Open The Eyes Of My Heart Series

TITLE: OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

TEXT: PRO. 3:1-7

Prov 3:1-7(KJV)

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

PROP: WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IN OUR LIFE. SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IS‑ESSENTIAL IN FUFILLING GOD'S PLAN/‑BEING IN HIS PERFECT WILL.

EXCLAM: THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE‑NEED TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO GAINING SPIRITUAL INSIGHT OR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE LORD. THE FIRST FACT IS THAT SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IS THE‑ABILITY TO GRASP‑THE MIND/ HEART OF GOD/ APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE.

I. THE ABILITY TO GRASP THE MIND/ HEART OF GOD/ APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE.

A. ABLE TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO YOUR LIFE

1. Paul finishes giving three spiritual illustrations or analogies to Timothy . The first illustration was about a farmer, the second was about an athlete, and the third was about a soldier. Afterwards being led of the Holy Spirit, he writes…

2 Tim 2:7(KJV)

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

2 Tim 2:7(TLB)

7 Think over these three illustrations, and may the Lord help you to understand how they apply to you.

2. How do we understand and apply the scripture to our lives? We ask god how!

B. WHY DO WE ASK GOD?

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that‑giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be‑given him.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that‑wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and‑tossed.

James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any‑thing of the Lord.

James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

1. God knows everything. He is omniscient(all knowing)

2. He knows what is best for our lives.

3. Lack of direction for our life

be unstable "tossed as the waves of the sea"

4. Unanswered prayers

experience unanswered prayers "let not that man think‑that he shall receive anything of the Lord" Because you only receive answers to your prayers when‑you ask in God's will. We cannot ask according to His will if we do not have understanding of His will.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that,‑if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we‑know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

C. WILL GOD ANSWER US?

2. He has promised to reveal His plan freely to all men. - "gives to all men liberally"

D. ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS?

1. We must ask in faith.

If I did not believe in a God who could speak to me, I‑would have no purpose in praying to Him.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:‑for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is‑a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. We must have knowledge of God’s Word.

3. We must be Spirit led.

4. Our heart must be right.

TRANS: # 2 THE CLIMATE OF OUR HEART DETERMINES OUR LEVEL OF WISDOM & SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.

II. THE CLIMATE OF OUR HEART DETERMINES OUR LEVEL OF WISDOM & SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.

A. SOME BELIEVERS HAVE A HEART CONDITION

1. A calloused (LAYERED) heart (hard) creates an inability to hear God's‑voice of wisdom.

Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their‑ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest‑they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and‑understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I‑should heal them.

happens gradually through rationalization (that's not‑what God is saying to me) "their eyes they have shut"

eventually causes you to be incapable of listening or seeing God’s will for your life.

Evidenced in church today (People flocking to preachers & prophets for “a word.”)

Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without‑natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

B. WE MUST MAINTAIN A TENDER HEART TO POSSESS UNDERSTANDING!

1. A tender heart creates a climate for God to speak to you.