THE HEART

1. …”For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance; but the Lord looketh on the heart” I Sam. 16:7.
Samuel the prophet was waiting for God, who knows every heart, to give signal on which of the sons of Jesse should be anointed the king. None of the first seven was accepted.
Hear the amazing question from Prophet Samuel: “Are here all your children?” I Sam. 16:11. It is more amazing to hear Jesse: “There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold he keepeth the sheep.” I Sam. 16:11. When David the youngest arrived, Samuel got the signal: “And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” I Sam. 16:12. There has not been anyone who knows the heart of man except unto whom it is revealed from above.
The heart of man is so dear to God that he commanded man: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Deu. 6:5-6. With this word of love from God, the heart of man ought to be in total submission to God for governance, but man still hides his heart from God refusing to be obedient to him. The Bible therefore sees the true position of the heart of man and describes it accurately: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jer. 17:11. It is also true that all evils emanate from the heart. Mark 7:21-22.

2. Purity of heart is what is required of us all. A heart cannot be pure until it is broken and contrite. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17. It is those hearts that are completely submitted to God for ruling that are held with great esteem and are never despised. The contrite heart is ready to be sorry for sins committed and be ready to turn completely from them. But the one who is not ready to do that has a stony heart. The broken hearted is greatly grieved for his sin; he is sober and he is sincerely repentant.
We see how advantaged a man who is pure in heart is: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8. The pure in heart refuses to be polluted and refuses to be defiled. He is far away from filthy life, worldly life and unrighteousness. Such ones that allow Holy Spirit to rule their lives and attain purity of heart shall see God. It is not only seeing God in one’s work and prayers but on the last day shall see God. He shall continue to see Him forever, dwell with him and worship Him forever. The pure in heart shall see God and continue to see Him from everlasting to everlasting.

3. Importantly we have to trust the Lord with our whole heart. It is not half heartedness that is required but trusting God whole heartedly. The scripture says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not into thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3:5-6. Nothing is better and safer than to have ones paths on earth directed by God. Those that trust in God are protected always.
Men sometimes deviate and begin foolishly to put their trusts in men. Here the Bible: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Psalm 118:8-9. Those that put their trust in the Lord know his name as their strong tower to whom they should run in order to be saved. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Prov. 18:10.
The Lord Jesus said to his disciples: “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:24. Millions of people have shifted their trust from God to riches. They cannot see God since their hearts have shifted from God to the worldly things. They that trust the Lord with their hearts shall forever stand: “They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth forever.” Psalm 125:1.

4. It is most wonderful to note that God in his love can change hearts that are notorious and rebellious against him. That is to say, he can change the heart of stone to that of flesh, soft enough to come back to God through Christ. “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19.
“A new heart also will I give to you and new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26.
What greater gladness can a man have on earth than when his stony heart (a heart that opposes God) now changes to a heart of flesh (a heart that now loves God deeply)? This is why Jesus came to preach repentance, to reconcile man to God. The Lord Jesus can bring a change to any stony heart; here Saul (later Paul): “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” Act 9:6.
Therefore: (i) Acknowledge that the Lord knows all in your heart; confess the sins and repent. (ii) Pray to God through Christ Jesus to give you a contrite heart. (iii) With your whole heart, put all your trust in the Lord. (iv) Be in Christ and stand clear out from every pollution of the heart. (v) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1. (vi) Never resist the Holy Ghost or else you become uncircumcised in heart. Act 7:51; Lev. 26:41.

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Samuel Okhisare
(Archbishop)
Risen Life Evangelical Church (Inc.)
28th April, 2018.