue edifies and improves himself."
     When you have a hearing heart and want to learn the hidden things of God, you pray in the Spirit.  Why would you pray in tongues?  Because your own vocabulary is limited to your intellect, but your spirit is eternal and connected to God.  You can only pray as high as your intellect will go, but the Holy Spirit (Who is the teacher of the church), knows all things.  Jude 1:20 (Amplified) says, "But you, beloved, build yourselves up (founded) on your most holy faith (make progress rise like an edifice higher and higher) praying in the Holy Spirit."
     Romans 8:26-7 (Amplified) says, "So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplications and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance."  Verse 27 goes on, "And He who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the (Holy) Spirit intercedes and please (before God) on behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."
     A man with a hearing heart, is a man who will always press on to know Him more and more.  Sometimes, we get to a place where the fire dies out and religion takes over.  We're always hearing about those people who burn out.  This occurs when we try to do the things of God in our own strength.  When we let the Holy Spirit teach and guide us, then our walk is easy and His burden is light.  God can show you more things by praying in a single hour of praying in tongues than we can find on discover on our own in a year.
     Have you found yourself not praying in the Spirit like you used to?  Or, have you found yourself not walking where you used to walk?  These can be the signs of many things, none of which mean you're no longer saved.  These are signs of a person who has gotten weary over time.  Even Jesus needed time alone with the Father.  Even He had a hearing heart.  Jesus said, "I only do what the Father tells Me to do."  This takes a hearing heart.
     I use my car or tractor (when I'm out in the field) as my place of prayer.  When I'm driving to town or driving to visitations, I can pray in the spirit without interruptions.  While I'm out bailing hay, my tractor becomes my own prayer closet.  A hearing heart will keep you from accidents and all kinds of troubles.  Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my Shepherd" and "He leads me..."  A hearing heart will hear the Shepherd's voice and avoid the pitfalls of the enemy. 
     Hebrews 3:10 (Amplified) speaks about theose Jesus brought out of bondage and those who had witnessed His miracles and wonders, saying, "And so I was provoked and (displeased and sorely grieved) with that generation, and said, They do always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them."
    The quit hearing and learning His heart.  God wanted them to become more progressively and intimately acquainted with His Word and ways.  It wasn't because He was keeping things from them, they just reached a place where they quit hearing the things God wanted them to know.  God isn't holding out on us.  He sent the Holy Spirit to show us all things and to reveal all things to us; that's His job.  Sometimes, we get dull of hearing and disinterested in seeking after awhile.
     This isn't to put you in bondage, but to set you free in His Joy like you were when you first were saved.  Remember how exciting it was when God showed you something back then?  Remember the presence of the Holy Spirit when you got off by yourself and worshiped Him?  Remember the gentle guidance of the Shepherd's voice and the way your heart would melt before Him in simple worship?  Romans 10:17  says, "Faith comes by hearing!" and not faith comes by heard.  It's a continual hearing and learning in Him.

Lesson 14 The Condition of the Heart

     In the natural realm, the condition of your heart determines the life you live.  If you have a weak heart, then there are certain activities that are out of bounds for you.  The health of your body is determined by a healthy heart.  Doctors will tell us about heart healthy foods to eat, medicines to take, and exercises that are heart healthy.  The leading cause of death in the human race is heart failure.  The same is true in the spirit realm.  You cannot live on Big Macs and fries for very long.  They may fill up your belly, but they don't nourish your body.
     Jesus answered satan from the spirit realm when He was tempted in the wilderness saying in Matthew 4:4 (Amplified), "But He (Jesus) replied, It has been written. Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every Word from the mouth of God"  We're to take of our natural bodies and we're to take care of our spiritual bodies as well.  For the most part, we don't put things that nourish and feed our spirits.
     We have little promise boxes that we take a card from and read every day.  Sometimes we don't even get around to even that.  Or we might read a chapter from the Bible when we find time.  And. sometimes, even when we read the Word, we don't feed on it.
     I would like to dedicate this teaching to the hearing heart.  A hearing heart is one that's guarded from anything not healthy for growth and life.  It's a heart that feeds on healthy food and exercise.  Like in the natural realm, we eat things that fill us up, but have no nutritional value at all.  They satisfy the hunger and your stomach feels full, but there's very little value of strength in them.  We can eat smaller amounts of good food and still get more strength from them than a larger junk food meal.  We've been aware of certain foods that cause heart problems in our body.  There are also things in the spirit realm that will block life to your heart (spirit).
     Are we being fed a heart healthy diet on Sundays or are we simply getting something that will satisfy us for a little while?  As Christians, are we living life on a feel good sugar high or on good food that sustains us?  Some sermons satisfy the flesh, ego or even the soulish realm when we hear them.  But, do they feed the spirit and produce life and strength?
     It's not enough for your doctor to write out a diet plan for you, but your have to follow it.  We've all heard the joke about being on a seafood diet and eating the foods one can "see."  As Christians, we're responsible for our own diet in the Word.  You may attend church on Sunday and get fed, but that won't sustain your spirit all week.  If we only fed our body once a week, then we wouldn't have the obesity problem we have.
     Jesus gave a discourse on this very topic when He taught the parable of the sower in Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) when He said, "If any man has ears to hear; let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend."  Everyone in the crowd had ears, but some didn't pay attention to what Jesus was saying.  He was laying out the terms of a heart healthy diet, but some of them didn't care or believe they needed to diet.  In Verse 24  Jesus said something that seems to have gotten lost by a lot of people.  He said to them, "Be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you and more (besides) will be given to you who hear."
     The dietician will tell you to, "Be careful what you eat."  The more attention you pay to your diet will determine the amount of healthy results you get and the strength and energy you will have.  Don't just eat everything that is put in front of you.  Some of it might fill you up, but it's not healthy or good for you.  Some things might have chemicals and side effects that are really bad for you.  And, some some things have no nutritional value at all.
     "Be careful what you hear."  This is something we've mostly overlooked.  Mostly, because we don't know the Word or study the Word, we assume that things we hear on the radio, internet, television or some preacher are true because it was a Christian who said it.  The same can be said for the diet we feed our natural bodies.  Just because our food is cooked, it doesn't mean it's all healthy and has the same value.  There are meals and then there are meals.  They all end up in the stomach, but they're not all nourishing the body.  "Be careful what you hear."
     There are so many various doctrines and opinions in today's Church.  And, they're mostly coming from Christian people who are sincere in their walk with God.  Some believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and some do not.  Some believe in speaking in tongues and others don't.  Some believe in healing and some do not.  Some believe that all religions are the same and others don't.  There are many things being taught and they're not all the same.  Some even have side effects that are deadly.  "Be careful what you hear."
     I believe the majority of ministers are sincere in their ministry and have the best of intentions.  I can't believe that anyone whno knows Jesus would purposely feed the people junk food.  I don't think that people working for McDonalds are trying to kill those eating there.  They're simply fulfilling the will of their customers (and their stomachs) who visit there.  It's my choice what I eat and where I eat it.  When was the last time you went to a fast food restaurant and they told you not to eat the hamburgers? 
     You'll never find a radio or television station, internet site or church that will tell you not to listen to them.  All of us believe that what we minister and teach is truth.  Jesus said in John 17:17 (Amplified), "Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for yourself, make them holy) by the truth; Your Word is truth."
     Not everything we hear is truth, just like everything we eat is not all really food.  It's all out there and we aren't to burn the fast food place because we're on diets.  I just don't eat there.  Do I grab a hamburger if I'm in a hurry?  Yes, but it doesn't comprise my entire diet.  Years ago, before I knew Jesus, I used to drink a lot.  God didn't deliver me from drinking; just from drinking certain things.  Now I have a choice of what to drink and whether or not it's good for me.
     We can exist on fast foods and still function in certain things, but it may end our lives way before our time.  It might cause things in our bodies to stop operating correctly.  Many diseases are caused by our diets.  The same is true for our spirits.  Jesus is the only One Who gave His life for us.  All of the ministers preaching the true Word of God, will always point you to Jesus.  It's His life in us that's real.  Our spirits have been born again and God is the Father of all who are born again.
     As Christians, we're now responsible for what we feed this new man.  Will I feed him ear tickling messages that soothe my emotions (the equivalent of fast food to my body) and give him a sugar high?  Or, will I feed him the Bread of Life, the real Word of God?  Will my spirit be alive and without strength from what I feed him?  Or, will my spirit be alive and strong in the power of His Name?    
     The Word tells us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Did you ever stop and think about His Word being the power of His might?  Jesus continued preaching about the seed in Mark 4:25 (Amplified) and speaking about those who had ears to hear (or a hearing heart) and those who did not.  Verse 25 says, "For unto him who has (ears to hear, or a hearing heart) will more be given; and form him who has nothing (no ears to hear, and no discipline over his heart), even what he has will be taken away (by force)."  John 10:10 (Amplified) says that, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
     Fast food may sustain life, but not to the full because it can cause some to die early.  Healthy food will give life to the full that can be enjoyed and last until old age.  Some things we hear will actually cut our lives short and starve our spirits.  The Word (the truth) will feed and bring life to not only your spirit (heart), but it will transfer into your natural body causing you to live long and enjoy life to the fullest. 
     We read about a hearing heart from the Holy Spirit in Proverbs 4:20-24 (Amplified) which says, "My son, attend to My words; consent and submit to My sayings, let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart."  Verse 22 says, "For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh."  Verse 23 says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life."  Mark 4:24 (Amplified) tells us, "Be careful what you are hearing, the measure (of thought and study) comes back to you and more (besides) will be given to you who hear."  Proverbs 4:24 (Amplified) tells us, "Put away from you false and dishonest speech. (Do you have any idea the amount of false and dishonest speech, that which is contrary to the truth of the Word) that we are saying? And willful and contrary talk put far from you."                                                     
     The scribes and pharisees were always speaking things that were willful and contrary to the truth Jesus was saying.  They were more interested in their own doctrine than in the truth.  Their hearts were deaf to the truth and they didn't have hearing hearts.  Others, however, did give heed to what Jesus was saying and brought forth fruit that has lasted until today. 
     Solomon was to take the throne when his father, King David, died.  He was a young, inexperienced man and about to reign as King.  God appeared to him in a dream in 1Kings 3:9 (Amplified) saying, "What shall I give you?"  This is something we should ask ourselves.  If I could ask God for anything and receive it, then what would I ask for?  Wealth? Health? Fame? Fortune?  What Solomon asked of God gave him all of these things in one request.  Verse 9 says, "Solomon said, So give your servant and understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge YOUR people, that I may discern between good and bad. Heed what you hear, for who is able to judge and rule this your great people."
     A hearing heart is what made the women and men of God great, down through the ages.  Such men as Smith Wigglesworth heard from God.  Because of a hearing heart, he staggered three continents with the power of God.  We didn't simply hear the truth, but he guarded his heart so truth wouldn't be choked out of it.  How many people do you suppose told Him that he was nuts and that he wasn't hearing from God because it didn't match their doctrines.  Smith had to "guard his heart" at all times from the things that weren't God's truth.
     "Be careful what you are hearing."

Lesson 13 The Condition of the Heart

     1John 4:18 (Amplified) says that, "There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! for fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love (is not yet grown into love's complete perfection)."
     2Timothy 1:7 (Amplified) says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing fawning fear) but (He has given us a Spirit) of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control."
     A fearful heart is a heart that will bring paralysis to the Christian person.  This fear comes in many ways to stop the believer from ever reaching out to the fullness of the things of God.  The Father has so many things laid up for His family to enjoy, but fear in our hearts holds us back from entering into them.  We've been in fear of God (I don't mean the reverent and worshipful fear), but the cringing and cowardly kind of fear 2Timothy 1:7 (Amplified) speaks of.  We were afraid to trust Him, we have been afraid we'd offend Him and we're afraid of displeasing Him.  All these fears stem from not knowing Him.
     God has seemed like an absent father to many Christians.  We knew He was our Father, but we never really knew Him.  And, because we never knew Him, we had no father to pattern our lives from and to build from.  Children are supposed to have a father to look up to and want to emulate.  As Christians, we've mostly kept our relationship with Him in the realm of being our God (which He is) more than as being our Father.  We pray, "Our Father," but we still approach Him in an uncertain way.  1John 4:18 (Amplified) says that, "The thought of fear has torment and a thought of punishment."  The thought of punishment brings a fear and uncertainty (fear) into the heart.  In a few short words, it shows we don't know God as Father and we don't really trust His Word when He said that "old things have passed away" and we are declared righteous in Jesus.
     Fear in our hearts holds us back from really becoming what our Father desires for us.  The fear of having nothing happen keeps us from laying hands on the sick.  That means we're afraid God won't hold up His end of the covenant.  Even the fear of not being good enough enters our hearts.  If you are in Christ Jesus and He is in you, then you were made righteous through Him.  Fear keeps us looking at ourselves instead of Him.  It's not you who has to do the healing.  Jesus said that, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the works."
     Fear causes us to look as though we have to do the works and we know our own failures.  Fellowship with the Father is the greatest part of our new birth.  Through Jesus, we now have access to God in prayer and our Father in intimate fellowship.  Fellowship isn't prayer or petition or intercession; it's simply fellowship.  Fellowship is an opportunity to be with Him and learn as we walk and talk together.  It's seeking out things from the scriptures and receiving wisdom from on high.  It's being in His presence, not needing or asking for anything.  Fear keeps us from the intimacy the Father wanted when He created man.  When was the last time you just came to Him and said, "Lord, I don't need anything nor want anything. I just came today to ask if there's anything I can do for you."
     Psalm 25:14 (Amplified) says that, "The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner-meaning)."  We read in Numbers 13:27-33 (Amplified) where God gave the Hebrew people a land flowing with milk and honey; a promised Land.  As scouts went to look over the land, they came back with this report from Verse 27, "They told Moses, we came to the land to which you sent us; surely it flows with milk and honey, this is its fruit. (this was a reference to Verse 23). They came to the valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two (of them) they brought also some pomegranates and figs."
     God had given them the land and the scouts brought back the fruit and the very truth of His promise for everyone to see.  But, then in Verse 28, comes the fear, "But, the people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, there we saw the sons of Anak (of great stature and courage)."  Verse 33 goes on, "There we saw the Nephilim (or giants), the sons os Anak, who come from he giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."
     The spirit of fear entered their hearts and kept them from entering the blessing of God's promise for another forty years.  This is the fear that brings torment and keeps us in bondage to the things we are already free from.  The Holy Spirit speaks of this account in Hebrews 4:1-16 (Amplified) concerning the promise of rest and provision being now offered to the new covenant people.  Verse 6 says, "Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered (today) let us be afraid (to distrust it) lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of (reaching) it."  Verse 6 says, "Seeing then that the promise remains over (from past times) for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience."
     God goes on to say in Verse 9,"So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath rest reserved for the (true) people of God."  This same spirit of fear in the hearts of God's covenant people from Numbers 13, is the same spirit of fear that holds back the new covenant people and keeps them from walking in rest (grace) today.  Fear in the believer's heart has a crippling effect on the believer.  Just like fear kept the people from seeing God's provision instead of seeing the giants.  It was fear that caused Peter to see the waves and begin to sink instead of keeping his heart strong and seeing Jesus.
     2Timothy 1:7 (Amplified) tells us that this spirit of fear never came from God and that the Spirit that comes from Him is One of power and love and a calm, well-balanced mind and discipline and self control.
     Now, when we see the promises of God and when we see the giants the world and the enemy place around us, we're faced with the same things they were.  God said that His promise of rest and Good News is being offered to us.  Will a fear-full heart keep us outside the blessings being offered or will we stand on God's Word in Hebrews 4;16 (Amplified) which says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners) that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it)."
     When we were sinners, we came into covenant through faith in Jesus just like the Israelites came out of Egypt.  It's not that we haven't come out of our sin into His sacrifice.  But, now we have come out of our sin through faith in the Blood of our Passover Lamb, Jesus.  It's not a matter of coming out, but of coming in.
     They came out of Egypt, but fear kept them from entering into the Promised Land.  Many have come out of the world and have been born again and part of the new covenant.  Now, we have God's promise of rest and provision (GRACE) to help in our time of need.  The land of milk and honey is offered to us today.  All we can ever need is found in Psalm 23;1 (Amplified) which says, "The Lord is my Shepherd (to feed, guide, and shield me) I shall not lack."
     God asked Joshua in Joshua 1:9 (Amplified), "Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous and very courageous; Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."   Do not be deceived! There are still giants trying to frighten you and keeping you from walking in the fullness of God's promise.  Like Joshua, we were commanded to "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might."  Our faith in God must be stronger than our fear of the giants.  A heart full of fear of going too far, of things not working, the powers of darkness of perhaps the greatest fear of all...the opinions of people saying you can't do these things.  It took only ten men in Numbers 14:1-4 (Amplified) to keep all of the Hebrew people in the wilderness for forty additional years.  Fear spread among the hearts of the people in Verse 1, "And all the congregation cried out with a loud voice, and (they) wept that night."  Verse 2 goes on, "All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness."  Verse 3-4 says, "Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us choose a captain and return to Egypt."
     They saw the fruit, they heard the promise, they saw the return of the scouts who didn't perish, but they heard about the giants.  They didn't see the giants, they only heard about the giants and just hearing about the giants kept them from entering the Promised Land.  Romans 10:17 (Amplified) tells us that, "Faith comes by hearing."  In this scripture, faith in God comes by hearing the Word of God.  The same is true of the enemy.  Fear comes by hearing and hearing comes from the lies of the enemy.  This is a spiritual Law and principle that works either way.
     How many of us have been frightened out receiving tongues, healing, prosperity, gifts of the Spirit, peace, love, acceptance by the Father, freedom from condemnation, joy, grace and the power of God in our lives because of a message of fear?  Some have even said that all the things aforementioned are of the devil and that kept people from entering into God's promises.  Some are still walking in fear of punishment for their past sins and old life.  Some people started the journey (like those who left Egypt with Moses),saw God's power and still longed to return (like the Israelites) because they were afraid to go into the promise.
     Did you ever notice how even though God had given them the land, they still had to possess it?  It's like all of the things satan had before Jesus stripped him of his armour. He isn't going to give them up if you don't go in and possess the land.  He will do as he always has in the past and cause fear to turn you back.  He'll lie and tell you that you should just stay in the wilderness, build yourself a little place to stay out of the line of fire and wait for Joshua and Caleb to take the land for you and give you your share without battling.
     I don't just want to go to heaven when I died.  I want to walk with God here in this life.  I want to enter into the promise and the rest (grace) and everything Jesus provided me through faith in Him.  I won't need tongues, healing, deliverance, peace, prosperity, joy or even my Bible in heaven.  I'll be in the presence of the Author Himself.  These are the things I need to,by faith, not fear and possess while I'm here.  Fear in your heart will keep you in the wilderness if you don't dare step into the water.

Lesson 12 The Condition of the Heart

     Many things can happen to the heart of a man.  Some things are good and some, not so much.  The Word says that wickedness and evil are devised in the heart of man.  Reverence and respect for God also come from the heart of man.  Faith in the heart of man is a spiritual force or God-given ability to operate in the spiritual realm.  Since man is essentially a spirit being, this faith realm is used to contact and fellowship with the Father.  Fear is also a spiritual force or ability that operates in the heart of man to destroy or neutralize faith.
     The word "fear" in the Bible, doesn't always have the same meaning or the same outcome.  In Psalm 86:11 (Amplified) we read, "Teach me Your way O Lord, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart (solely, reverently) to fear and honor Your name."
     The word "fear" here is used in the form of reverence and honor in the heart of a man.  The psalmist asks for a united heart; a heart, soul and will united as one, to praise and honor God.  This fear is built from love and respect and faith in and for God and not fear of terror or cowardly trembling.
     Isaiah spoke about those coming into the new covenant through Jesus' sacrifice in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified) saying, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order) You shall be far from even the thought of oppression, or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you."
     The Lord says in this scripture that we shall not fear, be afraid, be frightened, or be in dread.  He also said that the dismissal of fear from our hearts would remove even the thought of oppression or destruction by not allowing fear to enter into our heart by establishing in righteousness.
     Because we are spirit beings and all of us are open to fear or faith, we must make choices of which we will allow in our hearts.  Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified) said that we are to establish ourselves in righteousness.  By so doing, we can remove the fear and can unite our hearts in faith in God and His Word.  We learned that a divided heart is one of the fatal heart conditions in the Body of Christ today.  The reason for a divided heart is lack of a revelation of righteousness in Christ through faith.
     Fear, dread and terror that comes into a heart is a spiritual force of the enemy.  It always tries to remove faith in God and His Word so it can work its devilish work in the heart.  The prime personality of fear is satan himself.  He is fear and the most fearing creature in all of creation.  His entire character is fear.  He tries to get us to move in fear and mostly the fear that God's Word isn't going to work.  This fear in the Christan's heart, holds us down into a merely human existence instead of the mighty power of God in our spirit.  "Greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world."
     2Timothy1:7 (Amplified) says, "For God did not give us a spirit of fear (timidity, of cowardice of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control."
     Since fear is a spirit and it's not God given, we are to resist it by the Spirit of Love, power and a sound mind.  The Spirit that God gave us is the Holy Spirit as well as a born again spirit in His likeness and image.
     This spirit, or this new heart He has place in us, is to be guarded by faith in His Word.  A fearful heart is something that has no place in the Christian life.  When people talk about being a "God fearing Christian," it doesn't mean someone who's afraid of God, but someone who reverances and honors God.  Luke 21:26 (Amplified) says, "Men swooning away or expiring in fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the (very) powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter."  He isn't necessarily speaking about the heart as the blood pumping organ, although that heart can and will be seized up by fear as well as the spirit man.
     The apathy and futility that's already come upon the earth, is claiming lives by fear today.  People fear the loss of a job or the lack of funds needed to pay the mortgage and household bills.  Without the faith in your heart to trust God, these things will cause the stress and strain of everyday to make a person just give up.  This fear is probably the greatest fear allowed into a man's heart.  We have more fear of the world than we do in the Word today.  This brings a divided heart and fear that God's promises won't come to pass.  We confess to believe in God's Word, but only have faith in what we can see.  Fear has crowded out faith and we only walk in what we can see.
     The Lord said in  Isaiah 54:15 (Amplified), that terror, fear, oppression or destruction may gather against you, but not by Him.  He said that, "if we will establish ourselves in righteousness, whoever (or whatever) stirs up strife again us shall fall and surrender to us."  Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified) tells us, "Keep and guard your heart (your spirit) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it (your spirit) flows the springs of life."
     God is our life and the length of our days.  The life that flows out of our spirit is the very life of God Himself.  The fear that we allow in our hearts by not guarding our hearts, will choke off the power of the Spirit.  Fear will negate faith and leave us in a place of total futility and apathy.  This leads to the oppression spoken about in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified).  That's why God says we must be established in righteousness of God through Christ Jesus.  2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says that if this is established in our heart, then fear has no place to enter in.  That's why we must guard our hearts.
     All the enemy has to do is to get our minds focused on the things around us instead of God's Word and fear can enter in.  Does this mean that you're not saved or to be lost?  No, of course not.  But, it will rob you of your peace, your strength and your faith.  2Timothy 1:7 (Amplified) says that, "[God] gave us a spirit (a new heart) of power, and of love (love for Him, the fear of the Lord) and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control."
     This self control if the ability to take the Word of God and make the mind and flesh obey what the Word says instead of what the world is trying to tell us.  And, it's the ability that doesn't allow the things going on around us to determine our lives.  The Lord told Joshua in Joshua 1:9 (Amplified), "Have I not commanded you? Be strong, vigorous and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
     There were certainly more than enough things going on around Joshua to bring fear into his heart.  He was to lead all of God's people.  He'd seen their disobedience before.  He knew of the giants in the land.  He knew of the walled cities before him.  Only Caleb was in agreement with him about what God called them to do.  Notice how God didn't say that there was nothing out there to be afraid of.  There were many things that Joshua could have feared.  God told him to "be strong, vigorous and of good courage."  This was something that Joshua had to do for himself.
     God said that "He has given us a spirit of love, power and of a sound mind."  Now, it's up to us to be strong in Him and the power of His might.  The choice is ours.  God has give us provision for all that we need to stand.  We have to decide to not allow the things around us to numb our hearts with fear and make them inactive or to be strong and courageous in faith in the Blood, by faith in the Word and by faith in the Spirit of God.
     Fear will try entering your heart and choke off your faith if you will allow it.  Some find if easier not to teach the Word to God's people and let them think everything that occurs in their lives is God's plan for them.  Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) tells me that God's plan for my life is different than what some would tell me.  It says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus, (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
     You must be strong and of good courage to do this and to walk by faith in your heart.  A fear filled heart, according to 1Timothy 1:7 (Amplified), is "A spirit of timidity, of cowardice of craven and cringing and fawning fear."  This spirit comes from the enemy to turn the Supermen of God back into Clark Kent and to keep us from walking boldly in faith and become cowards in the face of the world.
     We see those who once denied Jesus and fled from Him during His trial and execution, in the Upper Room in the entire chapter of Acts 2.  Fear had ruled in their hearts and even though they knew Who Jesus was, fear was stronger than faith in their hearts.  When God gave them the Holy Spirit, the spirit of love, power and a sound mind, these men (including Peter) who had been cowards, became like lions.  There was no timidity, cowardice or craven or cringing fear in them.  Acts 2:41 (Amplified) says that, "Because of faith instead of fear, Peter stood and delivered a message that brought 3,000 people unto the Lord, in one sermon."  He was no longer ruled by fear, but by faith.  A fearful heart caused Peter to even deny knowing Jesus.  But, faith cast out fear and delivered those who were lost.
     We are intimidated by the world, by those in our own congregations, by those in politics and even by those in our own household.  We let the fear of rejection stop us from preaching the power of God.  We've let fear of people leaving our church for another control how much of the actual Word we will preach.  Fear filled hearts have watered down the Word in our churches until there's very little left to say.  It's almost like saying to the people, "Just don't believe God for anything and that way you will never be disappointed."  Probably the worst of all fears to enter our hearts is the fear of not having the Word be true. 

Lesson 11 The Condition of the Heart

     Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us (grasp the fact that we) have (the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One.  Verse 2 goes on, "Through Him also we have (our) access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we (firmly and safely) stand; And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God."
     Notice how all the things the scripture talks about in verses 1&2, are appropriated by faith.  Verse 2 says , "Let us rejoice in (exalt in our) hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God."  Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that grouses to more faith) as it is written. The man who through faith is just and upright shall live by faith."
     So many of God's children live with the heart condition spoken of in 1John 3:21(Amplified) which says, "Beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us (if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us) we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God."  The condemning heart is perhaps the most lethal heart condition in the Body of Christ.  This condition holds the believer in a state of limbo nearly constantly.
     This condition develops when the Christian doesn't have his mind renewed by the Word of God.  This believer, even thought he is saved, never enjoys the liberty of Christ's deliverance because he continues walking more in his soulish realm than in the spirit realm.  He trust more in how he feels than in what the Word says.  He professes that Jesus died for his sin, but still allows the same condemnation that brought him to Jesus to keep him from fellowship with Jesus.
     Notice how in Romans 1:17 (Amplified) we're instructed to increase in our faith and allow our faith to bring the truth of His Sacrifice and victory in the resurrection into focus.  Because we haven't cared to walk on the other side of the cross, where Jesus' victory for us lives, we continue allowing the enemy to hold us in condemnation for our past and keep us out of the joy Jesus gave.
     The condemning heart is a serious heart problem because it always reminds us of our failures instead of Christ's victory.  This limits our allowing His grace to cleanse us like He wants too.  Even though we have His grace and His favor in our lives, we won't allow it to flow to the deepest cleansing power in our heart.  Therefore, our heart is still condemning us even though His Blood has cleansed us.  In the heart condition of the believer with a condemning heart, even when the Father wants to bless them, their heart condition won't allow it.  Their heart always tells them that they don't deserve to be blessed.
     This was true for all of us before we ever accepted Jesus.  We didn't deserve to be blessed or healed or even have the privilege of having our prayers answered.But now, because of Jesus, grace has overlooked and done away with our past and has put us in a place where we have legal rights to enjoy all of His blessings.
     Until the truth of the Word is made greater than the shame of our past, we (because of our hearts) have shut off the reason for our justification in Christ.  Our hearts will not allow us to walk above the old man.  This translates into the believer's mind as humility, but the real reason is a lack of faith in what God has said about us.  His Word must be greater than your emotions and past.  When we come to the cross, we are sinners without God, without hope and without covenant.  Each of us had to come to that acknowledgement before we could be saved.  By faith, we acknowledge that Jesus died for us and forgave our sins.
     This portion of our faith was brought on by the condition of our heart.  When we knew in our heart that we were sinners, our heart condemned us and brought us to the cross.  Now, we must allow the Word of God to bring about a new heart (a new spirit).  We must have a new one that will continue growing in faith and bringing about our right standing with God now, because of the cross.
     The old Christians hymn, "Just As I Am," has brought many people to salvation, but Jesus didn't leave you just as you were.  Our heart and mind must be renewed by God's Word in order to bring about a cure for the condemning heart.  The truth of God's Word must be greater than the past lies of the devil.  Our faith must dare believe the resurrection side of the cross.  We must allow the truth of His risen glory to outshine the darkness of the old man.
     These things already belong to you now...in this life...because of Him.  If you've already received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you're already righteous by faith, you're already justified by faith and you're already favored and have all the grace abounding towards you.  These were covenant promises and He is faithful to His covenant.  These aren't things God will do once you start being good.  These are His promises to us after you receive Jesus by faith and not because we are good, but because He is good.
     The condemning heart is one that still remembers the old man instead of knowing the new one.  All the promises of God are already yours whether or not we enjoy them and accept them or not.  It all depends on your heart.  Will faith in Him reign over shame in you?  Will God's Word override the things from the past?  Or, will we allow condemnation be lifted above truth?  If our faith believes that Jesus died for us, then why can't we allow our faith to believe He also rose from the dead for us?  If faith allows our heart to believe He bore our sins, then we should let that faith cause us to believe we are righteous because of that.

    

Lesson 10 The Condition of the Heart

     When we speak of the heart of man, It Is the wholeness of our being starting inwardly from our spirit.  The heart is the combination of your mind, your will, your emotions and your spirit.  Your brain simply directs your body in the direction you devise.  Your brain is the command center that takes its command from the mind, spirit and emotions.  If you think on anything long enough, then it will effect your emotions.  And, if your spirit isn't renewed by the Word, then it will follow the mind and emotions.  As it direct its impulses to the brain, the body will simply follow the command whether good or bad.
     There's been a classic case of being ruled by the soulish man rather than  the spirit of a born again man going on for quite awhile.  If a person is insulted or given a reason to be angry, then you've probably heard him say "The more I thought about it, the angrier I got."  His soulish man ruled rather  than the born again spirit.
     Psalms 86:11-12 (Amplified) says, "Teach me your way O Lord, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart (solely, reverently) to fear and honor Your Name."  Verse 12 goes on, "I will confess and praise You, O Lord My God, with my whole (united) heart; and I will glorify Your Name forevermore." 
     A "whole and united" heart is one that overrules the mind and emotions and is obedient to the Word of God.  If our minds haven't been renewed by God's Word, then our spirit is still not united and undivided.  James speaks of this in James 1:8 (Amplified) when he tells of a man wavering or doubting when asking God for wisdom.  He said that, "If we lack wisdom, then ask God and He will give it."  "But," James said, "If we become double-minded in this wisdom, then we won't receive it."  James didn't say that God wouldn't give it.  He said that we wouldn't receive it.  Verse 8 says, "(For being as he is) a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute) (he is) unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides)."
     The man with a divided heart has a heart condition.  His spirit wants to hear from God, but his emotions and his mind are still working in an unrenewed manner.  So, when God gives wisdom, the first thing a divided heart or unrenewed mind will say is, "I wonder if that was really God or not."
     Psalm 112:7-8 (Amplified) is about a man following God's Word.  He's giving to the poor and is conducting his affairs with justice.  He's a man who is uncomprimisingly righteous.  Verse 8 says that, "His heart is established and steady, he will not be afraid while he waits to see his desires established on his adversaries."  We need to be where Verse 7 says, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord."
     That man isn't moved by the things going on around him.  His heart is "fixed, established and united" by the Word of God in his mind, will and emotions and his spirit is directed by the Word.  It would be very easy to have a divided mind today.  Wrong is called right and right is called wrong.  Sin is no longer sin.  People just have "issues."  Things that once would have made the hardest of men blush are now accepted as normal.  We've entered an age where our hearts must be established in God's Word.
     We've somehow decided that some of the things God said are old fashioned and out of date in this 21st century.  We find that even in our churches, this compromise of faith and righteousness not only being tolerated, but being encouraged.  This heart condition is partly due to the Church not knowing God's Word and having a divided heart.  As the Church, we're led more by our minds and emotions more than by the Word.
     This condition of the heart is a thing that only the individual can fix.  Each person must weigh his own heart and not be led by the mass or majority.  It doesn't make it right simply because others are doing it or thinking that way.  In the face of opposition, this man prayed for an "undivided heart" to walk in God's way.
     Even the laws of these last day's land reveal the heart of man to still be opposed to the things of God.  We've watch this great nation of America decline in the world's standing and in righteousness.  What was once a light on a hill shining for all the world to see, has become a debt ridden, laughing stock for the world to openly mock.  This is a heart condition on a national scale.  The heart of this nation (not all of her citizens), but the heart of the nation, has been turned from God.
     We watch our national leaders be moved by popular opinion more than by righteousness.  We pass laws and amendments that are a slap to the face of a Holy God.  As a nation, we have watched the family decline, our schools fail, and our economy being controlled by foreign nations that hate us.  The only way to change a nation is for each one of us to change our hearts.  Individuals make up a nation.  When Israel turned as a nation from God, the whole nation declined.
     The condition of a heart can affect a person, a family or a nation.  It seems to be a hereditary thing that passes from one generation to the next.  We somehow have passed the denominational church we belong to onto our children and not necessarily the Word and personal relationship with God.  If we asked people on the street whether or not they were Christian, then they'd probably tell us what denomination they belonged to. 
     Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (Amplified) says, "Therefore you shall lay up these words in your (minds and) hearts and in your (entire) being, bind them for a sign upon your hands and foreheads and between your eyes."  Verse 19 goes on, "You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise up."
     These words and deeds of God were to be before our eyes (reading and handling) helping us teach a personal relationship with God and the Word of Life to our children from generation to generation.  The Lord speaks concerning Abraham in Genesis 18:19 (Amplified) For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him (as My Own) so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so that the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him."
     Receiving the blessing (the fullness of the promise) depended on their being taught what the promise was.  Today, we only seem to know that the promise means we'll go to heaven.  We haven't been taught nor have we been able to teach what the fullness of that promise really is, for here as well as later.  Our hearts are still divided by truth and untruth and by what we've heard and what the Word says.  We've become double minded concerning the majesty of all He has done through Jesus.  Our heart condition restricts God in the full move of our new covenant.  We need our hearts to once again become established in the Word.

Lesson 9 The Condition of the Heart

     The Apostle Paul gave a discourse about the relationship between a husband and wife in Ephesians 5:21-33 (Amplified).  In this passage he describes the bond between them in the matters of the heart.  In Verse 32 he wraps up the discourse saying that, "This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning (the relationship of) Christ and the Church."  Verse 33 goes on, "However, let each man of you (without exception) love his wife as (being in a sense) his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband (that she notices him, venerates him and esteems him; and that she defers to him, and praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly)."
     We at times in our married life, seem to begin to take each other for granted.  We forget that sometimes we need to just stop what we're doing and really examine our relationship.  We get so caught up in the every day things of life and forget why we were there.  Someone once asked me what would happen if I lost everything.  After thinking about it awhile, I answered him and said that "I have everything I started with in my wife."
     All we had when we started was each other.  Everything gained since then is nice, but not essential.  Our relationship with each other is the most important thing.  We have worked together for all we have and all that we have is for one another.  Without my wife I wouldn't have built a house.  I built it for her.
     Most men would be content with very little in life.  We could love almost anywhere and with very little for ourselves.  The majority of men I know, would or could live in the woods during hunting season and at the river during fishing season.  Camping out in the woods in a tent or hunting lodge would be all we need.  My wife, however, would not.
     Jesus had all He ever needed while He was with the Father.  He was never sick, broke, hungry, distressed or without.  He had always had authority over satan and death.  There was nothing He ever had need of.  Everything Jesus ever did, He did for His bride, the Church.  Ephesians 5:25 (Amplified) tells us, "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her."  This is total love.  Verse 22 says, "Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as (a service to the Lord)."  Verse 24 says, "As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands."
     To love our wives like Christ loves the Church is a condition of the heart.  The only way to continue in this kind of love is by keeping His love flowing in our lives. Giving everything that you are or have to your wife is the kind of totally unselfish love.  Most men want to give the very best to the woman they love.  They will work hard, sometimes at a job they don't even like, to supply her things.  They work nights, split shifts, holidays, weekends and even overtime in order to give her things.  I worked twelve years on a job where I'd work a week of days, then swing shifts, a week of nights and then a week on the midnight shift.  I missed a lot of things that I would have liked to share with my wife to provided all the things she needed.
     I found it was easy to forget why I was working during this time because it seemed like all I did was work.  Then I'd remember why I was doing it and it gave me the hope and strength I needed to continue on.  Meeting her needs was all the reward I needed.  And, she in turn, was always happy with what I did.  She didn't care if I worked a high paying job or a lower paying job.  She always knew I was doing the best I could and that it was all for her sake.
     Sometimes, we look at what other people have and begin comparing our spouses with others.  This is a heart condition that must be avoided at all costs.  I've discovered that as my walk and relationship with the Lord goes, so goes my relationship with my wife.  Without God's love flowing through me, my own natural love becomes insufficient in my marriage.  When God's love wasn't present or being kept predominant in my life, I began walking back in the natural.  All the things I was doing was for nothing.  I had to keep God at the center of my heart in order to love my wife like Christ loves the church.
     When we forget that it's His love in us that moves us, we fall back into the selfish love we had before we knew Christ.  I've found that without Him, I didn't even have the ability to love; because God is love.
     We can begin overlooking the sacrifices we make make in love and begin taking one another for granted.  When we do this, the distance between us begins to grow.   And we begin hearing such old sayings of the world creep into the Church as "we just grew apart" or "I love him (or her), but I'm no longer in love with him."  These are signs of not being in fellowship with our Father.
     The condition of the heart is a vital part of our fellowship with Love Himself.  We know that we need Him, but we can fall into the same trap the world falls into.  We read in Mark 4:19 about the cares of the world and all the other things that enter and choke out the Word.  This happens when our heart turns to the things we do instead of why we do them (in love) and who we do them for. 
     The condition of the heart is something we must always be aware of.  Before we can become resentful with our mate or before we can break covenant with them, we must first break covenant with the Lord.  Once this condition of the heart sets in, it's vital it be remitted at once.  Most divorces could be totally avoided if we would recognize this heart condition early enough.
     Keep your time with the Lord at the top of your priorities.  He must be number one in our lives in order to keep everything else in place.  One person cannot do it all by themselves.  Husbands must love your wife as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for her.  Wives must love your husbands like the Church loves Christ.  This is a condition of the heart that we love Him because He first loved us.  We (the wives) love him because of His love for us and submit to him not in fear, but because of His love for us.
     Keep your heart soft and pliable in the hands of God.  Don't let hardness of heart enter in.  Afterall, it's His love for us that holds us together and through His love, we remain whole and well.  We must respond in love at home more than anywhere else.  If we only act the part in public and don't walk it at home, then we're setting ourselves up for heart failure and our love will wax cold.
     

Lesson 8 The Condition of the Heart

     Proverbs 14:20 (Amplified)  tells us that, "A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy and wrath are like rottenness to the bones."
     Our heavenly Father wants us to have a calm and undisturbed mind and heart.  This has been a difficult thing for many to achieve.  As we live in a world that's ever changing and moving, we must keep our eyes on Him and not the things around us.  This sounds easier than it is.  Because we still live in this body and have all these things happening around us, we are easily distracted.  This isn't an indication that we don't love God or that we don't care about other people.
     Jesus told the parable of the sower in Mark 4:18-19 (Amplified) saying, "And the ones sown among the thorn are others who hear the Word, then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless."
     This is probably the most common heart condition in today's Church.  Notice how Jesus said that the things "creep in."  We don't just get out of bed in the morning and find our hearts turned towards other things.  They creep in.  The fire and desire we had for the things of God when we were first saved get replaced by the cares of life in this world.  This isn't a change of heart removing us from God, or better yet, removes God from us.  It's not a form of sin or something that cancels our salvation.  I have a family who moved out of New York state to another state.  I still love them as family, but the longer we're apart, the easier it becomes for my degree of love for them to change.  I still love them and they remain my family, but they're not on my mind like they would be if they were here with me all the time.
     Jesus said that "He would never leave us or forsake us, but He's be with us always."  His love for us is always a now kind of love.  Although we're still in Him, we must keep our minds and hearts focused on Him so we don't forget He is here.  In Revelations 2:4 (Amplified) Jesus said, "But I have this (one charge to make) against you; that you have left (abandoned) the Love that you had at first (you have deserted Me, your First Love)."
     These were still God's people who doing good things that Jesus addressed in the above passage.  They hadn't gone back on or given up their walk with God.  Now, though, they walked in religion and not life.  This was like what Mark 4:18-19 (Amplified) tells us, saying, "The things of life in this world, had taken over the life (the new life of the Spirit) and we had allowed the old things to choke out the new life."  Jesus said in John 14:27 (Amplified) that, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidation and cowardly unsettled)."
     All of the things Jesus spoke of are the "peace that the world gives."  It's an unsettled, uncertain and elusive peace.  One day it seems all is well and the next day everything changes again.  We find ourselves caught up in the life around us instead of the Life Within Us.  The temperature is below zero where I live and the fuel prices are higher than ever.  Our nation's economy is in serious trouble.  The unemployment level is higher than ever and there are more people needing help than I can remember seeing in years.  In other words, it wouldn't be difficult for the cares of this world to creep in and choke the Word out.
     Isaiah 26:3 (Amplified) says that, "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, and hopes constantly in You."  This is the kind of peace Jesus spoke of in John 14:27 (Amplified) saying that, "If we don't allow the things around us to choke out the truth of the Word within us, then our hearts can be strong and healed."  Things are so hectic today that you must make your mind and heart obey the Word above all else.  Sometimes this a command you have to give your own self like David did.
     We read in Psalm 103:1-2- (Amplified), "Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is (deepest) within me, bless His Holy Name."  Verse 2 says, "Bless, (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, o my soul, and forget not (one of) all His benefits."  David goes on the next verses, bringing to remembrance to himself  what these benefits are.
     This is keeping our minds stayed on Him, by which our peace comes.  Did you notice how David's heart was speaking to his mind, will and emotions?  This was a command he actually made unto himself in order to prohibit the things happening around him from choking out his "First Love."
     As Christians, we need to learn how to allow our spirit to rule over our emotions.  If our emotions rule, then it becomes easy for "the cares and anxieties of this world to creep in."  There are so many things going on around us everyday, that it's a matter of authority in your spirit to rule over them. We must not allow them to rule over our spirit.  Proverbs 23:28 (Amplified) says that, "He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.  In David's day the walls of a city was their protection from the enemy.  Such strong walled cities as Jericho were difficult to overthrow.  Those who have no rule over their spirit are more open to attack and defeat.
     Our heart condition in the spirit is no different than our heart condition in the natural.  If we have heart problems, then the doctor will put you on a diet and exercise program and try making you stress free.  God's prescription for our heart problem is much the same.  Our diet is to feed on His Word more.  Our exercise program is leaning on Him and not on our own understanding.  To become free of stress we must cast all of our cares on Him.  These aren't always easy things to do even when we love God.  But, we don't always do the things the doctor instructs for our natural hearts either. 
     We all know there's more to out new birth and life in God than we are now experiencing.  Our Father God wants us to enjoy all the things Jesus gave us by His sacrifice.  I believe that our heart condition has allowed the things of the world to choke out what we reached for at our first taste of salvation. Don't allow your heart to condemn you like 1John 3:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Don't allow yourself to walk in guilt and condemnation. God is greater than your heart.
     Some people with heart conditions become invalids for life because they're afraid of having another attack.  We might not need to alter our activities somewhat to compensate, but we need some exercise.  With the spiritual heart condition, we can't allow ourselves to ignore our family and stop taking care of our natural man.  But, we cannot allow these things to make us spiritual invalids either.  There's a balance Jesus walked in and the apostle did as well.  Let God deal with your heart condition and tomorrow will take care of itself. 

Lesson 7 The Condition of the Heart

     The heart condition I've been writing about is what keeps me writing the things I do.  People want to know why I have set myself up as being controversial and it's because I wish to see God's people understand and walk in the fullness of Christ.  We cannot arrive at the heart condition God wants for us without understanding beyond what religion has taught.
     The answer to the heart condition is understanding the love God has for us and loving one another as He has loved us.  If we don't understand God's love for us, then how can we love someone else in that way?  We read how God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus so we might be saved.  But, do we understand God's great love for us in our own lives?  We've tried to perfect this love in our own feeble selves instead of totally surrendering to His love.  In Romans 5:5 (Amplified) we read that, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given us."
     The last verse of 1Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified) Paul gives a discourse on the great spiritual gifts.  All of these gifts are still valid and alive and well in the Holy Spirit today.  We make doctrines that discard them because we fail so miserably to walk in them rather than facing the fact there's still a heart condition in the Church.  Paul speaks about love and the actions of love in 1Corinthians 13:1-13 (Amplified).  We've tried walking in and understanding this scriptures, but mostly to no avail.  Near the end of 1Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified) Paul says we're to, "Earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces), And yet I will show you a still more excellent way (a better way to obtain these gifts than to desire and zealously cultivate)."  Paul goes on to says, "(Away that is far better to receive these gifts) seek after love as a higher and better way (to obtain the gifts)."
     If we could learn to understand God's love to and for us, then we could move into this love for others.  When Paul speaks about love in 1Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified) we must understand that it's not simply a way for us to act, but actually it's the very character of God Himself.  1John 4:8 (Amplified) says that, "He who does not love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him) for God is love."
     We've sought out the power of God through the gifts of the Spirit.  But, we've never understood the reason for the gifts.  The Spirit gives these gifts "as He wills."  It's God's love for the person who is sick that will override even the faults of the one who is praying to meet the needs of the one being prayed for.  This is what moves the Holy Spirit to deliver these gifts to profit all.
     We've seen how men can get puffed up by operating in these gifts.  I've watched men misuse these gifts for personal gain, yet God's love for the sick person still allows them to operate.  That's because He wants to see the sick well, the oppressed set free and the lost and hopeless be restored.
     It'd be easy to let go of all the things that are viewed as controversial in the Church.  Instead, ministers could just teach and preach what people want to hear and leave them in the same heart condition we are in.  If we read the Word, we find that Paul was probably the second most (Jesus is the most) controversial man in the New Testament.
     Paul struggled with the people's unbelief throughout his ministry.  All he wanted to do was bring the people to a higher place in their faith than what they were in.  Most of us become comfortable in where we are and don't want to be challenged to move up.  It seems easier to simply let things go than to "eagerly desire the gifts."
     Without these gifts operating in the Church and "in the world," how can we ever hope to reveal a true and living God and Father to the people?  Jesus said that, "If you can't believe what I say, then at least believe Me for the works that I do."  Did it work?  Yes.
     I've heard people ridicule gifted men and women of God who walked in this power of love.  Some were branded fakes, crazy and some even as being from the devil.  But, still, the Great Love Who is God Himself, kept them from ever quitting in their pursuit of God for the people.  Only God's love can compel someone to continue on in the face of all opposition.
     God still want what He set out to do in Luke 4:18-19 (Amplified) where Jesus stated what His anointing was for.  Thus, He says, "The Spirit of the Lord (is) upon Me, because He has anointed Me (the Anointed One, the Messiah) to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed (who are down trodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity)."  Verse 19 goes on, "To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord (the day when Salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound)."
     We're to be ambassadors for Christ.  2Corinthians 5:19-20 (Amplified) says, "It was God (personally present) in Christ, (reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself), not counting up and holding against (men) their trespasses (but cancelling them) and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)."  Verse 20 says, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God, making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
     As God's personal representatives, we are to reveal Him in all of His fullness.  We are to represent Jesus as He represented the Father.  We are His Own personal ambassadors to the entire world.  Part of this representation is to return the eyes of the world to the supernatural power of the One we represent.  Mostly, we're to reveal to the world and overcome the natural state of man by the supernatural power of God's love for them.
     The lack of the power of God as shown through the gifts of the Spirit comes form a lack of understanding that God's Own love is already been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  If this love is in our hearts and isn't being manifest, then we still have a heart condition to deal with.  When we love like we're called to love, then we cannot look at someone who is sick or disabled without being "moved by compassion" and setting them free.
     Don't simply say such things as "some day when you get to heaven, you'll be healed."  Jesus didn't wait for us to get to heaven before He set us free.  He dealt with us now while we were here on earth and promised us heaven too.  As the Church, we need to examine our hearts and see whether the true love (as He loved us) is really at work in our lives.  We have the ability inside us to actually reveal Jesus as He was and as He still is.  The world is searching harder than any other time for a Light to follow.  We are the light of the world.  Let's raise that light (which is Jesus, the manifest Love of God) high upon the hill so the world can see their way through the darkness.  The enemy's always showing the world a false way to walk in.  And, because they are lost and confused, they're seeking leadership like they were in Jesus' day.  Jesus said they were "sheep without a shepherd."
     Our heart condition is understanding that God's love for us is His love for them.  If we set out to reveal this love and walk in it, if we seek after understanding and if we ask for wisdom, the Bible  says that He will give it.  James 1:5 (Amplified) says that God wants to show His love through you.  If your heart is right, then it will never be you who is exalted...only Him.  If satan or your own heart tells you that you're not a candidate for these gifts to men, then let God's love fix your heart condition.
     These gifts are as much a part of our Lord as feeding the hungry or clothing the naked or sheltering the homeless are.  One can be done by simple human love and the other will have to be done only by His love.  Even natural men can feed the hungry, but only supernatural love can give sight to the blind or help the lame to walk.  In Acts 4:19 (Amplified) the apostles were attacked by the people for healing a man.  Verse 19 says, "But Peter and John replied to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obdy you rather than God; you must decided (judge).'"