Having the Right Heart

ME

Good to be back - One Hit Wonders Series. Loved each week.

Rio City Church - Follow their journey - KB Project

WE

Today we’re kicking off a new series called WHOLE HEART focused on the life of David!

David was a great rags to riches story…he went from being a shepherd to King over the nation of Israel and God’s Chosen people.

I mean I think David’s life could have been a Netflix original. So we’re going to look at a few moments in his life where we see he gave God his all - his whole heart.

Wanting all of something is normal - if it’s a good thing you want more of it…all of it.

Restaurant—>sometimes Jamie & I will share - split an entree. Not too long ago we were out and as we looked over the menu - I inquired…Would you want to split something?

There was an emphatic NO that followed. Strong enough it caught me off guard. I don’t want to split I want the whole thing!!

I think God feels that way too - he wants all of us

He wants all of our heart. I think its too easy for use to hold back parts though.

We’re more than willing to give God parts of our heart, but less willing to give him the whole thing.

Here God take this part of my life - but don’t look over here.

Closet in our house....messy…things thrown in there. Don’t look in there

Truth is if we want to God to bless us and his plan and purpose to unfold in our life then we need open up and surrender as much of our hearts and soul as possible.

I’m afraid there are too many of us that can get caught dividing our hearts.

We ask things like,

God, give me direction…but we forget to take time to pray and listen to God

God fix my marriage, but we unwilling to allow God to change our own hearts

God bring a greater blessing, but we don’t even honor God with what we have.

It’s a trap - a trap from the Devil

God doesn’t want us to live like that - OUR LIFE WILL UNFOLD BEST AND WITH HIS FAVOR WHEN WE ARE LIVING IN HiS PLAN.

The life of David is recounted in great detail in the OT - one thing I admire about David is that regardless of a great VICTORY in his life or a defeat…HE GAVE GOD HIS WHOLE HEART.

Today I want to look at 1 Samuel - powerful moment when God anoints David the next KING. He instruct the prophet Samuel to go to city of Bethlehem to a man named Jesse’s house and there he will find the next king of Israel. This whole thing occurs because Saul the current king turned his heart from God - his heart was divided.

GOD

1 Samuel 16:4–13 NLT

4 So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” 5 “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. 6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” 9 Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” 10 In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” 13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

Powerful moment - Surprising…but powerful

God’s plan starts with us purifying our hearts.

The holiness of God is something we should desire and aspire to.

It’s not just us trying to be good....we broken…our hearts our sinful

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

God has given us the grace of Jesus.

Not a free pass - it should draw us closer to God and his plan and purposes.

How pure something is matters.

Think of water - if it’s not clean the impurities and bacteria in it can harm you.

Recently out swimming in lake and Andrew filled an empty bottle of water with Lake water.

Jamie…Andrew…dump that out before someone accidently drinks it.

The purity matters - unchecked and unaddressed impurities in our hearts will have devastating consequences.

God’s plan unfolds in unlikely ways

The higher ways of God will often surprise us

Samuel reminded by God in Vs. 7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Don’t you think David’s family had to be surprised.

Jesse - didn’t even bother to call him in...

Brothers…high hopes.

They all stand there when Samuel annoints David.

We have to seek God’s will in all things.

We have idea how we want it to work out

We have a plan

We pray

But remember…you want God’s plan not your plan to unfold.

Jesus prayed....God’s will be done…reminder.

Bottom Line:

A right heart is the right start to a Godly path.

YOU:

To Maintaining a Godly heart:

1. Make time to examine & evaluate your heart.

Reading Psalms - David took time to reflect

Out in the countryside with the sheep…time alone to pray and reflect. Test his heart.

2. Be willing to serve in any situation.

Humble - out serving the shepherd

Serving not seeking

3. Listen for God’s prompts in every situation.

Samuel waiting form the prompt from God.

He didn’t just operate on his own view -

Man is concerned with the outward - God is concerned with the inward.

WE:

And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

God has a calling for your life…you can walk in the plan in God’s anointing.

What if we moved forward with God’s anointing