A Happy Heart
1 Thessalonians 3:6-7
The heart is the very source of a person. If the heart is happy, the person will then in return be an individual which shows that happiness. If the heart is sad, the person will then be sad. The heart of a human is the center piece which all the other actions of that person revolve around. For Jesus, himself thought that the things which proceed from a person are those things of the heart.In the text, Paul has turned his frown upside down. For he had been given news, that brought him delight. As I Proceed I hope we can come to the conclusion that a happy heart, is a hearing heart.
A Happy Heart is a Hearing Heart v.6
Paul had previously sent Timothy unto those at Thessalonica. In sending Timothy, he left himself to be alone. Yet, because of uncertainty, it made him hurt for he did not know whether theses Christians was letting the persecution get the best of them and drive them from Christ. Yet, when Timothy returned unto Paul, he did not come with tragic information but rather, he came with “Glad tidings,” Good news was brought unto Paul. That in his anxiety and worry over those at Thessalonica could be turned off for theses Christians had “faith and charity”. Not only so they also remembered Paul himself.
Paul without a doubt was ready to hear a word from Timothy as soon as he arrived, no any small talk would have come prior. But the subject would be straight to the point. Paul would immediately ask Timothy. Are they in Christ, or has my labor been to no avail? However, he got the answer he was seeking. That it was not vain, but theses Christians are still in the faith. Paul’s satisfaction came by hearing the word of a fellow minister in Christ.
Hearing is a blessing. Not always is it a blessing for hearing also may bring for negative words, but anytime that the Word of God is opened that is far from the truth. For it brings Joy unto the hearers just like Timothy’s word brought Paul comfort. v.7 “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted in all our affliction and distress by your faith.”
But there is a question that needs to be answered. Why would one choose not to hear, the word? If it does bring joy, if it does comfort? Why do people not hear? There is a few possibilities which one can look to in the word of God. In doing so to find the reason why some people love to hear the word of God, while others give no ear to it.
Hearing of the Spiritual Family
The Difference between, all people. Is not of the family in which they were born into. But rather the spiritual family in which they belong now.
John 8:42-44a, 47 “If God were your Father ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil.” And now look at verse 47 “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
Fairly easy to see Jesus’s point in which he is making. For If God, is not their father, they will not listen to one who is not. But rather will listen to him who is their father. So this brings to mind, does one hear God? Or does one hear the other father, the devil? For only two choices are possible. The father of this world Satan, or the Father of those who are not of this world God.
Pride
Jeremiah 7:25-28 “Since the day that your father came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them, but they will not answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them, this is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.”
The wording used, by Jeremiah. Is that of the pride which belongs within people. They hear not, for they do not want to hear. They are the authority. They are the answer and they do not hear from nobody but themselves. They are not going to be told what they can or cannot do. But they are prideful, they see that their way is right no matter if God himself declares it wrong.
The nation was a blessed nation that was God’s nation but they became to be prideful. Is this not the country which we live in today? One nation under God that now is doing away with God. We have people in America, who are not the kind to be told what to do but rather they should choose what they will or will not do.Which results in complete chaos in the haughty hearts of America.
Is God still in control?
Does God not have control? Is he unpowerful in the sense that some hear and some do not? Is it based only on people? Is God powerless over who hears and who does not? No! God is still in control.
Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, Those days are our days saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:”
Who is sending the famine? God! What is happening is not being brought because the power of Satan is overwhelming God’s will. No, no, no, God is working his plan which he has known from the start. Do not think that God’s hand is slacked, or it is stopped. No God is working even in the hearts that are hardened for he is the one who has brought them to be hard.
Hearing The Wrong Thing
2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctorine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fabes.”
They may not listen to the word but it does not mean that they will not hear any word. What they are listening to is the problem. Those are deceived with those seeking a number, and a bank account instead of heavenly treasures.
It is Given to Hear
Matt 13:10-16 “And the disciples came, and said unto him, why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”
What Glory is found in those verses, I Turn to John Piper for more clarification, on what Jesus stated, he writes of Romans 8:29
“Whom he foreknew, he also predestined” means that God’s appointment of the destiny of his people is based on his prior election, and this election is not based on any foreseen faith that we could produce by some power of self-determination. The plan of redemption was never conceived to include the saving power of human self-determination.”
So friend, God has given you ears to hear, hearts to receive, and faith to believe. If that is not a joy if that does not make your heart happy. To know that you were chosen BY GOD! And by Him choosing you, you belong to him, and eternity is yours. Because when God looked through eternity to now, he saw you being his chosen. He saw Christ’s blood being shed on Calvary bringing you cleansing, and it was all based upon his own grace. That same grace gave you the understanding by shining into your darkness. 2 Cor 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Happy is the one who hears the word, for it is God who has given the heart light to come to the knowledge of him.