The Heart of the Matter

As we come to this tenth chapter of the book of Romans, this is simply, “The Heart of the Matter” and that is the title of today’s message.

When we consider the why we do, what we do, this is it. Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” The “they” Paul speaks of are the people of Israel. We’ll discover a little later, this salvation is not just about or for Israel.

How many know you can be sincere about something, but be sincerely wrong? The best of intentions doesn’t make what you’re doing right. You can have a fire in your belly to help someone, but it’s not the kind of help they need. The children of Israel had a zeal for God, but it was a misdirected zeal.

We’ve experienced some misdirected zeal here at Love Christian Center before.

I have no doubt that they loved God

I have no doubt that they had good intentions

I have no doubt that they meant well

…but at the end of the day, the point that they were missing, is that there was and is an order to the house of God. And the order is not determined by the number of people in the house.

The children of Israel were attempting to establish their own righteousness, rather than accepting and submitting to the righteousness that comes from God. Rather than accepting the righteousness of God, they were attempting to set an order and rules for themselves and others. They wanted to still try and keep the law and worse yet, they were trying to make others do the same.

What they failed to understand is that Christ’s death on the cross ended that requirement. His death had accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.

Man, no matter how hard he tried, could not and can not keep the law, it was and still is impossible. Why you may ask? Because man is flesh and blood, because the flesh is dominated by the sinful nature—aannd because the sinful nature will always be hostile towards God, it will never obey God, therefore, it will never please God.

Up to now in this tenth chapter, Paul is addressing the Children of Israel, but here’s where it gets good for you and me.

In the Old Testament, it was about the Law of Moses, which had been expanded significantly, it was about the Israelites, it was about the Israelites obeying the laws and commandments, all of them, all 613 of them.

Now I don’t know about you, but speaking for me, there is no way I could remember and adhere to 613 laws and commands. And keep in mind not everyone had a book they could carry around, with all of them written down. No one had a phone, a computer, the internet or Google to easily look them up or reference.

The Good News is, we don’t have to. We don’t have to because, watch this, Jesus was the final and ultimate sacrifice. When he came and died on that cross it negated the need to remember 613 laws and commands that we had no chance of keeping. Truth be told, we couldn’t even keep the 10 God gave Moses. We couldn’t keep the ten, because it’s not about the letter of the law, it’s about what’s in your heart.

Here’s a little quiz for you, don’t raise your hand or answer out loud.

Who’s ever decided to do something else when you were supposed to be at church? Or put your spouse or children before God?

God said, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Who’s ever had a piece of artwork, or statue, or something you idolized. That piece you set up on the mantle and kept the kids away from it. You may have even put insurance on it.

God said, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Who’s ever exclaimed, Jesus Christ and it wasn’t a part of a prayer. Some even give him a middle initial. Jesus H. Christ, don’t know where the H. came from or what it means, but…

God said, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Who’s worked days on end without taking a break, because you needed the money, or because your job was short-handed? Who’s used Sunday to catch up on the housework, yard work, or to wash the car?

God said, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Who’s gotten upset with your mom or dad and talked back or murmured?

God said, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Aren’t you glad we have grace?

Who’s gotten angry with someone, called someone an idiot or cursed someone, Jesus said you are subject to judgment, in danger of being brought before the court and in danger of the fires of hell because that violates the commandment

God said, Thou shalt not kill and that includes another’s character.

Who’s married and has looked at another man or woman with lust, or is single and looked at a married man or woman with lust or carried on an inappropriate relationship even if it didn’t involve sex?

God said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Who’s taken a pen home from the office, or printed out personal stuff on the office printer using their ink and paper?

God said, Thou shalt not steal.

Who’s ever talked negatively about someone, spreading a rumor that you knew wasn’t true?

God said, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Who’s wanted anything that was your neighbor’s? And remember your neighbor is not just the person who lives next door to you.

God said, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

How’d you do on your quiz? Anybody glad we have grace? Anyone happy we’re no longer under the law?

And here’s the heart of the matter, this is what it’s all about, this next part, this is why we have churches,

it’s not about the money (although it does take money for ministry)

it’s not about the person standing in the pulpit (although there must be a leader)

it’s not about name it and claim it (although my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus)

it’s not about the miracles (although God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us)

it’s not about what you eat, drink, or wear (although if you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness all these things shall be added unto you)

it’s not about a trouble free life (although we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. And He will come at just the right time)

No, here’s the heart of the matter, this is the message about faith that we preach… Are you ready?

If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and is saved.

BOOM! Drop the mic, that’s what this is all about. That is why we’re here, that is why we spend hours and hours studying and preparing messages. We do it so others might hear the good news and be saved.

It is so easy, yet we make it so difficult.

How could something so important, be so uncomplicated?

How could something so valuable, be free?

How could something so worthwhile, be so simple to get?

It’s when those kind of questions are asked, that the roadblocks go up and the reasons so many people fail to receive salvation.

The Bible says this salvation is for everyone, there’s no difference between the Jew and the Gentile. Praise God this salvation is no longer just for the Jews, it’s for us too. Christ died for us too, we were on his mind when he gave his life.

It’s not a club where you have to have money or credentials or connections or clout or a title or the right family name; all it requires is belief and confession. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Are you part of everyone?

Verse 14 begins a series of questions, but before we get to that, my daily devotion on Thursday talked about spiritual gifts. It quoted 1 Pet 4:10 (I know you would usually hear from 1 Cor 12) but in the ESV translation Peter says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

The commentary goes on to talk about a variety of orchestra instruments and their importance whether they strum softly like violins, or sound off like horns. Whether they are flutes and clarinets that are steady. Whether they are a part of the percussion section and are subtle as a triangle or clashing like a symbol.

Just as the instruments in an orchestra vary, so do the spiritual gifts in a congregation. All the instruments in an orchestra are needed to give a full and complete sound and all the gifts in the congregation are needed to fully complete the mission of the church.

I say that to say this, we each have a part to fulfill the mission and Paul asked these questions. When it comes to someone making that confession with their mouth…

How are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?

If you don’t believe in someone, why would you call on them? If you don’t believe God is who He says He is and that He can and will do what He says He can and will do, you’re not going to trust him. And isn’t that part of the problem? We don’t trust God, because if we did, there would be no doubt, there would be no fear, there would be no disbelief.

When we trust someone, we rely on them totally. We put our lives in their hands and we believe they are going to look out for us.

A newborn baby has total and complete reliance on their mother, to care for them, to provide food and shelter and comfort and warmth and love. Hmm, I think I just described God.

How are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard?

If they’ve never heard of God, if no one has ever told them, if they’ve never had access to a Bible, if you never share your story, or experience; if you never share about the God you serve, the one you say you love—how can others even have the opportunity to believe?

How are they to hear without a preacher?

I know some of you are saying, I don’t need no preacher, they’re a bunch of crooks, all they want is my money, But here’s the thing, those mega churches and preachers you see, and mega is a membership of 1,000 or more, comprise just 1% of the churches in existence. Most churches have a membership of less than 100.

So, most preachers have a salary that wouldn’t sustain them, even if they were single with no family, but most aren’t. So it’s not about the money.

How are they to preach unless they are sent?

The preacher has a calling to make clear the Word of God, to make it plain so those who don’t know, don’t understand or have never heard, can make an informed decision.

We can’t give you all the information because the half has never been told, but we can give you enough to get you started.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Wait let’s make it personal, for God so loved you, that he gave his only begotten Son that if you believe in him you shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus gave his life just so you could have a chance at eternal life. Without him, there was and is no hope. Jesus said I am the door, I am the gate, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.

Jesus paid it all, he gave all he had to give, he gave his life. He laid it down freely for you and for me so we could experience the joy of the Lord.

Who wants joy unspeakable? Then love him even though you’ve never seen him. Even though you don’t see him now, trust him; and rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy, rejoice with unspeakable joy and your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

Who wants peace that surpasses all understanding? Then Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Who wants all their need met according to God’s riches in glory? Let me tell you, God’s riches consist of everything. He owns everything. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein, so whatever you need, God’s got it.

Who wants healing? Well, he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Who wants mercy? His mercies are everlasting and they’re new every morning.

Anybody need some grace? Well let me just tell you, the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

How about forgiveness? Thank the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Would you like some wisdom? Ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

But it would irresponsible for me to stop there. I wouldn’t be giving you all the information you need if I didn’t tell you that, when you ask you must ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

You can’t ask God for something with an, “if you can” mentality. When you pray, and that’s what asking God for something is, Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea”, and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

When you pray, pray like you already have what you’re asking for and then you can begin to praise God like you’ve already got it. Don’t wait till the battle is over, you can shout now. You have to know that in the end we win. Go on and get your praise on, do your dance, leap for joy, shout hallelujah, even before you see what you’ve asked for. That’s called faith in action.

Then Paul says how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel. It’s not about how the preacher’s feet look, it’s about the message they carry.

But here’s the thing, just because someone hear’s it, it does not necessarily mean they will receive and obey it. It’s sad, but not all will receive the gift. Then there are those who will not receive it from you or me, but…there are those who will and you never know which you’re talking to. Sometimes you may be the clashing cymbal and at others you may be the steady flute, the key is to never stop using your instrument, never stop using your gift.

Not everyone will like you, play anyway.

Not everyone will appreciate you, play anyway.

Not everyone will cheer you on, play anyway.

God didn’t give you your gift so others would tell you how great and wonderful you are, he gave it to you for the edification of the saints. Play anyway.

You play anyway, you evangelize anyway, you preach anyway because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Some plant, some water, but God provides the increase. It is the Holy Spirit who awakens their spirit to know they’re in need of a savior. Not you. I don’t care how eloquently, how loudly, how seductively, you speak; you are merely the conduit through which the message is coming. You are not the draw, I am not the main attraction, Jesus Christ and him crucified is why we’re here. He is the heart of the matter.

Have you accepted the free, uncomplicated, simple gift of God? Have you accepted salvation? Ask Jesus to come into your heart and be Lord of your life and you shall be saved.

The heart of the matter is that you be saved. It’s a new year, it’s a new season, it’s a new day, what better way to begin it than by giving your life to Christ and allowing Him to be Lord of your life.

There are many resolutions that have been and will be made and broken, make salvation yours and keep it for the rest of your life. It’s the least you can do.