A SPIRITUAL HEART

Introduction: This past Wednesday night, I concluded our Bible study with the story of a boy in Sunday School Class who was asked to explain how he could have victory over the Devil. He said, “Well, the way I’ve got it figured, there are two men that live in my heart…There is Adam and there is Jesus. So, if the devil knocks on the door of my heart, I’ll just ask Jesus to answer it!”

Note – Actually, the little boy’s theology was right on…All of us have the same choice…Either we will yield to the Lord or to our own flesh…

Galatians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Proverbs 23:7 KJV 1900

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

This morning we will study a Psalm, given by the Holy Spirit through a man after God’s own heart. This Psalm gives as a glimpse into a spiritual heart.

I. The Spiritual Heart Has a Desire For God – verses 1-4

A. The Place of God – David longed for the building of the temple

Note – The temple was a magnificent structure – it took 7 years to construct – it involved 150,00 Canaanite workers, and cost $4.9 billion.

Note – Yet it was not the constructed edifice that David longed for…it was the fellowship and worship…

Note – Sometimes I meet people who say, “I can worship God and stay close to God without church – Yet I believe the Spiritual heart longs to gather for worship and fellowship.

B. The Person of God – verse 2b

Note – The Psalmist’s strong desire to know God…

Note – “My Heart and my Flesh crieth out for the living God.”

Quote – Jesus said in:

Mark 12:30 KJV 1900

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Psalm 119:2 KJV 1900

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, And that seek him with the whole heart.

Note – The only way to know God is through His word.

John 1:1 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Note – The Spiritual heart has a desire for the living God…the Resurrected Jesus!

II. The Spiritual Heart Delights in the Ways of God – verses 5,9-12

A. His Heart is Fixed on the Ways of God – verse 5

Psalm 57:7

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Note – Our human nature is to focus on a targeted goal…until we “conquer it” and then we move along.

Illustration – Marriage Counseling – Ladies will say – “He treated me so kindly, until we got married.”

Note – The Christian life is not something we “conquer.” We must fix our heart continually on Jesus…Hebrews 12 – Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

B. His Heart is Fixed on the Will of God

Note – Many believe this Psalm was written with the sons of Korah in mind…They were of the tribe of Levi – the doorkeepers of the temple…

Note – Verse 10 – I’d rather be a doorkeeper…

Illustration – Many people become discontented in serving Christ – Their values become distorted…they only hear what they want to hear…because their heart is not fixed on God’s will…

Illustration – Several years ago, Reggie Smith – Boston Celtics – chest pain…went to 13 doctors, 12 said “stop playing”…one said – ok – a few days later he dropped dead on a basketball court of heart failure…

Note – We may think we’re more suited for “Stardom” - but it is better to serve in obscurity and stay in God’s will.

Note – The Lord will bless the man who keeps his trust in God – verse 12

III. The Spiritual Heart is Delivered By God – verses 6-8

Note – Because your heart desires God, is no guarantee that you will avoid the Valleys of Life.

A. Delivered from the Valleys (verse 6)

Travelers to the Temple went through BACA – a dry valley.

Note – This is symbolic of our journey to developing a stronger heart for God. Yet God would fill the pools with water for the weary traveler…

Note – No matter what your Valley of Trial – God will provide for you.

Psalm 23:4

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 27:14

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Quote – “The Will of God will never lead you where the Grace of God can’t sustain you.”

B. Delivered Through Prayer – verse 8

Note – Sometimes it takes a trial to teach us to pray.

Illustration – Trials have caused us to pray…

Quote –

William Carey – “Prayer- secret, fervent, believing prayer, lies at the root of all godliness.”

Conclusion – The greatest deliverance anyone ever experiences is from the penalty of sin.

Rom. 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When you turn your heart to Him….

DO I HAVE A SPIRITUAL HEART?

· Desires God

· Delights in the Ways of God

· Delivered by God

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