On The
Heart
Explain
Purpose of BT: To help us know a little bit more about God and how to develop a
close walk with Him.
HEART:
OP Q: What
is something you like doing with all your heart? (sports, singing,
eatingJ, etc)
Spiritual
Aspects
From a
biblical perspective, The heart is:
The
Governing centre of one’s life
Makes you
what you are and will be
All
thoughts and actions spring from it
Types of
hearts (opposites) –, small/big, hard/soft, good/bad, sweet/sour;
cold/warm
Why is the heart so
important?
God looks at the heart – 1 Sam 16:6-12
explain (also David a man after God’s own heart)
God had
chosen Saul as the first king of Israel. But Saul disobeyed
God.
So God told
Samuel to go to Jesse of Bethlehem. One of his sons will be
chosen.
What
mistake did Samuel make here?
How do we
fall into this trap?...school, work, business
We do that
too. When we look at people; dress; tall; color of skin; eyes, hair or lack of
it;
We fall
into the trap of judging people. (give some examples; personal
experiences)
How do we tend treat people – language,
colour, education; money; clothes, address?
Why does
God tell Samuel this v7?
Who are
some of the people you interact with every week?
Suppose God
told you he would visit you tomorrow. Doesn’t tell you when. He will come in any
appearance. How will you talk to the milkman/rickshaw/security guard
/ayah/driver /bhajji/ stranger /restaurant waiter/
How is your
heart today? Are you looking at your outward appearance – which is what people
see? But what is on the inside of you?
The heart can deceive you – Jer 17:9-10
What does
this passage teach?
Share:
growing up…there was this girl who looked at me. I thought she liked me. She
didn’t L
I remember
how I was deceived once…share
Have any of
you been deceived by your heart? your heart said go ahead, it’s
OK.
You
invested in stocks…only to see the market crash.
Maybe
you’ve been hurt by some people…or maybe you think things are going great….
The heart
can tell you – you’re OK, alright; you’re fine; doing
well;
How do you
know whether what you are doing is right? How can you be
sure?
Heart can
tell you you’re going to heaven; And you listen; and can get deceived.
Fooled.
Who do you
seek advice from? How will you be rewarded? Deeds.
A Source of sin and evil desires – Mark
7:21-22,
Where do
our sins come from?
Our sins
cannot be blamed on someone else, He/She made me do it. It comes from our
hearts.
Got angry?
Impatient? Fought with wife? Fall into lust? Lie? Cheat?
Jesus – all
these evils come from within…the heart (how do you look at your sin,
e.g.cockroach)
Lk 6:45 –
when you speak…..can’t take it back..it’s out….
Can get Hard – Heb 3:12..addressed to
Xians – so it is possible for a soft heart to become hard The hardening takes place gradually…..how
can you tell if your heart is hard? Simple test – how does it respond to God’s
word?
No matter
how sincere you are….it does not save you.
How to get a New Heart?
Seek God with ALL your Heart – Jer
29:13 (Share difficulties/challenges faced when seeking and how to overcome and
make changes in schedule)
Make
changes (No Friday night happy hour)
Spend time
daily reading and talking to God -
a priority
Exams/
studying late – don’t miss the meetings
Have a soft contrite heart – Ps 51:10,
51:17 (Who to talk to and open up….how to make the effort and see the results,
sharing the deepest secrets)
Confessed
all my sins, every single dirty one of them…..
Not a
one-time effort, continuous (when’s the last time you did
this?)
Got it all
out….terrifying..but cleansing, refreshing…..crying tears of
sorrow,
Trust – Pro 3:5-6 (office situations –
not relying on self, doing what God wants….)
How often
do you seek advice? Job? Investments? Giving to God?
Not seeking
is inviting trouble (leaning on your own understanding)
A schedule
on how to spend your time (my first example)
Share with
me your day….and I’ll tell you whether you are selfish or trusting in
God
Conclusion:
Guarding your heart –
Pro 4:23 – a well-spring, well fed by springs underneath
Is your
well spring clean, pure or polluted/dirty/poison
How well
are you guarding it….are other people messing it?
Committing
Your Heart – 2 Chr 16:9 God will strengthen it.
