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NewsDay

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From heart of stone to heart of flesh

Columnists
A human being in her/his fallen nature has no capacity to serve God. She/he is deficient of the wherewithal to worship a holy God. When one decides to be born again, God empowers them by changing their hearts to groove into the specifications of the Maker.

A human being in her/his fallen nature has no capacity to serve God. She/he is deficient of the wherewithal to worship a holy God. When one decides to be born again, God empowers them by changing their hearts to groove into the specifications of the Maker.

The condition of the human heart before salvation falls short of ability to fellowship with God. Were it possible, then the sacrificial death of Christ was a waste. You may wonder how to acquire this new heart, it’s so simple, you just avail and surrender yourself to God the Creator and He will operate on at you while you wait.

The moment you decide to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit circumcises your heart. A supernatural heart transplant, if you would, takes place. This happens in the blink of an eye as you confess Jesus. Many who are living in sin always think they’re incapable of being Christians.

Prayer Sometimes we waste time praying and fasting and sowing for things already accomplished by Christ and freely given to us

They know what they’re into and serving God becomes a really tall order. The error is that they suppose they can make themselves spotless then start serving God. If that were the case, we wouldn’t need the grace of God. No matter how we try, God doesn’t see our efforts outside Christ as adequate. He says in Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away”.

Should you decide to faithfully confess Jesus, a new heart is reserved for you. All you need to do is report with your old heart in exchange of a new one.

At the redemption, an exchange happens as you trade in your old heart for a new one. God promised this in Ezekiel 36:26, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh”.

The stony heart represents the stones upon which the law of Moses was written. This new heart empowers you to serve God by faith in Jesus not by requirements of the law. Apostle Paul puts it thus in 2 Corinthians 3:3, “For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart”.

No matter how hard-hearted one can be, a sincere confession of Jesus offers a new heart and spirit free of charge. You’re no longer stiff-necked. With such an offer, surely no one should remain under the bondage of sin.

To benefit from the promises of God firstly requires knowing the promises. After that, simply believe what He says and live and walk in the reality of it. Manifesting God’s promises isn’t a feeling, but it’s a knowing. In spite of your circumstances accept the promises of God. You implement and enforce the promises by applying, engaging and exercising yourself in them.

A conscious awareness of God offered you and conducting yourself accordingly is the victory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 states, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us”.

You shouldn’t labour to enforce what is accomplished beforehand. Isn’t it, therefore, ignorance to pray asking for God to change your heart? Sometimes we waste time praying and fasting and sowing for things already accomplished by Christ and freely given to us.

Enjoy life with a new heart. You’re going somewhere.

lAll Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible. Email: [email protected] Fellowship with Pastor Makarimayi on Facebook and on www.twitter.com/PEMAKARIMAYI