Why do you need a new heart?
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately _____; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do _____" (Jeremiah 13:23).
Everyone suffers from fatal heart disease. As we come into this world, our hearts lead us to follow our craving for sin--to think its thoughts and do whatever it says (see Ephesians 2:3). We may try to fix this or that bad habit, but the real problem is in the heart.
What kind of heart do you need?
"Create in me a _____ heart, O God, and renew a stedfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
How can we receive this new heart?
"Then will I _____ them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19).
"I will put My _____ within you and cause you to walk in My statutes [commandments], and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27).
How does Jesus explain this life-changing work?
"Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is _____ again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
"It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them" (Steps to Christ, pg. 18). We must have a power working on the inside, a new life from above.
How does God give you new life?
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the _____, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
"It is the Spirit who gives _____" (John 6:63).
Why is it important to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the _____ of God" (Romans 8:14).
"Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not _____" (Romans 8:9).
It is not enough to merely know the Bible and understand all its teachings. The Holy Spirit must bring these truths into your heart. He's the only One who can help you walk and talk the Living Way (the Christian life). His presence is the sign that you've been changed and belong to Jesus.
When you belong to Jesus, how will your life be different?
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new _____; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When Jesus gives you a new heart, it's not a patch-up job. "The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether" (Desire of Ages, pg. 172). This change can only be brought about by the working of the Holy Spirit.
How does the Spirit bring this about?
"The _____ of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit was given to us" (Romans 5:5)."
"When He has come, He will ____ the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judg-
ment" (John 16:8).
"Having been born again...through the _____ of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23).
What else does the Holy Spirit give you?
"But you shall receive _____ when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me" (Acts 1:8).
The book of Acts is packed with the Spirit's power. Christ's followers turned the world upside down by spreading the gospel to the world of their day. Thousands gave their hearts to Jesus through a single sermon. Blind men were healed. Demons were cast out. Wherever hearts were open to the Spirit of God, He brought power to live for Jesus and do mighty works in His name.
What do you have to do to have that kind of power?
"And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who _____ Him" (Acts 5:32).
The Holy Spirit lives in your heart when you surrender fully to Jesus Christ. Opening your heart to God makes room for the Holy Spirit. As you cooperate with Him, He will change your life so you can reflect the love and character of Jesus. The more you say, "Yes, Lord!" the more of God's power you will have.
How can you live a new life, guided by the Spirit?
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in _____; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Here is the power of the Christian life. We have died to the pull of sin. We no longer love the things of the world. Jesus reigns supreme on the throne of our heart. He means everything to us.
How can you know if you are born again?
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are _____, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1).
"As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be _____ in all your conduct"
(1 Peter 1:14,15).
"But the _____ of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, good-ness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22,23).
"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we _____ the brethren" (1 John 3:14).
When the Holy Spirit lives within, His love can't be bottled up inside. He will flow out in streams of love and righteousness. We will think more of heavenly things. We will love to talk about Jesus, spend time with Him, and reflect His goodness. Our words, actions, even the expression on our face, will reveal a peace that wasn't there before. We have passed from death to life, and people will be able to see it.
How can you receive the Spirit in your life today?
"Then Peter said to them, '_____, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
"If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who _____ Him?" (Luke 11:13)
This is Bible Guide #11 from the Living Way Bible Course. To order your own color copy, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address.
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