“The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart.”

June 1, 2008

Introduction

 

            You have often heard Ken say, “The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.”  That short statement says a great deal.  Obviously, the Bible has a great deal to say about matters of the heart.

 

            Many of us in our fellowship have had heart surgery.  We know how vital our physical heart is for our lives.  It is interesting how closely connected our physical hearts are to our spiritual/emotional hearts.  Our hearts respond when we become excited or angry. 

 

            So this morning, as we consider out hearts, what are the descriptions of heart disease?  What are the problems of a bad heart?  What can we do about a bad heart condition?

 

Body

 

I.        What are the conditions of the heart that cause serious problems?

 

  1. The first reference in the Bible to the heart concerns an evil heart.

 

(Gen 6:5 NKJV)  Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

 

1.      The intent of the heart is important.

 

(Heb 4:12 NKJV)  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

2.      The second problems with their heart was the intensity of the problem – “every intent.”

 

a.       It became the totality of their lives – “every intent.”

b.      They were evil beyond cure! 

c.       They died in the flood.

 

  1. A closely related heart problem is that of a hard heart.

 

(Exo 7:13-14 NKJV)  And Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. {14} So the LORD said to Moses: "Pharaoh's heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.

1.      A hard heart will not respond to the word of God

 

(Exo 5:2 NKJV)  And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go."

 

2.      A hard heart is one that is past feeling.

 

(Eph 4:17-19 NKJV)  This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, {18} having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; {19} who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

 

II.     What are the problems of this “heart disease”?

 

  1. In the case of those of Noah’s day, it was their total destruction.

  2. In the case of Pharaoh, it was suffering.

 

1.      Suffering through the ten plagues.

2.      In the 10th plague, he lost his first born.

3.      Soon thereafter, he lost his army.

4.      All of Egypt suffered with him.

 

III.   Is there a cure?

 

  1. God can take away the stony heart.

 

(Ezek 11:19-21 NKJV)  "Then I will give 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, {20} "that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. {21} "But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.

 

1.      I think this was specifically to Israel and is yet future.

2.      God can also give to us a heart of flesh.

 

  1. We need to know what God wants.

 

(Psa 51:17 NKJV)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise.

 

  1. There is confession and prayer.

 

(James 5:16 NKJV)  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

1.      Peter talked very straight to Simon the sorcerer.

 

(Acts 8:20-24 NKJV)  But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! {21} "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. {22} "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. {23} "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." {24} Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."

 

2.      Jesus Himself pleaded with the churches of Asia to make their lives right.

 

(Rev 2:12 - 17 NKJV)  "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: . . . . (16) 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. {17} "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

 

Conclusion

 

How do we handle “heart disease”?

 

I.        We need to recognize the problem.

 

  1. Have we grown cold and calloused to God and spiritual things?

  2. Have we grown cold and calloused in our relationships with other people?

  3. Are things of a spiritual nature not on our minds very much?

  4. Are there signs that my heart is not tender toward others?

 

II.     We need to repent and ask for God’s help.

III.   We may need to ask others to pray with us and help us.

 

    

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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