15/10/2020

Mat 5 v 21-32; Acts 7 v 39-60; Ps 12 v 1-8; Gen 29 v 1 - 30 v 43
The Lord's dwelling place

“The most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands…” (Acts 7 v 48)

Prior to Jesus’ fulfilling of the law, it was required to bring a sin offering, as penance, before the Lord.

The people of those days were required to keep the law of Moses, which consisted of 613 laws and included circumcision, while it is written that the law of Christ, which is a spiritual law, involves a circumcision of the heart.

He taught that if you are angry with your brother, you are guilty before the court of law, while lusting after a woman in your heart is considered adultery. Stephen also taught that their fathers’ hearts turned back to Egypt and seeking other gods, they made a calf in the wilderness, which they worshipped.

The law which they received, they didn’t keep and not only did they kill the One who would come to set their hearts free, they also persecuted the prophets who foretold His coming and now Stephen would also have to pay with his life, because of their uncircumcised hearts.

David wrote about the falsehood of the people and how they spoke with a double heart and boasted with confidence. It is clear that the heart isn’t just a pump and that our thoughts generate from within our heart, before manifesting in our minds. Just look at the below scriptures:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) [ESV]

“The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) [NIV]

“But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4) [NLT]

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23)

“And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.” (Genesis 8:21) [KJV]

If the Lord doesn’t dwell in houses made by human hands, where else does He abide other than in our hearts? How then, can a righteous God dwell in our corrupt hearts?

Our sinful nature puts us at enmity with God and it is only through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit that He can renew our heart and mind, allowing you to “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (life), AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND (thought, understanding), AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’” (Mark 12:30) [AMP]

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by “The Lockman Foundation“