The Cure for Millennial Malaise

“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”—Jesus 

(John 10:4)

This post was inspired by a heart who wants to reach, love, mentor and encourage this generation. 

I read a disturbing article the other day. Disturbing, because the author claims that only four percent of Millennials are Bible-based Christian believers. The author goes on to basically state that ninety six percent of Millennials probably don’t practice the teachings of the Bible, assign much value to Christian morals, and most likely will not be found darkening the doors of a church.

I need to start by saying I absolutely hate these demographic labels that marketers, psychologists and researchers have assigned to us. I'm in my late fifties and I hate being referred to as a "baby boomer." What a stupid label. "Gen-Xers." "Millennials." These terms are insulting in my opinion. But for the purpose of context and because the article I mentioned deals with the Millennial Generation, I will use the term here.

Time and space do not permit me to go into a lengthy definition of what a Millennial is. You who are not familiar with the term can do your own Internet search on the word and find enough material to keep you busy reading for days, maybe even weeks. Millennials know who they are, and from everything I have seen, hate being told that they are to blame, are wrong, or lost—so, please know, that is not my intention in writing this.

My intention is, however, to start a dialogue, and encourage younger people who may feel no sense of community in their Christian life.

The church is not a building or organization. But we the believers—God's people—are the "called out" ones. We all already know this; but all churches are made up of deeply flawed, imperfect, prone to fail, weak, human beings. That includes every pastor, elder, staff member, helper, teacher, usher, musician, sound person, and everyone who serves and volunteers, as well as everyone who sits in the pews and seats on the various days of the week. 

We're to love Jesus, not church. Then we're to love our neighbor as our self. But we're also called by Jesus to love and encourage the Body of Christ—the people—as imperfect as we all are, young, old, pastors, teachers, diaper changers, janitors, or fallible, imperfect, prone to fail folks, (like me). 

 I've been hearing the following for the last twenty years. 

"The current generation is unique and different from those in the past—they can't be reached by preaching the Gospel."  

I would encourage all those who may feel this way, to go back and read the New Testament and see what Jesus said about how to reach and save people. It's through the power of His Spirit, His love, His grace, the gift of faith, and the Word of God preached. 

And people are people. Deep down, we're all the same. Everybody hurts. Everyone wants to be loved, needed, accepted, and be a part of something. Everyone wants to belong. Everyone wants to see the world be a better place, and help make that a reality if they can.

We are not called to make the church look perfect to the world. That's never going to happen. It's not possible to be perfect this side of Heaven.

But we are called to know Jesus and to make Him known. And to invite people to freely accept His offer of eternal salvation "by Grace through faith, and that not ourselves, it is the gift of God and not of works, lest any man should boast. (See Ephesians 2:8-9)

If we *just* love people but neglect to share with them what God did for them by sending His Son Jesus to save them from their sins, we may make them feel better today. But we have robbed them of an eternity in Heaven. We've conned them out of God's emotional and spiritual healing in this life. We have stolen their chance for real, lasting joy; now and hereafter.

How is that loving people?

Love as Jesus loved; speak the Truth in love. Share the gospel; the good news, that Jesus came to save and heal the hearts and souls of broken people--and that is the whole world.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

You want a cure for Millennial Malaise?

Get to know Jesus more intimately, personally. Talk to Him as a child would talk to his dad. Be thankful to Him for all things. Even adversity, which He allows to draw us closer to Himself.

And then don't look to "church" to be perfect, or bring you joy, or give you the sense of community or family you desperately need, or meet all the world's needs. Try as we might, [we] will never live up to those lofty expectations. Jesus Himself said, "Without Me, you can do nothing."

But point people to Jesus, and you personally take them by the hand, put your arm around their shoulder, and invite them to come along with us, as imperfect as we all are, to know and make known our loving God and Savior, who alone is the only Perfect Father, that this fatherless society so desperately needs.

"Church" really happens after Sunday morning service is over.  When we each go our way, to our homes, back to work, in the coffee shops, or walking the sidewalks and malls in our city. Hurting and hopeless people are everywhere. True ministry happens in our day to day lives when no one else from church is watching. 

Be the change you want the world to see.

I invite respectful, on-topic comments, questions, and dialogue.

In Christ's Love,

Mark

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

In God's Image

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him.” 

(Genesis 1:27)

For many years, I always wondered, what does that really mean? That God created man "in His image?"

Scripture, taken in context, interprets scripture. So we shouldn't have to guess or speculate.

First, what does the biblical word "image" mean?

The Hebrew word translated as "image" in Genesis 1:27 is H-6754; 'tslem' "an illusion, resemblance, a representative figure: image."

So if man was created in God's resemblance, what does God who created him look like?

What does the Bible say?

“God is Spirit.” (John 4:24)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth.” (Colossians 1:15)

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18)

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent.” (Numbers 23:19)

From these four verses, we can know the following about God's image or resemblance:

• He is Spirit
• He is invisible
• He is not a man
• No one has seen Him at any time

So in the context of Genesis 1:27, does that suggest a God that looks like me or you? It doesn't to me.

How then do we resemble God's image?  We too, are, or have, an invisible spirit—the eternal life force that is in each of our physical bodies.

People will argue, "but Jesus is the expressed image of the invisible God, so we are created in Jesus' image." But the Apostle John says Jesus, the Word, became flesh. (See John 1:1-14). Meaning, He was not always in a fleshly body.

Another interesting definition of 'tselm' (resemblance, image) is "a representative figure." Originally, God made man as His representatives on earth. Man was to re-present Him. That was the original plan. Then you know the rest of the story; we blew it right away, and Adam and Eve fell, and mankind has been in a fallen, sinful state ever since.

But Jesus came down as God's visible image. Born in a manger, the tiny babe of Bethlehem came into the world to save His people from their sins—which is all of us. As born again followers of Jesus Christ, we are to re-present Him to the world today. But we have nothing in of ourselves to offer humanity. The only thing we have to offer them is "Christ in us; the hope of glory." (See Colossians 1:27)

This is just a brief scriptural look on my part at the amazing nature of God. It is not intended to be a complete dogmatic doctrinal statement. And please feel free to respectfully disagree and expound from the holy Bible with a differing point of view.

We all should always search the scriptures daily and see what God's Word says about Him and His nature. My intent is to know Jesus more, to make Him known, and to glorify His name.

Amen.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Balance?

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”—Jesus

Balance.

That's what most people today say you need in your life. "You don't want to be too fanatical. So maintain a good balance of serving God and serving your own desires. That's what it takes to maintain a healthy, happy life," they say.

Looking at the context in Luke chapter 9, Jesus had previously been speaking to His disciples, preparing to send out the twelve, to preach the Gospel. Then He met with Herod. After that He fed the five thousand. Following this, Jesus was alone praying, and His disciples came and joined Him. Jesus then said to them all:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)

I heard a message several years ago about the difference between a disciple, and the multitude.

A disciple is a student, or more accurately, an apprentice. An apprentice often lived with his master, learning from him every day, observing what he did and taught, then doing the same. Learning by doing life together. Learning by his masters example. He usually spent years in an apprenticeship until he was ready to go out on his own. The disciples Jesus called left everything to follow Him.

The multitude in the gospels came to Jesus for healing, food, and blessings. But after they got what they needed, many went back to where they lived. Many turned away from Jesus when He spoke something difficult that challenged them. They didn't follow Jesus everywhere, every day, calling Him Lord. They were basically only after the benefits He offered. But few left everything to follow Him.

The more I read about the life and teachings of Jesus, He presents Himself as an all or nothing Savior. You can't serve both God and riches. You either serve Him, or serve the Devil. You're either walking in darkness, or in His light. You either repent, believe in Him, get born again, and follow Him. Or you remain in darkness, dead in your sins, awaiting the harsh judgment of God. You'll either spend a blissful eternity with Him, or be forever banished from Him into outer darkness and fiery torment. You're either hot, or cold. The lukewarm, He said, He will vomit out of His mouth (See Revelation 3:14-16)

The following passage has always been particularly challenging to me:

“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27, 33)

The biblical word translated as "forsake" here means to "quit or leave entirely, with no intention to return to."

A guy I used to go to church with many years ago tried to tell me, "Well, I think what Jesus was really trying to say here, is you just need to be willing to give up everything for Him, and then He'll show you what you can keep, and what you should give up." 

Really?  

As if Jesus, the Lord of Glory Himself, full of all knowledge and wisdom, the fullness of the godhead dwelling in Him bodily, isn't really sure what He's saying, and is somehow struggling...trying to find the right words. 

You should prayerfully seek to make proper life application from the Scriptures.

But to imply Jesus didn't really mean what He said?  Be careful. You're on very dangerous ground when you try to put words in Jesus' mouth, or claim He didn't really mean what He said. And while there is certainly some allegory and symbolic language in the Bible, it is the Word of Truth. People have led many believers astray over the years by giving private interpretations to the Word of God, or relegating the literal Word to allegorical nonsense. This is where heresies such as "replacement theology" come from, the anti-Semitic lie that claims "God is done with the nation of Israel, and has given all their promises to the Gentiles, and has forever cast away His people Israel." Lean not on your own understanding.

This is why it is so critical to always test all men's words, writings, opinions, doctrines, by the immutable Word of God. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

So the question I have often asked myself, and am asking again, is, am I truly being a disciple of Jesus?

Or just part of the multitude?

I'll leave it at that.

You have to ask and answer that question for yourself.

But as for me, I want to be all-in for Jesus, as His disciple, and not be just part of the multitude who only seek His gifts and benefits. 

I love You Lord Jesus—please help me to be more like You. I am not ashamed of You or the Gospel.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Guard Your Heart, part 3

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

(Proverbs 4:23)

This is part 3 of an ongoing theme I was recently led to write on, to, "Guard Your Heart."

Having spent some time in prayer and study on what it means to guard your heart, I've inadvertently neglected to attempt to relate from Scripture, just what the "heart" is.

So, it is with a heart that is prayerfully open before God, seeking Him and His wisdom on this topic, that I now feel led to share what I discovered when I received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to see if these things are so. (See Acts 17:11)

I have to start by saying, throughout my walk with Christ, I've read certain books that really spoke to my heart, and shaped my views on things like the Rapture, the end times, the new heart, and walking with God. I definitely have a handful of favorite authors whom God has used to speak into my life. And He's given me a lot of counsel over the years, in pivotal moments in my life. And through His Fatherly wisdom, has 'righted the ship' when I got off track.

But what I've also been convicted of, and more recently than before, is, am I testing the Bible by other men's writings? Or am I doing what I really should do, and testing other men's writings by the Bible? The Bible is the God-breathed Word of God. It's not merely "inspired." It is literally God-breathed.

We're commanded to, "test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

The Bible is the living Word of God; the Word of the Father who sent Him, according to Jesus. It is the Divine litmus test, the eternal plumb line of Truth, that all other supposed truths and doctrines must be measured by—the Heavenly sifter, through which all other men's teachings and writings must be poured.

So, what does the Bible say the heart is? In Ezekiel 36:26?

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” 

If we want a clearer understanding of what a biblical word means, looking up the word used in the original Hebrew or Greek language is a good place to start. In Strong's Concordance, the Hebrew word for "heart" is H-3820, 'leb'—"the heart; feelings, the will, even the intellect; the center of anything; understanding."

Reading the passage with the literal Hebrew definition of the word, it could read:  'I will give you a new understanding, new feelings, new desires, and put a new mind in you.' The Hebrew word used for "spirit" here is, in part, defined as the "mind". (H-7307, 'ruwach')

In the New Testament, the word "heart" is often defined in the original Greek language as, "The thoughts or feelings: (mind)." (G-2588, 'kardis')

Also in the New Testament (see Ephesians 2:3), a Greek word often used for "mind" is G-1271, 'dianoia'; "deep thought; disposition, imagination, mind, understanding." Another NT word for "mind" is G-3563, 'nous'—"the intellect; mind--in thought, feeling, or will; meaning mind, or understanding."

“For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

What does the heart do? For one thing, it believes.

“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)

From the heart we are also commanded to forgive. We love from the heart, have compassion and show mercy. We are to be thankful for all things, from the heart.

What are some of the things that come from, or are in the heart?

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27)

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:19)

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:38-39)

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. And the rivers of living water than will flow out of us are the Holy Spirit—not any perceived goodness we may have in our new heart/mind. 

What about our desires? Where do those originate?

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” (James 1:14)

So, upon looking closely at, and comparing these scripture verses to gain a better understanding of what the "heart" is, and what its functions are, I pray God will enlighten my understanding.

It seems true in scripture that the "heart" is the place where we believe and have our deepest convictions. That it is the place in us where desires come from; whether those desires are pure, or evil, is a matter of our choosing which of our two natures we will listen to. That it is the part of us where we see its fruit in the words we speak, whether good, or bad. That it is our deep innermost part where our feelings, thoughts, desires, intentions, understanding, choices and intellect truly emanate from. And this is understood, at least to me, by the very words used in scripture, as defined in the original languages God Himself saw fit to have the scriptures recorded in.

As we already know, our mortal Enemy, Satan, is constantly attacking us, tempting us, trying to trip us up, and steal, kill, and destroy the joy, hope, peace and faith that God has given us. No question. And apparently, he can put impressions in our minds, dangle the bait, and even mess with us in our dreams. But none of us can say, when we are tempted and we sin, "The Devil made me do it!" Satan cannot "make" you do anything. And besides, God promised us:

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The biblical fact is, we have two natures within us; the old man (fleshly, sinful, human nature). And the new man (the new nature/heart/mind we received when we were born again). And these two natures (old man and new man) have two extremely different desires and intentions. 

The old man seeks to please self. Seeks to love self at the expense of others. Is self-focused, and self-idolatrous. Sees himself as the captain of his own salvation. Does not see his need for God. Is rebellious. And cares not for the things that God cares about. He is comfortable in his sin and does not see it as sin. The old man is thankless, and takes credit for everything he does that seems good to him. He is prideful and the fruit of his life shows it.

The new man wants to please God and love Him and love others. Though the new man still does not do all these things perfectly, and he, like the apostle Paul wrote, fails at times and occasionally makes bad choices, he hates it when he allows his old nature to come through, and he repents and asks God to help him do better. He is sick inside when he fails God and tries to do things in his own strength and wisdom, instead of relying on God and His strength and wisdom. The new man humbles himself before God, and is thankful to Him, praising Him, giving Him all the credit and glory for all good things. He is the exact opposite of the old man.

The old man and new man can be illustrated as two wolves; a dark wolf, and a light wolf. We all have both wolves inside of us. Which one grows and thrives?  —The one that you feed.

"Nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh." These were the words Paul the apostle wrote to the early church. Paul was not relying on his new man, or new nature for hope, or salvation. Paul saw the constant struggle we all face between the flesh and the spirit. He lamented as such. The things he desired to do, he could not seem to find. But the very things he loathed, those things he practiced. (See Romans 7:15-25). Paul sums this up in verse 25 by saying, “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

The new heart (mind, feelings, thoughts, willingness, understanding) Paul received at conversion, desires to serve God. But his old nature, the body of sin; the flesh, wants to serve the law of sin.

The age old battle of the dual natures.

But again, he makes it clear that he doesn't serve God perfectly. It's part of our walk with God in this life that, frankly, will remain a mystery. But this much seems very clear to me; when we are commanded to guard our heart because all we do flows from it, upon examining all these scriptures that teach us about the heart and our dual nature, I am led to believe we must guard our hearts from Satan and the world on the outside—and guard our hearts from the sinful desires and thoughts of the old man on the inside. I presently can't see any other conclusion to arrive at. But in all areas where I am mistaken, I know that God will teach me correctly.

Only God fully knows why He allows us to retain both natures, even though our two natures battle each other daily.

But I will say, one day, many years ago, in desperate exasperation, I cried out to God; "Lord! Why do you leave us in this condition? You could change me in an instant, and I would never sin or fail again! Why Lord?" And then He clearly, gently impressed upon my heart:

"So you'll stay close to Me."

As my friend and I agree, knowing Jesus is central. He is our only hope.

My hope or trust is not in my new heart and mind God gave me. The new heart and mind He gave me only prove to me more and more each day just how desperately I need Him, and how insufficient I am. Jesus said, "Without Me, you can do nothing." If we were now in our heavenly, eternal bodies, bright and shining like angels, I am convinced that we would likely become like Lucifer, and would not see any further need of God. We would pridefully want to ascend to the place of God and be God.

So I am humbled and thankful to God that He has designed us and put us in a place where, even though born again, cleansed by His blood, and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise; we are still totally dependent on Him for our eternity, provision, peace, health, fruitfulness, and to abide in Him, and remain forever in His love.

Who is our only hope? Paul writes in Colossians 1:24-27:

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is:

"Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Living With Life's Disappointments

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray."

(James 5:13)

Loneliness. Sadness. Rejection. Disappointment.

These are among the most heartbreaking aspects of the human condition.

Many people feel like God has abandoned them when their life has not turned out the way they had hoped. Prayed for. Longed for.

A marriage ends in divorce because of adultery. Or, simply dies a slow death due to neglect. A child rebels and disowns her parents. A self-absorbed parent fails his child and the relationship is severed. A long career goes down in flames. Good health departs and terminal disease enters in. Family disowns one of its own due to ideological differences. Friendships die over time. Financial security dries up.

Most people are likely living with some type of disappointment in their lives. And many of us, after long years of seeing little, to no light at the end of the tunnel, eventually just give up. We throw in the towel. Oh, not with any fanfare. We simply stop trying and inwardly resign ourselves to, "Oh well, this is just the way it is." And then we attempt to put on a happy face and try our best to just get on with life.

The walking wounded.

But what most of us won't do—is give our disappointments and broken hearts to God. We don't invite Him into our pain to heal us there. We try to "be strong" and go it alone. Even worse, since our hearts have gone through years of emotional starvation, and we look to something, or someone else, to fill up the empty, famished places in our hearts. This is where adulterous relationships and addictions come from. We try to numb the pain, and fill the void in our hearts that only God can truly fill and satisfy.

But a bottle of pills, booze, gorging ourselves with comfort food, trolling the Internet for sexual fulfillment, or a forbidden affair will never satisfy our empty hearts and souls. They will only add crushing guilt and shame to our emptiness and sadness.

Lord, help our unbelief.

The great danger in staying stuck in our pool of self pity can invite our mortal Enemy, Satan, to sow his seeds of bitterness and resentment in our hearts toward others who have let us down...

And I can tell you from sad experience, that unforgiveness is a self-imposed prison that you can never escape from, until you choose to forgive from your heart, those who you feel have wronged you.

We have such a difficult time seeing God in our disappointments, because we're so self-focused on our circumstances and pain, that we don't stop to consider that He may actually be using this as part of His weaning process—to set our hearts free from seeking fulfillment in other things or people, when He knows that only He can satisfy our broken hearts. He uses the trials we experience in a fallen world, to draw us closer to Him. He wants us to find the abundant life that He offers. He is calling us there. But we have to choose to surrender our pain and disappointments to Him, and allow Him to lead us there; to lie down and rest in His green pastures, beside the still waters.

I've learned over the years that when we are too needy, (or perceived as being so), we can actually repel the people we love the most. It can become a form of idolatry; looking to someone else to fill the need only God can fulfill. Idolatry is simply placing something or someone else before God, or in His rightful place in our lives. Be careful. This is a quick path to depression and addiction.

We must turn to God and cry out to Him for comfort and healing.

“For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:15)

James writes, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray." (5:13)

Prayer is talking with God and listening for His still small voice. Not simply talking at Him, giving Him our laundry list of wants and needs. He is our loving Father. If you were blessed to grow up with a loving father in your home, how did you talk to your dad when you were hurting? This is what prayer is supposed to be like. Not 'naming and claiming' stuff you want. It's having an intimate conversation with your heavenly Father—giving Him all your hurts, fears, disappointments and sorrows—turning to Him so He can heal your heart.

Disappointment is a part of this temporary life.

But seeing God's loving hand in the midst of our disappointments, as a way of drawing us closer to Him, is the secret to a life of joy in Christ, despite whatever bad hand the world or Satan has dealt you.

People will all eventually let you down in one way or another. It's inevitable. 

None of us are perfect. We all fail each other at times. We cannot look to a husband, or a wife, our children, or our family for our ultimate happiness or fulfillment. Because even if they are willing to be that for us, they are never able to truly fulfill us. Neither can a pastor, a church, a job, or any material things.

Look unto Jesus—the Author and the Finisher of our faith. He alone can truly satisfy our famished hearts.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Guard Your Heart, part 2

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” 

(James 1:14)

I had a great time of fellowship with one of my best friends this morning—a true time of "iron sharpens iron"—sharing our stories, the scriptures, what God is doing in our lives, and praying for each other. We also discussed my latest blog post about guarding our hearts. And we talked quite a bit about the dual nature that resides in every person who is a born again Christian. The old man -vs- the new man. (See Ephesians 4:22-24)

My last blog entry was called "Guard Your Heart." The opening scripture verse was Proverbs 4:23,

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

My friend said he has a different take on guarding our hearts. He says we need to guard our hearts from the Devil, who is constantly attacking us, looking to take us down. And yes, that is absolutely true. Many Christians today fall in sin because they ignore Jesus' warnings about our enemy Satan. Jesus said:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

The Apostle Peter also warns us:

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

So, absolutely, we do have a common enemy of our souls; Satan, the Devil. There are hundreds of passages in the Bible that speak to his dark evil and diabolical nature. The bible warns us to resist the devil. 

In my last article, I pointed out that the heart is fickle, and can be deceived. But my friend contends that since we have a New Covenant promise from God that He puts a new heart in us at conversion, that "our hearts are now good."

But as I read the passage again from Ezekiel 36:26-27, I noticed the text does not specifically state the new heart is "good." It also doesn't say it is bad. It just says "new." So I looked up the Hebrew word for "new" as used in this passage from Ezekiel 36. The word is H-2319: chadash; "new; fresh, new thing." Again, it doesn't use the word "good."

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

So, at conversion, we are given a fresh, new heart. And like a new born baby, we start a new life in Christ, "in process." Positionally, in Christ, we're seen by the Father as perfect. The blood of Christ washed away all our past, present, and future sins. Forgiven, forgotten, forever. But like Paul confesses in Romans chapter seven, he himself still sins sometimes. He practices the very things he hates. And in the good things he desires to do, he falls short. He's not perfect yet. He's in process. And I'm not referring to his eternal salvation; Jesus paid for that in full on the Cross. His salvation, our salvation, "is finished." I mean his earthy walk as a Christian—his transformation—is in process. We are being changed to be more like Jesus; from glory to glory. (See 2 Corinthians 3:18)

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

In Ezekiel 36, besides giving us a new heart, God says: "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

But even as Paul says, he still practices the things he hates. Thus, he doesn't always walk in God's statutes or keep and do His judgments perfectly, 100% of the time. Paul still has the internal struggle of his flesh warring against his spirit. The old man warring against the new man.

We also discussed the desires of our hearts, and how that fits in with the new heart that God gives us at conversion. And in my previous article I quoted Psalm 37:4;

"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

It's seems clear (to me) then, from this reading of scripture, that desires come from our heart. So if our new hearts are in fact good, then where do any evil desires that we may have come from?

The opening scripture verse to this new post is from James 1:14,

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”

So this passage says that a person is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desire and enticed. And since desire is in, or comes from the heart, one can conclude that the dual nature (old man and new man) are somehow part of our heart. This is a great mystery, but I'm not sure how else to word it or see it. 

What is the old man?  It is our old sinful nature (also called the flesh) which we had before conversion—before we were born again by the Spirit of God, having believed in and put faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

And what is the new man?  That is our new born again spirit, the one that God said He will put in us, along with a new heart, which is a promise of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was a system of Law by which a man attempts to make himself righteous before God by keeping all the specific commands of the Mosaic Law. But you have to keep all of them, which no human being in history has ever been able to do; save One; the Son of Man: Jesus Christ—God in the flesh. 

The New Covenant is; we are saved only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, through belief in His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. And that faith is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, and not of works, lest any man should boast. (See Ephesians 2:8-9)

So even though God did put a new heart in us at conversion, we have to realize that any ungodly desires  we have must also come from our heart. The bible doesn't say we have two hearts. In fact it says He takes the old heart of stone out of us. But again, it does say we have the old man in us, and the new man.

We are also commanded to put off the old man, and put on the new man.

“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)

To be honest, it's quite a mind-boggling mystery to me, how we can have two natures residing within ourselves after conversion. How there can actually be the old man and the new man living side by side in my person. My little brain can't fully grasp it. But I know one day God will make all things known to us and all our questions will be answered.

In reading Ephesians chapter four, we are told to put off the old man (old sin nature) and put on the new man (the new spirit man, created by God). And this is not a one time thing. I find I have to do this every day, all day long, and in any situation, because not only is Satan the devil coming at me from all sides trying to attack me and trip me up with all kinds of fiery darts of temptations, accusations, and lies. But I also know from James 1:14, that my own desires can can be impure at times and can lead me away and entice me. 

So, all this to say; we have to guard our hearts from the outside; against this wicked world and against Satan and his evil attacks to try to steal from us, kill us, or destroy us. 

And we have to guard our hearts from the inside, against our own desires of the old man, that can lead us away and entice us. "Harden not your hearts."

Paul the Apostle summed up the dichotomy of this struggle of old man -vs- the new man in Romans chapter 7:

“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my flesh, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my flesh. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:15-25)

Even Paul the Apostle, great man of faith that he was, struggled with the mysterious dual nature. The flesh -vs- the spirit. The old man -vs- the new man.

But Paul cried out to the God who saves: "Oh wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Then he said; "I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" He is Who will deliver us from these bodies of death. 

We don't have all the answers. None of us. 

But He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

"Christ in you—the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27)

—God is Love and Love Never Fails. 

Guard Your Heart, part 1

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” 

(Proverbs 4:23)

One of the most beloved, and often quoted bible verses today is Psalm 37:4,

"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

I mean, hey, God does want us to be happy, right? He's not some cosmic killjoy, seeking to deprive us of a happy life. Jesus did say after all that He came to give us life, and life to the full. (See John 10:10)

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

So if God is supposed to give us the desires our heart, why would He put a warning to, above all else, guard it?

For starters, the heart is fickle.

The heart wants what the heart wants. The world tells us to "follow your heart." But the heart can be deceived. It wants what it wants so desperately, it doesn't always want to listen to reason. The heart is impetuous. It is a "me monster" who is totally into instant gratification. Love at first sight.

Again, why else would God give us warnings in scripture about safeguarding our hearts?

“My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.”

(Proverbs 7:1-5)

And more dire warnings from the wisdom Proverbs:

“With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she seduced him.
Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
Till an arrow struck his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it would cost his life.

Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
Her house is the way to hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.”

(Proverbs 7:21-27)

 Examine your own desires.

What passions inflame your heart? What tempts you? What are your addictions? Cravings?

Consider the multi billion dollar Internet industries that prey on the weak, susceptible hearts and addictive personalities of men, women and children. Here in the USA, and abroad. Why is online shopping such an addiction? Why do you think so many marriages end due to adultery?

A few years ago a friend of mine wisely said,

"The heart can be deceived; let your Christ-like mind lead your heart."

Paul the Apostle wrote:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

A mind renewed by the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, has been given godly wisdom with which to lead our heart. We are to follow Jesus—not the desires of our own hearts.

We are commanded to "test all things, hold fast what is good." (See 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Test the desires of your heart by the Word of God. People today love to say, "Well God gave us His beautiful creation for us to enjoy. That's how I worship Him."

But Jesus also said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me." And John wrote, "Do not love the things of the world."

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Examining the desires of my own heart over the last several years, I can see how those desires can get way out of balance when I don't heed God's Word and closely guard my heart from the temptations and trappings of this world. Even the beautiful gift of God's creation can become idols to us if we're not careful. We end up worshiping the gifts God gave us more than we worship the Giver.

Going back to Psalm 37:4 about God giving us the desires of our heart, the part that often gets conveniently left out, is: "Take delight in the Lord..."  This part comes first. It qualifies the remaining part of the verse. If we truly delight ourselves in the Lord, He 'is' the desire of our heart. This is really key to understanding this passage.

If I forsake the Lord and never spend any time talking to Him, seeking Him in the Word, giving Him my whole heart, my thoughts, my obedience, and my love, where do you suppose my desires will wander off to? We tend to go looking for greener pastures and delight ourselves in all sorts of things that ultimately cannot satisfy the longings of our heart and soul. This is how Satan gets a stronghold in our hearts through addictions, adultery, and all other forms of idolatry and covetousness.

The more I spend time walking with God—delighting myself in Him and in the Father/son relationship I have with Him through Jesus Christ—my heart does not desire the things of the world the way it once did.

Don't let anything or anyone take root in your heart that could come between you and God.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.


—God is Love and Love Never Fails.