We are all born with hearts and it's up to us what we do with them. Earlier today, I was flooded with the realization that this is what our problem is. All of us have good hearts, God created them! We simply have them in the wrong place. What I mean by that is we live with them as if WE can create, through others and things, the happiness and desires we so long for. Therefore, over time they have become hardened by us searching for our joy within this world. We search for our happiness in People. Things. Money. Fame. Affairs. Education. Careers. Porn. Control. And the list could go on and on. That is at the very CORE ROOT of human beings issues. When we are born, we are born with a flesh that is alive and a spirit that is dead. Okay, don't freak out! But, do pay close attention. About two weeks ago as I was reading I came upon this Scripture and the Holy Spirit highlighted two words in a verse like never before. (I was reading in a side-by-side of KJV and Amplified Version.)
KJV I Corinthians 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
AMP I Corinthians 15:8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one prematurely and born dead [no better than an unperfected fetus among living men].
Okay, the two words highlighted were: born dead. BORN DEAD
Wow! That shed some light. In fact, it glared one of the biggest LED lights that I'd ever seen! What Paul, the writer of this letter to the Corinthians was speaking about is when Jesus appeared to him. You see Paul was going around leading a mission persecuting the people that followed Christ. Yes, Paul, the writer of most of the New Testament was leading the way of torturing and imprisoning the Christians, before his encounter with the Lord. And on his way to Damascus to persecute more Christians, out of no where, the Lord appeared to Paul. He describes that encounter in I Corinthians 15:8, as one born out of due time or born dead or an unperfected fetus among living men. Now that little nugget of information was incredibly enlightening! Amazing. It's been there in the Bible all these years and I never knew. Immediately I realized I was born with living flesh and a dead spirit. Which then led to the deeper understanding of an earlier realization I had that when we are all born, we are born headed straight for hell. Which Scripturally is death. So what the Holy Spirit did for me was He connected the dots which led to a deeper understanding.
That makes Scriptures like:
NKJV Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
NKJV Galatians 5:24-25 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
NKJV Ephesians 2:1-10 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
NKJV Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
NKJV Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
NKJV Romans 8:5-8 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
come ALIVE to me! That one golden nugget of information that we are born with a flesh that is alive and a spirit that is dead cleared even more residue off the lenses I had been seeing life with.
Romans 8:7-8 gives us an incredible amount of knowledge in just two short sentences. Have you ever realized that if you are living of your flesh that YOU ARE enmity AGAINST GOD and cannot please him? Don't take my word for it, take God's Word for it.
This is just one example of how Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, makes me fall in love with Him more and more everyday. Just when you think you can't possibly love someone anymore than you already do - BAM! He pulls another fast one over on you and you are deeper in love with Jesus than you already were. Oh, how I love Him! Those moments when He opens my eyes and heart just a sliver more than He did the last time are what I yearn to experience. He is nothing short of superfragilisticexpealodochtious! Or however one would go about spelling that word! :)
So, in summary - when one is born into this world they are born with a dead spirit. There is only one person that can quicken that dead spirit. That is the Lord Himself, Jesus Christ! So, no matter how old you are or what you have been reaping in the flesh, it is never too late (as long as you are breathing) to surrender your whole being to Jesus. Your entire life. Jesus has already done all the work for you. He lived on this Earth and suffered the worst persecution of any of us. So He completely understands why you have been conducting yourself the way you have been. He died for YOU so He wouldn't have to hold it against you. He took all your sins and bad choices to the cross with Him. He suffered the punishment you deserve so you wouldn't have to.
Think of it this way. He is the Creator of all things. He even created your desires. Now, you might not know it quite yet, but your biggest desire that you have been longing for all your life is...Him! Jesus Christ is who your heart has longed for all your life, Jesus Christ has the only love that fulfills COMPLETELY! Many of you have acknowledged Him as your Creator but have yet to come to know Him as Savior. {Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.} Will you turn from your way and believe Christ?
KJV Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Living in His Love,
Angie
Grace and Space for you and for others, always, no matter what it looks like!
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