Heart Trapped

Heart Trapped

Revelation 9: ²⁰ The rest of the human race, all those who had not been killed by these plagues, did not turn away from what they themselves had made. They did not stop worshiping demons, nor the idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. ²¹ Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic, their sexual immorality, or their stealing.

 

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“Do not pour grease in the sink” was the warning I received. For a while I heeded the warning. But one day, I questioned it. “Perhaps if I run some hot water with the grease, then it will be okay to pour it in the sink” was my rational thought. I did this for a while and not only clogged the sink, but I clogged the grease trap.

 

• I did not want to believe the warning.
• I could have avoided unnecessary problems.
• I had to look inside of a smelly disgusting grease trap that held months of rancid, foul looking grease that would not allow anything good to pass through it.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, continued his description of what he saw after the sixth angel blew his trumpet. Horrible plagues were shown and a third of humans died, yet the remaining inhabitants of the earth would not turn away from “what they themselves had made”, namely idols and blatant sin.

 

My Observations:

• GOD sees my blatant sin and warns me to “stop.”
• The heart is desperately wicked and makes me want to leave GOD and blame HIM for HIS strict ways.
• Knowing what GOD wants requires me to surrender my desires so I can be successful in GOD’s eyes, not human’s.

 

Being willing to let go of something that is bad for me is not easy. I mean, when my heart has rationalized that my sin should be justified or overlooked, then I find myself on the wrong side of GOD. HE literally cannot stand it when I take matters in my own hands versus allowing HIM to be GOD in my life.

 

GOD must be GOD. HE does not want me to place anything or anyone over HIM. HE wants me to surrender my life to HIM so I can relinquish the sin that stirs HIS anger. GOD is forgiving, and HE wants me to be forgiving too. Sin, blinds me from that forgiveness. I must turn to HIM so HE can heal my land.

 

Challenge

• What heart is the writer trying to convey?
• Have you ever blatantly did something wrong and were unwilling to change?
• Will you seek GOD’s love by being willing to let go of your ways and allow HIM to live inside your heart to guide you today?

Beyond Bitterness

 

Beyond Bitterness

Revelation 8: ¹⁰ Then the third angel blew his trumpet. A large star, burning like a torch, dropped from the sky and fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹ (The name of the star is “Bitterness.”) A third of the water turned bitter, and many people died from drinking the water, because it had turned bitter.

 

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After the hike, I was thirsty. We got back to the campsite and there was a water pump. We gathered around it in delight! I cupped my hands under the pump as someone raised and lowered the handle. I got excited hearing the pump rumble, but when the water came out, it was brown and rusty!

 

• Initially the water was rusty.
• We could not drink the water until the pump lines were cleared.
• We had to boil the water to make it drinkable.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard the third angel blow the trumpet. Then a star hit earth, contaminating a third of fresh water sources. This was the third of seven steps to continue to take down Satan’s kingdom.

 

My Observations:

• GOD will make the earth an uncomfortable place to live.
• Satan tempted JESUS with the things of this world, BUT GOD will tear down what he could offer.
• Believers in JESUS will not have to thirst, because GOD will supply living water.

 

Bitterness is a problem. I mean, when GOD uses bitterness to destroy something, it must be bad. I can have bitterness in my heart that isn’t good. I can see the injustice of a people group or remember what someone did or did not do to me or for me and react in a bitter way. Bitter is a sharp, pungent, taste or smell.  GOD has a remedy for bitterness.

 

JESUS died for my sins, even the bitter ones. HIS grace is sufficient to cover my sin of bitterness. HE is willing to reshape my heart instead of allowing it to be hardened towards any one person. HE can change any heart, and it starts with mine.

 

Challenge

• Are you surprised by what the writer saw?
• Have you ever tasted bitter water?
• Will you seek to understand GOD’s plan so you can remove any bitterness from your heart towards “that” person so you can allow GOD into your heart today?

Heart Training

Heart Training

2 Peter 2: ¹⁴ They want to look for nothing but the chance to commit adultery; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. They are under God's curse! ¹⁵ They have left the straight path and have lost their way; they have followed the path taken by Balaam son of Beor, who loved the money he would get for doing wrong ¹⁶ and was rebuked for his sin. His donkey spoke with a human voice and stopped the prophet's insane action.

 

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After trying out sex, I wanted more. My mind wandered thinking about it. After lying without getting caught, I lied some more. It was easy. After sneaking home while working as a janitor, I planned more “fun time” when I was supposed to be working.

 

• My heart was getting trained to lust.
• My heart was getting trained to lie.
• My heart was getting trained to be sneaky and unreliable.

 

Peter continued his warning against false teachers. He pointed out more of their motives they would use to get their way. He then gave an example of Balaam son of Beor who considered cursing GOD’s people for money. He was rebuked or reprimanded until he changed his heart.

 

My Observations:

• GOD will let me do what I want to do but eventually if I do what HE does not want me to do, HE will step in and rebuke or reprimand me.
• GOD wants me to turn my heart over to HIM so HE can live in it.
• GOD is willing to cleanse me of all unrighteousness if I am willing to confess my sins to HIM, wanting HIM to take away my appetite for the sin.

 

Hearts can be trained. I mean, I can learn to love or learn to hate people. When I learn to hate, I disguise it, justify it and use it often. “It’s their fault I am this way” would be my justification. BUT GOD wants me to see HIM without being blind.

 

GOD wants me to train my heart to follow HIS examples of grace, mercy and love. HE even did away with all the rules by giving one command, namely “Love one another.” This action fulfills all the rules. I am glad GOD loves me enough to guide me towards HIS way of thinking.

 

Challenge

• Why Is the writer so determined in the warning that is given?
• Have you ever done something you knew in your heart was wrong, yet you did it anyway?
• Will you turn your heart over to GOD and allow HIM to remove the things you know you should not be doing so HE can use you to grow the kingdom today?

Inside Out

Mark 7: ¹⁷ When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. ¹⁸ So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” ²⁰ And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

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Hearing some of the neighborhood kids use explicit language intrigued me. There were a few who would get all the laughs and I desired that kind of spotlight. My first attempts at using foul language flopped, but soon I got better. I eventually use this new found talent as pickup lines, venting rage and putting others down.

• There were times I acted out.
• There were times that I could not hold my tongue.
• There were times that my true desires came out of my mouth.

JESUS tells HIS disciples that the heart is more important than ritual practices of eating. Many  people who were concerned about following the Law were not as concerned about the spirit of the Law. JESUS points out that it is what comes out of the heart that can make someone dirty.

• GOD wants me to ask HIM for a clean heart.
• GOD wants me to align my desires to HIS on a daily basis.
• GOD wants me to nourish my heart as often as I nourish my stomach.

“Garbage in, garbage out” is what people have said and it is true regarding my heart. When I have a steady diet of foulness my heart will wring out its gross contents. GOD is great at replacing my heart. No matter what I have done, HE can mend my heart to use it for HIS glory.

• Where is your heart?
• Are you on a road to foulness because of your heart?
• Can you listen to GOD instead of listening to humans and allow HIM to lead you to a better path? 

Heart Thoughts

Matthew 15: ¹⁵ Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”

¹⁶ “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. ¹⁷ “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

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Thinking I had it all together I was proud to give advice.  As I sat on high, people would come and ask what they should be doing to get ahead. I was moving up rapidly but hit a ceiling. This group of leaders loved strip clubs, prostitutes and lewd discussions. Hmm, but I want to get ahead. I wonder if I should join in.

• GOD said to me “Your heart is desperately wicked, who can know it.”
• GOD said to me “Do not trust your heart for it has all kinds of evil in it.”
• GOD said to me “Empty you heart of all unclean things.”

My problem was the willingness to fill my heart with “whatever it took” to become successful. I may not have committed the same offenses as the leaders, but why did “joining” them even cross my mind? GOD wanted me to stand firm.

• GOD wants me to empty my heart of all foul things.
• GOD wants me to meditate on HIM in order to fill my heart with the right things.
• GOD wants me to open my mouth about HIM and take the good things out of my heart.

A heart transplant was needed. GOD wanted me to fill my heart with HIM versus tradition. HE wanted me to not only “go to church” but hear what was said and put HIS words into action. HE wanted me to build enough character to do HIS will when no one is looking. GOD wanted my heart and I reluctantly gave it to HIM. It is the best thing that has happened to me!

• What is coming out of your mouth?
• Are you busy speaking lustfully or negatively about someone?
• Can you empty those evil ways from your heart and fill your heart with GOD?

Heart Words

Matthew 12: ³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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“I hate that person” blurted from my sophomoric mouth along with a few expletive words. Once said, I could never put them back in my mouth or erase them from someone’s ears.

• I have said some very harmful things.
• I have said some very slanderous things.
• I have said some very foul things.

In an effort to be funny or fit in, I have said words that needed a warning label, not once thinking of how harmful or destructive the words could be. How could I change my words?

• GOD wants my words to come from the heart.
• GOD wants my heart to come from HIM.
• GOD wants me to speak about HIS kingdom in a heartfelt way.

Instead of blurting out random thoughts, GOD wants me to be purposeful with my words. Since my heart is desperately wicked, I must take the lessons I have learned about GOD and apply them to the words that come from my heart. After a while, GOD starts rebuilding my heart to be HIS.

If my heart is full of garbage then garbage will flow from out of my mouth. Suddenly I will find myself without GOD’s fruit. BUT GOD is gracious enough to place HIS SPIRIT in me, enabling me to speak sincerely about HIM.  I want GOD’s fruit, not mine.

• Are you seeking to be the center of attention?
• What foul words are proceeding from your mouth?
• Can you ask GOD to enter your heart so your words will change?