The Un-Cluttered Heart
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We all have a room or a closet where we put stuff… Garage. Some are born packrats.
Marsha - neat & orderly. I saved everything and am extremely sentimental… from hair to chewing gum.
When mother was in the hospital, Sister Trahan came to clean our house and was shocked when she looked under my bed.
Clutter may overwhelm us.
Clutter may overwhelm us.
Clutter can over whelm us and and make us feel helpless. I still fight clutter.
Your house may be neat and flawless, but you have another house - your heart may be overcrowded and cluttered.
Your house may be neat and flawless, but you have another house - your heart may be overcrowded and cluttered.
When this happens, your heart stops being good soil for the Word.
Lunches with friends… swap clutter
The Decision: Pitiful or Powerful.
The Decision: Pitiful or Powerful.
Offenses clutter your heart… Unforgiveness clutters
3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
Jesus describes 4 types of soil.
Jesus describes 4 types of soil.
Jesus describes 4 types soil as a picture of 4 categories of hearts that are exposed to God’s Word (Seed).
The Pavement heart and the stony ground heart never comes close to bearing fruit
The Pavement heart and the stony ground heart never comes close to bearing fruit
The first two categories, the pavement heart (hard headed) and the stony ground heart (shallow) never come close to bearing any fruit because there is no depth. They are only concerned about here and now.
The fourth category is our goal - good soil that bears fruit.
The fourth category is our goal - good soil that bears fruit.
Believers who bear fruit 30 / 60 / 100 fold. They see healings, financial provision, miracles, God’s power manifested in their daily lives.
9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
Remove last part
Unfortunately,
The third category is where we find most believers: allowing thorns to choke out the Word.
The third category is where we find most believers: allowing thorns to choke out the Word.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
What causes people to not walk in faith? Disappointments and the desire for instant gratification.
13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
18 And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word; 19 Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Doesn’t say they weren’t saved, they just lived fruitless lives.
They led fruitless lives.
They led fruitless lives.
Their hearts had become too cluttered, unorganized, undisciplined,
Three types of clutter
Three types of clutter
1. Clutter of care.
1. Clutter of care.
Clutter of cares and anxieties choked the Word.
You can’t be worried and walk in faith at the same time.
You can’t be in fear and in faith at the same time.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
How do we deal with worry?
Any worry warts here?
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Make a decision to walk in faith
Make a decision to walk in faith
3 days I stood on the scripture.
Takes discipline to make up your bed. If you do it well, it become a habit.
Apply the Word in Every area of of life until it’s a habit.
Apply the Word in Every area of of life until it’s a habit.
2. Clutter of distractions.
2. Clutter of distractions.
The distractions of this age.
14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Original Hebrew - silliness
I believe
The number 1 reason for lack of Spiritual Growth, and why we don’t see the power of God manifested in our lives, is we spend too much time feeding on folly.
The number 1 reason for lack of Spiritual Growth, and why we don’t see the power of God manifested in our lives, is we spend too much time feeding on folly.
TV set, Movie theaters, radio, magazine stand, cable TV… DVD players and the internet on our phones.
“When you spend more time consuming worldly entertainment that the Word of God - when being amused takes a higher place in your priorities than fellowshipping with the Father, You Heart becomes cluttered.”
“When you spend more time consuming worldly entertainment that the Word of God - when being amused takes a higher place in your priorities than fellowshipping with the Father, You Heart becomes cluttered.”
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
He wants us to have fun with & enjoy our families. But He, not entertainment must be first place in our lives.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
He has given us all things to enjoy. Balance is the key.
3. The clutter of Deception.
3. The clutter of Deception.
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The Deceit is if I could just get a little bit more… The truth is no amount is ever enough.
J Paul Getty - married 5X … 4 kids
No amount will be enough. No amount will make you happy. No amount will give you peace or inner satisfaction.
17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
God desires for us to prosper. Where wealth is concerned, it comes down to priorities.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When we have Him, we have everything else.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Clutter of Care, Distractions of the Age, & Deception of the Riches lead to a lukewarm heart.
Clutter of Care, Distractions of the Age, & Deception of the Riches lead to a lukewarm heart.
14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
How do I clear out all the clutter?
How do I clear out all the clutter?
1. Handle a piece of mail once.
1. Handle a piece of mail once.
When an anxious thought comes, handle it once. Speak the Word over it because anxious thoughts only escalates worry.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
2. Focus on one room at a time.
2. Focus on one room at a time.
Focus on one room at a time so as not become overwhelmed.
Ask the Holy Spirit to spotlight areas on your life you need to work on most.
temper, unforgiveness...
Then practice applying the Word of God & Faith in area of your life.
The Holy Spirit will guide you to truth.
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Do everything for God’s glory.
3. Get 3 Bags when cleaning a clothes closet.
3. Get 3 Bags when cleaning a clothes closet.
1. Throw-away
1. Throw-away
Throwaway your cares…
2. Mend and repair so it can be useful again.
2. Mend and repair so it can be useful again.
Healing and Deliverance
Jesus says to cast every care on Him.
He came to heal and bind up the broken hearted.
We need to allow forgiveness into area where we need to receive forgiveness.
3. Give Away - Give away your life
3. Give Away - Give away your life
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
He who the son sets free is free indeed.
Do you want to be free of spiritual clutter?
Speak and confess the Word of God daily over your life.
I have the mind of Christ when making decisions...
Low SelfEsteem - I am the head and not the tail, the top and not the bottom.
13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
The Word of God acts a Stabilizer for life.
The Word of God acts a Stabilizer for life.
Cruise Ship ILL
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.