PARTS

     We look at the bible in scripture that says the body has parts, and all parts need each other as a unit to function in harmony. If we read (1 Corn. 12:12 NIV), the bible talks a lot about this. It comprises many parts, and through all its parts are many, they form one body (1 Corn. 12:14- 26 NIV). Now, the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? (1 Corn. 12:16 NIV) If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable are treated with special honor. The unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that liked it so that there should be no division in the body but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (1 Corn. 12: 15-26 NIV). The body is complete in, through, by, and for him. So, it is with Christ that we call the body a unit, meaning complete. It has a complex mechanism in how it operates. But this is not only in the physical natural realm but the spiritual realm. 

The heart and kidneys have complex functions. The liver has a unique function, and we know the nostrils were how it all got started by God. God breathed Life into the nostrils of Adam. The breath of life and the man became a living being (Gen. 2:7 NIV). Imagine the Creator himself breathing into you. Once God created the body from dust, it was still in lifeless form, and he had to bring the body to life. The body could not function and operate these complex specific parts of the one unit of the body until God breathed his spirit into the first body. He then used the first body to remove a part to create the second complex body. He removed what he called the rib from the first humankind to generate the second. And from there, He made another life. So, they could, in turn, create more lives. But only through the father, as I have mentioned. All bodies and spirits come from the Father. No one knows how he does this. This is beyond our comprehension and his extraordinary intelligence. Each body has a design and purpose, as I have mentioned. A purpose He had in his mind when you were woven in your mother's womb. For you created my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Ps. 139:13-14 NIV). Without being woven into the mother's womb, our spirits will float back to the Father. The spirit itself knows where it comes from and where it should return to. 

I mention the parts of the body: the heart, kidneys, liver, and nose. I want to talk about them. The design and purpose for each are not just physical use but spiritual use as well, as I have already mentioned. The heart is not the place of emotion but the kidneys. Because of the various times the bible has been translated, the actual means from Hebrew have been changed. The heart has a mind not emotions but the thoughts of his heart (Gen. 6:5-6 NIV). It has thinking powers of its own. The Hebrew word for heart is "Lev." People who get transplants of the heart often wonder when an older person receives a younger person's heart. Why are they more active and have more energy? They may even have thoughts they did not have before the heart transplant. They may think differently since the heart has its own mind. It holds the thoughts of the person who previously had the heart in their body. In some incidents, the person may have both good and bad cravings they never had before.

For the Hebrew worldview, the heart is the seat of the mind, not the brain. The "mind," if you will, is in the heart. "Moses said, "this is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea" (Num. 16:28 NIV). The Bible also says, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord. And I must say only what the Lord says?" (Num. 24:13 NIV) "As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your Father's family (1 Sam. 9:20 NIV). So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height for the people worked with all their heart (Neh. 4:6 NIV). With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you (Ps. 83:5 NIV). In Hebrew, the word mind is translated heart! The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the Earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain (Gen. 6:5- 6 NIV). This describes the "intent" of the heart" of man. It is not the seat of emotions. The Bible says, "A Cheerful Heart is good medicine, and a cheerful mind works healing (Prov. 17:22 NIV). "Test me, O Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind (Ps. 26:2 NIV).

The word heart is often misunderstood and poorly translated as "kidneys." In the scriptures, the heart is not just a physical organ but a symbol of the mind, the will, and intentions. This is beautifully illustrated in the concept of "circumcising your heart." In him, you were also circumcised, in the putting off the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by hands of me but with the circumcision done by Christ (Col. 2:11 NIV). This symbol of circumcision, far from being a mere physical act, is a profound spiritual practice that signifies the removal of the sinful nature and the dedication of the heart to God.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise Him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before he had been conceived. In the Hebrew perspective, circumcision is not just a physical act but a powerful symbol of submission and dedication. It is a physical manifestation of the intentions of our hearts. Do we truly seek God's purpose? Especially if we are having physical natural problems with the Heart, it may be a sign that we are not fully submitting to him. If the Heart is about intention, then we need His intention. If we are believers, we have given Him our whole heart. Have we loved him with our whole hearts? With the heart having a mind of its own, have we given him our full mind of the heart? This is a call to deep introspection and spiritual commitment. "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered" (Ps. 73:21 NIV). This is evidence that we do belong to Him.

Have we loved our neighbor as ourselves? He is listening to what we think about him and believe about ourselves and our neighbors. Are we thinking the right thoughts? Have we entirely given ourselves to Him in our thoughtful life? All the Apostles talked about this in their books, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with All your soul and with All your strength and with All your mind; and "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27 NIV) 

Now, let's look at another organ, the kidneys. We know they are located below the heart and are used to filter all our blood and flush out toxins from our system. They regulate balance in the body; they balance electrolytes and blood pressure and produce hormones. But is that the only thing they are used for? Is that their only purpose? How do they relate to the other organs? There is a higher, more profound purpose on the spiritual level for their use.

The Hebrew word "Kilyot" plural means kidneys because we have two kidneys. Kilyah singular means a kidney feeling. A few scriptures mention the heart and kidneys being "tried" and "tested." 'O righteous God, who searches mind and hearts (Ps. 7:9 NIV). Test me, O Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind, let's look at (Ps. 26:2 NIV). My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right (Prov. 23:16 NIV). Again, "inmost" means kidneys. But, O Lord Almighty, you who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them for to you I have committed my cause (Jerm. 11:20 NIV).

The Hebrew word for Feelings is Kilyot. The kidneys are the vessels for emotions. The Lord is testing and trying your innermost emotions. 'If someone's offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present an animal without defect before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Then, Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides. From the fellowship offering, he is to...