By Marianne Mauti
Part 1: Introduction
The human heart is essential to sustain life. Consider how hard this little muscle works over a lifetime. It beats an average of seventy beats per minute, four thousand times per hour, one hundred thousand times per day. The amount of work the heart must do over our lifetime is incredible! It filters and oxygenates our blood and then it pushes it out to every organ in our body (most importantly the brain) feeding it with the nutrients and oxygen necessary for life. As long as our heart beats we live, when it stops, we die! As important as the heart is to our physical well being, so the spiritual heart is to the well being of the "inner man". Physically, the heart is the central organ of the body . Spiritually, it is the seat of our affections and the center of our moral conscience. From this moral center flows the "issues" of life. The currents of our moral life take their rise in and flow from it, just as the heart propels the blood and it pushes it into the arterial system, it flows to every every organ and vessel in the body.
As the body's health depends on the healthy action of the heart, so does our spiritual and moral health. The word 'HEART' is metaphorically used in God's Word (depending on the context) to describe the mind, emotions, will, nature (sinful or redeemed), or the persons as a whole. This could be the reason that it is found so many times in the Bible. The English Word 'HEART' is is used 830 times in the King James version of the Bible but the Hebrew words translated 'HEART' are found 840 times in the Old Testament alone! When the Bible speaks about the heart it isn't referring to the physical function of the human heart, it is speaking about the center of the spiritual inner man, the seat of our emotions and desire.
Everything originates in the heart, what you believe, what you say and what you do! The heart is where the love of God (that is God in you) flows from you, back to Him and to others. It effects how you live, the relationships you have and the choices that you make! If our spiritual heart is healthy it will pump emotional health and well being into every area of life. We are who is in our heart! It is very clear that God is deeply concerned about the condition of our 'inner man'.
"Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as a man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Sam. 16:7. The Lord looks at the heart of the inner man, why is that important? because it is where our choices are made and our relationships are developed. Every thought, every word and every action proceeds from our heart!
"The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the result of his deeds." Her. 17: 9-10. The Bible reminds us that a heart not given to Godis full of deceit. The moral conduct and actions of our life are all determined by the condition of the heart. If the heart is pure, life will be pure, if the heart is corrupt, life will be corrupted. God searches our heart because He knows the heart of a man will effect the way he lives.
At The 'Heart' of Every Matter
The Bible tells us that the Heart is the "WELLSPRING OF LIFE". What is a well-spring? It is the place of origin that provides the life giving force that is necessary for someone or something (Webster). The Bible describes it this way: "22) For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body. 23) Watch over your heart with all diligence, for it is the well-spring of life. " Proverbs 4:22-23. There are millions of natural springs all over the world where water flows to the surface of the earth from deep underground rivers. It then accumulates in pools or run offs into creeks and streams. If you plug up a spring, you stop the flow of water. If you poison the water, the flow becomes toxic. In either situation, you threaten life downstream. Everything depends on the condition of the stream. Everything in your life is affected by the condition of your heart which is the well-spring of your life. If it is plugged up, the life giving flow of God's spirit will stop. If we allow it to get poisoned everything that flows from our spiritual heart will be affected. The condition of our spiritual well-spring also depends on the condition of the streams or our relationship with God who is the stream of living water!Conclusion
The Bible shares a journey of the 'spiritual heart' of God and mankind. It reveals that the heart is at everyone of God's thoughts, for He desires to "be" love (God is love) and loved in return by His creation. There isn't anything that is familiar to man that doesn't eventually reveal itself in the heart! Our warfare is not of the flesh it is a spiritual one that begins in the heart!
Next in this series: Part #2:
'THE HEALTHY SPIRITUAL HEART': In part two we will continue to examine the spiritual heart condition of the believer. We hope you will continue to follow along.
The Bible shares a journey of the 'spiritual heart' of God and mankind. It reveals that the heart is at everyone of God's thoughts, for He desires to "be" love (God is love) and loved in return by His creation. There isn't anything that is familiar to man that doesn't eventually reveal itself in the heart! Our warfare is not of the flesh it is a spiritual one that begins in the heart!
"Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path" Pr. 23:19
'THE HEALTHY SPIRITUAL HEART': In part two we will continue to examine the spiritual heart condition of the believer. We hope you will continue to follow along.
*******************************************
FORGING YOUR FAITH
To 'Forge' something, is to mold and shape something for suitable use. We believe that our lives are constantly being shaped and molded by the hand of God for His divine purpose! This publication strives to encourage believers who are beginning this process and those who are well into it! We also believe a truly successful life is a Christ-Centered Life! We hope you will join us and become a regular reader!
Thank You and God Bless,
Marianne Mauti
Founder and CAO
'Forging Your Faith' is the online Christian publication of 'Christ the King Church' in Bellevue, Pa.
About Marianne Mauti: Marianne is a writer and blogger as well as a Pastor at "Christ the King Church" in Bellevue, Pa. She is currently the Dean and Chief Operating Officer of "Christ the King Seminary" a full time Bible Institute. For more information about us please contact us at: crowncntr@aol.com
About Marianne Mauti: Marianne is a writer and blogger as well as a Pastor at "Christ the King Church" in Bellevue, Pa. She is currently the Dean and Chief Operating Officer of "Christ the King Seminary" a full time Bible Institute. For more information about us please contact us at: crowncntr@aol.com ***********************************************************
ARTICLE RESOURCES
ARTICLE RESOURCES
* The Bible
*Dr. George R. Beninate: Is Bishop of "Christ the King Church" in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A Doctor of Theology, Biblical Apologist, conference speaker, lecturer and my spiritual father.He is also the Author of several books including,"The Age of Glory", Thank you for your relentless pursuit of truth!
