THE MIXED HEART
Our discourse on the mixed heart will take us back to sinning after salvation. We will address thoughts and truths that were not discussed in the discourse on sinning after salvation. Please keep in mind and heart the very intent and hope of these teachings which are: (1) to encourage a righteous relationship and fellowship with the Godhead bodily; (2) to walk circumspectly, conscientiously, and consistently in the calling of God upon our lives; (3) to prepare a people for the calling away from this land of preparation at the Father’s appointed time; (4) and last but not least, to prepare a people who will miss the call of Jesus on this side of the Jordan for the next chapters of their lives on the other side of the Jordan with great acknowledgements, knowing that salvation is also available on the other side of the Jordan.
Let’s begin the discourse by looking at the diagrams of the first two hearts. What are some of the differences that are seen between the two hearts? What spiritual insights are gained from mere observations of the diagrams? Does both, observation and insight speak anything to you? Are they suggesting and or directing you to submit any areas of your lives to the care of the Holy Spirit for correction and perfection?
Let’s look at written word for a moment. 1John 1:5-10 from the New International Version holds content that can be made applicable to all three of the heart conditions on both sides of the Jordan. The passages states: 5″ This is the message we have heard from Him (Jesus) and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us. (Parenthesis mine)
1 John’s content holds truths that will set at liberty believers in Christ who sincerely struggle in their walk with him. The content includes a special word that we want to bring some clarity to. The word is “if”.
The word if in this passage has both, a negative and positive position. If, shows first, the negative aspects of our walk in Christ and the results of that negativity. Thereafter, the word if, offers the positive remedies for the negativity and offers the positive results of joy and peace. This statement will be made clear as we progress in our discourse.
The mixed heart as we can see from the diagram, is filled with clutter. It has a combination of both, light and patches of darkness as we can clearly see. Both light and darkness in the same place is indicative of a mixture. The combination of the two, results in confusion and broken fellowship in our walk with God in the areas where we allow darkness to remain. Notice that we did not say: “broken relationship”. The analogy often used to explain this statement is: you and a parent can be at odds with one another and stop interacting with one another. The severance of the interactions does not sever the blood connection. After the odds and or infractions have been dealt with and resolved many times the fellowship is restored and continuously builds or grows. Now the key to a perfectly restored fellowship unrestrained is the willingness and efforts of both parties towards restoration.
Again: the combination of both light and darkness in the heart of the believer results in confusion and broken fellowship with the Lord. Confusion does not come to God, because He knows our hearts better than we do. Confusion doesn’t come to the enemy of our souls, the devil, because he gloats and delights in the mixture. In fact, he would rather that we stay in this position seeing how we will not verbally denounce Jesus, so that he (Satan) can have access into our lives at his choosing. Satan would rather that we hold this stance to further his pursuits of going in God’s face to accuse us. Revelation 12:10 from the Amplified Bible states:
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of his Christ have come; for the accuser of our (believing) brothers and sisters has been thrown down (at last), he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges (of sinful behavior) against them before our God Day and night.”
Satan relishes in the imperfections of man. His wicked joy is birthed and sustained in the failures and bondage of man. His insatiable wicked pleasure is birthed and sustained in being able to say to God: “The man you created in your image is following me and my ways. They’ve chosen me over you. Look at what they do. Look at who they imitate. Give it up Yahweh: your very own people see’s the failure in serving you.” Revelation 12:10 shows us that Satan still has access into the very presence of God. The door of access has not yet been closed to him but will be closed on the other side of the Jordan possibly at the 3 1/2 year mark of the tribulation period.
THE HEART OF AN ANGEL
The mixed heart brings about confusion to the unrepentant or unsaved. Confusion comes to other believers and believe it or not confusion could possibly come to the angels who are here not only to minister to us, but to also be ministered to, by us. Let me explain. Angels observe and learn from us. The unfolding of the ministry of Jesus from His birth to the right hand of God in both power and authority was a ministry the faithful angels had no need to personally experience, and the fallen angels cannot experience for restoration. There is no restoration for the fallen angels. The blood of Jesus was not shed for the angels, but for man. Seeing all that Jesus endured to secure a right standing of man with God, I am pretty sure the angels look on in wonder as daily; Jesus is rejected, neglected, and disobeyed. I’m pretty sure offense, if can be taken by them, rears its head when hearing Jesus being the brunt of some disrespectful joke. The love, mercy, grace, patience, or long-suffering of God is revealed to the angels as the angels observe our actions, behaviors, attitudes, and a walk that is contrary to the very person of God. If these very words do not incite a determination to walk upright before God, then know that we do not have the heart of the Father in our view. Though the faithful angels dwell in the presence of God and does his bidding in the earth and does what is assigned to them in the heavens, they’ve never have had to experience the Lord in the manners that they see him interact with man. Obedience to God is not a struggle for the angels. Not one of the faithful angels out of the innumerable angels created has had to come to the father to say, “I have sinned. Not one of the angels out of the innumerable angels created has had to come to God and ask or beg for forgiveness for disobedience. Their minds and hearts are fixed. Their allegiance to the one true God has been stamped and sealed in stone. Some teachers have taught that angels were created to not be able to sin against God yet if this was true how did Satan and 1/3 of the heavenly host fall or turn away from God? God does not take away free will or choice. Choice is man’s only true possession. Nothing else in all of creation belongs to us. Angels were created with only one true possession: choice. Satan had only one true possession: choice. The 1/3 of the heavenly host that fell had one true possession and that was choice. Please understand my friends, once choice has been exercised, results follow be they good or bad. Please follow the discourse on choice.
Worship of God is not a mundane action for the faithful host of heaven. Going and doing for him is not a task, but a delightful ministry that they do not play around with. Angels do not take the existence of their Creator lightly or treat His presence as something to be without reverence and honor. As the angels study and learn man and from man: man can study the angels and learn how to walk with the Lord without preservation and walk with the utmost sincerity.
BACK TO THE MIXED HEART
The mixed heart brings confusion to the sinner man and also leads the unrepentant into error. As thesinner observes the actions, attitudes, and daily walk of the mixed heart with their God, many to most unbeliever’s hearts become harden and their understanding darken to what salvation entails. We have all heard it before from the black heart of, “ if he or she is a Christian, then so am I. If he or she is going to heaven, then so am I. If he or she belongs to God, then so do I. Many of the observers make a wrongful determination of their stand with God simply from beholding the sinful lifestyle of the mixed heart. Many of the unbelievers feel right at home in the presence of the mixed heart. In fact, some of the unrepentant and the mixed heart persons are running buddies and the best of friends with little to no problems. Let’s look at written word for a moment. Amos 3:3 classic Edition from the King James version of the bible asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed.”
Also meditate on 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition:
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated (mismatched) alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
Let’s not get this passage of scripture twisted my friends. This passage is not saying that we cannot associate with the unbeliever. If that was the case, we would have to be removed from this world like yesterday. This passage of scripture extends beyond a mere association, a work-related association, a conversation in the store, the street or barbershop. This passage is conveying covenant binding relationships like marriage, engagements, best friend and buddy relationships. The honest truth dear friends is when you genuinely or authentically accept Jesus into your life and commit to living unto him in righteousness and holiness, your unsaved close acquaintances will turn away. Your lifestyles are different and one of you two is going to want out if not both of you.
When the black heart and the mixed heart interact with one another, and the black heart knows that the mixed heart is a confessor of being a servant of the Lord; and the black heart doesn’t even attempt to alter or change his or her filthy conversations or even put his or her unrighteous acts on hold, simply because of the mixed heart’s presence; this lets you know that the unrepentant does not consider the mixed heart to be any different than him or herself. The unstopped actions of the unrepentant says to the mixed heart that the mixed heart is not even considered worthy to be looked upon with any respect even if that respect is not feigned or genuine.
We again remind you that Satan goes before the Lord often with accusations against the believers. Can you not hear the taunting of the wicked one? I cringe within when I think on the numerous times, I’ve given him ammunition to hurl at my Lord. This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest and most painful revealing I’ve acknowledged in my years of communing and fellow-shipping with the Father.
The mixed heart is where we get an understanding of the word hypocrite; a word that Jesus used often in addressing religious leaders of his day. What does the word hypocrite mean? Let’s view various definitions.
Hypocrite: a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. 1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.
The word belie means: 1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict. 2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray.
Through research on the word hypocrite, I came across the following:
How to Spot a Hypocrite
- Say one thing but do another.
- Treat those in power differently than they act toward underlings.
- Give advice but fail to follow their own guidance.
- Preach tolerance but judge others who don’t conform to their way of thinking.
- Volunteer others but rarely raise their own hand.
I would say that this makes way for an intense observation of ourselves. As we can see from the information provided the word doesn’t just point to us being in Christ alone, but points also to every area of our lives.
The bottom line and truth referencing the meaning of the word hypocrite can be summed up in one word: LIAR!!! From this insight we can now see that liar goes beyond deceitful words. The word liar goes beyond spoken words. We can lie without speaking. This insight calls for us to live our lives cautiously; not casual and recklessly. This thought I will leave to your own meditations along with this passage from the written word: Revelation 21:8 from the Amplified Bible states:
8 But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
This passage of scripture will appear again in other topics throughout the contents of Revelation.
Many of you reading the contents of the mixed heart are thinking to yourselves that life is hard, and the expectations of perfection are unattainable. Some of you are saying “Joyce I cannot meet the standards that are set before me from the Most High God. His standards are above me. The sins and short comings that you are consistently revealing are inescapable, there is no way around them. All that I am able to see are my imperfections and no way to achieve the righteousness of God.”
These are legitimate concerns. The righteousness of God dear friends is encompassed in Jesus. Jesus is the righteousness of God. It is only through Him and by Him that we are made righteous. Accepting Him as Lord and savior of our lives, puts us in a right position with God and living and applying his teaching to our lives moves us to the fulfilling of the correct or righteous lifestyle that the Most High God is calling for. The reason that High is boldly written in red is to bring home a point. Because God is God and is above every and all things, His standards and expectations will be higher than what we see and settle for in this life here on the earth. The fall of the garden couple, Adam, and Eve, altered the course of life and brought everything about life to a lowly state. The splendor and Glory of God that once filled the earth before the fall of man is no longer illuminated in brilliancy to be seen and experienced in its fullness because the veil of sin or the curtains of sin were drawn and closed, shutting out the rays of God’s glory and the perfections of his ways.
How many of you have ever closed a curtain because too much sunlight was coming into a room and was altering clear vision of a television or game or was simply casting a glare, making something not fully accessible to or for you? Once you shut the sunlight out you were then able to indulge in and or partake of whatever the effects of the sunlight was partially if not completely making impossible. This is the very result of sin. The curtain of sin shuts out the light, the brilliant rays, that stops and or hinders accessibility to ways and lifestyles that does not meet the standards of God. To the low state of mind all thoughts above that state of mind is high and thought to be unachievable. To the low standards in this life all things above that standard is considered high and deemed to be unachievable. God’s standards are his normal. What he is basically asking us to do is to meet him at his normal. And dear friends we do have the ability to meet him at his normal. If we will open the curtains and let the Son (Jesus) shine in, walk in the light of the Son, we then will meet God at his normal and walk in the righteousness that His normal is calling for. God’s ways and thoughts are simply his normal. What happens to be abnormal is a life filled with sin. A mind that is distorted by sin. Actions that are influenced and carried out by a power called sin.
John 8:12 New International Version:
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
The word if in this passage of scripture, sits in a positive position and offers a positive result. The word if in this passage also indicates choice. So, what this scripture is letting us know is that for the dark heart condition and the mixed heart condition there is choice. This passage of scripture informs us that sinning is a want to action; not a have to action. Sin has been eradicated through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. To be more precise about the annihilation of sins power I will put it this way: sin led Jesus to the cross and killed him. Sin led him to a tomb to be buried. Sin demanded a stone to be rolled in front of this tomb to hold Jesus, but resurrection and life said, “Jesus cannot be bound, he cannot be held.” Jesus was resurrected and through his resurrection sin lost its power.
The mixed heart can be compared to a window with curtains that are not fully closed nor fully opened. The condition of the window’s dressings or coverings allows both darkness and light. Only light is seen through the areas that are opened. Looking at the diagram of the mixed heart we can see that there are many areas of the heart that are not given way to complete darkness. Also, in the diagram of this heart we can see many areas of darkness that has not given way to the light that is within it. The mixed heart is in a confusing and conflicting state but not a hopeless state. The remedy for this condition is the Holy Spirit and the word of God.
The mixed heart condition is also in a miserable state. It is not fully committed in its union with God, nor is it fully committed in its union with darkness. There is always a war within. This warring is because the Holy Spirit is working in his ministry of conversion and transforming and the sinful nature within is fighting and striving against the Spirit to have control. You see dear friends; the blood of Jesus bridges the gap that sin wedged between the perfect unity of the Father with us. The blood of Jesus is what reconciles us, yet it is the Holy Spirit who transforms us. The Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead that conforms us into the very image of Christ, and He does not do this by force but by your choice.
Please follow the discourse on CHOICE
” FOLLOW ME”
There are very many unnecessary heart aches, pains and tragedies in the lives of the mixed heart. Jesus states in the earlier provided scripture: “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
“So, Joyce are you saying that I am not following Jesus?”
“Yeah.”
“But I have asked Jesus into my heart, I said the sinner’s prayer. I believe he died for me and rose again!”
“Okay. But if you have the mixed heart condition it sounds to me like you’ve asked the Lord into your heart, but you are not giving him your heart completely. It doesn’t look like you are fully committed to him. Jesus said, ” if you follow me you won’t have to walk in darkness“. If there are multiple dark areas in your life that you are choosing to hold on to even after constant and consistent unction’s, pleadings and chastisement from the Holy Spirit then you are not whole heartily following Jesus. It looks like you’re picking and choosing where you will follow Jesus and where you will exit from following Jesus. “I’ll do some of this Jesus but, shucks…. Om not doing all of it!
The mixed heart says that your love for Jesus, your love for the Father, and the love for the Holy Spirit has not been perfected. John: 14:15 from the Amplified Bible quotes Jesus as saying these words: 15 “If you {really} love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.” In other words “Just do what I ask or say.”
The subject at hand doesn’t get any plainer than what the Lord has said. How many of us go to our jobs and tell our earthly masters, because this is the bottom line of who your employer is, an earthly master. How many of us tell him what we are and are not going to do in and on his workplace? Some of you may have did this a couple of times and have gotten away with it but it will not or does not last. When your master’s patience with you has run out, when there is no turning away on your part from your insubordinate ways, the next step of your master will be to do away with you. You’ve proven yourself to be a liability, you’ve proven yourself to be less resourceful, you’ve proven yourself to be unfit for the master’s usage and an unfit candidate for the workplace. This too is how the judgements of the Lord works in reference to what we do in him. The mixed heart is one that professes Christ and is to move through this condition to the final condition of man’s heart which is the pure heart. In the mixed heart condition a person can become a liability. He or she can become unfit for the master’s usage. He or she can either be turned over to re-probation or leave this earthly realm early. The word reprobate means: a person rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation. adjective. morally depraved; unprincipled; bad. rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation.
The question was asked if reprobate indicates the black or dark heart condition. To this question I have to answer, no. The black or dark heart still has a chance to receive the redemptive work of Christ. The reprobate has been rejected by God and has gone beyond the hope of salvation. He or she is destined for permanent separation from the Lord. One of the most scariest things about being reprobate is not knowing that you have been rejected by God. Even in all of his or her wickedness, even in all of his or her evil, the reprobate thinks he or she is cool with the Lord. Pay very close attention to the following passage of scripture:
Please journey with us to Mixed Heart II