4 Signs of a Healthy Heart

Heart Checks

Testing the Heart of Jesus

1. Your blood pressure

2. Your cholesterol levels

3. Your waist size

Healthy numbers mean a healthy heart. If you follow a healthy lifestyle -- eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise, and avoid smoking -- you can even turn bad numbers around.

Small changes can make a big difference, "For every point you raise your HDL -- that's the 'good' cholesterol -- you reduce your risk of coronary disease by 2%," she says. "So just raising HDL by five points cuts your heart disease risk by 10%!"

Here's a quick guide to your heart-healthy numbers:

1. Blood Pressure: Key to Heart Health

Matthew 4:1–11 NIV

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

· Normal blood pressure is below 120/80.

· Hypertension – also known as high blood pressure -- is 140 or higher (systolic) and 90 or higher (diastolic).

One in three adults in the U.S. -- about 74 million people -- has high blood pressure or pre-hypertension. Between 1996 and 2006, the number of deaths from high blood pressure rose by more than 48%.

2. Cholesterol: Predictor of Heart Attack

Here are the numbers to strive for:

· Total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or lower.

· HDL ("good" cholesterol) of 50 mg/dL or higher, if you're a woman, or 40 mg/dL or higher, if you're a man.

4 Signs of a Healthy Heart

· Optimal LDL is 100 or lower.

· Triglycerides of less than 150 mg/dL.

3. Waist Size: The Connection to Heart Disease

If you can only remember one number, your waist size is the one to know. Why? Because better than your weight or your BMI, your waist size predicts your heart disease risk. If your waist size is equal to or more than 35 inches in women and equal to or more than 40 inches in men, it increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic problems, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol.

"If patients lose even 1 inch off their waist, we see improvements in all the other heart health numbers," Mosca says. "Conversely, if they gain even 1 inch, we see worsening in those numbers.

Testing the Heart of Jesus

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted v by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus successfully thwarts the devil’s ploys (; ). In response to the challenge to turn stones into bread, Jesus affirms that God’s Word is the ultimate, true sustenance. Replying to the challenge to throw Himself off the wing (not “pinnacle”; probably the southeast portico) of the temple so that the angels could come on a spectacular rescue mission, Jesus cites the commandment not to tempt God. In rejecting the offer of all the world’s kingdoms in return for allegiance to Satan, He banishes the devil with the reminder that God alone merits worship.[1]

4 Signs of a Healthy Heart

1. Led by the Spirit

Matthew 4:1 NIV

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2. A Healthy Diet of God’s Word

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matthew is clearly a Pentecostal. Just a few verses ago, we saw the Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove. He wasn’t a dove; it was like a dove. Now Matthew points out that Jesus followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 4:2–4 NIV

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Thomas Trask once said, “A Spirit-led person has a personal relationship with God; prays and fasts; has integrity; is passionate about God’s Word and loves those who aren’t easy to love.”

Remember, Matthew is writing his Gospel after the experience. The promised Spirit by Jesus has become a very real reality in the lives of the disciples. What Matthew sees modeled in the testing of Jesus becomes a way of life for him.

3. “Don’t tempt God”

2. A Healthy Diet of God’s Word

Matthew 4:2-4

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:6–7 NIV

6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Have you ever known someone who claims to be on a diet but cannot resist that fried food, basket of Mexican chips, or chocolate cake? That is exactly why I don’t claim to be on a diet! Maybe after this sermon and the numbers I mentioned.

Matthew 4:6-7

This is a pretty easy test to understand. Our physical bodies want what they want. Many scholars line up the temptations of Christ with the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life mentioned in . But we are fools if we think that our flesh tells us the truth that really gives life to us.

Jesus responds by saying that life comes from the words from the mouth of God. So it is likely that Matthew thinks here of listening to God as that which is life-sustaining.[2] We can listen to God in a lot of ways – doing what you are doing this morning, reading the Word of God, having a dialogue with God in prayer.

J. Nolland writes, “It is not the people’s place to dictate to God how he is to express his covenant commitment to his people. Instead they should accept his pledge that he will do well by his ‘son’.”[5]

Jesus makes it clear that He is the real deal. He is dialed in to what His Father is saying, and so should we as disciples.

3. “Don’t tempt God”

6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

The devil says, “IF you are God, don’t you think God would rescue you from all of this? Afterall, & 91 promise protection for the godly.”

Have you ever been in a place where you know that God has led you? But it has become difficult and you are wondering, “Where is God in this?” According to the Devil’s theory there should be no martyrs. But the divine purpose for Jesus, as for certain others, is that they should be preserved through death, not from death’.[3] One commentator makes this observation:

Satan was quoting Scripture out of context, making it sound as though God protects even through sin, removing the natural consequences of sinful acts. Neither jumping from the roof in a public display or jumping in order to test God’s promises would have been part of God’s will for Jesus. In context, the psalm promises God’s protection for those who, while being in his will and serving him, find themselves in danger. It does not promise protection for artificially created crises in which Christians call to God in order to test his love and care. We should not test God, as Jesus will explain (see the following verse).[4]

Jesus responds from where the Israelites were at Massah. They had been in the Desert of Sin and had found no water. They quarreled with Moses about water. In real terms, they questioned the power of God to sustain them. God had Moses strike the rock and water came out of the rock.

J. Nolland writes, “It is not the people’s place to dictate to God how he is to express his covenant commitment to his people. Instead they should accept his pledge that he will do well by his ‘son’.”[5]

4. Regular Rhythm of Exercising Your Worship

Jim and Jill Kelly hoped to help their child through their own means, popularity and power, when their child was sick. They were thankful that there was no earthly solution, they learned to trust in God. The dilemma that they faced is how we tempt God.

Matthew 4:8–10 NIV

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

4. Regular Rhythm of Exercising Your Worship

Matthew 28:16 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

There is an interesting passage at the end of Matthew’s Gospel that wouldn’t exist if Jesus had caved into this temptation. It is at the end of the book:

In this final temptation the stakes are higher: to comply would involve the abandonment of Jesus’ calling as the Son (not now: ‘if you are the Son of God’) and the transfer of his allegiance to the devil.[7] Could there be a quick route to power? Could there be easy solutions? Would I be able to get enough from the deal to make me happy?

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

There is an interesting passage at the end of Matthew’s Gospel that wouldn’t exist if Jesus had caved into this temptation. It is at the end of the book:

Deuteronomy 6:13 NIV

13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [8]

The Implications of Jesus’ Perfect Heart

Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t bow down to the Devil? The answer that Jesus gives comes from Deuteronomy again:

Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.[9]

The Implications of Jesus’ Perfect Heart

Effects on the Disciples

I believe the biggest impression on the disciples was the realization of the heart of Christ. He wasn’t about just getting His needs met, He was on God’s mission. He wasn’t here to have his will done, but to have the Father’s will done. He wasn’t there to impress or oppress anyone, He was there to be pressed for us. His heart was 100% linked to God’s - nothing less than that.

Effects on the Disciples

1. Overall – The disciples witnessed the sinlessness of Jesus

2. Passion - It demonstrates Jesus’ commitment to the redemptive way through the Cross instead of a political shortcut to kingship

3. Adopted a lifestyle

o Spirit-led

Romans 8:14 NIV

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

o Dependent on the Word of God

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Ephesians 6:17 NIV

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

o Dependent on the Word of God

o Faith focused even when times are tough

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Romans 3:23–25 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Romans 3:23-

o Faith focused even when times are tough

o Singular in Worship

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, m through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Romans 12:1 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

o Singular in Worship

Conclusion

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Conclusion

Each time that Jesus rebuked Satan, He took His words from and 8.

Deuteronomy 8:1–2 NIV

1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

When Jesus told the story of His testing and mentioned the 40 days and 40 nights, the disciples would have been keen to have linked it to the stories of Moses and the exodus. Then, His repetitive use of scriptures from Deuteronomy would have brought them to the point of the story, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart.

When Jesus told the story of His testing and mentioned the 40 days and 40 nights, the disciples would have been keen to have linked it to the stories of Moses and the exodus. Then, His repetitive use of scriptures from Deuteronomy would have brought them to the point of the story, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart.

They knew what was in His heart, and they knew what their hearts should be. It is a lesson for every disciple today – how is your heart check going?

[1] Blomberg, C. L. (1979–1988). Temptation of Jesus. In G. W. Bromiley (Ed.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Vol. 4, pp. 784–785). Wm. B. Eerdmans.

[2] Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 164). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

[3] Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 165). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

[4] Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew (p. 61). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

[5] Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (pp. 165–166). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

[6] Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 166). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

[7] Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 166). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

[8] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[9] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.