The Condition of the Heart

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Jesus was calling the Pharisees snakes, and did so to their face. Saying how can you, being so evil speak good things. Peoples words reveal their thoughts and character whether it be good or bad thoughts.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks means, the heart is speaking words of good or words of evil out of this abundance of what the mind has allowed from the thoughts to enter the heart. When we speak evil it is not good because it reveals wrong intentions in our heart. We need to consciously determine not to let the bad thoughts enter our heart.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Christians who’s talk is constantly doubt are releasing death and problems into their lives. Those who speak God’s word and positive things of God speak life. The way you think can change your life by changing your heart. These statements illustrate the power words have. What a person says will often return to him or her in some way. Adding or subtracting from their life. Our speech does have consequences.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Every idle, which means thoughtless, word that we speak, talking about claims of righteousness which do not exist, shall be given judged in the day of judgement. Whatever is in the heart eventually comes out of the mouth. Abundance means an excess or overflow and refers to the core of the nature of a person that will eventually surface.

For by your words you shall be justified, when we speak love in Christ, he hears us and it will also be remembered on the day of judgement. This is a confession of Christ and the price that he paid on the cross will justify any person. The term by your words you shall be condemned is a confession of anything other than Christ and the cross will be condemned.

Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Hardening of the heart will cause you to do things you would never do before your heart hardened. It can cause you to go astray. A broken and contrite heart produces a happiness that only God can give. The hardened heart cannot be reached by the Holy Spirit. We must as believers be totally dedicated to have a soft heart and a fixed mindset on the Lord. We must have the word of God as our standard, following Him seeking His will for our life.

Jerimiah 17: 9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

God knows the hopeless intent and corruption of the natural heart. The Lord searches our heart, only God can know our heart. I try the reins I referring to the Lord allowing certain things to take place according to the disposition of the person involved.

The Lord knows all things, in other words, what is in the heart of man, even before man knows his own heart. In order that man I not able to say that he was unjustly judged the Lord allows events to transpire, which always reveals exactly what is in the heart, whether good or bad.

The word of God proves the desperate wickedness of the human heart. We can see the primary characteristics of being in the flesh with a hardened heart as an absolute inability to please God.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

If one chooses to operate in an unrestrained behavior known as the works of the flesh, it implies that we are not allowing ourselves to be led by the Spirit. As we invite the Holy Spirit to direct us, he enables us to defeat the power of the flesh more and more so we can walk in the way of freedom and righteousness.

The works of the flesh fall into three categories. Sensual sin, spiritual sin, and social sin. These wicked deeds are clearly seen, evident to the eye and performed out in the open. Notice that most works of the flesh are social sins. It is in our personal relationships that the desire of the flesh often reacts.

If one is walking in the flesh, one or more of the sins will manifest themselves in our life. The only way to walk in perpetual victory is to understand that everything we do by the power of the Holy Spirit. He works exclusively within the confines of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, and will exert His might power on our behalf, enabling us to live a holy life.

If you are struggling to love others, walk righteously, and overcome the desires of the flesh, God has given you help. As a believer, you can call on the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and help you overcome.