The intentions of our heart
Image #1
What you have to understand is that, when we SIN, God looks at the motivation
behind the act, the intentions of the heart!
[God] has chosen for His work men of varied talents and varied capabilities. Some of these might not be the men you would choose, but you will pass through an experience that will lead you to see that God exalts men whom you would regard as inferior to yourselves.[1]
I Cor 4 (v. 5a) ....judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will....reveal the counsels of the hearts....
Image #2
I Cor 4 (v. 5b) ....[and] then each one’s praise will come from God.
So, God judges you by what is in your heart, by your earnest and sincere efforts; rather than by what you can accomplish through your actions.
I Sam 16 (v. 7) ....For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
God does not judge us by our outward behavior or our acts like man does, but by the intents and desires of the heart.
In the same way, we are all sorry that we have hopped into satan's pit and often feel there's no way out....We're all sorry for our sins, but we're more sorry when we realize....it already cost Jesus His life....I don't believe that we hop out of sin's hole by our own strength. The Bible says that without Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5). But we must have a will, a desire to be free.[2]
Rom 8 (v. 27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is....
Image #3
Our deeds are judged by our motives, rather than by your performance!!
Let's see an example of this: "....we misunderstand the basis of fruit-bearing, thinking we are responsible for developing the fruit. So we say to ourselves, "I am going to work on patience as a fruit." "I'm going to work on love."....Can you develop these fruits? It's ridiculous![3]
Yet the devil convinces us of this, and we become determined to do it....
But what happens if we are abiding in the Vine? Love just comes out. If we take all, we will give all....you can't do it without Him. No matter how much determination you muster on your own, it will still be utterly impossible to develop these fruits."[3]
Now people will look at this fruit-bearing and determine that they have to do it, in order to qualify for the right to enter into heaven. Is this the right motivation? And when they look at themselves and notice that they are failing in performance, then they say "what's the use and give up."
But if we are abiding in the Vine, in order to show these fruits, so that it will draw people to Christ; then that is the right motivation. Because, living our life on this earth, shouldn't be about trying to make it to heaven! But rather, bringing glory to our Saviour!
So if we fail, at some point in our lives, to show "love" or the right kind of "patience," then the devil can't put thoughts into our minds saying "Oh you fell, you are lost, you better hurry up and repent, before you accidently die; then you will be with me in the hell! No, brothers and sisters, that is the wrong motivation.
Image #4
Let’s take another look at the Apostle Paul’s struggle, between his heart’s desire and his sinful flesh.
Rom 7 (v. 15) For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I “will” to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
Are we experiencing the same trouble, that he was having?
What did the Apostle Paul discover about this SIN problem?
Rom 7 (v. 17) But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
He is referring to a “Law of Sin” that dwells in him.
Rom 7 (v. 23) But I see another Law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my members.
Image #5
The Law of sin, is like the “Law of gravity”; constantly pulling us down towards self.
This is happening, even when you "rev-up" your mind to force your "will" against it!!
Rom 7 (v. 21) I find then a Law, that evil is present with me, the one who "wills" to do good. (v. 22) For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man.
Just like the “Law of gravity,” this Law of Sin operates at 100% full-power all of the time against us.
Whenever you get tired, sick, or weak, that’s when you fall!!
Image #6
Even though, this is the truth about SIN; the good news of the gospel is:
It is our converted “mind” that will go to heaven, and not our sinful nature!!
We will get a new glorified body, and the old body with our sinful nature will be destroyed when Jesus returns.
Phil 2 (v. 5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus....
So, the converted “mind” with all of its desires and right motives, will receive a new body, and the struggle with sin will be over.
Phil 3 (v. 20) ....which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 21) who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body....
So, if you are struggling with living a perfect sinless life, but your heart is right with God, then there is no condemnation for those who are “in Christ.”
Rom 8 (v. 1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are "in Christ" Jesus....
And as we shall see next, that does not mean that you have a license to sin either!!
An example of the right motivation:
Here is set forth the very spirit and character of the work of Christ. His whole life was a sacrifice of Himself for the saving of the world....He was giving His life for the redemption of the lost. Not in idle mourning,...is the true spirit of devotion manifested, but it is shown in the surrender of self in willing service to God and man.[4]
References:
1. Bible Training School, (1 Nov 1909), par.2, "To Every Man His Work"
2. Doug Batchelor, (2001). To See the King, p.38. Mountain Ministry.
3. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.15, Booklet.
4. E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.278, par.2
Image #1: Quickly: quotes God see all, (2017). Man sees your actions, but God sees your motives. Retrieved from https://quoteslifebook.com/browse/quotes-god-see-all.html
Image #2: A walk through the kingdom, (2014). Our intentions come from our heart. Retrieved from http://shieldoffaith62.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-hearts-intent.html
Image #3: River valley leader, (2014). Examine your motives. Retrieved from http://www.rivervalleyleader.com/opinion/blogs/amen_corner/article_bffc9172-7a1c-11e3-8d08-0019bb30f31a.html
Image #4: Loving the word with the mudpreacher, (2010). Paul's personal testimony. Retrieved from https://mudpreacher.org/tag/sin/
Image #5: Quickly: desires of the flesh, (2016). The flesh, feelings, desires, thoughts. Retrieved from https://quoteslifebook.com/browse/desires-of-the-flesh.html
Image #6: Chicago Bible Students, (2017). Thoughts, new will, and old will. Retrieved from https://chicagobible.org/__trashed-3/
Print 