OUR HEARTS CONTROL OUR BODIES :
Mark 7:15, "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man."
All of the Old Testament dietary laws were shadows (or pictures) of spiritual truths which would become realities in the New Covenant. These Pharisees (as well as many Christians today) missed all of the spiritual significance of these laws and saw only the physical act.
The real spiritual meaning that these Old Testament dietary laws symbolized was that we were supposed to be holy (separated) unto God in everything - even what we eat. Under the Old Testament law, it was forbidden to eat or to touch certain animals, not because there was anything wrong with the animals, but to illustrate the point of being separated unto God and to serve as a constant reminder of this separation. Under the New Testament, we see that no animal is, or ever was, unclean of itself. The Old Testament designation of certain animals as unclean was purely symbolic, and this is why Jesus could make this statement.
Jesus' statements here refer to more than just the clean and unclean beasts of the Old Testament. He said nothing which enters into a man through his mouth can defile him. This statement cannot be interpreted, however, as condoning any type of abuse we would like to give our body such as gluttony, drug abuse, etc. Rather, Jesus is simply explaining that the condition of the heart of man should be given preeminence over the physical body. The heart of man controls the body of man, not the other way around. Sin doesn't make our heart corrupt, but a corrupt heart makes us sin. God looks on our hearts, and our cleanliness or defilement in His sight is dependent solely on whether or not we have been made clean in our spirits by the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
GOD IS LOVINGLY SHAPING ….
Sometimes people don’t feel worthy, they don’t feel “good enough” for God. But oftentimes, this pressure to be perfect comes from our own misconceptions. We think that if we are perfect enough, then we will be accepted. But God isn’t looking for us to be perfect; He’s looking for us to receive His perfect love. First, you have to understand that His love for you isn’t based on your performance; it’s based on who He is. He never changes, and His love never changes.
The Bible says that we are His creation. The Bible says we are His work of art. Think about an artist who creates a beautiful painting. You have to imagine that he thinks about the image he is going to produce long before he ever sees it on the canvas. He carefully places every brush stroke with the entire painting in mind. Maybe there are times when other people see his “work in progress” and they can’t quite tell what it’s going to be, but the artist always knows exactly what he is doing. And then when his masterpiece is complete, he is so proud of his work! He loves his beautiful creation! He’s poured himself into every stroke.
Now think about this: The painting doesn’t have to actually do anything to earn the love of the artist. The artist doesn’t love it because it receives a special award or earns him money in an auction. No, the artist loves the painting because he created it with his own hands exactly the way he wanted it.
I want you to remember today that the greatest artist of all time created you. He dreamed about you long before you were born, before a single brush stroke of your life took place. You may have days when you can’t quite tell what He’s creating on the canvas of your destiny, but He knows. He is pouring Himself into you, lovingly shaping every part of your life into an amazing masterpiece.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)
PRESS PAST THE MOUNTAIN:
The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.’ - Deuteronomy 1:6, NIV
Have you been facing a mountain for so long that you feel like you are just sort of stuck there? Maybe at one time you knew you would break that addiction. You knew you would beat that sickness. You knew you would get married. But, you’ve gone through disappointments. It didn’t happen the way you thought.
Today, God is saying to you what He said to the people of Israel. “You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.” It’s time to move forward. God has new levels in front of you, new opportunities, new relationships, promotions, breakthroughs. But, you’ve got to stir up your fire. You’ve got to get a vision for victory. The dreams, the promises that you’ve pushed down and thought, “Oh, it’s not going to happen. I’m too old. I don’t have the connections. I don’t know the right people,” God has it all figured out. If you will start believing again, start dreaming again, start pursuing what God put in your heart, God will make a way where you don’t see a way. Press past the mountain and move forward into victory!
LORD'S MANNA FOR THE DAY :
Ruth 2:12 Amplified Bible (AMP) The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge!
John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Mark 7:15, "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man."
All of the Old Testament dietary laws were shadows (or pictures) of spiritual truths which would become realities in the New Covenant. These Pharisees (as well as many Christians today) missed all of the spiritual significance of these laws and saw only the physical act.
The real spiritual meaning that these Old Testament dietary laws symbolized was that we were supposed to be holy (separated) unto God in everything - even what we eat. Under the Old Testament law, it was forbidden to eat or to touch certain animals, not because there was anything wrong with the animals, but to illustrate the point of being separated unto God and to serve as a constant reminder of this separation. Under the New Testament, we see that no animal is, or ever was, unclean of itself. The Old Testament designation of certain animals as unclean was purely symbolic, and this is why Jesus could make this statement.
Jesus' statements here refer to more than just the clean and unclean beasts of the Old Testament. He said nothing which enters into a man through his mouth can defile him. This statement cannot be interpreted, however, as condoning any type of abuse we would like to give our body such as gluttony, drug abuse, etc. Rather, Jesus is simply explaining that the condition of the heart of man should be given preeminence over the physical body. The heart of man controls the body of man, not the other way around. Sin doesn't make our heart corrupt, but a corrupt heart makes us sin. God looks on our hearts, and our cleanliness or defilement in His sight is dependent solely on whether or not we have been made clean in our spirits by the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
GOD IS LOVINGLY SHAPING ….
Sometimes people don’t feel worthy, they don’t feel “good enough” for God. But oftentimes, this pressure to be perfect comes from our own misconceptions. We think that if we are perfect enough, then we will be accepted. But God isn’t looking for us to be perfect; He’s looking for us to receive His perfect love. First, you have to understand that His love for you isn’t based on your performance; it’s based on who He is. He never changes, and His love never changes.
The Bible says that we are His creation. The Bible says we are His work of art. Think about an artist who creates a beautiful painting. You have to imagine that he thinks about the image he is going to produce long before he ever sees it on the canvas. He carefully places every brush stroke with the entire painting in mind. Maybe there are times when other people see his “work in progress” and they can’t quite tell what it’s going to be, but the artist always knows exactly what he is doing. And then when his masterpiece is complete, he is so proud of his work! He loves his beautiful creation! He’s poured himself into every stroke.
Now think about this: The painting doesn’t have to actually do anything to earn the love of the artist. The artist doesn’t love it because it receives a special award or earns him money in an auction. No, the artist loves the painting because he created it with his own hands exactly the way he wanted it.
I want you to remember today that the greatest artist of all time created you. He dreamed about you long before you were born, before a single brush stroke of your life took place. You may have days when you can’t quite tell what He’s creating on the canvas of your destiny, but He knows. He is pouring Himself into you, lovingly shaping every part of your life into an amazing masterpiece.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)
PRESS PAST THE MOUNTAIN:
The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.’ - Deuteronomy 1:6, NIV
Have you been facing a mountain for so long that you feel like you are just sort of stuck there? Maybe at one time you knew you would break that addiction. You knew you would beat that sickness. You knew you would get married. But, you’ve gone through disappointments. It didn’t happen the way you thought.
Today, God is saying to you what He said to the people of Israel. “You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.” It’s time to move forward. God has new levels in front of you, new opportunities, new relationships, promotions, breakthroughs. But, you’ve got to stir up your fire. You’ve got to get a vision for victory. The dreams, the promises that you’ve pushed down and thought, “Oh, it’s not going to happen. I’m too old. I don’t have the connections. I don’t know the right people,” God has it all figured out. If you will start believing again, start dreaming again, start pursuing what God put in your heart, God will make a way where you don’t see a way. Press past the mountain and move forward into victory!
LORD'S MANNA FOR THE DAY :
Ruth 2:12 Amplified Bible (AMP) The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge!
John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
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