A New Heart:
Gaining God's Powerful Presence In Your Life


Freddy Cardoza

Recap:

Transformation Comes From the Inside-Out.

Renewed Minds and Hearts Produce Life Change

"But thanks be to God that though you WERE [past-tense] slaves of sin , YOU BECAME OBEDIENT FROM THE HEART TO THAT FORM OF TEACHING to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."
Romans 6:17-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet INWARDLY we are being renewed day by day.
2 Cor. 4:16

Because Christians are new creations, we have the power (in Christ) to change permanently

2 Cor. 5:17; Rom 6:22

"This means that ANYONE who belongs to Christ has become a NEW PERSON. The OLD LIFE IS GONE; a new life has begun!"


2 Cor. 5:17

"But now HAVING BEEN FREED FROM SIN and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, RESULTING IN SANCTIFICATION [transformation], and the outcome, eternal life."
Romans 6:22

The Bible Calls "Holiness" a 'Mystery' and Presents Evil as Confounding

"Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great"
1 Tim 3:16a

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

Jeremiah 17:9

Resident Evil in the Human Heart is Incalculable

Pol Pot

Hitler

Extremists

Senseless Crimes

Rebellion Against Divine Authority (Bible) and Bad Theology Result in Misunderstanding Human Nature

Human Pride rejects the biblical teaching about Original Sin and
asserts that humans are fundamentally good

Bad Theology
exalts human effort as a means to permanently overcoming bad attitudes and debilitating behaviors

This Error Makes *Understanding* Permanent Life Change Elusive and Makes *Having* It Impossible

Misunderstanding Human Nature Leads to Futile and Exhausting Efforts To Change Ourselves

The Field of Psychology was Born to Shape Human Motivation and Behavior

"Behaviorism" denies the human soul (mind-heart) and attempts to change people from external behavior manipulation, like training animals

Psychiatry generally denies the soul too (material body only), and tries to change human behaviors through chemicals-drugs

Many Christians misunderstanding of the Bible leads them to Behavior Modification [trying harder or "quitting behaviors"] but that approach can't shape the soul

Only the Power of God Can Renew Our Hearts and Make Dry Bones Live

Why Renewal Is Needed

• To Regroup from External Satanic Attacks
• To Recover from Internal Soul Struggles
• To Renew Loss of Vitality/Virtue from Ministry (Mark 5:30)

What a New Heart Looks Like

Evidence of a New Heart

• Demonstrating Proper Emotions
• Embracing Biblical Convictions
• Displaying Godly Attitudes
• Embracing Christian Values
• Exhibiting Appropriate Affection

5 Things You Can Do

1. Regularly Acknowledge Your Desperate Need for God

2. Immediately and Carefully Nurture Even Tiny Flickers of Spiritual Motivation When They Manifest

3. Wait on the Lord's Presence, Then Let His Consuming Fire Burn Off Your Impurities

4. Carefully Search for All Expressions of God's Love and Receive Them Gladly

5. Take God's Love and Reciprocate with Returned Love and Obedience

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:17-18)

Pray

Discussion

• What insight from this lesson did you find important?
• Why is it important to recognize the sin nature when considering spiritual growth of ourselves and others?
• Why does constantly ministering to others create the need for inner renewal? What are other ways you can seek renewal?