A Fixed Heart - Men’s Breakfast (9.14.24)

Intro

Psalm 57:1–7 KJV 1900

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: For my soul trusteth in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, Until these calamities be overpast. 2 I will cry unto God most high; Unto God that performeth all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven, and save me From the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 4 My soul is among lions: And I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me, Into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. 7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Fixed: established, firm and stable

We should strive to develop this kind of environment for our families at home and in our own personal walks:

The need for consistency and stability is great…

Children being raised by one parent, divorce, living together and child bearing outside of wedlock are on the rise in drastic numbers…

As the foundation of the family erodes, which is the basic roles of the family, so to will the family…

Psalm 11:3 KJV 1900

3 If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?

It is hard to follow a direction that is always changing

Proverbs 25:19 KJV 1900

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Our hearts should be fixed on the Lord…

2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV 1900

3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

1 Peter 5:10 KJV 1900

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Proverbs 16:3 KJV 1900

3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, And thy thoughts shall be established.

Psalm 37:23 KJV 1900

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way.

Romans 16:25 KJV 1900

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

For David, everything was falling apart around him, but his heart remained fixed on the Lord…

How?

Trusting God

Psalm 57:1 KJV 1900

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: For my soul trusteth in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, Until these calamities be overpast.

2. Crying to God

Psalm 57:2 KJV 1900

2 I will cry unto God most high; Unto God that performeth all things for me.

3. Believing God

Psalm 57:3 KJV 1900

3 He shall send from heaven, and save me From the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

4. Glorifying God

Psalm 57:4–5 (KJV 1900)

4 My soul is among lions:

And I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men,

Whose teeth are spears and arrows,

And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let thy glory be above all the earth.

1. Misfortune and Misery Shouldn’t Turn my Heart

2. Bad news shouldn’t turn my heart

Psalm 112 KJV 1900

1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, That delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: And his righteousness endureth for ever. 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: He will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness endureth for ever; His horn shall be exalted with honour. 10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: The desire of the wicked shall perish.

3. Death shouldn’t turn my heart

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV 1900

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Adoniram Judson, the missionary to Burma, was once flung into prison, a lonely, friendless man, at the mercy of his captors. It seemed a hopeless task to which he had set his hand. He found frustration on every hand. As he lay in that foul Burmese prison, his captors jeeringly said, "What about the prospects of Missions now, Judson?" His swift and unhesitating reply was, "They are just as bright as the promises of God!" Judson had confidence in the Lord in the face of difficult circumstances. If our heart is not fixed we will fail to offer praise and adoration unto the Lord. The LORD is seeking a heart that is fixed and committed to Him. There are so many lures and distractions in this world that Satan will use to get you sidetracked. It is essential that you make up your mind and stick with that decision. The psalmist made that decision as well as the Apostle Paul. I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.