(Pro 4:23 KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.
From a forum thread:
GE -> Yes, those images and words [from the ubiquitous intrusion of TV into
many lives] become vehicles of communication with our minds and hearts.
Scripture says to think on the good things. I think of the mind as a
filter for the heart. Scripture says to "Keep your heart with all
diligence, for out of it are the issues of life".(Prov 4:23). We are to
bring every thought into captivity. Whatever we think on for long enough can
filter down into our heart, and a desire for it begin. Which brings to mind the
weapons of our warfare.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (KJV) / 4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness
to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Man is made up of Spirit, Heart, Will, Mind, living in a Body. The
Spirit deals with Strongholds. The Heart deals with imaginations. The Will
decides to accept or reject every high thing that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God. The Mind is where the thoughts begin. And, don't forget the
last verse. God is ready to revenge all disobedience, "when our obedience
is fulfilled".
JS -> _ The Proverbs verse is often quoted and is of great value. The
immediate context has great value also:
(Prov 4:20-27 KJV) My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto
my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of
thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all
their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues
of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from
thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight
before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be
established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot
from evil.
_ Paul in Romans (alluding to Deut 10.16) summarizes the application to
Israel:
(Rom 2:29 KJV) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not
of men, but of God.
_ Then there are related millennial promises to Israel which have
spiritual application to those presently begotten again in Christ Jesus on the
basis of unmerited favor through the instrument of justifying faith.
(Deut 30:6 KJV) And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and
the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with
all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
(Ezek 11:19 KJV) And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new
spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will
give them an heart of flesh: [Ezek 36.26 is a near duplicate.]
_ God fulfilled the "one heart" promise at the very beginning
of the Assembly:
(Acts 4:32 KJV) And the multitude of them that believed were of one
heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which
he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
_ The "new spirit" of Ezek 11.19 as applied to the begotten
again in the Assembly is the spirit of that life which is in Christ Jesus (Rom
8.2). It is a spiritual state permanently established by the begotten again
spirit of the believer with the support [N.B. Where it appears "paraclete"
is best translated "supporter" or possibly "helper", not
"comforter" or "advocate".] of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(Rom 8.16).
_ The removal of the "stony heart" and replacement with "a
heart of flesh" in Ezek 11.19 is connected with the circumcision of the
heart of Deut 30.6. The spiritual replacement surgery separates the crucified
flesh of one in Christ Jesus (Gal 5.24) from the new heart of flesh in a good
sense. This is prefigured by the removal of twelve stones from the Jordan (Josh
4.8) prior to the physical circumcision of the sons of the twelve tribes in the
land of promise (Josh 5.7)
_ The "one heart" of "flesh" that replaces the
stony hearts of those begotten again in Christ Jesus is evidently His heart.
His flesh, made in the likeness of the flesh of sin (Rom 8.3), yet without sin
(Heb 4.15), has been separated through the circumcision of Christ (Col 2.11,
see also Heb 10.19-20; 4.12).
_ "How shall we escape" great loss, whenever we "neglect
so great salvation" (Heb 2.3).
_ The 2nd Corinthians passage and your comments following it are of great
value also. More later, Lord willing.
_ This post also appears at my web log - http://bit.ly/1lpP5cy -, and elsewhere, but without specific attribution or links
to this thread.
I2C 140210a Pro 4v23 Guard your heart / I2C / 140210 0005 / Prov 4:23 Guard your heart / The ubiquitous intrusion of TV
