{"id":1622,"date":"2016-07-06T15:26:40","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T15:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chadstutzman.net\/?p=1622"},"modified":"2016-07-06T15:26:40","modified_gmt":"2016-07-06T15:26:40","slug":"the-heart-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chadstutzman.com\/?p=1622","title":{"rendered":"The Heart of God"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past week I spent 6 days working with Hope Reigns doing disaster flood relief in West Virginia.\u00a0 This is the third trip I have done with Hope Reigns.\u00a0 They are a division of Eight Days of Hope<\/a> a non-profit organization that helps communities rebuild after a disaster.<\/p>\n

Every morning the volunteers gather and someone shares a message or devotional and we pray together before heading out to the projects.\u00a0 In the evening after we eat together we have a time of worship and a message and more prayer.<\/p>\n

On Monday July 4th I shared a devotional with the volunteers in the morning.\u00a0 We had been talking about the heart of God and understanding how amazing his heart is.\u00a0 Here is what I shared:<\/p>\n

As I think about the heart of God I have to think about my own heart.\u00a0 My heart is not perfect like God’s, I have stuff in there that is not good.\u00a0 Things like anger, greed, envy, lust and pride just to name a few.<\/p>\n

Of course Jesus changed everything when it comes to our spirit and our heart.\u00a0 He made is possible once again to be at one with God.\u00a0 To be reconciled to Him and a part of God’s family.\u00a0 God’s heart is for us and His desire is for all to be reconciled to Him.<\/p>\n

When we make the decision to have a relationship with Jesus.\u00a0 When we believe Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, that he took the sins of the world on himself and died on a cross for those sins and then three days later rose from the dead overcoming sin and death, our spirit is changed.\u00a0 We now have a part of God in us, the Holy Spirit resided in us.\u00a0 That is when our hearts start to change.<\/p>\n

We begin to see the world differently, we see people differently, we have a new perspective on life.\u00a0 We are no longer slaves to sin because Jesus is now our Master.<\/p>\n

Romans 8:26-28 says: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.\u00a0 For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.\u00a0 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.\u00a0 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them”<\/p>\n

So since we have the Holy Spirit with us and for us and in us, we have a great advantage in life.\u00a0 Over time as we mature in our faith and relationship with Christ.\u00a0 Our heart changes, those things that were in there begin to become less and less and we have more of the Spirit in us.\u00a0 In Galatians Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit and below is a listing of those fruits and a definition, the opposite and the counterfeit.<\/p>\n

Be filled by the Spirit:<\/p>\n

Love<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 To serve a person for their good and intrinsic value, not for what the person brings you.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Fear: self-protection and abusing people.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Selfish affection. Rescuing someone but really rescuing self. Attracted not to a person, but to how this person\u2019s love makes you feel about yourself.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Joy<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Delight in God and his salvation<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Hopelessness, despair.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Happiness that come because of the gift, not the giver. Mood swings based on circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Peace<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Confidence and rest in the wisdom and sovereignty of God more than your own.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Anxiety and worry<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Indifference, apathy, not caring about something. \u201cI don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Patience<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Ability to take trouble (from others or life) without blowing up. To suffer joyfully.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Resentment toward God and others.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Cynicism. Self-righteousness. \u201cThis is too small to be bothered about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Kindness<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Practical kindness with vulnerability out of deep inner security.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Envy.\u00a0 Unable to rejoice others joy.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Manipulative good deeds. \u201cRight hand knowing what left hand is doing.\u201d Self-congratulation and self-righteousness<\/p>\n

\u2013 Goodness. (Integrity)<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Honesty, transparency. Being the same in one situation as another.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Phoniness; hypocrisy.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Truth without love. \u201cGetting it off the chest\u201d for your sake.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Faithfulness.<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Loyalty. Courage. To be principle-driven, committed, utterly reliable. True to one\u2019s word.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Opportunist. Fair-weather friend.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Love without truth. Being loyal when you should be willing to confront or challenge.<\/p>\n

\u2013 gentleness. (humility)<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Self-forgetfulness.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 Superiority: self-absorbed<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Inferiority: self-absorbed, self-consciousness.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Self-control<\/p>\n

Definition \u2013 Ability to choose the important thing over the urgent.<\/p>\n

Opposite \u2013 A driven, impulsive, uncontrolled person.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit \u2013 Willpower through pride<\/p>\n

So we have the heart of God in us and The Holy Spirit is active every day in our lives.\u00a0 We have everything we need to live life to the fullest and to deal with anything that comes our way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This past week I spent 6 days working with Hope Reigns doing disaster flood relief in West Virginia.\u00a0 This is the third trip I have done with Hope Reigns.\u00a0 They are a division of Eight Days of Hope a non-profit organization that helps communities rebuild after a disaster. Every morning the volunteers gather and someone … <\/p>\n

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