“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man” (Mark 7:20).
TEXT — Mark 7:14-23
Message
An anonymous preacher once said, “The heart is like a container of fruits. Its contents are determined by the quality of preservatives. Bad preservatives produce rotten fruits; good ones return quality produce.”
The condition of a man’s heart certainly determines how acceptable his person or service would be to God. Jesus denounced the erroneous teaching of the religious bigots of His day. According to Him, it is not what a person consumes that defiles but what comes out of the man. He further explained that what we eat goes through the normal process of digestion, assimilation and waste elimination. According to Him, from the heart comes vices like evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
Many seek to serve God but have no relationship with Him. They are corrupt and defiled within and need regeneration of the heart. No man can cleanse his heart without the operation of God’s Spirit within. Little wonder Jesus said that unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Outward observance of religious tenets and zealous commitment to philanthropic activism, without conversion and corresponding inner purity, renders such activities unacceptable before God.
God is ever willing to transform the hearts of all who are eager. Because you are incompetent, He provides the way out of the corrupt heart so you can offer acceptable service to Him. Come to Him humbly and acknowledge your state; believe that the sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient for your cleansing; pray in faith and He will cleanse you and make you whiter than snow.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
1 comment
Daily Manna is a life spring that refreshes the soul. May God bless the brain behind this treasure in Jesus name 🙏🙏🙏
Daily Manna is a life spring that refreshes the soul. May God bless the brain behind this treasure in Jesus name 🙏🙏🙏