Matter's of the Heart
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“Have a blessed day!”
“Have a blessed day!”
You are familiar with the term, more than likely you have used the term before, even often for many. Tonight we are looking at matter’s of the heart for ourselves and for others and our responsibility to heart matters.
“Have a blessed day” do we mean it when we say it?
Maybe you hear have a good day even more than have a blessed day, but either way, when it is said, do we mean it? In a world where there are many who are without hope, many who are hurting or discouraged, people in the church even, do we mean it when we say it?
Do we have a responsibility to other people? (Gal6:2)
STOP ASK THE QUESTION, REALLY; DO WE?
What is the distress of the heavy heart?
What is the cure for the heavy heart?
The Christian’s obligation to the heavy hearted
These are the things we are discussing tonight.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
The distress of the heavy heart
The distress of the heavy heart
There are many things that can weigh a heart down, it can trouble you, it can worry you, cause you anxiety.
When you think of things that can cause a heavy heart what can you think of?
How about sin, could it be sin? (Ps32:3-4; Isa59:2; Ps69:20)
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
Sin effected the body here and sin effects eternity
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
How about because of sin, sin that brings correction or reproach?
20 Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.
How about God, could it be because God orchestrated or allowed? (Job1:8-12; 23:16)
8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”
12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
Then coming from Job’s mouth later
16 “It is God who has made my heart faint, And the Almighty who has dismayed me,
How about life experiences, can that give you a heavy heart? (Jn16:33; Jam1:2)
33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
We are even told we will have tribulation, some versions say trouble, trouble can cause a heavy heart can’t it?
How about trials, can they cause a heavy heart?
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
We can cause a heavy heart by our choices, our actions too, sin as mentioned before can weigh us down, can separate us and hide God’s face from us and it can break our spirit (Pro15:13); it can affect your physical health too (Pro17:22)
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
So heavyess weighs a heart down that can result in a broken spirit
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
It can impact physical health too
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Some evident causes of a heavy heart
A melancholy temperament - defined as a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause
Specific problems - health, jobs, kids, grandkids, finances
Even general circumstances - you know, life on life’s terms
What ever the cause, self induced, God created or allowed, or life in general a heavy heart is an enormous burden.
Cure for the heavy heart
Cure for the heavy heart
Sometimes the essential cure for a heavy heart lies within. Sometimes the cure is external too, so let’s look at both.
The cure within (Psm119:11; Ps51:17; Mt11:28-30)
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
When we hide God’s Word in our heart it can ease the burden of a heavy heart. Then look at what David had to say
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
God will not despise the broken and contrite heart. So a heavy burdened heart, being heavy laden does not need to be age lasting. Then you turn to the words of Jesus
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The external - spiritual guidance with a godly perspective
Maybe it is professional help that is needed.
The important thing to know is there is a solution to heavy heart, don’t let it dry up your bones (Pro17:22) or let it weigh you down (Pro12:25)
Now, I asked earlier if we have a responsibility to one another?
A Christian’s obligation to the heavy hearted
A Christian’s obligation to the heavy hearted
If Jesus tells us to love one another (Jn13:34), are we then obligated to help the heavy hearted?
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
How did Jesus help the heavy hearted?
I know this is pretty subjective question, but did He not meet physical needs and then spiritual needs in most cases? Can you think of examples?
But we are talking about obligation, again may we remember the command given by Paul.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Some methods we can use to assist in burden carrying (1Pt3:15; Gal6:1; Jam5:19-20; Jam2:14-16; Jam5:13; 14-16)
Give people the benefit of the doubt. Don’t tell them they are wrong, show them what God says about what is right, and do it with gentleness and respect
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Having gotten yourself right with God because of your faith, your obedient faith, then you can help others, again do it in love, do it with gentleness and reverence so not to offend and push away but to convict and bring closer.
One of the problems, causes of a heavy heart is sin, and you have the sin solution for even the wayward, fallen Christian
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
And look what James says
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Then there is a physical way to help, and couple that with spiritual
14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
We need to give, not so much talk, but more walk, let our deeds prove our faith. Think about it, we should lesson the lord physically so we can help lesson the load spiritually.
Look at some of Jesus examples physically then spiritually lightening the load.
Woman with the blood issue (Mk5:28-29, 34)
Man born blind (Jn9:1-11, 17, 24, 30-33)
30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31 “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.
32 “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
Then going on more
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
It is praying for the heavy hearted, the one who is suffering
14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
It is praying for the sick, offering up prayers of faith that can restore, raise up, and even lead to forgiveness. Or as it says can lead to healing or can accomplish much.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Drawing a conclusion
Drawing a conclusion
So, we started today with a question, when we say “have a blessed day” do we mean it? We have looked at what is the distress of the heavy heart. We have journeyed into what is the cure for the heavy heart. Then, finally we looked at what is our obligation to the heavy hearted.
So if you are heavy hearted, bring it to Jesus (Pro12:25; 1Pt5:7; Php4:6-7)
I think we were using Pro12:25 as our focal scripture today, so here it is again, and may we remember it
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
Jesus cares for us and wants us to turn to Him and cast our cares
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
And then add some words from Paul
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace, peace, God’s peace which surpasses all comprehension!
When you are heavy hearted, don’t carry the burden alone, bring it to others to help share the burden. (Gal6:2)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
And we can help carry each other’s burdens too.
When someone is heavy burdened be willing, be ready and be listening, praying.