My Heart’s Desire And Prayer Series

INTRO.- My heart’s desire. What is your heart’s desire? I think every human person has desires in life, and often, intense desires. I’m not sure it’s knowledge or wisdom, however, like Solomon asked for in I Kings 3:7-14. There may be certain days when we want wisdom and knowledge, but I doubt seriously these would be our greatest desires in life.

I think for most people, it’s more fame, fortune and fun and not necessarily in that order. Maybe fortune and then fun and lastly, fame.

Frankly, I don’t understand why anyone would want fame as in being a Hollywood star. If they are very popular at all they are constantly hounded by the paparazzi. A little of that stuff would go a long way. I prefer peace and quiet, don’t you?

And what about having the desire to be the president of the United States? Really? Seriously? Are you kidding me? Who in their mind would want that job?

ILL.- Former President Bill Clinton said: "Sometime in my sixteenth year, I decided I wanted to be in public life as an elected official. I loved music and thought I could be very good, but I knew I would never be John Coltrane or Stan Getz. I was interested in medicine and thought I could be a fine doctor, but I knew I would never be Michael DeBakey. But I knew I could be great in public service."

Clinton named two influential moments in his life that contributed to his decision to become a public figure, both occurring in 1963. One was his visit as a Boys Nation senator to the White House to meet President John F. Kennedy. The other was listening to Martin Luther King's 1963 I Have a Dream speech, which impressed him enough that he later memorized it.

I, too, saw John F. Kennedy one time. I saw him at the Joplin, MO, airport when he was campaigning for the Presidency. I think the year was 1960. Even though I saw JFK I never wanted to be the President. Again, who would want that job today? It would be more difficult than ever and with far more security. You’d never have much privacy and would be constantly criticized by some in the media no matter what you did or said.

And what about the desire for fortune, more money?

ILL.- You’ve heard is said some people will do almost anything for money. Yes, some will. An unemployed man named Raymond Roth of Mineola, NY, was suspected of faking his own drowning at a New York beach in order to collect $400,000 life insurance money. Roth was reported missing by his son on July 28 at Jones Beach. Authorities conducted a massive search for him over several days before receiving word that he was alive and staying at a time-share he owned at a Florida resort. On Aug. 2, 2012, he was issued a speeding ticket in Santee, S.C., and told police he was returning to New York to meet with police.

Instead of collecting life insurance money he’ll probably collect something else.

What is your greatest desire in life? The apostle Paul had at least two great desires in life which he talks about in this text. And they are two that we should have as well.

PROP.- Paul’s desire which should also be our desire.

1- He had the desire to see people saved

2- He had the desire to preach the gospel

I. HE HAD THE DESIRE TO SEE PEOPLE SAVED

1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

ILL.- Arland Dean Williams Jr. DID YOU EVER HEAR OF HIM? (September 23, 1935 – January 13, 1982, 46 years old) was a passenger aboard Air Florida Flight 90, which crashed on take-off in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 1982, killing 78 people. He was among the six people to initially survive the crash. His actions after the crash, handling the initial rescue efforts as a first responder, became a well-known example of extraordinary heroism, although it cost him his life. He did not know any of the other victims personally. In fact, his identity was not even known until some time after the bodies were recovered.

In the words of one preacher: “His heroism was not rash. Aware that his own strength was fading, he deliberately handed hope (a lifeline) to someone else, and he did so repeatedly. On that cold and tragic day, Arland D. Williams Jr. exemplified one of the best attributes of human nature, specifically that some people are capable of doing "anything" for total strangers.”