Sermon Central
-
Overcome By Paying Attention To Your Heart Series
Contributed by John Dobbs on Oct 22, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: The iconic statement is our consideration this morning: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Pay Attention To Your Heart
Introduction
A few years ago Forbes Magazine published an article by Ty Kiisel about how appearances impact our work lives. In the studies he looked at he noted that people who are tall are generally paid more. More, those who are blonde, who work out, who are handsome - earn more money. Women who wear makeup earn more than those who do not. He went on to write “As uncomfortable as it may be, we are under the microscope every day. Our employees, our colleagues, and our customers judge us by how we look, how we dress, our table manners, our grooming, and
sometimes even how we do our job.” Although we shouldn’t judge people by their appearances, it’s not a new practice - it’s an ancient one!
Samuel was told to go to Jesse’s house to anoint a new king for Israel. He would face a household with 8 number of potential Kings! All of the qualities that Samuel considered as qualities of a king were in his mind. As each of Jesse’s sons came before him, he saw men of status, looks, intelligence - impressive men who fit the image.
None of them would be the king God would choose. There was one left - the youngest son who was serving as a
shepherd.
David was the selection of God for the next King of Israel. The iconic statement is our consideration this morning:
“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people
look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) David was not perfect, would fail multiple times in big ways, that would prove deadly to some who served him. But there was something about David’s heart that God noticed and desired to use to lead his people.
Today we find strength to overcome by paying attention to our hearts!
1. God Looks At The Heart!
Every area of our lives is impacted by the station of our hearts. Mueller: The word heart (kardia) in the Bible refers to the authentic you, who you really are–where you desire, deliberate and where you decide. It’s the place of spiritual activity–the seat of your inner spiritual life. The heart is the ?place where God meets you, the place of our fellowship with Him, the place God reveals Himself to us.
Proverbs 4:23 NLT Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
There are many enemies of our hearts. In Andy Stanley’s book, Enemies of the Heart, he identifies four: Guilt, Anger, Greed, Jealousy. There are many others, but anything that drives us away from our calling to be God’s man or woman is an enemy.
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
2. How to Cultivate a Heart for God
A Heart for God Worships. David is known for writing of the majority of the Psalms. Psalm 34:3 "Proclaim with me the LORD's greatness; let us exalt His name together”. It is important to do this on Sundays, but also in daily life. We worship the Lord in prayer, spending time in His word, being quiet in his presence.
A Heart for God Loves Others.1 John 3:11 “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” Luke 10:27 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
A Heart for God Gives Thanks (Rogers). Remember times when: God has answered prayers. God has worked in your life. God has blessed you or opened a door of opportunity. God has spoken to you through others or in a sermon. God has opened your spiritual eyes. You or someone you know was healed. You experienced a peace in your soul and knew that all would be OK during the storms of life.
A Heart for God Cries Out in Repentance. A low point in David's life involved his adultery with Bathsheba and the eventual murder of her husband Uriah. Ezel: “David was a great sinner. But he was also a great repenter. He confessed, "I have sinned against the LORD" (2 Sam. 12:13). Psalms 51 is his confessional statement..” Repentance occurs by not just feeling sorry for sin, but when we turn away from sin. One can't repent and keep on sinning. Renunciation of sin has to occur.
A Heart for God is Willing to Surrender. Alewine: A willing heart is only possible when we surrender our whole heart to the Lord, leaving no hidden corners or closed-off places where we are reluctant for Him to have full access and control. We cannot say to God, “I will obey You in everything except this.” Full obedience comes from a fully surrendered heart, and full surrender is necessary for God to change our stubborn hearts into a willing heart." Jesus’ prayer was, “Not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). That’s a willing heart.
