The Heart
Bobby brings us another winner. Unlike the Pirates, Bobby is consistent and know how to close the deal.
“The heart is more deceitful than all else, and it is desperately wicked; who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
In his book Wild At Heart, John Elredge explains how this verse, taken by itself, is often misquoted in Christian circles.
How many times have Christians used this verse to excuse worldly behavior? How many times have we used it to justify sin in our lives? After all, since the fall of Adam and Eve, we were all born with a sinful nature and therefore our hearts are wicked and we are powerless against its evil desires.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes we were born with a sinful nature. And yes we start out with a deceitful heart. But when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts.
Ezekiel 36:26. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you: I will remove the heart of stone and give you a heart of
flesh.” How can a heart filled with the Spirit be also filled with deceit?
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”
And 2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a Spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Galatians 5:22,23.
A word we often use to overcome sin in our lives is surrender. Simply surrender your weakness to God and claim victory. But do we really know how to surrender? Pastor Candi said that if she could bottle surrender and sell it she would be rich.
The truth is we do know how to surrender. Every time we watch a show on television that promotes sexual promiscuity or homosexuality we are surrendering to the ways of the world. Every time we judge someone or gossip, we surrender to pride. Every time we allow anger to take over or refuse to forgive, we surrender to the flesh. Every time we fail to help someone in need, we surrender to selfishness. So you see my brothers and sisters, we know how to surrender. The question is, who or what will we surrender to?
We need to pray the words of David in
Psalm 139:23,24
“Search me O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”
Make it a Tethered Tuesday! God is good…