What am I Missing Here?
Steps to Recovering Your Joy
February 13, 2011
Calvary Baptist Church
Proverbs 4:20-23
SERMON 5A: Stinking Thinking, Part I: “Out of the Heart”
What am I missing here? What is wrong with me? Why am I not finding joy in the Lord?
• First, may I say to you, that it is good that you have noticed this.
• It is only by the Holy Spirit’s work in your life that you even care.
• Furthermore, it is a good sign of genuine conversion.
• For the lost man or woman, there is no thought of this.
• To them, they are just fine and see no need of the question.
• But to you, whose spirits resonate with this preacher’s question, you know that something is missing.
• You see in the faces, in the lives of others, a light, a joy, a power.
• And as you honestly evaluate yourself, you must admit that you do not have this light, this joy, this power!
REVIEW OF PREVIOUS SERMONS
1) Dispositions differ
2) Emotions are not the test of our spiritual state.
• #1: FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HIS STANDING (OR POSITION IN CHRIST) AND HIS CIRCUMSTANCES.
• #2: PERHAPS YOU LIVE TOO MUCH IN YOUR FEELINGS, TOO LITTLE IN YOUR WILL.
• #3: PERHAPS YOU HAVE DISOBEYED SOME CLEAR COMMAND
• #4: PERHAPS YOU LOOK TOO MUCH INWARD ON SELF, INSTEAD OF OUTWARD ON THE LORD JESUS
• TODAY: WE BEGIN SECTION 5 OF THE OVERALL SERIES. I HAVE ENTITLED THIS PORTION, “STINKING THINKING.” WRONG ACTIONS FOLLOW WRONG FEELINGS WHICH FOLLOW WRONG THOUGHTS.
NOTE: THE FOCUS OF THIS MESSAGE WILL BE THE WRONG THINKING OF A BELIEVER. TIME DOES NOT PERMIT MUCH DISCUSSION OF THE WRONG THINKING OF THE UNSAVED MAN. NOR IS THE MESSAGE ABOUT THE VALUE OF THINKING BEFORE SPEAKING, ACTING, ETC. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE THOUGHT LIFE, PER SE. IT IS ABOUT THE WRONG THOUGHTS THAT AFFECT OUR WELL-BEING, OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND OTHERS, ETC. SINCE I AM STARTING THIS ON THE SUNDAY BEFORE VALENTINE’S DAY, I WILL PREACH ON THE “OUT OF THE HEART” THEME. THAT WILL BE MESSAGE 5A. THEN I WILL PREACH ON THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR THOUGHTS IN 5B. 5 C WILL MOVE TO THE INSTANCES OF WRONG THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD, OTHERS, AND OURSELF. WE WILL CONCLUDE THE SERIES BY COVERING PHILIPPIANS 4 I HAVE COMBINED SEVERAL STARTER SERMONS INTO THIS ONE, SO IGNORE THE OTHERS.
HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES
Logos – Elwell, Topical Analysis
Logos – MacArthur Topical
Logos – Thematic Bible and Passage Register
Wordsearch – POSB Master Index
See both “Thinking” and “Mind”
SC.COM See Tony Bazen (under thoughts, thinking) on Sermon Central. “It’s the Thought that Counts”
Wordsearch - SEE QUICK REFERENCES FOR COUNSELING UNDER “TRUST, FAITH IN GOD”
SERIES OUTLINE
Part 1: Introduction – “Out of the Heart” (for Valentine’s Day)
Part 2: The Importance of Right Thinking
SERMON ONE (SERIES 5A)
“OUT OF THE HEART”
STINKING THINKING
ILLUS: Brian Noblitt on the day we opened the new addition. Our septic system didn’t have enough capacity for the added toilets and sinks. The toilet downstairs overflowed. That was a stinking mess. So can our thoughts stink!
QUOTE: God has strategically placed our nose! It is right over the spot where the food goes in. If our nose is working properly, then it will protect us. There are some who cannot get past the small of a thing, even if it is clearly proven that the food is safe and good for us. (Example: certain cheeses). I wish that our spiritual noses had such sensitivity. I am preaching this morning in an attempt to awaken our spiritual sense of smell. Not to recognize bad food that is still outside the body and thus not take it in, but rather to smell what is behind our nose, in our mind, and recognize that something that is already inside of us needs to be cast out. We want to get rid of rotten, stinking thinking.
I. INTRODUCTION: “Out of the Heart”
• On this Sunday before Valentine’s, we introduce our series on our thinking, with a message entitled, “Out of the Heart.”
THEME: MY CHRISTIAN LIFE IS AN INWARD BATTLE
A. The Centrality of the Heart (Prov. 4:20-23)
Proverbs 4:20-23 (KJV) 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
QUOTE: Keep your heart with all diligence and God will look after the universe. A. W. Tozer
Heart – leb. Literally, the chest area which contains the heart or the heart itself. Figuratively, it is the inner self of the person, the center of his moods, emotions and intellect. Because it is often associated with reasoning and understanding, it could be translated as “mind.” (CBL)
B. The Contrast of the Heart (Mt. 12:34-35; Luke 6:45)
Heart (NT) Greek, kardia. A prolonged form from a primary kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, i.e. (figurative) the thoughts or feelings (mind). Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
• It is a fountain of both good and evil.
• What is in the heart, comes out.
• Be sure your sin will find you out.
ILLUS: Shaken soft drink bottle. What comes out? Whatever was in it all along!
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
QUOTE: The heart of man is like a musical instrument and may be played upon by the Holy Spirit, by an evil spirit or by the spirit of man himself. A. W. Tozer
C. The Corruption from the Heart (Mark 7:14-23)
[Parallel Passage: Matthew 15:17-20]
1. The Controversy (Mark 7:14-23)
CONTEXT: Read verses 1-13, Controversy over the unwashed hands.
• The law as given by God, contained the broad moral principles of holiness.
• A few centuries before Christ, the Scribes began to add the details.
• These became a powerful “oral” law that would not be written until long after the death of Christ.
• One had to wash his hands between every course of the meal.
• First with the fingers up, then with the fingers down.
• An eggshell and a half of water (minimum) was required each time.
• This was never for hygienic reasons, rather it was merely ceremonial.
• On rabbi was excommunicated for failing to observe the hand washing.
• Another rabbi, imprisoned by the Romans, used the little water they gave him to observe the ceremonial hand washing instead of drinking it. He thus died from dehydration. He did harm to the body God gave him instead of breaking a law that God had never given!
• See Daily Study Bible for more details.
2. The Correction (Mark 7:14-19)
a. To the Multitudes (7:14-16)
1) He Corrects Their Focus (7:15)
Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
• From the perspective of the 21st Century, the following words seem tame.
• At the time they were spoken, they were the most radical words that had ever been spoken to Jews!
QUOTE: No Jew ever believed that and no orthodox Jew believes it yet. Lev 11 has a long list of animals that are unclean and may not be used for food. How very seriously this was taken can be seen from many an incident in Maccabean times. At that time the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, was determined to root out the Jewish faith. One of the things he demanded was that the Jews should eat pork, swine's flesh but they died in their hundreds rather than do so. "Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing. Wherefore they chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant; so then they died." (1Macc 1:62-63.) Fourth Maccabees (chapter 7) tells the story of a widow and her seven sons. It was demanded that they should eat swine's flesh. They refused. The first had his tongue cut out, the ends of his limbs cut off; and he was then roasted alive in a pan; the second had his hair and the skin of his skull torn off; one by one they were tortured to death while their aged mother looked on and cheered them on; they died rather than eat meat which to them was unclean. Daily Study Bible
2) He Calls for Their Attention (7:14,16)
Mark 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
ILLUS: Some are so focused on what someone wears, or what instrument is being played, or if a man’s hair might touch his ear, that they will turn that person off completely and will not listen to preaching, teaching, etc. Is that not the very thing that Jesus condemns?
b. To the Disciples (7:17-19)
1) The Request (7:17)
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
2) The Rebuke (7:18)
7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive …? [Are you not using your mental faculties?] CBL
3) The Review (7:18B-19)
18B that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
Mark 7:18 (AMP) And He said to them, Then are you also unintelligent and dull and without understanding? Do you not discern and see that whatever goes into a man from the outside cannot make him unhallowed or unclean,
Mark 7:19 (AMP) Since it does not reach and enter his heart but [only his] digestive tract, and so passes on [into the place designed to receive waste]? Thus He was making and declaring all foods [ceremonially] clean [that is, abolishing the ceremonial distinctions of the Levitical Law].
NOTE: Robertson and other expositors suggest that “purging all meats” is not a quote from Jesus, but is a commentary from Mark. The meaning is, in saying this Jesus made all meats (foods) clean, thus nullifying the Levitical laws concerning unclean foods.
3. The Condemnation (7:20-21)
7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
ILLUS: NO SECRETS HERE
A young couple decided to wed. As the big day approached, they grew apprehensive. Each had a problem they had never before shared with anyone, not even each other.
The Groom-to-be, overcoming his fear, decided to ask his father for advice. "Father," he said, "I am deeply concerned about the success of my marriage. I love my fiancée, very much, but you see, I have very smelly feet, and I’m afraid that my future wife will be put off by them."
"No problem," said dad. "All you have to do is wash your feet as often as possible, and always wear socks, even to bed." Well, to him this seemed a workable solution.
The bride-to-be, overcoming her fear, decided to take her problem up her mom. "Mom," she said, "When I wake up in the morning my breath is truly awful." "Honey," her mother consoled, "everyone has bad breath in the morning." "No, you don’t understand. My morning breath is so bad, I’m afraid that my new husband will not want to sleep in the same room with me."
Her mother said simply, "Try this. In the morning, get straight out of bed, and head for the bathroom and brush your teeth. The key is, not to say a word until you’ve brushed your teeth. Not a word," her mother affirmed. Well, she thought it was certainly worth a try.
The loving couple was finally married in a beautiful ceremony. Not forgetting the advice each had received, he with his perpetual socks and she with her morning silence, they managed quite well. That is, until about six months later.
Shortly before dawn, the husband woke with a start to find that one of his socks had come off. Fearful of the consequences, he frantically searched the bed. This, of course, woke his bride, who, without thinking, immediately asked, "What on earth are you doing?"
"Oh, no!" he gasped in shock, "You’ve swallowed my sock!"
• Sadly, we also hold secrets.
• “Be sure your sins will find you out.”
• We must deal with our heart before others have to deal with us.
• We must deal with our heart before God judges us.
• God sees the heart.
QUOTE: I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. Martin Luther
NOTE: BESIDE THE AV TRANSLATION, I HAVE GIVEN THAT FROM ESV. IF THERE IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT TRANSLATION, IT IS GIVEN NEXT.
7:20–22 JUST AS VV. 18–19 EXPLAIN THE FIRST HALF OF THE CLAIM IN V. 15, VV. 20–23 EXPLAIN THE LAST HALF. VERSES 21–22 EXPLAIN WHAT JESUS HAD IN MIND WHEN REFERRING TO WHAT COMES OUT OF A PERSON MAKING THAT PERSON UNCLEAN. (NAC)
NOTE: THE FIRST SET OF THE SINS OF THE HEART IS IN THE PLURAL. IT REFERS TO THE ACTIVITIES OF A SINFUL HEART. THERE ARE SEVEN IN THE LIST.
1. EVIL THOUGHTS (SEXUAL IMMORALITY)
Evil thoughts – dialogizomai This is a word that means reasoning, or disputing. It is in a negative light in most occurrences in the NT. When the reasoning is against God and His ways, it carries the idea of doubting. In this context, the word kakos is added, clearly defining the reasoning as “evil” and “harmful.”
2. ADULTERIES
Adulteries – moicheia A sinful sexual relationship in which one of the partners is married. It is interesting that this appears in a list of the sins of the heart, for unlike the Old Testament standard, the NT standard incriminates one for the thought of adultery. See “murders” below.
3. FORNICATIONS
Fornications – porneia This is unchastity, prostitution, sexual sin in general.
4. MURDERS
Murders – phonos In the LXX, this word translates “bloodshed” or “sword.” It is the literal taking of a human life. In the NT, we may commit murder and adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22, 28). This is the meaning here.
5. THEFTS
Thefts – klope from klepto meaning to steal. It can mean plagiarism, the stealing of ideas, or common theft, the stealing of objects or money. NOTE: This word is logically tied very closely to the next.
6. COVETOUSNESS (DEEDS OF COVETING)
Covetousness – pleonexia Greediness, covetous desires. The progression moves from admiration, to desire, the formulating a plan to steal it.
7. WICKEDNESS (DEEDS OF WICKEDNESS)
Wickedness – poneria. Depravity, sinfulness.
NOTE: FROM HERE FORWARD, THE LIST IS IN THE SINGULAR. IT REFERS TO THE ATTITUDES OF THE SINFUL HEART. THERE ARE SIX IN THE LIST.
1. DECEIT
Deceit – dolos. In classical Greek, this is the ordinary word for the bait used in fishing. The meaning is deceit, fraud, craftiness, or treachery. It is translated elsewhere as subtlety, craft and guile.
JEREMIAH 17:9 THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED: WHO CAN KNOW IT?
2. LACIVISOUSNESS (SENSUALITY, LEWDNESS)
Lasciviousness – aselgeia. Licentiousness, excess wantoness. In 2 Pet. 2:7 it is translated as “filthy.”
3. EVIL EYE (ENVY)
Evil eye – ophthalmos poneros. A wicked eye. This is a Hebrew periphrastic expression. The meaning is either envy or stinginess. Expositors Bible Commentary
Proverbs 23:6-8 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
4. BLASPHEMY (SLANDER)
Blasphemy – To hurt or injure with words. In Eph. 4:31 it is translated as “evil speaking.” These words are formed in the heart and then spewed forth.
5. PRIDE (ARROGANCE)
Pride – huperephania. Arrogance, haughtiness. According to Barclay, “It does not so much mean the man who is conspicuous and someone to whom others look up; instead it refers to the man who stands on his own little self-created pedestal and looks down” (New Testament Words, p.134). Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary
6. FOOLISHNESS (FOLLY)
Foolishness – aphrosune. A compound word meaning “not thinking.” It is translated “folly” in 2
Cor. 11:1. In classical Greek this involved both a lack of mental prowess and an absence of common sense, a distorted mental perception.
(False Witness) Added from Matthew’s list in 15:19. Pseudomarturia. Purgery, false testimony.
CONCLUSION:
ILLUS: Al Capone’s vault. Geraldo Rivera, April 21, 1986. Lexington Hotel, Chicago, late 1920’s. (Arrested 1931) There was only some empty bottles of “bathtub gin” and moonshine. I’m afraid if Geraldo were to come to Calvary and open the vault of our heart, it would not be empty. God sees the contents of our heart. All things are naked and opened unto him with whom we have to do.
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
QUOTE: A man's heart is right when he wills what God wills. Thomas Aquinas
QUOTE: If the keeping of the heart be the great work of the Christian, then how few real Christians are there in the world! A. W. Pink
Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
