A Happy Heart

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.

 

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Looking Back to Move Forward

Today, as I was sitting and doing my daily bible reading. I begin to think back on things, I wish could be erased from the history book of my life. Yet, the sad truth is that its impossible. Time spent looking back, is hardly ever used for positive but rather the negative. Instead of looking back and considering the short comings of your past that will only place a hindrance on your present. Why not look back at the good, that it may launch you forward.

A good example of someone told to look back was Joshua, Joshua in Chapter 1 of the book of Joshua is now stepping up to plate after his leader Moses had struck out and went to be with the Lord. In Joshua 1:5 God speaks unto Joshua  “As I was with Moses so will I be with thee.” Now you must notice the impact that this statement made in Joshua’s mind. He had walked with Moses and was his right hand man. He was a wonderful servant, that gave Moses great aid in his ministry. His walk with Moses wasn’t a boring time but it was a walk packed with works of God that even today we still cant come to fathom. Imagine how much more of a overwhelming force such works would have on you today if your own eyes beheld them.

Lets consider a few things Joshua witnessed, being Moses’s side kick.

• Moses was in Egypt and God being with him freed those who were slaves under the hand of an evil ruler. They faced whips across their backs and was forced to work with limited resources. However, God with the lambs blood on the doorpost God delivered them.
• When Moses was at the Red Sea in a hard spot pinned between Pharaoh and  the Red Sea. God made a way for Moses through the Red Sea, and crushed those behind in the same sea. They watched their biggest enemies to be washed away right before their eyes.
• When they was in Morah and the waters were bitter, God made the waters sweet to satisfy their thirst.
• When they had empty bellies in the wilderness, God brought provision from heaven to feed them.

The entire life of Moses was proof that God is faithful unto his people. And God is saying, Joshua I never failed Moses, and I will never fail you. Obey what i say, and do as I say do. Then Joshua you will have someone to look at you and the works I did through you one day.

Friend, do we not have 66 books in one book? That has and endless supply of examples of God being faithful and God not failing his people? Then why can we not recall God’s work in saints of old, and trust he is the same God for us as he was for them? His promises never fail, and his words are always faithful! He is with us, just as he was with Moses, and Joshua. He will keep the promises hes made to you.

Whatever is in front of you fret not over it. Just look back, and see all the glorious works God has done. He is wanting you to stay in the dark clouds, so that after he may present unto you a beautiful rainbow after the storm. Move forward and have faith in him who is faithful to bring a work forth from you.

Destroying Doubt

Our lives are filled with experiences that if left up to us, we would have never faced. Life has a way of breaking us but also exalting us. Good times of pleasure allow us to rejoice and think highly of ourselves. While bad times of sadness leave us in despair and hating ourselves. Doubt grips the mind but also the soul, and sucks all hope away. But in time of doubt I sprint to find a finish line of hope in Gods word.

My Doubt

Wrestling with the inability to sufficiently do my calling of God, that is to preach and pastor a flock of his, I’ve became overwhelmed with my own drive. Thinking I will never study enough, I never will have the intelligence needed to do my job. To preach God’s word in such a way that it will make others fall in love with the author. The same way that I have fallen in love with him. So I found this precious gift in scripture that allowed me some peace in my storm.

Matthew 14:22-32 

Understanding who has sent you v.22

In this verse Jesus compelled his disciples to get into the boat and go unto the other side. This is key to destroying doubt. For if we know that we are obeying what Christ has commanded, we can have hope in the fruit that Christ can bring with it.

Understand who controls your circumstance v.24

The wind was driving the boat the opposing way from which they wanted to go. Keeping them in a spin. A glorious thing to note, Christ made the seas Col 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” One may be in a storm, with winds pushing in the opposing direction, in my case the wind of doubt. Never forget that those winds have a purpose and that those winds was made by Christ. For if Christ Created the seas, he also controls the seas.

The situation is sometimes longer than wanted v.25

The fourth watch, the final watch. A long time they had been out trying to get unto the other side. Yet all attempts were failing. In life this can be true also, climbing and climbing yet feeling as if you will never reach the mountain top. Not always will a prayer be answered or a situation be changed on time(or rather, in our time). However, Christ showed up when he seen fit for him to do so.

Who is your main concern v.28-29

After Christ makes his announcement that it is him, Peter no longer wanted to be in the boat. He wanted to reach Christ. What is our concern in anytime we are faced with doubt? Is it to turn away from our helper? Is it to turn to a particular sin for comfort? For as Peter, we should not want to get anywhere but closer to Christ! Doubt should drive us to dive at the saviors feet!

Get comfort in Christ v.31

Peter called and Christ answered. In times of doubt we are sinking in to places which we are afraid of. We should call unto Christ. For we see the comfort in him, for he catches us. When doubt is in full throttle. Throw yourself upon Christ, see him, cherish him, adore him, and in doing so the storm stops on a dime.