Choices of The Heart
(Week 28/09)
Olubi Johnson
In our last article, we saw that we can obtain a better resurrection by daily walking and praying effectually and fervently in the spirit, so sowing greater measures of the life of God into our souls and bodies that will cause us to reap a greater resurrection harvest.
This week, we will see how the choices of our hearts or wills are shaping our destinies: determining where we live spiritually, the quality of our spiritual work and so the order and glory of our resurrection and eternal reward.
Romans 2:14-16 ESV For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. (15) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (16) on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
2 Chronicles 16:9 GNB The LORD keeps close watch over the whole world, to give strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly, and so from now on you will always be at war.”
Genesis 20:6 ESV Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.
Proverbs 4:23 ESV Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
It is vital to make sure that your heart and your mouth are in spiritual resonance: are saying the same thing so releasing the life of God into your soul, body and circumstances and so shaping your destiny:
Matthew 15:8 “‘This people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
So, the choices of our hearts determine the measure of the grace and mercy of God that is given to us, which in turn determines the measure of the life of God released into our spirits, souls and bodies, which then determines where we are living spiritually.
Proverbs 4:23 GNB Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
So, where we live spiritually is determined by the measure of the life of God in our spirits, souls and bodies.
All Christians have the life of God flowing in their spirits, but not all have the life of God consistently flowing in their souls and bodies.
Christians who have the life of God only flowing in their spirits but not their souls and bodies: such Christians live in the outer court.
Christians that have the life of God consistently flowing in their souls: mind, will and emotions have the spirit of wisdom and revelation, their understanding being enlightened by that life of God:
Ephesians 1:17-18 ESV: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, (18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
These Christians live in the Holy place.
Christians that have the life of God consistently flowing in their physical bodies:
2 Corinthians 4:10-11: Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (11) For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh;
Live in the Most Holy place.
Furthermore, those who sometimes have a small measure of the life of God in their souls visit or work in the Holy place but do not live there.
Those who sometimes experience a small measure of the life of God in their bodies visit or work in the Most Holy place but do not live there.
Now, it is where you live consistently that determines the order of your resurrection:
Outer court – post millennial resurrection – symbolized by wood, earth, hay and stubble (1 Cor. 3.11-15; 2 Tim. 2.20).
Holy place – post tribulation resurrection – symbolized by silver.
Most Holy place – pre tribulation resurrection – symbolized by gold.
So, Paul exhorts us to deeper and purer Christian lives, as the degree of the purity of our lives which is determined by the measure of the life of God that is consistently working in our souls and bodies will determine our eternal reward shown in the order and glory of our resurrection.
In our article next week, we will see how the choices of our hearts determine the works we do.
