“Character of the Heart”

In the last letter I promised to finish up with what will block the blessings of God and then this time to move on to what will MULTIPLY your blessings! But, as the Lord would have it, I became overwhelmed with wanting more of the Lord, so we parked there! 

I hope that the Lord met you in a very powerful way as you searched for Him in a deeper way. 

What will block God’s blessings: Wickedness. 

James 4:17 NASB— 

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” 

King James 2000 Bible— 

“Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” 

Based on this verse, we could also define wickedness as sin—at least the wickedness in each of us is the sin when we: "entertain" a wrong thought in our minds, allow wickedness in our homes, or still give in to doing what we know is wrong in our lives. 

Sometimes wickedness is something in our lives that we are not aware of—that ultimately we are being destroyed by due to a lack of knowledge. 

Noah's 1928 Webster's Dictionary defines it this way: "Departure from the rules of the divine law; evil disposition of practices; immorality; crime; sin; sinfulness; corrupt manners. 

Wickedness generally signifies, evil things that we are practicing, in other words, do repetitively. 

Don’t forget how important it is not to practice evil or lawlessness, because of what Jesus said in this verse: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” (Matthew 7:21, 23) 

Yet, wickedness is also what expresses or uncovers the corrupt dispositions or character of the heart. 

Whenever we "depart" or are led astray from the principles that God set up, in the divine and unchangeable laws of the universe, we ultimately suffer the consequences. Even if we are ignorant of the law we WILL suffer the consequences. 

This week I heard that many men and women began seeking the Lord about what was standing in the way of their restoration and a deeper relationship with the Lord. Amazingly, God revealed to each one of them that it was sin. 

One person, who was divorced, confessed they finally realized they were in sin, not through conviction they said, but through the devastating consequences. It’s when they hit rock bottom in despair, and cried out to the Lord. Immediately, He reached out to help them, but at the same time, brought to their mind the sins that had caused the destruction that led to despair. 

This person had moved in with their spouse, which they "thought" was an answer to prayer, but the truth was (and is) that a man or woman who is no longer legally married is in sin if he/she is intimate with his/her spouse. 

The greatest blessing, which we must never forget, is that we have a loving and forgiving Savior who is right there ready to forgive and cleanse us! And with this, we can no longer be plagued with guilt or shame or any other negative emotion that weighs us down. 

This person repented, humbly, and "turned from their wicked ways" just like in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where it promises us that if "...My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." This means not only will your heart be healed, but so will your home. 

One woman confessed about something the Lord brought to her mind, something that she had done before coming to RMI. When her husband first left she was involved in the occult, seeking anything to bring her husband back. She wasn't sure if this was still standing in her way since she had repented to the Lord with tears. 

Yet, when the Lord reminded her of this, she was willing to repent to her husband since much of it involved him. Even though she didn't see her husband, she knew if it were the Lord's will, their paths would cross. 

When she filled out her form the next time, she said she knew that "it was finished." The Lord revealed to her at the end of the seven-day fast, that HE had broken this stronghold in her life. She again asked the Lord for an opportunity to speak to her husband, but the Lord confirmed that what she had done was enough. 

Remember, God is looking at our heart and our willingness to yield to His leading and His will no matter how terrifying it may seem. Very often, as with Abraham, He will lead us to the mountain, watch us lay "whatever it is" on the altar, then often, mercifully stops us before the knife goes down! 

Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds." 

Obedience, no matter what the cost, no matter how much you fear doing it—shows our hearts. 

Sadly, I also know of at least two women who are still battling “doing what is right.” They both have men living in their homes, but can't seem to get rid of them. So, if you’re in a situation like this or any situation that you feel you’re caught in—simple ask God what to do and then do it! Don’t make the mistake of asking anyone else, or even letting someone know what you plan to do. If your heart is right, He will reveal how to clear up even the worst mistakes you’ve made. Very often, He just asks you to wait and trust Him and He clears it up without our help. 🙂 

When one of RMI’s women’s ministers had her former husband living in her basement, thank You Lord, she got rid of him as soon as she realized it wasn't right! Now she is a powerful minister that God is using to help others who are in similar situations. One woman in South Africa finally was willing to do what was right no matter what, by telling her husband that she no longer could continue to be intimate with him since they were divorced and 2 months later her marriage was restored! 

Wickedness often enters our hearts when we, knowingly or unknowingly, "pitch our tent toward Sodom." All too soon you will find you are not just entertaining the thought of sin, but you’re living in it! This can even be as simple as keeping your eyes on your spouse and/or marriage instead of intently looking into the face of the Lord. 

Are you looking toward Sodom? 

What do you watch on television? 

What movies are you watching or going to? 

What do you allow your eyes and mind to be exposed to? 

This brings us back to the case of double-mindedness. You may watch material that helps you turn your eyes on the Lord, but then you let "garbage" reside in your mind by what you watch on television or from your phone. 

You may faithfully read your Bible, read through the RYM and Wise Man, but then you look at things that you should turn away from. If you are plagued with this temptation, then meditate on the following verse and follow the example of Job 31:1 who we know God blessed beyond belief. 

Job 31:1 NIV— 

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” 

Job 31:1 NASB— 

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” 

Job 31:1 King James 2000 Bible— 

“I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maiden?”  

Let’s go ahead and selah here, and next time I will share an amazing principle that I have never heard any preacher or Christian writer address, which is preventing us from seeing evil done to us to be forever destroyed!