A Certain Kind of Heart
2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (NKJ)
A mountain climber was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens . "Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry."
She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of this Bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth."
She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me." Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"
Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!
We know that can happen but the truth is people have gotten cynical when they here a story like that. So I want you to put the story away for a minute and examine the text with me and think about what God is looking for here.
Our verse says that God wants to show Himself powerful for those whose heart is loyal to Him. So they idea here is God looks at the heart. It’s not about what we think it’s what we believe.
As Christians we know that a person must believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and rose again. We know that without faith it is impossible to
Please God. We know that the Bible says “With God all things are possible.” We know that Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (NIV)
The Bible is full of scriptures about this topic Proverbs 4:20-23, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (NKJ) God is looking for A Certain kind of Heart. Let’s examine this together.
I. God is Watching “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
Now look at this part. The words mean Jehovah, the one true God, not allah His eyes physical and spiritual gaze runs the pace He’s looking goes to and fro eagerly expectantly throughout the Land.
I other words the one true God is eagerly looking for someone, anyone—say this with me “I’m anyone.” It’s almost as if God is asking this: “Is there any person or church that I can show myself mightily to?”
He’s watching, He’s eagerly looking, He has a purpose in mind for what He’s doing. It’s…
A. A promise of His protection. Now let’s look at this. If you were watching your children or grandchildren, how do watch them? Do you get on the phone and talk for an hour without any idea what they are doing?
Moms and Me maws today when that toddler is in your house and they are crawling or just beginning to take their first steps would you go to the store and leave them at home alone? Of course not
When are oldest son Zac was first sitting up he would all of the sudden fall backward and hit his head so we put a pillow behind him. But after the 4th boy we just didn’t even worry about it anymore. That’s why Noah is so hard headed crashed into the floor so much.
Bette Midler had a hit song years ago God is watching us from a distance…I’ll tell you today that’s not true. God who loves us more than we could ever love our own children or grandchildren would never say to us you just crawl around there and I’ll check back with you later.
Folks this means that God is focused on us to protect us. Look at what
Psalm 91:9-11, “If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” (NIV) What a promise of His protection.
Not only does God watch over us in protection but He also watches out for us in provision.
B. A Promise of Provision The Bible says in Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (NKJ) Christian church we can trust that God is going to meet our needs. I can’t tell you how many times God has blessed me but also Church we can trust that He will provide.
God is going to provide for His people. What need right need do you have that’s too big for God???
I. God is Watching over us eagerly to protect and provide
II. God is Wanting “to show Himself strong”
See if we are not careful Christians we’ll buy into the idea of a distant Father who wants us to do everything ourselves. We even use the expression “The Lord helps those who…Help themselves.”
That’s not biblical. God wants to show Himself strong. We men are older little boys. That’s all we really are. Little boys want to show themselves strong to their mommies. Mommy feel my muscle. Then when they get older they find them a girl, and young ladies they want you to say even if you have to lie, that’s the biggest bicep ever.
I like it when when my wife can’t open a jar or when something heavy has to be moved…Baby I’m your man. FLEX…Ya’ll do it…I’ll even give you a biblical illustration.
Hannah and her husband Elkanah had no children. Hannah grieved over this and notice what Elkanah said to her, “Then Elkanah her husband said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?’” 1 Samuel 1:8 (NKJ)
Why do you need sons I’ve got the strength of ten me…FLEX, Look at me, I’m a hunk a hunk of burning love.
Now some of you might act like I’m crazy today but you know I’m telling the truth. You ladies when you’re man does something wonderful…you go that’s my man.
So why then does God want to show Himself powerful? Because like a man cares for his girl Jesus cares for His Church He wants the heathen to know that He is the one true God. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 4:7, “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” (NIV)
Just as I want Brenda to say that’s my man, God wants us to say, “That’s my God.” He wants to show Himself strong on our behalf so we can praise Him for all He’s done for us.
So why doesn’t God show up more? Because many today think that the good things they have done is because of them and they fail to give God the glory. But if we as Christians have any sense we’d understand that any good thing we do any great thing that happens in our lives is because the power of God is in us.
Clark E. Tanner, “The Dwelling of God”
“Can you fathom this? The God of the universe, who holds all things together by the word of His power, who fills all things and is bigger than the universe; bigger than time, literally lives in you. Calls you His dwelling place. What a magnificent creation you are! What high and wonderful privilege we have been given, to house the Holy Spirit of God!”
Tell me Christian what situation is beyond God’s power?
I. God is Watching over us eagerly to protect and provide
II. God is Wanting “to show Himself strong”
III. God is Waiting “on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
Heart= a determination of the will
Now we have to understand this is talking about being fully committed to God. Following Christ and honoring Him with our lives. This verse is about a king named Asa.
Asa’s father was an evil king but when Asa took over at a very young age, The Bible says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” He got rid of the false religions, tore down idols and even kicked his idol worshipping grandmother out of the house. For over 30 years he faithfully committed himself to God.
See our verse is talking about being loyal, fully devoted to God. Trusting Jesus for salvation but then standing tall for the cause of Christ. Not letting the cares of this world knock us off course.
Unfortunately, the cares of this world creep in and our faith falters. That’s what happened to King Asa. God told him not to strike a treaty with the other nations and Asa disobeyed God. God sent a prophet to the king and our verse is what Hanani the prophet told king Asa.
You know what happened? This once godly king got so man at the man of God he threw him in prison. King Asa quit seeking God and died.
How many Christians do we know that at one time followed Jesus with all their heart and then walked away from their faith? They used to love Jesus and believed He died for them and they lived for Him but then worldliness seeped into their lives.
Maybe that’s you. Maybe today you have gotten off course sin and self has seeped into your life and God’s dealing with you right now. You are bitter because of things in the past. God is Waiting. But what can you do?
Robert Robinson, author of the hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” was saved under the preaching of George Whitefield but he lost the happy
communion with the Savior he had once enjoyed, and he lived what he worte, “prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” He wandered into the by-ways of sin. As a result, he became deeply troubled in spirit. Hoping to relieve his mind, he decided to travel.
In the course of his journeys, he became acquainted with a young woman on spiritual matters, and so she asked him what he thought of a hymn she had just been reading. To his astonishment he found it to be none other than his own composition. He tried to evade her question, but she continued to press him for a response. Suddenly he began to weep. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he said, “I am the man who wrote that hymn many years ago. I’d give anything to experience again the joy I knew then.” Although greatly surprised, she reassured him that the “streams of mercy” he wrote about still flowed. Mr. Robinson was deeply touched. Turning his “wandering heart” to the Lord, God restored him.
Sin does have consequences but if you today will turn your heart back to Jesus if you’ll take one step toward him you’ll find His blessings will flow again.
Conclusion: The Bible speaks of two types of heart in the Bible. They are evident in the parable of the sower.
The hard heart. For whatever reason this person has become bitter, or cynical toward God and then in turn toward themselves or other people. Abuse, neglect, sorrow from years gone by and this heart refuses to turn back to God.
Fertile soil. A heart that is tender, easily moved by and used by the Holy Spirit. A heart that is stirred when folks are saved and lives are forever changed by Jesus.
We have on our logo a simple statement. A Place to Call Home. I don’t believe you have slogans to have slogans and I have really challenged this church to embrace others when they come here. Because that is a heart like Jesus. Every person needs to feel at home in church either safe to place their faith in Jesus or welcomed no matter what they’ve done or who they are.
We are that church. That’s our heart because Jesus has shaped us that way. God is looking for people who have that Certain Kind of Heart.
Do you today? If not why not let Jesus plow up that hard soil and be used again for His Glory.
PRAY
