Heart Transplant
Nothing defies a man worse than his own heart “out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34b). And “that which comes out of the
man, that defies the man (Mark 7:21-23). The heart signifies the total inner self,
a person’s hidden core of being (I Peter 3:4).
The heart is the seat of our knowledge of God (II Corinthians 4:6) “for God who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. The
state of heart governs the vision of God (Matthew 5:8) “blessed are the pure in
heart for they shall see God”. From the heart one speaks to God. The heart is
the place of divine indwelling (Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3:17) “and because you
are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba
Father”.
When one’s heart is turned toward God, He promises to make it sensitive to
divine things, renewed and purified (Ezekiel 36:25-27) “then I will sprinkle clean
water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your
idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put
within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give
you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in
My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them”. God’s law shall
then be written on the heart as the inward guide and motivation (Jeremiah 31:
33). Hebrews 10:16-20 says “this is the covenant that I will make with them after
those days says the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write them. And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. Now
where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. By a new and
living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say His
flesh”.
Such transformation involves believing the gospel from the honest and good
heart that provides fruitful soil for the word of God (Luke 8:15). The true heart
draws near to God, loves Him with all its intellect, feeling, and will (Luke 10:22).
Jesus said “see that you be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6) and “let not your heart
be troubled” (John 14:1a) showing us that we have a choice. God gives
strength, renewal, grace, peace, and joy to the heart (Philippians 4:6-7) “be
careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God
which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus”.
So the ancient ideal becomes possible again, that of being “a man after God’s
own heart” (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). The work has been done by God, we
only have to acknowledge and accept it. Let us strive for this goal, to walk after
God’s heart. Remember “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: December 7, 2007
Nothing defies a man worse than his own heart “out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34b). And “that which comes out of the
man, that defies the man (Mark 7:21-23). The heart signifies the total inner self,
a person’s hidden core of being (I Peter 3:4).
The heart is the seat of our knowledge of God (II Corinthians 4:6) “for God who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. The
state of heart governs the vision of God (Matthew 5:8) “blessed are the pure in
heart for they shall see God”. From the heart one speaks to God. The heart is
the place of divine indwelling (Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3:17) “and because you
are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba
Father”.
When one’s heart is turned toward God, He promises to make it sensitive to
divine things, renewed and purified (Ezekiel 36:25-27) “then I will sprinkle clean
water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your
idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put
within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give
you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in
My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them”. God’s law shall
then be written on the heart as the inward guide and motivation (Jeremiah 31:
33). Hebrews 10:16-20 says “this is the covenant that I will make with them after
those days says the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write them. And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. Now
where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. By a new and
living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say His
flesh”.
Such transformation involves believing the gospel from the honest and good
heart that provides fruitful soil for the word of God (Luke 8:15). The true heart
draws near to God, loves Him with all its intellect, feeling, and will (Luke 10:22).
Jesus said “see that you be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6) and “let not your heart
be troubled” (John 14:1a) showing us that we have a choice. God gives
strength, renewal, grace, peace, and joy to the heart (Philippians 4:6-7) “be
careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God
which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus”.
So the ancient ideal becomes possible again, that of being “a man after God’s
own heart” (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). The work has been done by God, we
only have to acknowledge and accept it. Let us strive for this goal, to walk after
God’s heart. Remember “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: December 7, 2007
