But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and [ad]then all things are clean for you. Luke 11:39-41.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Many people are looking for My plan for their life on the outside, in other words, in terms of their job, the place in which they are to live, who they should marry, and all kinds of other information. This is important but not where you start. My plan for your life starts on the inside not on the outside. To find what to do on the outside, first you must go inside.
“The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.
What am I looking for in your heart? My image. I am looking for love. Pure simple innocent love. The love that makes you an overcomer. The love that makes you more than a conqueror in Me. And that is where our relationship starts, in your heart for you are already in My heart.
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3.
Love recognizes love and is drawn towards it like a magnet.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:20-21.
I am looking for hearts that are sensitive to My love.
For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are completely His. 2 Chronicles 16:9
It all starts in your heart, but it does not stay there. What is in your heart is who you are. Your mouth speaks from the abundance of your heart.
For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. Matthew 12:34-35.
From the heart flows the issues of life. If the tree is rotten inside its fruit is rotten. And here I am talking about your words and your actions as the fruit of your life. No matter how holy your station in life, like the Pharisees, priests and scribes of Jesus’ day, if your heart is not right, you will not be right. That is why I tell you that to be saved you must believe in your heart that I raised Jesus from the dead and then you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 8:8-10. But you notice it must be in the heart first before it gets to be something you are speaking sincerely with your mouth. For faith to work, you must first believe in your heart and then speak to release the good result.
But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14.
Think about the first parable Jesus told. It was about the sower sowing the Word, but where was he sowing it? Into hearts. And I identified four kinds of hearts and only one kind of heart bore a harvest and it was the good and generous heart.
But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an good and generous heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. Luke 8:15.
Jesus explained this to the religious leaders of His day who saw themselves as holy, superior and above scrutiny, using their position as an opportunity to enrich themselves from vulnerable members of the people they were to minister to in their sacred office.
In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.” Mark 12:38-40.
They found fault with Jesus and His disciples for not doing the traditional ritual washing of the hands before a meal while all the time as they pointed the finger in accusation at Him for breaking a “law” of their invention, they had unclean hands from the evil ways they freely took for their own what belonged to Me in the temple to build their own luxurious homes and indulge their private lusts.
Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you. But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” Luke 11:37-40.
On the outside it looked like they were living the divine plan for their lives by their office, but inside, where I see, they were not. But Jesus told them how to get it right so the inside would match the holy exterior. He told them to give what was within them as charity, to reach out to show compassion with justice and love of Me, to the widows and all those they served instead of taking their savings and impoverishing them. He was counseling them to be generous with their time and treasure with a heart turned to Me and their people and that would clean out the evil inside that had taken them captive.
Love covers a multitude of sins because love cleanses. I am love, and I am My Word. It is My Word that can renew your mind and wash all the filth that you collected since Adam out of your mind. If you pour enough Word into your cup to fill it up then the filth has to eventually flow out and the more you pour the faster it will go. I told Joshua to meditate on and speak My Word day and night and go no other direction and he would make his way prosperous and successful to take the Promised Land and he did.
Now if you have been having trouble with your thoughts and are being tormented by worry, strife, past mistakes, or just impure, angry, or immoral things, listen to what I am going to teach you: you need to learn how to set your mind just as you would a thermostat, a GPS, or an autopilot.
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-7.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4.
To set you minds on the things of the Spirit, you must know My Word and that takes some effort on your part but it has great reward. Great peace have those who keep their minds set on Me for I am your everlasting rock.
I will show you how to set your mind. The minute something arises in your mind either from within or without that causes you worry and agitation, lust or pulls you into darkness, immediately you turn to Me and cast that care or thought over to Me to help you put it down and to take care of you. Proclaim that I am your refuge, your protector and your fortress, that I am your God and you know that I work all things together for good for those who love Me and are called according the purpose, which is to be and do love since you are in My image and according to My likeness.
Learn how to rest in Me for answers and for deliverance from yourself and others. Set your mind on seeking Me in My Word constantly.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9.
If you do this, you will always be walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
I love you. It all starts in your heart because that is the place of worship in spirit and in truth. It is the place of answers for those who are humble of heart, like-minded with My Son. The heart connection is the place of perfect protection.