What defiles the heart

Mark 7:15, 17-23
Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “nothIng outsIde a man can make hIm unclean by goIng Into hIm, It Is what comes out of the man that makes hIm unclean"

What goes into the body, passes through the body. It goes in one end and comes out the other, but the actual ingredients of whatever being consumed does effect the persons spIrItual condItIon.

For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

So we learn...
It is not what you take into your body that defiles you (fatty foods, cIgarettes, etc), it is what comes out of the HEART! (anger, bitterness, jealousy, etc).

Of course, this is not an excuse to just do whatever you want with your life, because you can rest assured, if it doesn't line up with God's will, correction will come! We should be cautious, stay clear of temptation/evil by setting healthy boundaries, etc. But this note is regarding the things that God considers to be UNCLEAN

Example- If it were possible to drInk alcohol and not be drunk, actIng a fool and doIng evil things, then it would be alright to drInk. However, for many... consumIng too much alcohol, causes them to act in unholy ways- THIS reaction to the alcohol is what defiles us!!! We should learn that drInkIng Itself is not the bad thIng.

Another example for men..
If it were possible to look at a naked woman wIthout lust, then looking wouldn't be the problem.. because there is nothing wrong with the nakedness of a woman. However, because of our sinful nature, we wIll look on that image and lust, which is the sin!

External things are not evil. It is what we do with them, that is, our actions which come OUT of us, that defile us.

1 Cor. 10:23,
All things are lawful for us, but all things are not good for us/benIfIcIal to us...

Rom. 14:1-15:1. They use rules as fences to restrain their flesh, just as the ancient Jews did. Their manmade rules are not binding on you. But, you are free to live for the Lord as He leads you. We must not forget, however, that we should not offend our brother in the things we do.

Legalism, Phariseeism and those who try to ENFORCE their rules on others, should read this (Matt. 23:1-36 Jesus talking to religious leaders)

We need to be careful not to pass judgment on those who don’t keep the same rules as us. HavIng more compassion, sympathy and acceptance wIll help us buIld the church, rather than havIng people run from It! Help others to get closer to God and let him do the rest! Teach them that grace does not come by human effort, but rather Its our close relationship with the Lord that provides him with the opportunity to make the changes in us all!

Now back to the FILTH.. what defiles??

In 2 cor21-23, Jesus gives us a partial list of the attitudes and actions that cause spiritual defilement. These are the things that make us unclean in the sight of God.

Let’s examine this list and see what condition our own hearts are in today:

Evil Thoughts – This is the root of all that follows. When an evil heart musters up evil intentions, the evil person will carry them out.

Adulteries/FornIcators/Lust – ThIs Includes all sexual sin (whether thought about of actually done). Laying with someone other than your spouse, WatchIng Pornography, looking at woman/men with lust, etc.

Murders – The taking of another’s life. By the way, you are guilty of murder if you have hatred in your heart toward another person

Thefts – Taking that which belongs to another for your own use.

Covetousness – A craving for that which belongs to another.

Wickedness – It refers to all the ways that evil thought manifest themselves in a person’s life. It is deliberate acts of meanness!

Deceit – It is the idea of someone trying to work undercover to bring someone else down.

An Evil Eye – This speaks of envy and jealousy. It looks at the blessings of another and desires them for itself.

Blasphemy – injurious speech directed at either God or man. Gossip fall into this category.

Pride – The boastful exalting of oneself. It’s the attitude that says, “Look at me, see what I have done.The opposite of humility.

Foolishness – They cannot see their sins, nor can they sense the Lord working in and around them.

We were all unclean by the thIngs we have done In the past.. and even sIn we commIt today... SIn Is dIrty and we are all guIlty of It.. ALL!! But we were cleaned at salvatIon, and can be cleased daIly by admIttIng our sIn and askIng God to forgIve us!

So If you are battlIng wIth any of the above fIlth, and want to be FREED.. don't beat yourself up over it... turn to GOD, Repent and ask hIm to cleanse your heart!! Go to him now, he takes us "AS IS". He won't complain about our condition, wanting to trade us in, he loves us!!!.. and he wants to do the work In us that we couldn't do for ourselves. That way he gets the glory for the miraculous work he's done in your lIfe!

Ezekiel 36:26-29 NLT
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. You will be my people, and I will be your God!. I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior.

He doesn't say, fIx yourself before you come to me... he says COME AS YOU ARE!

Dont ever belIeve the lIe that you are not ready yet. You wIll never be ready on your own... Invite Christ into you heart today!!. And put your trust in him to make the changes in you :)
And if you have already been saved by grace, you''re already victorious bc of what he dId for you! So don't feel down on yourself because you have struggles.. just take your struggles to hIm! NONE OF US measure up in our own strength. we need JESUS!!

Prayer- Thank you Lord for your cleansing power- I love what you have done with me. You were able to transform me from a dirty lost mess Into an unrecognizable amazing, powerful, beautIful and purIfIed servant. I know you love me and I give you all the glory for what you've done in me. I feel so privileged and Important to be selected by you! And it only took 20 years for you to grow my faith Into what It Is today! Yay! ha

I remember the day, many many years ago, when I was so filled with your spirit.. kneelIng down on the cement, wIth my hands lIfted high sayIng aloud... "Use me God! Choose me God! Im yours!!!" And now that request has become a realIty. I always feel so close to you.. when you move, I move, when you speak, I speak! I have goosebumps on my arms and tears of joy in my eyes as I type this love letter to you.

I feel you walkIng me Into somethIng bIg. It's definitely somethIng too bIg for me!!. but Im not scared because I know your with me.. You know I am content right where I am, but I will go wherever you lead me to go. I trust you! ContInue to hold me tIght and lead the way my King!

Oh! And Thank you for answering my prayers last night for mom. Your gentle touch was a perfect little miracle for her :) All my love, KV

Created 9 months ago