Author: Davelewis

The Lord examines our heart and motives through the living power of His word (Hebrews 4:12).

Proverbs 21:2 NLT
[2] People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.21.2.NLT

Proverbs 16:2 NLT
[2] People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.16.2.NLT

God is on the inside. He sees everything. My heart, mind and soul are laid bare before Him. He knows all of my ways. My human nature is filled with pride, deceiving me into seeing myself as right and pure…religious even. That’s what a Pharisee is. In the literal sense, Pharisees were the religious leaders in the days when Jesus walked the Earth. From all appearances they seemed to be religious, right and pure, but this was merely the outer appearance, the facade. On the inside where God sees they were hollow, like “whitewashed tombs filled with dead men’s bones” which is why they could not see God at work through Jesus.

When we’re living in our natural human state, relying on our own intelligence and wit to get by, along with the wisdom, ideologies and philosophies of this world to guide us, pride keeps us from going deeper, and seeing beyond our human surface into our own soul and conscience. Our old man will deceive us and the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life will rule our hearts from our feelings and emotions instead of the Holy Spirit whom God imparts to those who repent and believe the Gospel, the good news of a risen Savior, who suffered and died for the sins of the world.

Yet there is One who weighs our hearts and who examines our motives. Man judges by our outer appearance, but God sees us on the inside, in our heart. Here he examines, weighs and judges us. (1 Samuel 16:7)

Are you listening?

God sends people our way to give us wise counsel and advice, but when we’re good and right in our own eyes, we will not have eyes to see, ears to hear, or hearts that are prepared that receive His word; His truth which He desires to impart to us.

We cannot claim ignorance when God speaks to us through the scriptures or through those he sends our way, and fail to take heed. We cannot say we didn’t know. Everyone is held accountable for what they have heard, because God has spoken. Those who think they are pure and right in their own eyes and ways have abandoned their own moral conscience. They are walking in darkness and the light of God’s word is not leading them. They’re walking their own path and will eventually stumble. When this happens they have no inner compass to guide them and wander like sheep without a shepherd. Sheep don’t know they’re lost. They’ll just keep wandering and strolling along, without any guidance or direction.

Proverbs 24:12 NKJV
[12] If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.24.12.NKJV

Luke 16:15 NLT
[15] Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.16.15.NLT

1 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
[4] My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.4.4.NLT

Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV
[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

[12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

[13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.6.10-13.NKJV

Ephesians 6:12 NLT
[12] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.6.12.NLT

Ephesians 1:21 NLT
[21] Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.1.21.NLT

Your no match for Satan, who roams about like a roaring lion, looking to devour you. But you don’t have to go toe to toe with him either.  The enemy can only come at you on the outside. You have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He lives on the inside as the sheriff of your heart and mind. The Holy Spirit guards your heart and mind, in Christ, with his peace which surpasses all understanding. So lay all of your anxieties, fears, doubts and concerns before Him. Let him truly be the Lord and Savior of your life and soul.

You’re not better or more important than any other member of the body of Christ. Every member has a purpose and function in the Church, as Christ has given them through the Holy Spirit. Pray and seek His will and purpose for you in the body of Christ. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. He will exalt you. You don’t need to exalt yourself or recommend yourself to others. God will show them and you’ll see it within your own heart, mind and soul, as you surrender to Him daily, take up your cross and follow Him.

Romans 12:3-5 NLT
[3] Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. [4] Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, [5] so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.3-5.NLT

Romans 12:6-9 NLT
[6] In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. [7] If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. [8] If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. [9] Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.6-9.NLT

When we are truly loving and serving one another in the body of Christ, we will glorify Him as His light shines in and through we the Church. The Church is not just me, but we! Together we are promoting His Kingdom.

The stain and stench of sin can only be washed away by the blood of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:22 NLT
[22] In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.9.22.NLT

Proverbs 20:9 NLT
[9] Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.20.9.NLT

Psalms 51:5 NLT
[5] For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.51.5.NLT

1 John 1:8-10 NLT
[8] If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. [9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.1.8-10.NLT

Our righteousness is like filthy rags before God!

Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
[6] But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.64.6.NKJV

Jesus Christ is our High Priest. The one and only sacrifice for the sins of mankind. There is no other way, no amount of works or sacrifices, no good deeds, no religion or anything else that we can do to atone for our sins..all we can do is fall on our knees, lift up out heart and soul before Him, repent, which is to turn away from our sin and turn towards God, confess our sin, receive His grace and mercy, along with His forgiveness. Allow Him to cleanse us of all sin and unrighteousness.

Do this often, every day!

Hebrews 9:23-28 NKJV
[23] Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; [25] not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— [26] He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. [27] And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, [28] so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.9.23-28.NKJV

We define ourselves by what we can and can’t do. We don’t dare dream or think we could go beyond what we have done in the past. Our limited human minds and resources keep us trapped in our own safe space, the place we know and where we are welcome, our comfort zone!

We confine ourselves to what we’ve known and have done before. Fear keeps us from trying new things, locked up in our own minds, imprisoned by wrongful thoughts of doubt, far away from our imagination. Fear of failing, fear of flying or even trying. We become locked out of what we could know or be if we dared to step out in faith. Faith only requires one small step at a time, as small as a mustard seed, then mountains would move and we could be freed from our human limitations.

He refines us, preparing us to do what we could never do on our own. He takes us beyond ourselves into the realm of the unknown. There we must rely on total abandonment of ourselves so that we might enter the place of great faith, trust and true happiness. Happy are those who are poor in spirit, happy are the meek, happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. God will pour out His Spirit on the one who endures His refining fire.

We incline ourselves to hear what He’s saying and by faith we receive all that He has promised to do in those, who by faith, receive His word, His righteousness, His promises. Because He speaks a better word than what we attempt to define ourselves by and confine ourselves to!

Define
Confine
Refine
Incline

All words of action. There’s a better way, a better course of action. Put Him first; His Kingdom and His Righteousness and everything else will follow !

You get to choose every day

Psalms 119:150 NKJV
[150] They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.150.NKJV

Friends of this world want you to join them. You already live among them, so why not be friends with this world as they are. This world and its citizens are following after wickedness and folly, which is a lack of wisdom, judgement or common sense, because they are far from God’s laws; His words, decrees, statutes, commandments, precepts ,testimonies, instructions, etc.

Friends of this world are always “drawing near” to entice and seduce you. You live in the world and can’t escape it, but God is always near, closer than anyone in this world, even the god of this world, Satan. They can draw near on the outside perimeter of your heart, mind, soul and strength, but they cannot enter in.

Psalms 119:151 NKJV
[151] You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.151.NKJV

God your Creator, who made you in His image, dwells inside, in your heart, at the core of your being. He stands at the door of your heart, knocking. When you open up and let Him in, His word will become real and personal to you. You will have that intimate, one on one connection with the living God and His power that lives in those who believe on His name and receive Him as Lord and Savior and King of their heart.

As “they” draw near, God is already near, ready to help you stand up and stand firm, steadfast and immovable. When they draw near to entice you to join them, stay close to God. When His word is hidden in your heart, you will not so easily be tempted to leave the narrow path for the one that is wide and spacious, the one “they” are all following.

Matthew 7:13-14 NLT
[13]  “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. [14] But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.13-14.NLT

Everyone in the world, who is a friend of the world, is on this wide and spacious path. You can either run with them and receive whatever they receive, or stick to the narrow path that God has laid out for you; that place inside of your heart where you meet with God every day; the core of your being, the secret place where the Most High dwells. This narrow path only has room for you and God.

When God is near (on the inside of your heart) His commandments will ring true. You will see the way he has mapped out for you. God is nearer than you think. Live free from the traps of this world and all of its friends. Live by His word, which is the truth that sets you free!

James 4:4-6 NLT
[4] You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. [5] Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. [6] And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.4-6.NLT

Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
[10] The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.18.10.NKJV

‭‭Psalm 18:1-3 ESV‬‬
[1] I love you, O Lord, my strength. [2] The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. [3] I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.18.1.ESV

2 Samuel 22:2-4 NLT
[2] He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; [3] my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. [4] I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

https://bible.com/bible/116/2sa.22.2-4.NLTx

When I’m confronted with my own sin and iniquity, I’m reminded of who my greatest enemy really is; it’s me! I’m the one who stands in my own way of God’s blessings. Satan knows my weaknesses and will use them to deceive me and trip me up, but I’m the one who chooses to go that way.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but it ends in death (Proverbs 14:12)

The enemy’s forces are no match for the “power of God unto salvation.” That power is the gospel; the good news of a risen Savior. We have no need to be ashamed of the gospel which is God’s saving power within each believer. Repent and believe, that’s what is asked of every person. (Romans 1:16)

The power of God is a strong tower. The righteous (those who have been made right with God through the cross, as they have received Christ and have believed in His name).:

His name is so magnificent and powerful it cannot be described by the Psalmist in just one word. In Psalm 18:1-3 (and other places in the Bible) David uses several words to fortify and accentuate what he is trying to convey. The power of God to save those who call upon His name transcends our understanding and comprehension.

David has entered a deep place of worship and prayer. God is speaking to him in his heart, at the core of his heart, the secret place where the Most High God truly desires to be known. This is the place where we run to God

He’s not just in the heavens, but can and will be in your heart if you open it up to Him.

Let Him be your strong tower, your fortress, your rock, your strength, your refuge and deliver, your Comfortor. In times of great temptations, trials, distress, the storms of life. He will be the place you can run to for safety and protection.

When God speaks into your life, you need not say a word. He goes before you and prepares your way. The opposing forces will get it and flee!

Trust Him.

Lean on Him

Why do I keep on sinning when I really don’t want to?

Psalms 119:143 NKJV
[143] Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.143.NKJV

Psalms 119:24 NLT
[24] Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.119.24.NLT

Romans 7:21-23 NLT
[21] I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. [22] I love God’s law with all my heart. [23] But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.7.21-23.NLT

My spiritman is at war with my sinnerman. This two sided dilemma, known as our conscience, exists within the heart and mind of every person. There’s this desire to do what is good and right, yet we go on doing the very things we know to be wrong and sinful.

When God’s word meets this ongoing war we’re hit with the Truth. But we can receive it or reject it. We cannot reject the truth of God’s word in the flesh, aka the natural mind. Only in the power of His Spirit can we reject the temptations that come from our sinful human nature; the flesh.

We’re told by Paul in Romans and other Epistles that we’re not wrestling with flesh and blood (not even our own) but with principalities and spiritual forces of wickedness that are at war within us. We’re not able to resist our fleshly lusts and desires within our flesh . The old sinful human nature wants what it wants, but we don’t have to give it what it wants, because we who are born of the Spirit are no longer sinners enslaved to our flesh.

We belong to a new taskmaster, which is Christ the Lord. He bought us at a great price, His own flesh, nailed to the cross, crucifying the flesh with its sinful nature. Now we have a choice every day; walk in the old man with its sinful nature or put on the new man created in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
[17] This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.17.NLT

In Christ, all things are made new. The old person with its sinful passions and desires has been put to death. However, that inherited sinful nature is still lingering inside of me, pulling my heart, mind, soul, and strength back to what it wants. The old man wants nothing to do with the new man in Christ, with the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter.

So every day I have the same choice. Put on Christ and walk in freedom and victory, or stay in the flesh. That’s exactly what happens when we fail to put on Christ, our new man, our Spiritman. We’re left with the Sinnerman!

The Spiritman has armor to put on and protect him, hiding him in the shadow of God’s wings. The Sinnerman is left to his own, limited, human resources.

The Spiritman is filled with light, enabled to see the path God has laid out for them; a path of peace, righteousness and joy.

Sinnerman is filled with darkness, where there is no clear path, only stumbling, chaos, strife and misery. This is the source of anxiety, fear, anger, guilt and shame and everything that leads to destruction .

Will you put on the Spiritman today, or continue to walk in the Sinnerman? You don’t have to put on the Sinnerman because he’s already there, ready and waiting to fulfill your every lust and desire

Your ideas, your imagination, your plans are too small.

Let go of what you know. The vision and plan God has for you is beyond your understanding and comprehension.

Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
[20]  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.3.20-21.ESV

His plan and purpose for me is bigger than me and is rooted in His love, which is beyond measurable dimensions.  Yet we can know His love, in all of its fullness, in our hearts, at the CORE of our being. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

If faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20) imagine what he can do through you as you receive His word by faith.

For the most part, the world doesn’t get this concept. But we can each do our part.

Loving my neighbor as myself includes being non judgemental, which means not condemning others.

There is a form or facet of judging others, which is exercising wisdom, discernment and discretion. If you know of someone’s reputation and character as they have displayed, it’s actually acceptable to not want to associate with them.

Condemning others is to place  final judgement upon them, based on their words and actions. Jesus said he did not come to condemn anyone, but that they might be saved through Him.

The other side of the coin, so to speak, in judging others is “lest ye be judged.” In the same measure I use in judging others, it will be measured back to me.

Romans 2:1 NLT
[1] You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.2.1.NLT

Romans 8:1, 38-39 NLT
[1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus….
[38] And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.1-39.NLT