CULTIVATING A HEART FOR GOD

 

Facts about the Heart

Lesson #1

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     The key element of our Christian life is our heart.

1.      Our heart was involved in our becoming Christians.

a.      We believed from the heart (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10)

b.      We obeyed from the heart (Rom. 16:17).

2.      As Christians, we love God with all of our heart (Matt. 22:37-38)

 

B.     The heart is the control center of all our actions.

1.      Proverbs 4:23

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

2.      Proverbs 23:7a

 

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

 

3.      Two statement of Jesus.

a.      Matthew 15:18

 

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.

 

b.      Matthew 15:19

 

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

 

C.     As Christians, our task is to cultivate a heart for God.

1.      Why this is important?

a.      If God has our heart, He has our all.

b.      If God does not have our heart, He has nothing at all.

2.      Cultivate:  to promote growth by labor and attention; to develop or improve by education and training

3.      Today, we begin a series of lessons entitled:  “Cultivating A Heart for God.”  In this first lesson, we will look at some “Facts about the Heart.”

 

I.            THE HEART OF THE CONTROL CENTER

 

A.     Old Testament:  labe

1.      Strong (3820):  feelings, the will, the intellect

2.      BDB:  the inner man, mind, will heart, understanding

a.      Thinking

b.      Reflection

c.      Memory

d.      Inclination

e.      Resolution

f.       Conscience

g.       Seat of appetites

h.      Seat of emotions and passions

 

 

 

3.      Genesis 6:5

 

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

 

B.     New Testament:  kardia

1.      Strong (2588):  the heart, the thoughts or feelings (of the mind)

2.      Thayer:  the heart, the center and seat of spiritual life

a.      The fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, purposes, endeavors

b.      Of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence

c.      Of the will and character

3.      Matthew 5:8

 

Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.

 

C.     Examples that set forth the definition of the word “heart.”

1.      Luke 2:19

 

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 

2.      Luke 9:47

 

And Jesus perceiving the thoughts of their heart, took a child, and set him by him.

 

3.      John 14:1

 

Let not your heart be troubled.

 

4.      Romans 10:1

 

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

 

5.      II Corinthians 9:7

 

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give…

 

II.          THE HEART CAN TAKE MANY FORMS

 

Hard heart – Pharaoh (Exo. 9:35)

 

And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

 

Willing heart (Exo. 35:5)

 

Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord:  whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, silver, and brass.

 

Hateful heart (Lev. 19:17)

 

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart…

 

Discouraged heart (Num. 32:7)

 

And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land the Lord hath given them?

 

Proud heart (Deut. 8:14)

 

Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God…

 

 

Grieving heart (I Sam. 1:8)

 

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou?  And why eatest thou not?  And why is thy heart grieved?  Am not I better to thee than ten sons?

 

Understanding heart (I Kings 3:9)

 

Tender heart (II Kings 22:19)

 

Double heart (Ps. 12:2)

 

Glad heart (Ps. 16:9)

 

Clean heart (Ps. 50:10)

 

Contrite heart (Ps. 51:17)

 

Froward heart (Ps. 101:4)

 

Fixed heart (Ps. 108:1)

 

Wounded heart (Ps. 109:22)

 

Backsliding heart (Prov. 14:14)

 

Sound heart (Prov. 14:30)

 

Pure heart (Matt. 5:8)

 

Good heart (Luke 8:15)

 

Slow heart (Luke 24:25)

 

Lying heart (Acts 5:3)

 

Uncircumcised heart (Rom. 1:21)

 

Foolish heart (Rom. 1:21)

 

Impenitent heart (Rom. 2:5)

 

Erring heart (Heb. 3:10)

 

Evil heart of unbelief (Heb. 3:12)

 

III.        THE HEART CAN BE INFLUENCED

 

A.     Each person has the ultimate control of his/her heart.

1.      Pharaoh (Exo. 8:15)

 

But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite he hardened his heart…

 

2.      Warning (Prov. 3:5)

 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

B.     Others can influence our heart

1.      Other people (Ex., Solomon, II Kings 11:3)

 

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines:  and his wives turned away his heart.

 

2.      Satan (Ex., Judas, John 13:2 and Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:3)

 

But Peter said to Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

 

3.      God (Ex., Pharaoh, Exo. 7:3)

 

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.

 

4.      God’s Word (Ps. 119:11)

 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 

C.     Couple the above with Jeremiah 17:9.

 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?

 

D.    Because of evil influences and the deceptive nature of the heart, men must have something to guide and monitor their hearts.  The governor of the heart is the precious Word of God.

1.      The Word of God reflects the heart of God.  The Holy Spirit searched out the deep things of God and revealed them to us in the Bible (I Cor. 2:9-13).

2.      God’s will is perfect, wholesome, and good for man (Ps. 19:7-11).

 

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:  the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:  the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever:  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them is thy servant warned:  and in keeping of them there is great reward.

 

3.      We, therefore, must study the Word diligently and correctly (II Tim. 2:15).  Too, we must be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22-25).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     If our lives are going to be right with God, we must get our hearts right.

 

B.     The only safeguard we have for the heart is the Word of God.

 

C.     Once we understand the Word and apply it to our lives, every day we must do as Solomon exhorts us to do in Proverbs 4:23.

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.