Today in my church we had a guest speaker and his message was entitled “Open Heart Surgery” from Luke 8:4-15. Pastor Dave Folkerts from Calvary Chapel Melbourne, Florida:
Not the muscle that pumps blood, but the spiritual heart. What is our heart? It is the seat of our emotions. Sometimes there is a disconnect between what we know and what we do. Our decision making is found in the heart. From Proverbs 4:20-23, we see that the Word of God goes deep in the heart and the heart should be guarded because it determines the course of life.
How can we guard our heart?
- being filled with God’s word
- being filled with the Holy Spirit
- having Godly relationships
In Luke 8, a parable of the sower is shared. This isn’t a story about people walking around without ears. Rather it references how we should have attentive ears to listen to the Word of God. They don’t have the right heart yet. The disciples had an open heart and could take in the Words of Jesus, understand it, and apply it.
- Seed = Word of God
- Soil = hearts
God’s desire is that we bear fruit from His Word
1st Heart – Hard
1) hurts/unforgiveness
2) unrepentant sin
3) pride
Heart Check #1
Open your heart to God and die to selfishness
2nd Heart – Shallow
1) lack of discipleship
2) being led by feelings over faith
3) wrong motives
4) people pleasing
Heart Check #2
Make a commitment today that you want to go deeper with God
Grow in your relationship with God
How to grow in this relationship
1) Prayer
2) Reading God’s word
3) Worship
3rd Heart – Distracted or Crowded
1) wrong priorities
2) Idols of the heart
3) lack of faith
Heart Check #3
Make sure your priorities line up with God’s Word
4th Heart – Fruit from God’s Word
1) Honest and good heart from Jesus’ grace
2) Hearing God’s Word
3) Keep and obey God’s Word
4) Patience
Attributes and Benefits from a healthily heart
1) teachable and growing spiritually
2) use our failures to help others – be transparent
3) not overly sensitive and have great relationships
4) have right priorities and our life makes God look good
Heart Check #4
Is spiritual fruit coming from life?
Do I need to make a change?
Psalm 51:10-12