HOW TO DEVELOP A HEART THAT IS GOD-SENSITIVE
THE STONY HEART VERSUS THE HEART OF FLESH
By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi
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 an heart of flesh."
The word 'heart' as used in this scripture is the Hebrew word 'leb' which means feelings, the will and even the intellect; the centre of anything , willingly,understanding . There are two kinds of hearts spoken of in the scriptures , the first is the 'stony heart' which is a heart that is unwilling, lacks an understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit. This heart is insensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and prone to errors.
In a bid to be like their heathen , the Israelites abandoned the teachings of God's word and embraced heathenish ideologies which promoted self-preservation against God's principles of love for one's neighbours and selflessness. The same is commonly practiced by Christians who believe that the bible is insufficient in preserving life and therefore the need to embrace non-biblical theology . These persons have more confidence in members of their fraternity than in the church of Christ and the word of God. The Israelites suffered terrible disappointments, shame and defeat in the hands of their enemies as a result of the state of their hearts.
God's word contains the solution to all of man's problems and they are given in the form of instructions through the instructors. The scriptures says in Ephesians 4:11-12 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ". The word 'edifying' is the Greek word 'oikodome' which means; architecture, a structure; confirmation, building. This means the Christian is a glorious edifice or building under construction and this is done through materials made available to us through dreams and visions we receive from the lord, however, the daunting task of knowing which and what to apply and the right time to take certain actions requires our collaboration with spiritual architects, that's where these messengers of God come in. Through their counsels , the process of the building of the structures that constitute our lives is facilitated.
The fellow with a stony heart hates instructors and therefore deprived of useful instructions (Proverbs 12:1) They hate teaching ministries because therein are their flaws exposed, the scriptures says in Proverbs 15: 12 "A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise". It is one's exposure to the teaching of the truth of God's word that softens the heart. This truth often comes as a bitter pill to swallow, the scriptures says in Rev.10:10 "And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter." at first attendance to the teaching of God’s tastes pleasant until it gets to the point where it places a demand on us. This is when the selfish part of our lives is being replaced with Christ's divine nature of sacrificial love .
It is an unpleasant experience but those who go through the process turn out the better. Unfortunately, this is when many quit and miss out on their healing in marriages, bodies, jobs, finances, relationships, ministry ,family and communities. 2 Timothy.4: 3 says "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" This is as a result of the deceitfulness of riches, which Satan often uses as a bait to ensnare God’s people. Money looses its value where there are stony hearted persons. The scriptures says in Mark 4:19 "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" Satan often says" if you had more money, everything will be fine" but money cannot guarantee your living to see the next day, only God can. Therefore, it is the love of money that is the root of the evils of the stony heart , the scriptures says in 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
This is what leads to spiritual blindness, where actions are taking without considering their consequences , Jesus said in Jn 12: 40" He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." Satan is the one behind our spiritual blindness and it is by God’s permission when a person becomes stony hearted (2Cor.4:4,2Thes.2:9-12). A lot of marriages in the church are buckling under the weight of the stony hearts and they are characterized by excessive complaints, a lackluster attitude towards church activities and indifference to the feelings of one's spouse. When couples stop placing the acquisition of material wealth above a stable relationship with God based on a personal understanding of His word through Jesus Christ, stony hearts become hearts of flesh which is the second kind of heart that the scriptures speak of in Ezekiel.36. 26
The scriptures says in Ezekiel 36:25 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." and in Ephesians 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," the word of God softens the heart, just as water softens mortar or clay used by architects during a building process, therefore, the more couples engage themselves in the word of God the more they tend to understand and love each other. It is for this reason that we are admonished to pray to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (col.1:9)
We should also consciously learn to put our treasures in God's hands by so doing our hearts become conscious of His presence. Luke 12:34 says " For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. " Money is a treasure that gains control over our hearts, therefore giving one's resources for the furtherance of the preaching of the gospel and catering for the poor is a way of giving one's heart to the lord. It is crucial to having a stable relationship. Giving is a characteristic of the heart of flesh. This heart is quick to forgive and understands spiritual mysteries and is a great tool in the hands of the lord in the confirmation of the truth of the gospel through great signs and wonders. The heart of flesh can easily receive a miracle from God.
As you read this now receive grace for a heart of flesh in Jesus name.
Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi
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 an heart of flesh."
The word 'heart' as used in this scripture is the Hebrew word 'leb' which means feelings, the will and even the intellect; the centre of anything , willingly,understanding . There are two kinds of hearts spoken of in the scriptures , the first is the 'stony heart' which is a heart that is unwilling, lacks an understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit. This heart is insensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and prone to errors.
In a bid to be like their heathen , the Israelites abandoned the teachings of God's word and embraced heathenish ideologies which promoted self-preservation against God's principles of love for one's neighbours and selflessness. The same is commonly practiced by Christians who believe that the bible is insufficient in preserving life and therefore the need to embrace non-biblical theology . These persons have more confidence in members of their fraternity than in the church of Christ and the word of God. The Israelites suffered terrible disappointments, shame and defeat in the hands of their enemies as a result of the state of their hearts.
God's word contains the solution to all of man's problems and they are given in the form of instructions through the instructors. The scriptures says in Ephesians 4:11-12 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ". The word 'edifying' is the Greek word 'oikodome' which means; architecture, a structure; confirmation, building. This means the Christian is a glorious edifice or building under construction and this is done through materials made available to us through dreams and visions we receive from the lord, however, the daunting task of knowing which and what to apply and the right time to take certain actions requires our collaboration with spiritual architects, that's where these messengers of God come in. Through their counsels , the process of the building of the structures that constitute our lives is facilitated.
The fellow with a stony heart hates instructors and therefore deprived of useful instructions (Proverbs 12:1) They hate teaching ministries because therein are their flaws exposed, the scriptures says in Proverbs 15: 12 "A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise". It is one's exposure to the teaching of the truth of God's word that softens the heart. This truth often comes as a bitter pill to swallow, the scriptures says in Rev.10:10 "And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter." at first attendance to the teaching of God’s tastes pleasant until it gets to the point where it places a demand on us. This is when the selfish part of our lives is being replaced with Christ's divine nature of sacrificial love .
It is an unpleasant experience but those who go through the process turn out the better. Unfortunately, this is when many quit and miss out on their healing in marriages, bodies, jobs, finances, relationships, ministry ,family and communities. 2 Timothy.4: 3 says "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" This is as a result of the deceitfulness of riches, which Satan often uses as a bait to ensnare God’s people. Money looses its value where there are stony hearted persons. The scriptures says in Mark 4:19 "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" Satan often says" if you had more money, everything will be fine" but money cannot guarantee your living to see the next day, only God can. Therefore, it is the love of money that is the root of the evils of the stony heart , the scriptures says in 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
This is what leads to spiritual blindness, where actions are taking without considering their consequences , Jesus said in Jn 12: 40" He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." Satan is the one behind our spiritual blindness and it is by God’s permission when a person becomes stony hearted (2Cor.4:4,2Thes.2:9-12). A lot of marriages in the church are buckling under the weight of the stony hearts and they are characterized by excessive complaints, a lackluster attitude towards church activities and indifference to the feelings of one's spouse. When couples stop placing the acquisition of material wealth above a stable relationship with God based on a personal understanding of His word through Jesus Christ, stony hearts become hearts of flesh which is the second kind of heart that the scriptures speak of in Ezekiel.36. 26
The scriptures says in Ezekiel 36:25 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." and in Ephesians 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," the word of God softens the heart, just as water softens mortar or clay used by architects during a building process, therefore, the more couples engage themselves in the word of God the more they tend to understand and love each other. It is for this reason that we are admonished to pray to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (col.1:9)
We should also consciously learn to put our treasures in God's hands by so doing our hearts become conscious of His presence. Luke 12:34 says " For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. " Money is a treasure that gains control over our hearts, therefore giving one's resources for the furtherance of the preaching of the gospel and catering for the poor is a way of giving one's heart to the lord. It is crucial to having a stable relationship. Giving is a characteristic of the heart of flesh. This heart is quick to forgive and understands spiritual mysteries and is a great tool in the hands of the lord in the confirmation of the truth of the gospel through great signs and wonders. The heart of flesh can easily receive a miracle from God.
As you read this now receive grace for a heart of flesh in Jesus name.
Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
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