The Mind Without The Heart (2)
Notes
Transcript
(A pastor has a chilling encounter with Jesus himself, who delivers an urgent message)
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Referring to the very place of inner most passion and desire…from the very soul of a man
From the heart of a man comes the passion that drive us to the feet of God.....from the very convictions we feel when the spirit begins to move on the heart of a man and in turn, causing us to be moved
Lets take a look at a little bit of the science behind the mind and heart.
This is an actual medical study on this subject.
The Heart, Mind and Spirit
Heart and emotions
It is long known that changes in emotions are accompanied by predictable changes in the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and digestion.
So, when we are aroused, the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system energizes us for fight or flight, and in more quiet times, the parasympathetic component cools us down.
In this view, it was assumed that the autonomic nervous system and the physiological responses moved in concert with the brain’s response to a given stimulus
The connection of heart and brain
Following several years of research, it was observed that, the heart communicates with the brain in ways that significantly affect how we perceive and react to the world.
It was found that, the heart seemed to have its own peculiar logic that frequently diverged from the direction of the autonomic nervous system.
The heart appeared to be sending meaningful messages to the brain that it not only understood, but also obeyed (Lacey and Lacey, 1978).
Later, neurophysiologists discovered a neural pathway and mechanism whereby input from the heart to the brain could inhibit or facilitate the brain’s electrical activity (McCraty, 2002)
In many cultures throughout history, the heart has been considered the source of emotions, passion and wisdom.
Also, people used to feel that they experienced the feeling or sensation of love and other emotional states in the area of the heart.
However, in the past, scientists emphasized the role of the brain in the head as being responsible for such experiences.
Interestingly, recent studies have explored physiological mechanisms by which the heart communicates with the brain, thereby influencing information processing, perceptions, emotions and health.
These studies provided the scientific basis to explain how and why the heart affects mental clarity, creativity and emotional balance.
The brain in the heart:
After extensive research, Armour (1994) introduced the concept of functional ‘heart brain’.
His work revealed that the heart has a complex intrinsic nervous system that is sufficiently sophisticated to qualify as a ‘little brain’ in its own right.
The heart’s brain is an intricate network of several types of neurons, neurotransmitters, proteins and support cells similar to those found in the brain proper.
Its elaborate circuitry enables it to act independently of the cranial brain – to learn, remember, and even feel and sense.
The heart’s nervous system contains around 40,000 neurons, called sensory neurites (Armour, 1991).
Information from the heart - including feeling sensations - is sent to the brain through several afferent.
These afferent nerve pathways enter the brain at the area of the medulla, and cascade up into the higher centres of the brain, where they may influence perception, decision making and other cognitive processes
Thus, it was revealed that the heart has its own intrinsic nervous system that operates and processes information independently of the brain or nervous system.
This is what allows a heart transplant to work. Normally, the heart communicates with the brain via nerve fib-res running through the vagus nerve and the spinal column.
In a heart transplant, these nerve connections do not reconnect for an extended period of time; in the meantime, the transplanted heart is able to function in its new host only through the capacity of its intact, intrinsic nervous system (Murphy, et al, 2000
Communication via hormones: the heart as a hormonal gland
More recently, it was discovered that the heart also secretes oxytocin, commonly referred to as the ‘love’ or bonding hormone.
In addition to its functions in childbirth and lactation, recent evidence indicates that this hormone is also involved in cognition, tolerance, adaptation, complex sexual and maternal behaviours, learning social cues and the establishment of enduring pair bonds.
Concentrations of oxytocin in the heart were found to be as high as those found in the brain (Cantin & Genest,
Using a rigorous experimental design; there was evidence that both the heart and brain receive and respond to information about a future event before the event actually happens.
Even more surprising was that the heart appeared to receive this intuitive information before the brain (McCraty, Atkinson & Bradley, 2004).
In fact, the heart is seen now as a highly complex, self-organizing information processing centre with its own functional ‘brain’ that communicates with, and influences, the cranial brain via the nervous system, hormonal system and other pathways......
We’ve often heard that it is the head that changes the heart…maybe perhaps it is the other way around.
there is a bond that occurs only when the heart is in total agreement with the mind....when the heart is completely engaged and surrendered to God.
How can a heart of stone effect a mind that is dead.
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:
Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
interestingly, we know that circumcision was a covenant between Israel and God...
but we see here the mention of an uncircumcised heart.....
Speaking of the lack of a covenant relationship of the heart between a man and God.
There is a man named RICHARD OWEN ROBERTS, who is the president and a founding director of international awakening ministries....
He stated “the majority of Americanized ideas of salvation is nearly rubbish”
the only way any of this can be corrected at all, is if the opinion of people is corrected
Our opinion of God, of Self, of Sin, of Repentance and of Salvation
For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness (to greed for unjust gain); and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely.
They have healed also the wound of the daughter of My people lightly and neglectfully, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.
Were they brought to shame because they had committed abominations (extremely disgusting and vile things)? No, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush [at their idolatry]. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them they shall be overthrown, says the Lord.
Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it!
Its not that we have have sinned in a particular way or in a particular sin....but rather, that we have allowed it to become a way of life.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Man all to often, has unresolved or ignored sin in their heart…and if this remains this way, it will eventually manifest itself outwardly.
Sin is a powerful thing…not necessarily a particular sin but of the sinfulness of our ways…our walk with God.
Many people think they have been saved from the penalty of sin when in fact, they haven’t even yet been saved from the power of sin.
We have to understand that the secret places in the heart and the sin that lives there is of choice and not of circumstance.
We all to often repent and ask God to forgive us when we have no intention of changing anything in our actions and behaviors.
We allow knowledge to be imparted (to a degree)while holding back the full surrender of our hearts
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
This scripture is talking about deception. the deception of the mind that thinks because of knowledge i am saved.
This is not talking about those that hate God, or are choosing to not serve God....but rather to Christians....believers.
People thinking that they can be in favor with God while leaving their heart out of it.
That they are somehow saved by what they know (or what head knowledge they have) and not by true repentance and a passion driven desire to remove themselves from a life of sin.
Not allowing God to truly transform their heart.
This is true, in part, because we have been told all to often, if we recite a prayer we are in some way become a subject of the kingdom of God.
We have a knowledge base that is according to learned principles and not driven by a transformed heart (by talking points so to speak)
Therefor, if the wrong view of salvation is to be corrected then the wrong view of sin and repentance must be corrected.
A man in prayer once said:
I want to thank you Lord that last night when i knelt beside my bed and confessed my favorite sin you forgave me.
and when i kneel tonight and confess it...you will forgive me
and when i kneel tomorrow night and confess it..you will forgive me.
can we truly say that this man is truly a repentant man?
this is called taking advantage of the grace of God for the convenience of what we are living.
People say that they have repented when asked…but the bigger question is when was the last time you repented.....Expound
often people don’t want their sin to go away because they enjoy it, because they take pleasure in it.....This mans repentance is in vain...
This is repentance with no intention of changing
This is a mind that acknowledges sin but a heart that remains unchanged or indifferent.......
True repentance is not a single act but rather a continual state of repentance daily.
The only way to restoration is found in the getting back to the doctrine of God according to scripture.
It is not enough to merely be informed of the things of God but we must be transformed in the things of God.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the Lord pondereth the hearts.
In america We’ve seen an inversion of obedience and grace....
It used to be understood that obedience was the evidence of grace
Today they have put grace before obedience.
We must understand that the essence of sin is self.
If this be true then repentance would be considered a turning away from self....
One of the underlying problems is people don’t even understand what they understand.....
I heard a lady say one time.......
We are saved by grace alone
and by Jesus Christ alone
and by faith alone
All to often, people have developed a relationship with the church rather than a relationship with God......
Revival, whether personal or collective, is unlikely to come unless true repentance is understood....
When we allow God to move on our minds it is a much needed foundation of information
But when we allow God to move on our hearts, transformation can truly be realized.....intellectualism...
The bible says that there are those that are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
My experience talking to a homeless man (the greeter)
What he was saying is shame on me for knowing it and not doing it…for letting it remain head knowledge and not heart transformation.
Not only do we repent…but we turn from sin and do what we know to do...
We become obedient to the word of God.
There is a huge difference between acknowledging sin and truly repenting of it......remorse
there is a sorrow that leads to death and a sorrow that leads to life.....
We must vindicate ourselves from sin..
meaning: Turning so far from sin that one cannot be accused of sin rightfully.
Vindicate means:
to free from allegation or blame
To be truly set free from and to be free from a charge.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
If in our bodies/lives we are continuing in sin then we are not serving God and should come to a true place of repentance.
Allowing God to not only transform our minds but more importantly…our hearts.
When we are truly surrendered to God…A noticeable change will occur!!!
if no change is seen…then perhaps we need to find a place of true repentance....heart felt and not merely by head knowledge.
by a sorrow that is not earthly, as unto death, but a spiritual sorrow that leads to God…and then to LIFE.
Quote: A mind without the heart is like a plan without action (author) Darrell Nellis.
Like having materials to build but not building anything. (like our border wall)
If we allow God to transform our hearts we can then take what we have learned and begin to build a true spiritual house built upon a firm foundation.
God first transforms the heart and then renews the mind.
the heart is spoken of in Scripture as the center of the moral and spiritual life. The conscience, for instance, is associated with the heart. In fact, the Hebrew language had no word for conscience, so the word heart was often used to express this concept.
When we therefor, give our whole heart, soul, mind and strength to God…We are surrendering everything that we are.