How’s Your Heart? (10 Min)
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How is Your Heart?
by Logan Peters
Introduction:
A. We all dread going to the doctor but is a necessary thing that we must do. What is the first thing the doctor normally checks? Normally, that doctor will check on your heart to make sure it is beating correctly and doing its job. Why is that? Our heart health is really the basis of our health. The same goes for our spiritual hearts.
B. Just as our physical hearts are the gateway to our physical health, our hearts are the gateway to the rest of our spiritual lives (Matthew 6:19-21).
C. How is our spiritual heart health? We want to make sure that we are healthy so that we can serve the Lord to the best of our ability. Today, we want to look our heart health in three aspects:
1. Are our hearts strong in faith?
2. Are our hearts secure in adversity?
3. Are our hearts conditioned to finish the race?
I. Is Your Heart Strong in Faith?
A. The strength that our hearts need can only come from God (Psalm 73:26). It is not of our own doing, but a complete and total trust in God creates a strong faith in Him (Proverbs 3:5-7)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes:
Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
1. So very often, we lean upon ourselves to have answers.
2. We trust only in ourselves to help solve a problem.
3. God is wiser than we could ever hope to be. So why do we have the tendency to neglect praying and searching out God for help or for answers (Philippians 4:6-7)?
B. We must make sure our hearts are strong in faith because we are called to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3, 20-21).
1. According to Jude, this requires work and dedication on our end.
a. Build ourselves up in faith (Jude 1:20). We must push ourselves to continue growing in knowledge (1 Timothy 2:15).
b. We must continue praying (Jude 1:21). We are commanded to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
c. Live in obedience to God (Jude 1:21).
d. Wait with hope (Jude 1:21). We must keep hope alive in our hearts (1 Peter 1:3).
2. Strengthening our hearts is essential to our work in the Lord’s Church. And it is essential to our hope and faith in God (Psalm 31:24).
II. Is Your Heart Secure in Adversity?
A. The devil is our adversary, and his only job is to create adversity in our lives (1 Peter 5:8-9). We must be sober minded and watchful by keeping God first in our lives.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1. To be sober and clear minded is to always keep God in our sights. We cannot put anything else above God (Matthew 6:33).
2. Securing our hearts in adversity means defending ourselves against temptation. Temptation is not overcome with relying upon ourselves, but diligently seeking after God.
3. Being obedient to God and studying His word keeps us confident in the Lord and His ability to see us through any situation or temptation. No matter how great or small, our God can offer us peace (John 14:27).
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
B. We are not alone in our fight against the devil (1 Peter 5:9). We have our brothers and sisters in Christ going through similar temptations.
1. God’s family is here to serve one another, and that includes being there through tough times. Even in times of trials and temptation, we love one another and desire to help one another (1 John 4:19-20).
2. We cannot be afraid to talk to one another and express our struggles.
C. Job knew exactly what to do when facing adversity (Job 1:20-22).
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said,
Naked came I out of my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return thither:
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
1. Job lost his wealth, livestock, servants, and family. Through all of that, he still fell and worshipped God.
2. Is this the same attitude that we have? Do we turn our backs on God when things get tough, and times get hard?
3. Let us remember who secures our hearts, and who is the reason for the unlimited blessings we receive daily.
III. Is Your Heart Conditioned?
A. When a football player begins practicing for the upcoming season, the first activity they participate in is conditioning. They are molding their bodies to be conditioned or ready for the season that is ahead. Are we conditioning our hearts for the trials ahead?
B. We begin our conditioning by applying the points we have already discussed.
1. We make our hearts strong in faith, and secure our hearts through study, worship, spending time with our brethren in Christ, and seeking after God continually.
2. We must pray and stay true to God’s word by obeying it.
C. We have a race to run as Christians. Not a physical race, but a spiritual race (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
1. This race will challenge all of us mentally and spiritually. There will be times where the path is smooth and there are no obstacles, then there will be instances where we feel like we cannot move without some form of disaster coming our way.
2. Are we doing what is necessary to condition our hearts for the race ahead? We do not plan to fail; we fail to plan. Our spiritual lives are so important. We must take the time to plan and be sure that we are doing what is necessary to not only condition our hearts, but to fulfill our duties to God.
3. Are we prepared to finish the race? That crown of life is awaiting us if we will continue to push ourselves and keep the faith.
Conclusion:
A. How is your heart health today? Is your heart strong in faith, secure in adversity, and conditioned for the race ahead (2 Timothy 4:7-8)?
1. Do not let this world distract us from our goal. We must keep fighting the good fight.
2. The end reward is worth any hardship that we could ever face in this life.
3. Is your heart weak? Are you searching for something more than this physical life can provide? God can fill that void if we will but allow Him.