Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 24.07.2006
Words and heart
Jesus has come to save us from the worthless thoughts and futile words of our sinful nature. In Him we get the pure thoughts of a new man and the words which are full of life. Let the new creation speak and let the old one fall silent!
The circle effect of mouth and heart
A spoken word has always an effect also on the sayer, and not only on the listener. We guide our life with our mouth. Words coming out from a heart go back into the same heart, where they came from. Therefore consider what words you allow to come into your mouth.
By our words we build the thoughts of our heart. Our words feed our heart and our deepest thoughts feed our words. It is a self-feeding circle that causes this thing to live in us like by itself.
Choosing your words is a fateful decision. To tell or not to tell the truth also when it is unfavourable to me? The defending speeches of a guilty person cause that the circle effect of the mouth and the heart silences the conscience. A liar believes that his words have an effect only on his listener and he doesn't realize he is poisoning his inmost heart. Pretending words intoxicate the heart of their sayer.
The Pharisees had spoken their hearts into such a state that whatever it happened they couldn't accept Jesus to be the Messiah. When they saw Jesus driving out a demon from a possessed man, they said that "it is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Mt.12:24
They didn't want to accept this good deed as an evidence of the Spirit of God that Jesus is the Messiah. Therefore their words resisted more the Holy Spirit than Jesus. By their words they twisted good into evil and thus they blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered to them: "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things, out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Mt.12:34-37
What is a careless word? The listeners already knew this: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain." However, now Jesus expands the vain words to concern all words. About all things you must talk truthfully. No words must be misused or pretended.
Have you been trained to speak futile words? Maybe you have even been educated to do so in your work. You must say things according to certain forms, although in your heart you would experience contrary to your words. Your role character can speak fluently about things that touch your heart in no way. Jesus testifies to you that you must give account for these futile words on the day of judgment. Woe to this world of futilities!
Attacks against the truth can be forgiven, but a person who calls good evil and truth lie blasphemies the Spirit of the Truth. Therefore Jesus said: "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Mt.12:32
You cannot be saved, if you resist the words the Holy Spirit spoke to you, because only obedience to His words can give you the faith that saves you. If you have been trained to misuse words in your daily issues, you can easily answer to the reprimand of the Holy Spirit in the same way. So be careful with your words, some day you may say to God something which seals your eternal destiny.
If a lie moves around at a high speed between our mouth and heart, what could stop this endless loop?
A spoken word has always an effect also on the sayer, and not only on the listener. We guide our life with our mouth. Words coming out from a heart go back into the same heart, where they came from. Therefore consider what words you allow to come into your mouth.
By our words we build the thoughts of our heart. Our words feed our heart and our deepest thoughts feed our words. It is a self-feeding circle that causes this thing to live in us like by itself.
Choosing your words is a fateful decision. To tell or not to tell the truth also when it is unfavourable to me? The defending speeches of a guilty person cause that the circle effect of the mouth and the heart silences the conscience. A liar believes that his words have an effect only on his listener and he doesn't realize he is poisoning his inmost heart. Pretending words intoxicate the heart of their sayer.
The Pharisees had spoken their hearts into such a state that whatever it happened they couldn't accept Jesus to be the Messiah. When they saw Jesus driving out a demon from a possessed man, they said that "it is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Mt.12:24
They didn't want to accept this good deed as an evidence of the Spirit of God that Jesus is the Messiah. Therefore their words resisted more the Holy Spirit than Jesus. By their words they twisted good into evil and thus they blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered to them: "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things, out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Mt.12:34-37
What is a careless word? The listeners already knew this: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain." However, now Jesus expands the vain words to concern all words. About all things you must talk truthfully. No words must be misused or pretended.
Have you been trained to speak futile words? Maybe you have even been educated to do so in your work. You must say things according to certain forms, although in your heart you would experience contrary to your words. Your role character can speak fluently about things that touch your heart in no way. Jesus testifies to you that you must give account for these futile words on the day of judgment. Woe to this world of futilities!
Attacks against the truth can be forgiven, but a person who calls good evil and truth lie blasphemies the Spirit of the Truth. Therefore Jesus said: "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Mt.12:32
You cannot be saved, if you resist the words the Holy Spirit spoke to you, because only obedience to His words can give you the faith that saves you. If you have been trained to misuse words in your daily issues, you can easily answer to the reprimand of the Holy Spirit in the same way. So be careful with your words, some day you may say to God something which seals your eternal destiny.
If a lie moves around at a high speed between our mouth and heart, what could stop this endless loop?
Say it in your heart
Preaching to yourself can break the circle effect of mouth and heart. You can resist your heart by saying to yourself the words that are against the lies of your heart. Deny yourself and speak true in your heart. The Truth calls you and says: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mt.16:24
The Gospel of the crucified and up risen Jesus Christ gives us the power to take a stand against ourselves and for God. If you tell the truth to yourself about your own evilness, then the Truth starts to speak to you about the goodness of God.
God cannot be real for the heart that is dazed with a lie. However sometimes there is a moment of truth in everybody's life when it is possible to start a dialog with God.
When God speaks about Jesus to you, your response to Him determines the future of your relationship. He already takes into consideration what you said to Him in your thoughts. So though you would never pray to God, know, that He has heard all your words.
You, who pray to God and think that He only knows the words you uttered in your prayers, are deceiving yourself. It may happen that He answers to your words which you said at a moment when you thought that you didn't pray and He may leave your pretending prayers without any answer. All our thoughts and words are known to Him.
The Israeli said to each other and to Moses: "Why does the LORD bring us to the desert to die?" Many times they said something like this and God forgave their words, but finally God did for them according to their "faith". "So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall." Nu.14:28-29
Although the Israeli certainly didn't experience to be speaking to God, however, God heard their words and did to them according to their speech.
Preaching to yourself can break the circle effect of mouth and heart. You can resist your heart by saying to yourself the words that are against the lies of your heart. Deny yourself and speak true in your heart. The Truth calls you and says: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mt.16:24
The Gospel of the crucified and up risen Jesus Christ gives us the power to take a stand against ourselves and for God. If you tell the truth to yourself about your own evilness, then the Truth starts to speak to you about the goodness of God.
God cannot be real for the heart that is dazed with a lie. However sometimes there is a moment of truth in everybody's life when it is possible to start a dialog with God.
When God speaks about Jesus to you, your response to Him determines the future of your relationship. He already takes into consideration what you said to Him in your thoughts. So though you would never pray to God, know, that He has heard all your words.
You, who pray to God and think that He only knows the words you uttered in your prayers, are deceiving yourself. It may happen that He answers to your words which you said at a moment when you thought that you didn't pray and He may leave your pretending prayers without any answer. All our thoughts and words are known to Him.
The Israeli said to each other and to Moses: "Why does the LORD bring us to the desert to die?" Many times they said something like this and God forgave their words, but finally God did for them according to their "faith". "So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall." Nu.14:28-29
Although the Israeli certainly didn't experience to be speaking to God, however, God heard their words and did to them according to their speech.
Vain prayers
Jesus said that also godless people pray. Often their prayers are empty repetitions. "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Mt.6:7
Words are empty, if they don't come from the heart of the sayer. They don't mean in their heart, what they say and therefore their prayers are futile. Vain prayers uttered even once are wrong, but repeating such words makes God surely close His ears.
After the previous Bible passage Jesus gives us an example of a prayer, which has a correct content. "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ..." Mt.6:8-9
Only children of God can pray this prayer where God is called "our Father". A godless one cannot call God his father, because he belongs to his father, the devil. The words, "your Kingdom come", are against the state of his heart. He doesn't wait for the coming of the Kingdom of God, but defends the power of his government until his death. May a godless one call on God so that he would get forgiveness for his sins and would become a child of God.
God wants a relationship with our inmost heart. Our words, which differ from the reality of our heart, prevent us from making contact with Him. It is also impossible to bring two human beings into genuine contact with each other, if they are talking with pretending words. If there is a pretending religious circle effect between our mouth and heart, it must be broken so that our heart could make contact with God. Thus do not repeat to God, "Our Father" in vain, if He is not your Father through Jesus Christ.
An ungodly person should repent of his evilness, so that he could beg for mercy from God. If he who regrets his wickedness, begs for mercy from God through the sacrificial death of Jesus, his prayer is not vain. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Ro.10:13 Blessed is he who cries for mercy because he is speaking with his heart.
Jesus said that also godless people pray. Often their prayers are empty repetitions. "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Mt.6:7
Words are empty, if they don't come from the heart of the sayer. They don't mean in their heart, what they say and therefore their prayers are futile. Vain prayers uttered even once are wrong, but repeating such words makes God surely close His ears.
After the previous Bible passage Jesus gives us an example of a prayer, which has a correct content. "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ..." Mt.6:8-9
Only children of God can pray this prayer where God is called "our Father". A godless one cannot call God his father, because he belongs to his father, the devil. The words, "your Kingdom come", are against the state of his heart. He doesn't wait for the coming of the Kingdom of God, but defends the power of his government until his death. May a godless one call on God so that he would get forgiveness for his sins and would become a child of God.
God wants a relationship with our inmost heart. Our words, which differ from the reality of our heart, prevent us from making contact with Him. It is also impossible to bring two human beings into genuine contact with each other, if they are talking with pretending words. If there is a pretending religious circle effect between our mouth and heart, it must be broken so that our heart could make contact with God. Thus do not repeat to God, "Our Father" in vain, if He is not your Father through Jesus Christ.
An ungodly person should repent of his evilness, so that he could beg for mercy from God. If he who regrets his wickedness, begs for mercy from God through the sacrificial death of Jesus, his prayer is not vain. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Ro.10:13 Blessed is he who cries for mercy because he is speaking with his heart.
The words of the new heart
God doesn't only forgive us in Jesus, but He gives us a new heart. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2Co.5:17
Let the new creation speak and let the old one fall silent!
When a new creation starts to speak, it is a great experience for a person who came to faith. The Bible says about it as follows: "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, ... That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Ro.10:8-10
When Jesus comes into your heart, at the same time you will get the assurance that He lives. The new creation says: "Jesus is my Lord and my God!" Boasting about the name of God is "the first voice" of the new born baby of God. The heavenly Father is happy about this voice of life.
The old creation boasts about the things that are destroyed by the cross of Jesus. God has planned the salvation, "so that no-one may boast before Him." 1Co.1:29
The new creation boasts about the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is all in all for the new creation, "therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'" 1Co.1:31
Silencing the old creation and allowing the new one to speak depends on our own decisions. Many have lost their way when they have depreciated the importance of their spoken words. They have correctly emphasized the importance of the faith of heart, but at the same time they have forgotten that their words have an effect on their heart. The utterances of the old creation choke the new creation, but the utterances of the new creation put to death the old creation.
God doesn't only forgive us in Jesus, but He gives us a new heart. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2Co.5:17
Let the new creation speak and let the old one fall silent!
When a new creation starts to speak, it is a great experience for a person who came to faith. The Bible says about it as follows: "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, ... That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Ro.10:8-10
When Jesus comes into your heart, at the same time you will get the assurance that He lives. The new creation says: "Jesus is my Lord and my God!" Boasting about the name of God is "the first voice" of the new born baby of God. The heavenly Father is happy about this voice of life.
The old creation boasts about the things that are destroyed by the cross of Jesus. God has planned the salvation, "so that no-one may boast before Him." 1Co.1:29
The new creation boasts about the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is all in all for the new creation, "therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'" 1Co.1:31
Silencing the old creation and allowing the new one to speak depends on our own decisions. Many have lost their way when they have depreciated the importance of their spoken words. They have correctly emphasized the importance of the faith of heart, but at the same time they have forgotten that their words have an effect on their heart. The utterances of the old creation choke the new creation, but the utterances of the new creation put to death the old creation.
Censored ego
The Apostles give us examples of how to silence our old self. "Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed." Joh.20:8 John calls himself "the other disciple", although he could have said "I".
When John tells he wrote the gospel, he has again censored his self and expresses the matter as follows: "This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true." Joh.21:24
Must I really put boasting away so completely? Yes, it is good to believe, that John knew how even a little leaven spreads easily. Also Paul replaced "I" with the expression "I know a man", when he told about his great experience. "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven." 2Co.12:2
Paul says that many believers of his time boasted according to their sinful nature. He urged them to put off such utterances of the old self. "In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast." 2Co.11:17-18
Paul had to give an example of the worldly boasting, so that they would understand where they were doing wrong. How then did Paul boast? It was like a typical sermon or a testimony from a present-day church. Sadly, also they don't realize how wrong they are doing.
"Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again." 2Co.11:22-27
For the sake of the faith of your heart guard the words of your mouth. Jacob, the apostle, testifies to this matter: "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." Jas.3:5-6
Though sinful thoughts rise to your mind, put them to death immediately and don't allow them to have an effect on your speaking. Do not boast about yourself even in your thoughts. Without the help of the Spirit of God you don't manage to do this, but He loves to give you the grace to walk in the Spirit according to His mind.
The Apostles give us examples of how to silence our old self. "Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed." Joh.20:8 John calls himself "the other disciple", although he could have said "I".
When John tells he wrote the gospel, he has again censored his self and expresses the matter as follows: "This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true." Joh.21:24
Must I really put boasting away so completely? Yes, it is good to believe, that John knew how even a little leaven spreads easily. Also Paul replaced "I" with the expression "I know a man", when he told about his great experience. "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven." 2Co.12:2
Paul says that many believers of his time boasted according to their sinful nature. He urged them to put off such utterances of the old self. "In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast." 2Co.11:17-18
Paul had to give an example of the worldly boasting, so that they would understand where they were doing wrong. How then did Paul boast? It was like a typical sermon or a testimony from a present-day church. Sadly, also they don't realize how wrong they are doing.
"Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again." 2Co.11:22-27
For the sake of the faith of your heart guard the words of your mouth. Jacob, the apostle, testifies to this matter: "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." Jas.3:5-6
Though sinful thoughts rise to your mind, put them to death immediately and don't allow them to have an effect on your speaking. Do not boast about yourself even in your thoughts. Without the help of the Spirit of God you don't manage to do this, but He loves to give you the grace to walk in the Spirit according to His mind.
Putting off and on
Paul says that "you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Eph.4:17,21-24
So carry out these three things: Put off your old self, be made new in your attitudes and put on your new self. What does it mean to put off the old self in practice: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Eph.4:25,29,31
Whomsoever we speak to, everything what we say, must please the Holy Spirit. Don't forget that He is always present and He hears what you say. If our words made Him sad, then also our new creation gets depressed. If the new creation is weak, then the old one is strong and makes us behave fleshly.
When we put off fleshly words and deeds, it makes the Holy Spirit glad. Then also the new creation revives and our mind is made new. We get new thoughts from God and so we bear fruit for God. If our thoughts are not renewed according to the mind of Jesus, we cannot put on our new self.
Though we already put off our old self and experienced the life of the new creation, we can again be polluted by the words of our sinful nature. Like breeds like, and especially this is true concerning utterances. If we are involved in worldly exchange of words, we experience the reprimand of the Spirit of God in our inmost heart. Then we should immediately repent of our words and ask forgiveness from God. If we harden our heart and don't react to the reprimand of God, our words remain to defile our heart.
Paul says that "you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Eph.4:17,21-24
So carry out these three things: Put off your old self, be made new in your attitudes and put on your new self. What does it mean to put off the old self in practice: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Eph.4:25,29,31
Whomsoever we speak to, everything what we say, must please the Holy Spirit. Don't forget that He is always present and He hears what you say. If our words made Him sad, then also our new creation gets depressed. If the new creation is weak, then the old one is strong and makes us behave fleshly.
When we put off fleshly words and deeds, it makes the Holy Spirit glad. Then also the new creation revives and our mind is made new. We get new thoughts from God and so we bear fruit for God. If our thoughts are not renewed according to the mind of Jesus, we cannot put on our new self.
Though we already put off our old self and experienced the life of the new creation, we can again be polluted by the words of our sinful nature. Like breeds like, and especially this is true concerning utterances. If we are involved in worldly exchange of words, we experience the reprimand of the Spirit of God in our inmost heart. Then we should immediately repent of our words and ask forgiveness from God. If we harden our heart and don't react to the reprimand of God, our words remain to defile our heart.
Fleshly Christianity
In the early days those who belong to Jesus were boasting more about Christ than about themselves, hence they were started to be called Christians. Later on they have boasted much about pope, saints, biblicalness, baptism, Pentecost and spiritual gifts, and hence have been named according to their boasting. Thus already what we are called can be an evidence against us.
Many believers boast about the biblicalness of their church. It is fleshly boasting that leads to quarrels and destroys the assembling congregation. The meetings that are full of fleshly boasting are dangerous places for the children of God, because fleshly mind is spreading in a group as a souring agent in a dough.
Though fleshly Christians have quarrels they also experience unity with each other. When they again find a common subject of boasting that pleases their old self, they settle their quarrels. In this way all roads of fleshly Christianity lead to Rome.
Woe to those believers who have a liking for the thoughts of the old self! They refuse to adopt the mind of Jesus although they say that they keep their faith in Him. Sooner or later this causes them to violate the word of God. Because they don't live the life of the new self, they distort the words of Jesus pleasing to the old self. In this way they throw truth to the ground and trample Jesus under their foot.
Woe to them who have lost the truth and have changed the grace of God into a licence for immorality! He who has lost the truth says that he does right when he is doing wrong. That utterance insults the Spirit of grace. Such a blasphemer doesn't fall in sin, because he fails to resist a temptation, but he does it deliberately. "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left." Hebr.10:26
However not all our protests against the Holy Spirit have so serious consequences. It is obvious that almost every believer has lost some part of his eternal reward that he could gain by grace, because he resisted something which God proposed to him. It is true that also these are losses whose effect reaches eternity. First of all be careful that you don't resist what is right and what is wrong.
Woe to those Christian leaders who depend on flesh for their strength and wisdom. There are blasphemers among them! If the leaders of an assembling congregation have insulted the Holy Spirit, those who belong to Jesus had better leave such a place. "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure!" Isa.52:11
The Way of the right-minded Christians leads to the heavenly Jerusalem. Though the congregation would outwardly be poorly organized and scattered, this cannot prevent Jesus from controlling those who walk in the Spirit of God.
In the early days those who belong to Jesus were boasting more about Christ than about themselves, hence they were started to be called Christians. Later on they have boasted much about pope, saints, biblicalness, baptism, Pentecost and spiritual gifts, and hence have been named according to their boasting. Thus already what we are called can be an evidence against us.
Many believers boast about the biblicalness of their church. It is fleshly boasting that leads to quarrels and destroys the assembling congregation. The meetings that are full of fleshly boasting are dangerous places for the children of God, because fleshly mind is spreading in a group as a souring agent in a dough.
Though fleshly Christians have quarrels they also experience unity with each other. When they again find a common subject of boasting that pleases their old self, they settle their quarrels. In this way all roads of fleshly Christianity lead to Rome.
Woe to those believers who have a liking for the thoughts of the old self! They refuse to adopt the mind of Jesus although they say that they keep their faith in Him. Sooner or later this causes them to violate the word of God. Because they don't live the life of the new self, they distort the words of Jesus pleasing to the old self. In this way they throw truth to the ground and trample Jesus under their foot.
Woe to them who have lost the truth and have changed the grace of God into a licence for immorality! He who has lost the truth says that he does right when he is doing wrong. That utterance insults the Spirit of grace. Such a blasphemer doesn't fall in sin, because he fails to resist a temptation, but he does it deliberately. "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left." Hebr.10:26
However not all our protests against the Holy Spirit have so serious consequences. It is obvious that almost every believer has lost some part of his eternal reward that he could gain by grace, because he resisted something which God proposed to him. It is true that also these are losses whose effect reaches eternity. First of all be careful that you don't resist what is right and what is wrong.
Woe to those Christian leaders who depend on flesh for their strength and wisdom. There are blasphemers among them! If the leaders of an assembling congregation have insulted the Holy Spirit, those who belong to Jesus had better leave such a place. "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure!" Isa.52:11
The Way of the right-minded Christians leads to the heavenly Jerusalem. Though the congregation would outwardly be poorly organized and scattered, this cannot prevent Jesus from controlling those who walk in the Spirit of God.
Grace of saying
Man of God can speak words that come from the heart of God. Thus he is not speaking out of the overflow of his heart, because he doesn't speak the words of his own heart. This kind of speaking is a prophecy in the name of God and it is a spiritual gift.
Often the Holy Spirit speaks through a prophecy the same thing that He has earlier spoken directly to a person. For example He tells that He became sad because of something that the person has said. Therefore the believer who is sensitive to obeying the Holy Spirit doesn't need prophecies.
So Paul says that a prophecy is needed, if there are persons present who are not able or don't want to listen to the speech of the Holy Spirit. "If an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare." 1Co.14:24-25
God can cause the new creation to speak things of which the old one understands nothing of. That speaking is called the gift of speaking in tongues. He who speaks in tongues edifies himself in the same way if he spoke to God with the language that he understands. The difference is only there that they are secrets between the new creation and God. "Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no-one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit." 1Co.14:2
Speaking in a tongue refreshes our new creation and gives it power, although we don't understand what we say. However the secrets spoken can be revealed, if someone has the gift of interpretation of the tongue. "Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says." 1Co.14:13 The interpretation is not a direct translation of the spoken words, but it tells the content of the message of the Holy Spirit.
A word we heard from the mouth of God creates something new in our heart. It is no wonder because the whole world exists from the power of the word of God. Therefore also our own words have more meaning than we understand. May God give you words which change your heart to produce good words.
Man of God can speak words that come from the heart of God. Thus he is not speaking out of the overflow of his heart, because he doesn't speak the words of his own heart. This kind of speaking is a prophecy in the name of God and it is a spiritual gift.
Often the Holy Spirit speaks through a prophecy the same thing that He has earlier spoken directly to a person. For example He tells that He became sad because of something that the person has said. Therefore the believer who is sensitive to obeying the Holy Spirit doesn't need prophecies.
So Paul says that a prophecy is needed, if there are persons present who are not able or don't want to listen to the speech of the Holy Spirit. "If an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare." 1Co.14:24-25
God can cause the new creation to speak things of which the old one understands nothing of. That speaking is called the gift of speaking in tongues. He who speaks in tongues edifies himself in the same way if he spoke to God with the language that he understands. The difference is only there that they are secrets between the new creation and God. "Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no-one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit." 1Co.14:2
Speaking in a tongue refreshes our new creation and gives it power, although we don't understand what we say. However the secrets spoken can be revealed, if someone has the gift of interpretation of the tongue. "Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says." 1Co.14:13 The interpretation is not a direct translation of the spoken words, but it tells the content of the message of the Holy Spirit.
A word we heard from the mouth of God creates something new in our heart. It is no wonder because the whole world exists from the power of the word of God. Therefore also our own words have more meaning than we understand. May God give you words which change your heart to produce good words.
The Bible version used in references is NIV