02.11. CHAPTER 11: THE INTERFACE OF THE HEART

CHAPTER 11: THE INTERFACE OF THE HEART

Hebrews 4:12 tells us clearly that in GOD, our soul and our spirit are distinct centers of consciousness. These centers of consciousness are being built out of the Word of GOD. In the reality of the (quickened) Rhema Word, we can say that our soul and spirit are being built out of the specific, ingredient, contents of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST that the Rhema Word actually carries. In the reality of the Word construct of our inward parts in GOD, both spirit and soul are – in GOD – necessary, fully functional and, distinct centers of consciousness. In GOD, the functions of our soul and spirit are being developed out of the Word of GOD. And, these functions are being developed in the specific contents of the Spirit and Life of MASHIAH YESHUA perfected and completed into our soul and spirit. In the reality of the Word of the Cross (see 1 Corinthians 1:18, NASB), the functions of our soul and spirit have the potential of being developed out of the faith and love of YESHUA expressed for us through the Cross (see John 1:16; Ephesians 2:10). In the reality of the Cross, our soul and spirit functions are also being perfected out of the Nature and Character of JESUS CHRIST expressed for us through the Cross. And, all that is being developed and perfected takes place and comes together – in us - through the HOLY SPIRIT’s ministry!

Given the functional dynamics of our soul and spirit in and through the Word of GOD, our heart finds its functional essence as the functional interface between our soul and spirit. In this interface, the heart is the functional hub for co-mingled functional expressions of our soul and spirit, which determines what we do in word and deed. Our functional capacity involves spirit and soul functions being co-mingled into functions of the heart that we can then express in word and deed in the Name of the LORD JESUS (see Colossians 3:17; Deuteronomy 30:14-15). The ability to do something - in word and deed in the Name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST – crystallizes in our heart and manifests from our heart into what we do in word and deed. This ability to actually do something in the Name of the LORD JESUS is part and parcel of the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (see Matthew 5:17-18; Matthew 5:20; Colossians 3:17; John 14:12-14; John 15:7-8; John 15:16).

[When we do something in the Name of the LORD JESUS, we are doing something in and by and through HIS Witness and Testimony. It is HIS Witness and Testimony – in us functionally - that gives credence to doing something in the Name of the LORD JESUS.] The primary function of our heart is that it interfaces with our spirit and soul. In this process, our heart also functions as an interface between our spirit and soul.

[In the context of the foregoing, the functional model for our inward parts can be expressed as: “spirit ó heart ó soul”. This model assumes that all things from GOD come alive to us through our spirit and flow into our heart and thence into our soul and vice versa. The things of GOD only open to us in this manner when we are born again (see John 3:3). We are born again when we receive a new spirit from GOD (see Ezekiel 36:26). This verse also tells us that a new heart – prophetically called a heart of flesh – comes into being in us from GOD as GOD undertakes to progressively remove the heart of stone that we have and replace it with a growing heart of flesh (see 2 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV). In this new born re-engineering and re-configuration of our inward operating system, all things from GOD open to our new spirit and arise into our (new) heart and thence into our soul according to our souls response to what GOD has made alive in our spirit. In being born again our new spirit has received the Seed of the life-giving Spirit of JESUS CHRIST (see Galatians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:45). From this new beginning, the Rhema Word communicated in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST has the potential of being received in our spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2:13) and being communicated into our heart and soul as we (in our soul) respond to what the HOLY SPIRIT is proclaiming in the Rhema Word. Our heart and soul have the capacity to receive and they also have the capacity to provide feedbacks, hence the use of the symbol ó indicating a “to and from” interface in our inward operating system of “spirit ó heart ó soul”. The “ó heart ó” portion of the inward operating system described as “spirit ó heart ó soul” depicts our heart as the functional hub of our soul and spirit functions. This functional hub is described as a growing heart of flesh that GOD creates (see Ezekiel 36:26; Psalms 51:10; Matthew 5:8) and configures out of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST flowing into us – by the HOLY SPIRIT – through the Rhema Word. This heart of flesh is of the substance of MASHIAH YESHUA’s Fullness (see John 1:16-17) as we set our hope on HIM (see Hebrews 11:1, KJV/NKJV; 1 John 3:3). This heart of flesh is the necessary ingredient for the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in our inward parts in abiding terms.]

Since both spirit and soul are built in the Word of GOD it follows that the functional interface of our heart - with our spirit and our soul – is also perfected and completed in the Spirit and Life of YESHUA by the HOLY SPIRIT. The whole process is subject to our own free will response to the Word of GOD! We actualize a heart of flesh forming in us. This heart of flesh is of HIS fullness – in substance and witness. The schematic on the functional interface of our heart is shown in Figure 11.

FIGURE 11: Schematic Of The Functional Interfaces Of The Inward Man

The good news is that GOD “is at work in you, both to will and to work for HIS good pleasure.” [See Php 2:13.] And this is how GOD does it: “I will put MY SPIRIT within you and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and you will be careful to observe MY ordinances.” [See Ezekiel 36:27; Ezekiel 36:25-27.]

GOD causes us to walk in HIS ways through all that HE brings into our spirit. What GOD brings into us is framed in the Rhema (HOLY SPIRIT quickened) Witness and Testimony of JESUS as expressions of the Word of GOD communicated into us in JESUS CHRIST’s Spirit and Life. In salvation, this system of spirit ó heart ó soul is designed to fully function in the realized realities of the Witness and Testimony of YESHUA. These realized realities come out of the actual contents of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST. The specific contents of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST are fashioned by the HOLY SPIRIT into our spirit, heart, and soul. In this way our inward parts are created in CHRIST JESUS (see Ephesians 2:10; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:16-17, KJV+NKJV+NASB).

[The symbol “ó” describes a “to and from” interface between spirit and heart and, heart and soul. “ó heart ó” also symbolizes the interface the heart plays between spirit and soul and, soul and spirit. This simply means that everything contained in our spirit impacts the soul through our heart and everything in our soul impacts our spirit through our heart. This also tells us that our inward functions can originate from either our spirit or, from our soul or, from both at the same time. And when our inward functions originate from both spirit and soul at the same time, this can result in conflict and confusion in our heart, unless our soul chooses to submit itself to what the HOLY SPIRIT has brought alive in our spirit. The actual choice crystallizes in our heart at the speed of thought and intent – in response to GOD or otherwise! This response can be a response in obedience or disobedience!] In principle, our heart unveils its functional contents – arising from spirit and soul - through our mouths and through our deeds. Colossians 3:17 declares the ideal that salvation is to crystallize in us: … whatever you do in word and deed, do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS …. .

[There is a functionality of our heart that opens us to GOD – through our spirit (see Matthew 5:8). However, there is also a wrongful use of our heart that can position us in the occult too (see John 8:42-47).] The Scriptures declare that we have the potentials of the Word of GOD being manifested in our mouth and our heart and, this becomes the practical expression of the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (see Deuteronomy 30:14-15; Matthew 5:17-18; Deuteronomy 30:6; 1 Peter 4:11). Our mouth speaks out of the abundance of our heart. In GOD, our mouth and heart have an awesome prophetic potential (see 1 Peter 4:11 a). In evil our mouth and heart have a destructive potential (see James 3:5-6). A growing fulfillment of the Word of GOD in our mouth and heart is the outcome of our salvation (see James 3:2) and stands in line with the Law and the Prophets fulfilled.

1 Peter 4:11 (NASB) declares: Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances (NKJV – oracles) of GOD; whoever serves (or, ministers – NKJV), let him do so by the strength which GOD supplies; so that in all things GOD may be glorified through JESUS CHRIST …. . The capacity to speak and the capacity to minister are defined in the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST alive in our spirit man (see Romans 1:9). The willingness to speak and minister in the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST is alive in our renewed and regenerated soul (which carries our conscience – see Romans 9:1).

It must be understood that the functions of both spirit and soul are necessary for balanced fulfillment of the capacity to speak and to minister! And, this again is an expression of the Law and the Prophets fulfilled! The ability of our soul and spirit to function in righteousness and holiness of the truth is an expression of the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. This is an outcome of our salvation progressed in the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. In describing our inward parts as a composite functional interface of “spirit ó heart ó soul” orchestrated by the HOLY SPIRIT - so that the Testimony and Witness of JESUS CHRIST is developed and expressed - we have described the true basis of man being a spiritual being – in GOD’s perfect will. As a spiritual being in GOD, man has the potentials to search the depths of GOD (see 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:12)!

Biblical Spirituality declares that man is a spiritual being built and developed in and through the Witness and Testimony of JESUS CHRIST. And, this spiritual actuality is the exclusive workmanship of GOD in our inward parts (see 2 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV; Exodus 32:15-16; Jeremiah 31:31-34). And, this workmanship of GOD in us gives expression to the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in each one of us – in a functional uniqueness. Our spirituality - in truth - is exclusively tied to the Testimony of JESUS (see John 14:6). And, our spirituality in truth is entirely orchestrated by the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT (see John 16:13-15). Our spirituality is designed to operate by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS. Romans 8:2, calls this life! This is true life. This is GOD-given and GOD-developed life – true life!

Simply put: the totality of our spiritual being is prophetically designed to be of JESUS CHRIST and, it is designed to realize all that is of CHRIST JESUS and, function in all that is of CHRIST JESUS. The functional prophetic totality that is of JESUS CHRIST unveils – exclusively – in, by and through the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT. This is the basis for the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets – we function by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS (see Romans 8:2; Romans 3:21-23, KJV). This is the exclusive functional basis that enables us to break the yokes of lawlessness that governs man in false spirituality. Biblical Spirituality operates in GOD (in the LORD JESUS), by GOD (the HOLY SPIRIT) and for GOD (for the FATHER’s glory). Biblical Spirituality is designed to enable man to actually live in and by and through and for GOD!

Biblical Spirituality is based on man’s freewill acceptance of GOD as the be-all and end-all of man’s life and being in eternity. The Bible addresses this reality as eternal life.

Functioning in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT, is the basic operating framework for the FATHER’s will being brought to fulfillment in man (see Isaiah 48:16; Romans 8:2; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 1:3-14; Ephesians 1:17-23). And, functioning in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT, is the practical functional basis and framework for the realization and expression of the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets! The fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in our actual functions is what will protect us from cultivating lawlessness.

We have in the preceding chapters described the dynamics of our spirituality as functions of our spirit and, soul while making some reference to our heart. In actuality however, our inward functions are crystallized by our heart from what our heart actualizes from the functional expressions alive in both our soul and spirit. A pure heart fulfills the Law and the Prophets (see Matthew 5:8) functionally (see Psalms 24:3-4; Psalms 15:1-2; Genesis 22:14). And, this comes about through realities sourced in our spirit and soul.

It follows that a pure heart is descriptive of commingled pure expressions of soul and spirit! Such a functional reality is actualized from JESUS CHRIST – through extracts of the specific contents of HIS Spirit and HIS Life, being perfected and completed into the functions of our inward parts (by the HOLY SPIRIT). The functions of our spirit, soul and heart are functions meant to be described and developed in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT; and, this functional actuality in turn becomes the framework for the fulfillment of the FATHER’s Will (see Php 2:13; Ephesians 1:9-14). [It is also the framework for the unveiling or revelation (see Mark 4:22) of the Mystery of the FATHER’s will (see Ephesians 1:9-10; Romans 8:2; Ephesians 1:3-14).]

And, this functional actualization is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Any spirituality that stands in contradiction to this is an unveiling in the Mystery of Lawlessness (see 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Romans 8:5-8; Galatians 5:19-21). This functional actuality is the result of the Word of GOD being performed and brought to fulfillment (see Jeremiah 1:11-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah 24:7; Jeremiah 32:38-40) in our spirit, soul and heart – in CHRIST JESUS (through extracts of HIS Spirit and HIS Life), by the HOLY SPIRIT (see Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:15-16; Romans 8:2)!

All that is described and developed in CHRIST JESUS comes to us through all that is founded in and by the Word of GOD - described in the Spirit and Life of YESHUA. And, what is of the Spirit and Life of JESUS is perfected and completed into us through the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT.

[At a time when the experiential is being loosely communicated across our pulpits, it is crucial that we understand that truth is actually communicated in the Word being brought to fulfillment in us by GOD HIMSELF in the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (see Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; Jeremiah 31:33-34; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Jeremiah 1:11-12). In this sense all human spiritual experience needs to be a reinforcement of the Word resident in our inward parts in the Spirit and Life of YESHUA MASHIAH.] The Spirit and Life of MASHIAH YESHUA (CHRIST JESUS) gives us access to actualizing HIS Fullness – prophetically described as the Mystery of CHRIST (see Colossians 1:26-28; Ephesians 3:3-4; Ephesians 3:8 c-12). HIS Fullness revealed will establish us as functioning vessels of GOD in the actual image and fullness of CHRIST JESUS (see Ephesians 1:17-23)!

There can be no other basis for true spirituality (see John 14:6; John 12:1-50; John 13:1-38; John 14:1-31).