Building the Church - Affairs of the heart (11-02-91)
I. Building the Church - Affairs of the heart
Ephesians 4:11-13
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
II. If you will kindly pardon the pun, the heart is the center of the matter. On one hand it is the heart which will be drawn to God and on the other hand it is the heart which can at times be so easily led away from God.
A. The heart is key, in our turning to God: that is a change in the heart’s condition.
1. Romans 10:9-10
“...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved: for with the heart man believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
2. Luke 8:15
“And the seed in the good ground, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverence.”
B. It is truly wonderful that God uses the heart, changes the heart, gives us a new heart, but because the heart is central to God’s dealings with us it should come as no surprise that the heart that is not turned to God brings sorrow and dispair.
1. Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desparately sick; Who can understand it.”
2. Mark 7:21-23
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts and fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
III. Religious responses to the “affairs of the heart.”
It seems to me that much of formal religious thought and study is preoccupied with discovering the limits of our relationship with God. That is to say, how much can we get away with and still be found in favor with God. The spectrum run the complete gammut from extreme legalism to “A loving God would not punish the sin of His children. There are as well many variations in between.
A. In strict legalism, nothing is left to chance, everything is codified. There are rules and laws governing external behavior. How one dresses, who they associate with, what they eat and drink. Legalism is a response to the difficult nature of the heart. Legalism is in reality a form of admitting defeat for the sinful, deceitful heart. It is the dispair of Romans 7 without enjoying the victory of Romans 8.
B. At the other extreme, there exists a resignation, an admittance defeat in dealing with the sinful heart. It is a response that goes in the opposite direction of legalism. In summary it tries to avoid the question of sin and instead places it’s hope in the idea that God will not punish sin; that the task is so difficult that God will somehow overlook our sin and not hold us accountable.
C. I have sought to paint a picture of the extreme reactions in order to illustrate the problem that I consider to be fundamental and universal. I repeat again that this is the extreme reactions, but until now I had not discovered the common point of contention between the two extremes.
IV. I believe with all that is within me that when we find the solution to the “Affairs of the heart” we will be well on our way to realizing the full potential that we have in God. To start with, let us examine the underlying factors that lead people to embrace one viewpoint or the other.
A. What is wrong with legalism
1. First of all, it only deals with the external appearance of the problem. Behavior is modified through coersion, peer pressure. It is largely based on the negative, that there are often more “don’ts” than “do’s”
2. A forced change in behavior without dealing with the desires and passions usually will lead to unhappiness and frustration.
B. What is wrong with permissiveness
1. Lessoning the seriousness of sin, discounting the potential of punishment will in the long term not provide any comfort. Unchecked sin will have it’s affect on relationships, on our emotional and spiritual well-being.
2. Setting aside for the moment the spiritual consequences of sin, the natural consequences of sin will often result in scars that can last a lifetime.
3. Lastly, God has made such wonderful provision for us, offering the Pure, Spotless Lamb of God for our atonement makes a casual attitude toward sin unthinkable.
C. To varying degrees we will probably find ourselves leaning one way or another from time to time. During times of “spiritual dryness” we rationalize our position by leaning one way or the other. It may not be as dramatic as we have illustrated here, but still when we are not in right relationship with God our conscience will need justification.
1. Lack of trust and faith are characteristics of both extremes
2. There is a need within each one of us to deal with sin. Some will goes as far as blaming God for their circumstances and us that as an excuse for turning away from Him.
V. There are many inappropriate ways to deal with the “Affairs of the heart.” Let us spend the rest of our time looking for God’s provision for us.
A. Complicated .vs. Easy
1. Religion often provides complicated answers to the dilemma of the heart. Just look at the volume of books that have been written that address the issue of sin. Psychologist’s and psychiatrist’s are kept busy primarily because of sin.
a. It is not without opposition
i. John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.
ii. II Tim 3:12
“And indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
b. God’s way is not complicated
i. Deuteronomy 30:11-14
“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it? ‘ “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and hear it, that we may observe it.’ “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.”
(1). Sometimes we think like Naaman, the Syrian Captain who when told by the prophet to wash himself in the Jordan River did not want to do something so simple. It was his servant who reminded the captain that if the prophet had requested that he do something heroic or diificult, that he would have attempted it without question.
(2). The story of the young man who was talking to his beloved on the telephone. He told her how much he loved her and how he would do anything for her; whether it be to climb the highest mountain, cross the hottest desert or swim the widest sea. He then concluded the conversation by telling her that he would see her tomorrow, if it did not rain.
ii. Micah 6:8
“He has told you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
B. Life may be complicated, but not our relationship to God.
1. There many things in life that we face every day, but I believe that God desires that our relationship with Him be straightforward and direct.
2. He desires to have a heart to heart relationship with us.
C. David, the man after God’s own heart.
1. Psalm 51
a. David suffered dire consequences as the result of his sin, but he went before the the Lord to receive restoration and healing. There was no glossing over of the sin, no excuses were offered, just confession and an appeal for the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit.
b. Verse 10
Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
i. Compare with Ezekiel 36:26
“Moreover I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
VI. Conclusion
A. By nature we are creatures who test limits, and we are so inclined to test God’s limits
B. Religion goes in many directions to avoid dealing with the central issue of the heart.
1. Legalism
2. The permissiveness of God.
“Easy grace or Sloppy Agape”
C. A new heart
1. The words of Charles Wesley
O for a heart to praise my God
A heart from sin set free
A heart that always feels Thy Blood
So freely shed for me
A heart in every thought renewed
and full of love divine
Perfect and right and pure and good
A copy Lord of Thine