1 Kings 8:23 Solomon speaks, “There is no God like Thee who keeps covenant and mercy with those that walk before Thee with ALL their HEART.” In verse 38 of the same chapter, Solomon mentions that every man “….SHALL KNOW THE PLAGUE OF HIS OWN HEART.” Verse 39 declares that only God knows the hearts of ALL men.
The word “plague” used here means:- a deadly epidemic, an affliction to vex, harass, trouble or annoy. Solomon clearly did not understand the meaning of his own words as chapter 11 records that his heart was turned from the Lord by the influence of his many wives after their gods. 1 Kings 11:4 “…and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as was the heart of David, his father.”
Psalm 51 records David’s cry to God after his sin with Bathsheba. He underwent a tremendous experience and his words reveal the broken state of a man whose HEART is after God. Psalm 51:1-2 “CREATE in me a clean HEART, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.”
In Psalm 86:11 David prays”Teach me Thy way, O Lord, I will walk in thy truth: UNITE MY HEART to fear Thy name.” If I have no fear (i.e. reverence, respect) of God, I have no relationship with Him.
THE FUNCTION OF THE HEART OF MAN
Billy Graham once said, “The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human HEART.
When scripture speaks of the HEART of man, it is understood it is not referring to the organ which pumps the blood to circulate around our body. Romans 2:29 declares, “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the HEART, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.” God does not look on the outward appearance but on the inner man of the HEART, 1 Samuel 16:7.
The Lord Jesus says a man MUST be born again. When we ask the Lord Jesus into our HEARTS, the process begins. He comes to in-dwell us and turn our HEART back to the Father. When Philip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father,” Jesus answered, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Is my HEART being ruled by the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
A heart which is steadfast to God is vital and key to having a life lived to the glory of God. Romans 10:10 declares “…with the HEART man believes unto righteousness,” and Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his HEART, so is he!”
I am a product of that which my HEART believes. If I do not believe what God says, I am not walking with a STEADFAST HEART.
Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy HEART with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life
Every man and woman on God’s planet are a product of what they believe. My believing rules me. I do not rule what I believe. It is vitally important to have a heart ruled by the indwelling presence of Jesus. Matthew 15:8, Jesus said, “These people draw nigh to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their HEART is far from me.”
Matthew 12:34-35, “Out of the abundance of the HEART, the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the HEART brings forth good things and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, brings forth evil things.”
1 John 3:18-24 “…let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our HEARTS before him.
For if our HEART condemn us, God is greater than our HEART, and knows all things.
Beloved, if our HEART condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.”
Luke 12:34, Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will be your HEART also.”
My trouble spot is my HEART. Trouble is not in trouble, but in my HEART’S attitude to it. Jesus said, “Let not your HEART be troubled….you believe in God, believe also in me,” John 14:1….and in verse 27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your HEART be troubled, neither be afraid.”
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your HEARTS and minds through Christ Jesus.”
My HEART has the ability to rise up and exalt itself in pride or humble itself to God. Proverbs 16:5 instructs, “Everyone that is proud in HEART is an abomination to the Lord.”
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 – 1 Peter 5:5-6
Keep me true, Lord Jesus!
