The motives of the heart determine how a person handles God’s abundance. The heart or spirit man is connected to the supernatural realm where God’s abundance exists. His abundance can be brought from the supernatural realm to the natural realm with faith. The process of bringing supernatural abundance into the natural realm begins in the heart before spilling over into the soul and finances. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good . . . for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45 NKJV). In this study, you will learn how to assess the motives of your heart and how to change them.
A person’s true motives will always be known unto God. He will “disclose the motives of men’s hearts, and then each man’s praise will come to him” (1 Corinthians 4:5). The heart plays an important role in receiving abundance, so it needs to be protected. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). God gives abundance according to the condition of a person’s heart. Three key conditions of the heart related to abundance are purity, power, and purpose.
Purity in the Heart
If the heart is pure then the person’s life is pure, but if the heart is corrupt then his/her life is corrupt. All sin is a product of wickedness or impurities in the heart. “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders” (Matthew 15:19). These are the things that make a person impure or unclean and hinder his/her ability to walk in God’s abundance. Nothing that originates in sinful flesh is pleasing to God (Romans 8:8). Some people may claim to have good motives for desiring abundance even when their desires are selfish. God is not fooled by selfishness for he can discern “the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Selfish motives can hinder your prayers. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
God’s abundance comes quickly in purity. The pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8). The purer your heart, the clearer your perception of God, his will and his ways. Continually evaluate your motives and be honest about what you would do with abundance. Keep your heart pure.
Power in the Heart
Abundance in the heart is brought forth into every aspect of life through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is God “who is giving you the power to make wealth, that he may confirm his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Nothing is of yourself or in your flesh. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The more of the Spirit’s power that is activated within a believer, the more abundance. The power that works in believers comes from having a strong relationship with the Holy Spirit. God can do more than believers think according to the power that works or is energized within them (Ephesians 3:20). The Spirit’s power is always moving, operating and providing everything believers need. Release his power with faith-filled words.
Purpose in the Heart
The heart of each believer is alive and active to fulfill God’s purpose. The spirit of man is God’s lamp, serving his purpose (Proverbs 20:27). In each believer’s heart, God has planted a seed to grow into purpose. He alone examines the motives of each believer’s heart and watches over the seed. The seed within believers is their passion and contains their future. If nurtured, this seed of purpose will grow, develop and produce fruit for God’s kingdom. When you lose your life, you can find it in God’s purpose. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).
God places wisdom and talents within every individual to fulfill his purpose. King Solomon asked God for wisdom to fulfill his purpose which was to rule the nation of Israel. God gave him wisdom, as well as riches, to fulfill the purpose (1 Kings 3:3-15). Nurture your seed of purpose to glorify your Father.
Applications
Deep within every heart is a place for God that only he can fill. When a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, his/her heart is re-created and the Father, his Son, and his Spirit come into the heart, bringing the kingdom with them. That person can then be filled to overflowing by being baptized with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me . . . will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). He was referring to Jesus Christ who fills believers with the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who makes the heart of a believer more and more like Christ. The heart of a believer is transformed by the Spirit into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Believers “are a letter of Christ . . . written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God . . . on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3). It is the Holy Spirit who changes the heart, not the believer.
The things of God, like faith and love, come out of the heart of a believer for that is where God abides. “With the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness” (Romans 10:10). “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). A believer cannot increase the amount of faith or love in the heart by striving with natural abilities. Faith arises in the heart when the believer hears and obeys the Spirit. Love increases with every encounter with the Spirit. Keep yourself in the love of God by praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20-21).
Believers are not in charge of what the Spirit writes on the heart, but they are in charge of their mind and thoughts. When they renew their mind and think on things above, God changes their heart. God gives believers spiritual ways to control their thoughts. “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The renewed mind is critical in keeping the heart of a believer open to the things of the Spirit. It takes the renewed mind to manifest the kingdom within. Renew your mind and you will be able to walk in God’s promises and demonstrate his kingdom.
Personal Stories on Motives of the Heart
At different times Sherry and I were asked by the Lord what we wanted him to do for us? These were times of worship in which we were in his presence in the spirit with no thought of fleshly things. Our requests reflect the motives of a pure heart desiring to fulfill his purpose. Sherry simply asked to know him. Her request was spiritual and consistent with his purpose for her. He continues to give her the revelation of his word to help her fulfill his purpose. I simply asked to see his face, and he is continually showing me his face and what he is doing on the earth. Afterward, I thought that I might have asked for fortune or fame, but I realize that as long as I was in his presence I was concerned about only spiritual things. It brings the Lord great joy for believers to fulfill his purpose with a pure heart.
Conclusions
Believers first bring forth God’s abundance in the heart. From the heart, his abundance spills over onto the soul, finances and other physical areas. Examine your heart with the help of the Holy Spirit to determine what hinders you from living in God’s abundance. If your heart does not condemn you, you can expect abundance in every area of life, such as mental and physical health, finances, and relationships. Lay down your life for the sake of Jesus, and you will gain his higher life by fulfilling his purpose. Receive abundance in every area of your life.