Christian Living

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The Abundance of the Heart

Dec 2, 2002
By Rick L King

I have heard many teachings on the importance of what we speak. I agree that what we speak is wrong at times. I want to submit to you that our words are spoken because of what is in our heart. The words are not as much the problem as they are just the fruit of our hearts. Our hearts are the real problem.

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. (KJV)
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (KJV)

In the above scripture we find that we speak because of the abundance in our hearts. Let’s first look at the word abundance and then the word heart. I have listed the Greek translations to these words from the Online Bible Greek Lexicon so that we may have a better understanding of what scripture is really saying here.

Abundance- abundance, in which one delights
1a) of that which fills the heart

Heart-
2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors
2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
2b3) of the will and character
2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions

The abundance then means what ever fills our heart. If whatever fills the heart is what we speak, then we may say that whoever or whatever rules our thoughts will be behind all the words we speak. The heart is our soul or mind, thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors. These can be good or bad as the translation says. So what is scripture then telling us? It is saying that the words that we speak are only the fruit of what is in our heart. I have heard often that we need to learn to speak correct things. We need to speak words in accordance with God’s Word. The problem here is that when our hearts are full of other things, this becomes quite difficult to do. Learning to speak correctly based on our efforts is missing the real problem. The words we speak are just the surface problem of a root deep within. If our heart is right our words will be right also. For us to continually strive to speak correctly does not go to the real root of the problem. We are told:

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

If Jesus is increased and we are decreased then it is no longer us that does things, it is Christ within us. It is not us living it is Christ living in us. If we are no longer living, and self is dead; how can self be the one that must rule our thoughts and words? When we out of self, try to keep speaking the correct words, we are missing the point. Self needs to die out, not be given something else to do. In Philippians 2:5 above I have continually taught on the word “let”. The word let implies that we must choose to have the mind of Christ, as it is not automatic when we accept Jesus as Savior. For us to let His mind be in us, we must choose to allow Him to rule our thoughts. We must choose to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to us and acting on what He says instead of our carnal worldly mind. There is definitely a choice here. The second word in the above scripture is the word “this”. The use of this word implies that if we must choose this mind, then we have others to also choose from. We can choose our carnal mind, or we can choose an evil mind. Our carnal mind is fleshly. An evil mind is demonic. We can have then three different minds.
1. the mind of Christ
2. the mind of self…our natural carnal mind
3. the mind of demonic spirits

The mind that we have is only determined by which we choose or “let” be in us. In actuality then whatever we allow to rule our minds is whom we choose to allow to be the Lord of our minds. Whomever we allow to be Lord, we are a servant to and will speak those things that our lord speaks. These can then be evil, or carnal, or good. In 2 Cor 10:5, we are told to cast down imaginations (thoughts) and bring all of our thoughts into the obedience of Christ. Doing this implies a choice we make again. Do we “let” the mind of Christ be in us or do we allow our carnal thoughts or the demonic suggestions of the demon spirits to rule our minds? We must cast down the ones that are not in obedience to Christ. When our mind is right, our words will be right, as by the abundance (whatever fills our mind or thoughts) of our heart (our mind or thoughts etc) our mouth will then speak.

Jesus said that the carnal mind is enmity against God. (Romans 8:7)KJV
He also said that to whomever we yield our self to, to them we are servants (Romans 6:16) KJV
Also He said in:
Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

For us to then say that we can make our fruit good by self-actions then we are against the Word of God. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. To say then that we must say the correct words through our own ability is then against the Word of God. Jesus said that we need to take an ax to the root of the tree (Mat 3:10). The bad trees in us must be cut down at the root. The Holy Spirit is the one that will do this in us as we yield to Christ. As we keep surrendering and allowing the Holy Spirit to rule within us, then he will take the axe to the things within us that are of self or of demon spirits. This is His job, not ours. We decrease and he increases. When the tree that grows and lives in us is Jesus Christ, we will by nature speak the correct words. Jesus in us will have only good fruit as a good tree can only bear good fruit.

The bottom line then to this teaching is this. What is in our heart is the root of the words we speak. The whole teaching of the Bible tells us that we must die to self and allow Jesus to be Lord. If we could just learn to do the crying out to God for Him to change us, we would find that we no longer live and Christ would be living within us. As we allow Him to rule our minds through the Holy Spirit our words would become words that would line up with God’s words. It would be Jesus by the Holy Spirit speaking in us and not us. Our heart or mind and thoughts would be full of Him, which can only bear good fruit.

I do not know any people that are totally dead to self. The apostle Paul even said that he died daily. He had the same problem that we have today. We were saved by grace and not by our works that will allow us to boast. It is not what we do; it is what God does by His Grace. Religion keeps trying to say that it is what we must do. We cannot keep the law that is why Christ came. He keeps the law in and through us, as He alone becomes our Lord. We are told to walk in the Spirit and then we would not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16). When the Holy Spirit rules, our carnal mind and any demonic mind that we may have no longer can produce fruit. It actually dies out. The whole key is for us to humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to rule. As we give up our control and any control that a demon spirit has as a stronghold, Jesus can then be in control. Not until! Our heart will change, and then our words will also change.



Copyright © 2007
By: Rick L. King
No portion of this may be reproduced or used without written permission from the author.
Please contact me at [email protected] if you have a need for this writing. Thank You.

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