Matters of the Heart (2)

Introduction

The church

We have seen consistently in scripture the loving community call the church in the beginning of Luke’s narrative.

Acts 2:41-47 “So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.”

Acts 4:32-36 “Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs. Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement,”

We see a loving community who cares about the well being of their fellow brothers and sisters. ( Older Believers Showing New Believers )

Ananias and Sapphira contrast the Believers mentioned above.

Guarding the Heart

2 Corinthians 8:8-15 “I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich. Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality — at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. As it has been written: The person who gathered much did not have too much, and the person who …”

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”

Oh, study your hearts, watch your hearts, keep your hearts!

John Flavel

What was needed was a new nature, a heart liberated from its bondage to sin, a heart which not only spontaneously knew and loved the will of God but had the power to do it.

F. F. Bruce

It is but right that our hearts should be on God, when the heart of God is so much on us.

Richard Baxter

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