WHAT REPENTANCE DOES TO THE HEART
It is essential to analyse what the scripture says about the heart and how it is linked to our spirit man and our soul. The scripture sees the heart of man as a pathway that connects our spirit and our soul (Deut 6;5;Mark 12:30; Matt 22;37).
Understanding the role of the heart plays a key role in building our faith in Christ because, it is with the heart that one believes unto righteousness (Luke 24:45, Romans 10:10).
The scripture reveals that when we accept Jesus as our Lord & personal saviour, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13), who abides in our human spirit (Romans 8:16).
It is very important as believers to understand this, because we must always have the consciousness that the Holy Spirit dwells in our human spirit (Romans 8:16). Revelation of God’s Word, fellowship, prayer, worship should come from within us (our spirit man) because of our union with the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 3:16), as God is a Spirit and therefore we must worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
Our union with the Spirit of God in our human spirit is what allows the light of God’s Word (Psalms 119:105) to flow into our heart (Eph 1:18). Then the light in our heart then flows to our human mind (soul realm) which causes us to experience Revelation of God’s Word and brings understanding (1 Thess 5:23, Eph 1:17,18; Psalms 119:130).
However, it is crucial to know that SIN is the major hindrance for the light of God’s Word in our spirit man to flow through our heart into our soul (Isaiah 59:2). Sin hinders the movement of the Holy spirit in our heart (Matt 15:19), because it defiles a man’s heart due to its fleshly nature and desires (Gen 3:6, Gal 5;19-21).
Another defilement, that can hinder the move of the Holy Spirit in the heart, is the influence of demonic spirits, because they gain access through sin to cause defilement (Matt 8:29).
Therefore, it is essential for us to guard our heart with all diligence to prevent defilement through sin (Proverbs 4:23). This is achieved when we walk in the Holy Spirit by submitting our life to his guidance and leading. The Holy Spirit will convict us of any sin in our daily walk with Him, then it is our responsibility to confess and repent from our sins in humility (Leviticus 5:5).
When we confess our sins and repent to the Lord, it gives access for the Spirit of God to flow to our soul, body and our external environment, to reveal his glory (Isaiah 40:5).
Stay blessed & encouraged in Faith