Title
FULL 充满
Date
11/30/2025
Description
Romans 1:21: For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened."
羅 馬 書 1:21: 因 为 ， 他 们 虽 然 知 道 神 ， 却 不 当 作 神 荣 耀 他 ， 也 不 感 谢 他 。 他 们 的 思 念 变 为 虚 妄 ， 无 知 的 心 就 昏 暗 了 。(page 1822)
Psalm 145:18: The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
詩 篇 145:18: 凡 求 告 耶 和 华 的 ， 就 是 诚 心 求 告 他 的 ， 耶 和 华 便 与 他 们 相 近 。 (page 1028)
1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 5:18: 凡 事 谢 恩 ； 因 为 这 是 神 在 基 督 耶 稣 里 向 你 们 所 定 的 旨 意 。 (page 1918)
2 Corinthians 10:5: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..."
歌 林 多 後 書 10:5: 摧毁一切抬高自己、对抗上帝知识的高傲障碍。我们要俘虏每一种思想，使它们降服于基督。(page 1880)
Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
馬 太 福 音 6:21: 你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也会在那里。
(page 1567)
Heb 2:1: So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
希 伯 來 書 2:1: 因此，我们必须更加注意我们所听到的那些事情（真理）(page 1940)
羅 馬 書 1:21: 因 为 ， 他 们 虽 然 知 道 神 ， 却 不 当 作 神 荣 耀 他 ， 也 不 感 谢 他 。 他 们 的 思 念 变 为 虚 妄 ， 无 知 的 心 就 昏 暗 了 。(page 1822)
Psalm 145:18: The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
詩 篇 145:18: 凡 求 告 耶 和 华 的 ， 就 是 诚 心 求 告 他 的 ， 耶 和 华 便 与 他 们 相 近 。 (page 1028)
1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 5:18: 凡 事 谢 恩 ； 因 为 这 是 神 在 基 督 耶 稣 里 向 你 们 所 定 的 旨 意 。 (page 1918)
2 Corinthians 10:5: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..."
歌 林 多 後 書 10:5: 摧毁一切抬高自己、对抗上帝知识的高傲障碍。我们要俘虏每一种思想，使它们降服于基督。(page 1880)
Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
馬 太 福 音 6:21: 你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也会在那里。
(page 1567)
Heb 2:1: So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
希 伯 來 書 2:1: 因此，我们必须更加注意我们所听到的那些事情（真理）(page 1940)
Creator
Pastor: Mike Koger
Contributor
Hillside United Methodist Church
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
Transcription
Staying Full of God:
Guarding the Heart from Spiritual Dulling
Romans 1:21
There's a small glass jar in my prayer area that holds a candle.
When the candle was new, the flame burned bright - warm, clean, steady.
But over time, something began to happen.
Not suddenly... but slowly.
A thin film of soot began to coat the glass. At first, you could hardly notice it. The flame was still there - still burning - but its light didn't shine through the way it used to. As the days went by, the glass grew darker. Nothing was wrong with the flame itself... but the film around it kept thickening - dimming the glow, muting the warmth, obscuring the brightness.
One day, I finally wiped the glass clean. And immediately - without adding wax, or oxygen, or fuel - the flame looked brighter. Nothing new had been added. Nothing had changed about the flame.
The only thing that changed... was removing what had built up around it.
"Most believers don't lose the flame - they lose the clarity."
"You may carry the Spirit, but does the Spirit carry you?"
Not because the Spirit left... but because the heart grew coated - slowly - over time.
And that is exactly what Romans 1:21 describes: "For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened."
This is a message for those with hungry hearts today.
Hungry for more. Hungry for a closer walk with God.
Advent Week One is HOPE. Let our Hope be in a greater revelation of Jesus today.
Jesus said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matt 5:6)
> Let’s break this down by each of its parts…
1. (For though they knew God )“They did not glorify Him as God”
To glorify God means to magnify Him — to make Him bigger in our hearts than anything else. Whatever you focus on, you magnify.
Heb 10:38: “ …but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
“Faith is the positive response to what God has already given you by grace.”
When we stop glorifying (magnifying) God:
- problems grow larger
- fears grow louder
- emotions sit on the throne
But when we deliberately magnify Him:
- faith rises
- clarity returns
- His presence fills our awareness
Psalm 35:27: “Let the LORD be magnified who hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Start each day by exalting God before examining circumstances.
Psalm 145:18: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
2. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude.
The second step downward is ingratitude. (not being grateful)
Gratitude is the retaining wall that keeps revelation from leaking out of the heart.
Ingratitude: - Shrinks our awareness of grace - Feeds disappointment
Thanksgiving: - Sensitizes the heart - Anchors joy
1 Thess 5:18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
When we thank God IN everything, and our hearts stay tender toward Him.
3. “They became vain in their imaginations”
“they entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God was like.”
Once God is no longer magnified and gratitude fades, the mind begins to drift.
“Vain imaginations” means:
- letting thoughts go unchecked
- meditating on worst-case scenarios
- picturing defeat instead of promise
We don’t have to surrender to this fate – we were called to fight it - victoriously
2 Cor 10:5: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…
Andrew Wommack says “The imagination is ‘the womb of the heart’
— whatever you dwell on in-ternally is birthed ex-ternally.”
“out of the abundance of the heart”
If I turn on the DVD player to watch “Platoon” and instead it’s some lame movie called “The Notebook” – what went wrong? What movie are we replaying in our minds?
Replace mental movies of fear with pictures of God’s faithfulness.
4. “Their foolish heart was darkened”
“This left them with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness.”
The final step is not intellectual darkness — it is heart darkness.
A darkened heart:
- loses spiritual sensitivity
- stops recognizing God’s voice
- feels far from God
1 Sam 16:7: Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
When God looks into our hearts, what does He find?
Jesus said ( Matt 6:21 ) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
A heart that was set on serving God and hearing His voice can slowly drift away by the distractions of this world.
Heb 2:1: So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
But here’s the hope:
If decline has four steps, restoration has four steps in reverse:
1. Glorify Him
2. Give Thanks
3. Sanctify Imagination
4. Heart Enlightened
This is how we stay full of God.
Maybe you haven’t rebelled. Maybe you haven’t drifted morally.
…But maybe you’ve gone dim inside.
Today, God invites you to:
- glorify Him again
- give thanks again
- renew your minds (imagination) again
- let your heart brighten again
You don’t need a breakthrough — you need a return to awareness.
Prayer
Lord, I magnify You above every distraction, fear, and circumstance.
Thank You for Your goodness, Your presence, Your faithfulness in my life.
Purify my imagination and align it with Your promises.
Enlighten my heart again.
Keep me full of You — tender, awake, aware, and responsive.
Amen.
Hosea 6:3: Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Guarding the Heart from Spiritual Dulling
Romans 1:21
There's a small glass jar in my prayer area that holds a candle.
When the candle was new, the flame burned bright - warm, clean, steady.
But over time, something began to happen.
Not suddenly... but slowly.
A thin film of soot began to coat the glass. At first, you could hardly notice it. The flame was still there - still burning - but its light didn't shine through the way it used to. As the days went by, the glass grew darker. Nothing was wrong with the flame itself... but the film around it kept thickening - dimming the glow, muting the warmth, obscuring the brightness.
One day, I finally wiped the glass clean. And immediately - without adding wax, or oxygen, or fuel - the flame looked brighter. Nothing new had been added. Nothing had changed about the flame.
The only thing that changed... was removing what had built up around it.
"Most believers don't lose the flame - they lose the clarity."
"You may carry the Spirit, but does the Spirit carry you?"
Not because the Spirit left... but because the heart grew coated - slowly - over time.
And that is exactly what Romans 1:21 describes: "For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened."
This is a message for those with hungry hearts today.
Hungry for more. Hungry for a closer walk with God.
Advent Week One is HOPE. Let our Hope be in a greater revelation of Jesus today.
Jesus said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matt 5:6)
> Let’s break this down by each of its parts…
1. (For though they knew God )“They did not glorify Him as God”
To glorify God means to magnify Him — to make Him bigger in our hearts than anything else. Whatever you focus on, you magnify.
Heb 10:38: “ …but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
“Faith is the positive response to what God has already given you by grace.”
When we stop glorifying (magnifying) God:
- problems grow larger
- fears grow louder
- emotions sit on the throne
But when we deliberately magnify Him:
- faith rises
- clarity returns
- His presence fills our awareness
Psalm 35:27: “Let the LORD be magnified who hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Start each day by exalting God before examining circumstances.
Psalm 145:18: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
2. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude.
The second step downward is ingratitude. (not being grateful)
Gratitude is the retaining wall that keeps revelation from leaking out of the heart.
Ingratitude: - Shrinks our awareness of grace - Feeds disappointment
Thanksgiving: - Sensitizes the heart - Anchors joy
1 Thess 5:18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
When we thank God IN everything, and our hearts stay tender toward Him.
3. “They became vain in their imaginations”
“they entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God was like.”
Once God is no longer magnified and gratitude fades, the mind begins to drift.
“Vain imaginations” means:
- letting thoughts go unchecked
- meditating on worst-case scenarios
- picturing defeat instead of promise
We don’t have to surrender to this fate – we were called to fight it - victoriously
2 Cor 10:5: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…
Andrew Wommack says “The imagination is ‘the womb of the heart’
— whatever you dwell on in-ternally is birthed ex-ternally.”
“out of the abundance of the heart”
If I turn on the DVD player to watch “Platoon” and instead it’s some lame movie called “The Notebook” – what went wrong? What movie are we replaying in our minds?
Replace mental movies of fear with pictures of God’s faithfulness.
4. “Their foolish heart was darkened”
“This left them with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness.”
The final step is not intellectual darkness — it is heart darkness.
A darkened heart:
- loses spiritual sensitivity
- stops recognizing God’s voice
- feels far from God
1 Sam 16:7: Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
When God looks into our hearts, what does He find?
Jesus said ( Matt 6:21 ) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
A heart that was set on serving God and hearing His voice can slowly drift away by the distractions of this world.
Heb 2:1: So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
But here’s the hope:
If decline has four steps, restoration has four steps in reverse:
1. Glorify Him
2. Give Thanks
3. Sanctify Imagination
4. Heart Enlightened
This is how we stay full of God.
Maybe you haven’t rebelled. Maybe you haven’t drifted morally.
…But maybe you’ve gone dim inside.
Today, God invites you to:
- glorify Him again
- give thanks again
- renew your minds (imagination) again
- let your heart brighten again
You don’t need a breakthrough — you need a return to awareness.
Prayer
Lord, I magnify You above every distraction, fear, and circumstance.
Thank You for Your goodness, Your presence, Your faithfulness in my life.
Purify my imagination and align it with Your promises.
Enlighten my heart again.
Keep me full of You — tender, awake, aware, and responsive.
Amen.
Hosea 6:3: Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”