In the heart of believers is a fire. This fire according to the bible is the fire of the Holy Spirit. This fire ranges in size accordingly. Some have large fires, some small that are easily put out and some have sparks that are forming, but the pressures of this world and the stress of things comes to stomp it out. I also saw that there are some who consider themselves Christian- having grown up in the church and even regular church attenders who had a deep darkness – completely black -in their heart and cut off from the Lord. They have been fooled by religious rituals unto salvation.
The darkness I saw in the heart terrified me. It was a deep darkness, like being lost and left alone in the deepest darkness. If we could only see the spiritual world surrounding us- I wonder if we would wake up?
This darkness was ultimately created by the person’s sin, backsliding, turning from God… with gripping strongholds ( Spiritual Strongholds). And he thought he was saved, but didn’t realize the utter torment he was actually in.
Jesus said. “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. Rev 3:15-18
Remember the parable of the seed Jesus told us….
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:
The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. They hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The devil takes it away from their hearts and prevents them from believing and being saved.
The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. They hear God’s word, but all to quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, the desire for other things, and the riches and pleasures of this life. The produce no fruit and they never grow to maturity.
The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” They heard and accepted God’s word. They represent honest, good hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it and patiently produce a huge harvest.(there is that word cling again! From Isaiah 41:10 see post on Clinging to the Lord- true meaning Isaiah 41:10 -the bible is like a big puzzle we put together- everything ties into another and the study never ends!)
Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others
The Seed is the Word of God- it is the hearing of the Gospel. So the faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 What do you do with the Word you hear? I remember when I read this years ago, it scared me. I knew that I was one of the one whose heart crowded out the Word of God with things from this world. I wanted life my way and I also wanted to be saved. In my own mind I thought I was good, but when I read this scripture- I was truly convicted. As the word says- “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12
I heard the Word and loved what I heard, but I wanted to go my own way. I didn’t think I knew how to change this. I know it takes a changed heart only the Lord can change. It takes a willing heart. It takes a heart willing to give up the worldly desires and passions the world tries to tempt us with. It’s determination to say no to the things of this world and a new determination and desire to please the Lord. It is sad that I had to hit absolute rock bottom to change. But I rejoice in that time and my trials. It broke me where I needed to be broken and changed my life. In trials we have two choices- we can become bitter and angry or we can give it to the Lord and trust Him.
The Dark Empty blackest heart: This person considered himself to be a practicing Christian, having grown up with rituals and practices for salvation, also attending church each Sunday. Yet demonic strongholds had him captive and although he heard the word, he listened and he tried, nothing changed. He couldn’t see the demon who had his hands wrapped around his neck. This demonic chokehold around the neck was choking out the word.
Let me explain further: This person heard the word of God , and I’m assuming this person wanted to change going to church each weekend, but as he heard the words and the words started to go down into his heart, the demonic hands wrapped around the neck gripped it so hard the word could not go into the heart. The heart stood unchanged, the man wrestled to no avail.
The Heart with the Large fire : This was amazing to see, this person was humble at heart and did not know the large flame within. This person had been through years of difficult tests and trials, yet relied on the Lord through each one. As each trial passed, the flame increased more and more, and now at an older age in life, the flame overflowed out of the heart. I could see demonic attacks that would still come to this person- in the spirit world it looked like someone trying to blow out a campfire- maybe it would make a small dent, but the flame would come right back. 
In the physical world it would be a person or situation that bothered or annoyed them, not knowing it was actually a fight with the spiritual realms- not flesh and blood as the scripture says:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Eph 6:22
I was given understanding to know that our battles in the day are really spiritual battles. We think they are people or situations, but they are not.
To prove further: “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;4And patience, experience; and experience, hope Romans 5:3-4, you see the trials and tests we overcome strengthen us.
In this heart I saw, I knew this person had faith and trust in the Lord and the trials endured through trust in the Lord had helped her now as trials still came. Although trials still came, the person stood unaffected by the storms. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. This verse tells us that those who trust in the Lord stand strong in their storms. If drought, extreme heat, or great storms topple over, the tree still stands tall and strong with it’s roots deeply secured along the river. It never worries and always keeps on producing fruit.
HEART IN THE FIRE- MADE IN HIS IMAGE
I was reading the story of Moses and I thought it was really interesting that the Lord spoke to them from the heart of the fire. I wonder – if we are also made in his image spiritually. I saw that within us is a fire in the heart. It makes sense, but it never something I’ve considered or been taught.
Deuteronomy 4:12 And the LORD spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice.
Deuteronomy 4:15 “But be very careful! You did not see the LORD’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai.
Deuteronomy 5:4At the mountain the LORD spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire.
Deuteronomy 5:22“The LORD spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
Deuteronomy 5:24They said, ‘Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live.
My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. Proverbs 23:18-20
Weeping and Gnashing of teeth
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth on that great and terrible day. I was thinking on this verse about a month or two ago and the Holy Spirit spoke clearly into my heart – those who will be weeping and gnashing their teeth will be those who think they are saved, those who have been lied to from the pulpit and those who consider themselves Christian. We cannot make our own rules and we cannot change the Laws and regulations of God to fit our lifestyle. We need to stop pretending and trying to impress people.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.For many are called, but few are chosen. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. and he shall say “Lord, Lord, open unto us” ; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. Matt 8:12, 22:13, 24:51Matt24:51Luke 13:13
Verses to think on:
As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. Prov 27:19
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” John 7:38(this relates more to spiritual stronghold post describing the heart)
Luke 21:34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware,
Hebrews 1:7 Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.”— I think this is really interesting- we are the flames of fire He is describing
2 Timothy 1:6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. (We can fan these flames within us! That means we can increase the flame in us in order to overcome any spiritual battles that come against us- remember we do not battle against flesh and blood but against… principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. It is not as we perceive from our wordly view- the people that hurt us or situations at home and work are the workings of your enemy trying to put out the flame within you. In your trials rejoice- raise your hands, give him praise- put on the belt of truth, the shoes of peach and the breastplate of righteousness praise Him- fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you and stand spiritually strong.)
Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! This verse says a lot in the few words it speaks- can a cracked cistern hold water? Can the heart of those who turn and abandon the Lord hold the living water? Be careful and above all guard you heart for out of it flow the issues of life.
How can I enlarge the fire of the Holy Spirit in my heart? By enduring all your trials as you cling to the Lord -Raise your hands and Praise His name-know who your enemy is and know your weapons of warfare. Use scripture to lift you up if you are down. Fan into flames the fire of the Holy Spirit in you.
There is more I want to share about the heart and the fire within us. I think this post is a bit too long at this point, so I’ll finish up during the week and share more of what the Lord showed me. (and I promise to draw better next time:) )
Peace to All! May God’s grace and Mercy be upon you. The Lord is soo Good! He answered three specific prayers I prayed unto Him this week! Surely the Lord is good and His Mercy endures forever! I am so happy happy that He hears me and answers our prayers. Glory to you O Lord!
Shalom my friends!
Prayer for our loved ones who are lost and struggling: Prayer- our weapon of warfare
Ancient Paths 