#5problem Of The Heart Is The Heart Of The Problem Series

#5 THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.

Kyfingers@aol.com

This is part five of a five part series.

TEXT:

Prov. 4:23 .. Keep they heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.

1 Tim. 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,

and destitute of the truth, supposing that GAIN is godliness: from such turn away?

2 Chron. 7:14 It is time we humble ourselves, fall on our knees, pray, and seek the great God, repent,

turn from our evil ways, --- we can do something about this heart problem, -----

GOD WILL HEAR US, HE WILL FORGIVE US, AND HEAL OUR LAND.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

This is Part #3 -- if you need parts 1 & 2 ask at Kyfingers@aol.com

As we have been studying heart problems our focus is the problem of the heart is the heart of the problem.

This is part 5 in a series, The problem of the heart. PASS IT ON?

Today I ponder some words of James, Jesus’ brother.

James 2:14 What doth it profit my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works? Can faith save him?

15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16. And one of you say unto them, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;

" notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?

The text, YE GIVE THEM HEART MINISTRY.

No matter who you are you have a flaming ministry.

Quit looking for another spot of ground, bloom where you are!!!

These words James penned echo in my ears.

Word ministry without the heart ever really feeling the need?

These verses expose several problems:

#1 an opportunity to minister to physical needs, the people having no clothes, naked.

#2 The people were hungry, destitute.

But the real problem was in the heart of those ministers to see needs?

Often the heart develops what I call, "compassion fatigue."

This is a serious heart problem that can lead to the death of effective ministry.

I used to get angry at Jonah, he had a very effective "SECOND CHANCE MINISTRY?"

How our hearts should glow for the second chance?

Jonah’s revival was so effective the whole community repented and fasted.

Jonah had a golden opportunity to teach the new converts a better way of living?

Jonah could have walked and taught the very heart of God into a people that had failed.

But Jonah’s heart did not want a revival of repentance,

Jonah wanted in his heart to see THE JUDGMENT OF GOD to fall,

Jonah desired in his heart a Fire Ministry,

God wanted a MINISTRY OF MERCY AND LOVE.

God wanted patience and love for the people,

but the minister’s heart was not so patient?

Why?

Look in the Jonah the 4th chapter,

here it is, a heart problem of ANGER.

IN MY OPINION JONAH MUST HAVE GOT HURT or disappointed at the people.

Jonah chapter 4 brings serious tears to my eyes,

for it exposes the MIS-focused heart of ministry.

There is a good study in this chapter on prepared,

for God was trying to prepare a heart of ministry of mercy.

God prepared a gourd plant, which represents "THE COMFORT OF MINISTRY."

The gourd plant grew and made a place of shade, comfort for the worker.

How many of us love this "SHADE."

So what does God do?

God prepares a worm?

Even worms can have ministry, so what could God do if we had patience with people?

Well, that dumb worm does the work of God and cuts through the

heart of comfort for the minister.

NOW IS WHEN THE TEARS FLY?

NOT FOR PEOPLE OR MINISTRY BUT

WHEN THE COMFORT DISAPPEARS,

NOTE: JUST APPEARS TO BE GONE?

What happens to Christians when God "ON PURPOSE"

tears down their HEARTS COMFORT ZONE?

We sing our anthem, Gloom, despair, and agony on me.

Deep dark depression, excessive misery,

if it weren’t for bad luck, I would have no luck at all,

gloom, despair and agony ON ME,

POOR OLE ME.

There was a prepared east wind and a hot sun,

instead of changing his heart, Jonah would rather CRY.

The purpose of real heart ministry is not your comfort, every real effective

Christian will go through a series of loosing your comfort zones.

This is a faith walk.

God will dry up your brook, just to see if you are obedient and submissive. Will we trust God or the brook?