WHAT IS YOUR HEART’S DESIRE
ROMANS 9:1-3, 10:1-4
IF I WERE TO ASK , “WHAT IS YOUR HEART’S DESIRE”, YOU WOULD HAVE MANY ANSWERS. SOME OF YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE A LOVED ONE YOU HAVEN’T HAD CONTACT WITH IN A LONG TIME. OTHERS MIGHT WANT TO CELEBRATE A SPECIAL DAY, LIKE CHRISTMAS, JUST ONE MORE TIME, WITH A LOVED ONE OR FRIEND THAT IS SOON TO DIE, OR HAS DIED. STILL FOR OTHERS IT IS A GOAL THAT WE WISH TO REACH:
A) I WANT A MILLION DOLLARS BY THE TIME I’M FORTY
B) I WANT THAT NICE BLOND, BRUNETTE OR REDHEAD. I DIDN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. I TURNED GREY IN MY TWENTIES AND NO GIRLS WERE INTERESTED IN GREY HAIR.)
C) PERHAPS IT’S A GOAL OF POSITION
THESE ARE SOME OF THE ONES OUR HEARTS GO TO FIRST, AND I ADMIT THAT I HAVE A COUPLE OF PERSONAL HEART’S DESIRES, NOT LISTED HERE, THAT I THINK ON FROM TIME TO TIME. I DON’T BELIEVE IT’S WRONG TO HAVE A HEART’S DESIRE, AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T BECOME AN OBSESSION.
IN THIS PASSAGE PAUL REMINDS US THAT OUR FOREMOST HEART’S DESIRE IS THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD. SO WHEN YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT YOUR HEART’S DESIRE, HOW MANY OF YOU INCLUDED WINNING THE LOST FOR CHRIST?
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH TODAY. WE WANT TO KEEP OUR BUILDINGS COMFORTABLE AND ATTRACTIVE, TO DO THE THINGS THAT MAKE US FEEL GOOD, IN THE NAME OF EVANGELISM, AND NOT TRAVEL TOO FAR FROM OUR COMFORT ZONE. RATHER THAN BEING FISHERS-OF-MEN, WE’D RATHER BE KEEPERS OF THE ACQUARIAM. THIS MY FRIENDS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER WHEN IT COMES TO CHURCH GROWTH.
I DID SOME CHECKING, AND THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY WAYS THAT A CHURCH GROWS.
1. TRANSFER GROWTH: THIS IS CHURCH GROWTH WHEN MEMBERS OF OTHER CHURCHES COME AND JOIN THIS CHURCH, WHETHER THEY ARE MEMBERS OF LOCAL CHURCHES OR HAVE MOVED INTO THE GEOGRAPHIC VACINITY AND CHOSE TO MAKE THIS CHURCH THEIR NEW CHURCH HOME.
2. BIOLOGICAL GROWTH: THIS IS WHEN CHILDREN OF CURRENT MEMBERS COME TO KNOW THE LORD AND ARE BAPTIZED.
3. TRUE CHURCH CONVERSION: THIS IS WHERE CHILDREN, TEENAGERS AND ADULTS WHO HAVE NO CHURCH BACKGROUND, ARE BROUGHT TO CHRIST BY LOVING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, AND ARE WON TO CHRIST, AND BECOME PART OF THE BODY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE MAIN THRUST OF GROWTH PRESENTLY IS TRANSFER GROWTH.
IN THIS PASSAGE PAUL IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH AS THAT OF CHURCH GROWTH. HE FURTHER IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM AS A PROBLEM OF THE HEART OF THOSE ATTEMPTING TO EVANGELIZE. PAUL ASKS DO WE HAVE A HEART-FELT BURDEN FOR THE LOST? DO WE BELIEVE THAT IF OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST WERE TO DIE IN THIS STATE, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD SPEND AN ETERNITY IN HELL.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO HAVE SINCERE AND FRANK DISCUSSION ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME FOR SELF REFLECTION. I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO ANSWER.
1. DO WE HAVE A SINCERE HEART FOR THE LOST.
2. DO WE HAVE A SHATTERED HEART FOR THE LOST
3. DO WE HAVE A SORROWFUL HEART FOR THE LOST
CONTEXT:
IN THIS PASSAGE PAUL IS DEALING WITH THE REJECTION OF CHRIST BY THE JEWISH NATION. PAUL KNOWS THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE NO PROBLEM BELIEVING IN GOD, THEIR PROBLEM THE JEWS COULD NOT UNDERSTAND IS BELIEVING THAT CHRIST IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS. THEY DO NOT SEE HOW A CARPENTER’S SON COULD BE THE MESSIAH.
MOST RELIGIONS TODAY HAVE NO PROBLEM BELIEVING IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IN SOME FORM. THEY DO HOWEVER HAVE A GREAT PROBLEM IN DEALING WITH CHRIST AS THE MESSIAH. THEY FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE DEITY OF CHRIST AND SADLY MANY STILL DO.
TO NOT RECOGNIZE THE DEITY OF CHRIST IS TO DESTROY THE WORK DONE BY CHRIST WHILE ON THE CROSS. HIS CRY OF VICTORY JUST BEFORE HE DIED, “IT IS FINISHED” WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT AT ALL.
NOT ONLY THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, BUT THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL, WERE EXPECTING THE MESSIAH TO BE A GREAT MILITARY LEADER WHO WOULD LEAD THE JEWS TO VICTORY OVER THE ROMANS, AND RE-ESTABLISH A PHYSICAL KINGDOM AND RESTORE ISRAEL TO IT’S FORMER GLORY. WHEN THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN THEY REVOLTED AGAINST HIM.
PAUL WAS HEARTBROKEN THAT HIS PEOPLE, THE CHOSEN PEOPLE, WERE REJECTING THE MESSIAH. PAUL WAS LOOKING AT FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT HE LOVED AND KNEW THEIR REJECTION WOULD RESULT IN THEIR BEING ETERNALLY LOST AND OUTSIDE GOD’S NEW COVENANT WITH THEM.
PAUL UNDERSTOOD THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS THE JEWS WERE LIVING UNDER THE OLD COVENANT ESTABLISHED WITH ABRAHAM AND WAS PASSED DOWN FROM THERE. THIS COVENANT IS MENTIONED IN GENESIS 15:4 -16.
THE JEWS BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, AND HAD ESTABLISHED A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, BECAUSE GOD HAD GIVEN THEM THE LAW TO FOLLOW AS WELL, THAT IF THEY OBEYED THE LAW, THAT THEY WOULD BE IN A PERFERRED POSITION WITH GOD.
PAUL THOUGH POINTS OUT TWO SHORTFALLS FROM THE LAW.
1. THE SACRIFICE REQUIRED BY THE LAW COULD NOT REDEEM A PERSON. THEREFORE THE PROBLEM OF SIN WAS NOT DEALT WITH UNDER THE OLD COVENANT.
2. THE ISRAELITES COULD NEVER KEEP ALL OF THE LAW. THE LAW IN FACT WAS GIVEN TO INDICATE THE FRAILITY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION.
PAUL KNEW THAT WHAT THE LAW COULDN’T DO, JESUS COULD THROUGH THE CROSS.
ROMANS 8:1-3:
THEREFORE, THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, 2 BECAUSE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. 3 FOR WHAT THE LAW WAS POWERLESS TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS WEAKENED BY THE FLESH, N GOD DID BY SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH TO BE A SIN OFFERING. P AND SO HE CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH
PAUL KNEW THAT THOSE WHO WERE REJECTING JESUS WERE REJECTING GOD’S PLAN. HE KNEW THAT REJECTING GOD’S PLAN WOULD ULTIMATELY BRING ABOUT GOD’S WRATH.
IT IS THIS KNOWLEDGE THAT MAKES PAUL’S PASSION EVIDENT. I WONDER WHAT KNOWLEDGE WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE OUR PASSION EVIDENT IN THE WORLD TODAY?
SOMETIMES AS BELIEVERS WE CAN FOCUS ON THE WRONG QUESTIONS. WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO ASK “ARE YOU WILLING TO SHARE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WITH SOMEONE TODAY?” THAT ANSWER SHOULD COME NATURALLY. THE QUESTION WE NEED TO GRAPPLE WITH IS “ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT SHARING YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST? DO YOU HAVE A BURNING DESIRE TO SEE THE LOST COME TO CHRIST?”
PAUL COULD NOT GIVE UP ON HIS PEOPLE. HE COULD BE ANGRY, DISAPPOINTED, AND FULL OF SORROW OVER HIS PEOPLE, BUT HE COULD NEVER GIVE UP ON THEM. HIS HEART WOULDN’T ALLOW HIM TO. WHO ARE YOU SO BURDENED FOR THAT YOUR HEART WON’T ALLOW YOU TO GIVE UP ON THEM.
I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU THAT IT IS TIME TO DO SOME SPIRITUAL OPEN HEART SURGERY.
POINT ONE: DO WE HAVE A SINCERE HEART FOR THE LOST?
MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY YES TO THIS QUESTION WITHOUT BLINKING AN EYE, BUT DO THEIR ACTIONS AND MOTIVATION BETRAY THEM.
WHAT MADE BILLY SUNDAY, OR BILLY GRAHAM, D.L.MOODY, GREAT EVANGELISTS? THESE MEN WERE WELL-GROUNDED IN THEIR FAITH THAT ALWAYS LED THEM TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. THERE MUST BE A SENSE OF URGENCY ABOUT THE ETERNAL PUNISHMENT THAT AWAITED THE LOST.
COLOSSIANS 1:28-29:
HE IS THE ONE WE PROCLAIM, ADMONISHING AND TEACHING EVERYONE WITH ALL WISDOM, SO THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERYONE FULLY MATURE IN CHRIST. 29 TO THIS END I STRENUOUSLY CONTEND WITH ALL THE ENERGY CHRIST SO POWERFULLY WORKS IN ME.
GRAHAM WOULD OFTEN SPEAK OF A TRANSFORMATION THAT HAPPENED WHEN HE STOOD BEHIND A PULPIT. THE TIREDNESS THAT HE FELT WAS GONE, AND HE WAS ENERGIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE NIGHT.
THESE MEN HAD A SENSE OF URGENCY THAT THIS MIGHT BE SOME PERSON’S LAST CHANCE TO MAKE A DECISION FOR CHRIST. THE BURDEN WAS THEIRS TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL, AND ALLOW THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CALL LOST SOULS TO HIMSELF.
A MINISTER FRIEND OF MINE CALLED TEARS FOR THE LOST HOLY WATER. AND WE MUST BECOME EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED IN THE SALVATION OF LOST SOULS. THIS IS WHAT DRIVES US TO ACT. IT DETERMINES THAT IF YOU TRULY HAVE A HEART FOR THE LOST, THEN YOU WILL DO SOMETHING TO HELP BRING THEM TO CHRIST.
THE GREAT ATLANTIC REVIVALS STARTED WITH PEOPLE PRAYING PASSIONATELY, CONVICTED OF THEIR OWN SIN. AS THEY RECEIVED THE FORGIVENESS FOR THAT SIN, THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A WORLD IN FRONT OF THEM WHO DID NOT HAVE THAT FORGIVENESS. THIS TOUCHED THEIR HEARTS TO THE POINT WHERE THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO WAS SHARE THE GOSPEL.
IT IS EASY FOR US TO THINK OF THE HEATHEN IN DARK REMOTE CORNERS OF THE WORLD, OR UNDEVELOPED THIRD WORLD NATIONS AS BEING LOST. PAUL REMINDS US THOUGH THAT THE LOST ALSO INCLUDE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AUNTS AND UNCLES, GRANDCHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM NEED A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS CHRIST. YOUR HEART MUST BURN AND BREAK FOR ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST.
POINT TWO: DO WE HAVE A SHATTERED HEART FOR THE LOST
PAUL CONTINUES TO PRESS THE FACT OF HEARTACHE FOR THE LOST IN V. 2. PAUL SAYS I HAVE GREAT SORROW AND UNCEASING ANGUISH IN MY HEART.
JEREMIAH, THE WEEPING PROPHET SAID:
JEREMIAH 9:1: OH, THAT MY HEAD WERE A SPRING OF WATER AND MY EYES A FOUNTAIN OF TEARS! I WOULD WEEP DAY AND NIGHT FOR THE SLAIN OF MY PEOPLE.
THE KEY WORD FOR US IS THE WORD “UNCEASING”. IT DOESN’T GO AWAY. THE DESIRE TO SEE SOULS SAVED SHOULD BE LIKE AN ITCH THAT DOES NOT GO AWAY.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE ACCOUNT OF JESUS ENTERING THE CITY ON PALM SUNDAY? IT IS SOMETIMES CALLED THE “TRIUMPHAL ENTRY”, BUT IN REALITY IT WAS THE “TEARFUL ENTRY.”
TRY TO GET A MENTAL PICTURE OF THIS. JESUS IS LOOKING AT THE CITY OF JERUSALEM SIX DAYS BEFORE HE IS TO DIE. HE SEES THE CHILDREN, THE WOMEN, THE YOUNG AND THE OLD, WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO BECAUSE HE LOVED THEM.
LUKE 19:41: AS HE APPROACHED JERUSALEM AND SAW THE CITY, HE WEPT OVER IT 42 AND SAID, “IF YOU, EVEN YOU, HAD ONLY KNOWN ON THIS DAY WHAT WOULD BRING YOU PEACE—BUT NOW IT IS HIDDEN FROM YOUR EYES.
YOU KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THOSE AROUND YOU DO NOT. THEY MAY LAUGH AT YOU OR MOCK YOU. BUT THE ONES THAT YOU LOVE THE MOST MAY DO THE THING THAT I DREAD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THEY MAY DO NOTHING.
JESUS EYES FILLED WITH TEARS THAT DAY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DID NOTHING TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES. THAT IS THE HARDEST THING TO ACCEPT. TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL, TO KNOW WHAT IT HAS DONE IN OUR LIVES, AND TO LOOK INTO THE EYES OF PEOPLE WE LOVE AND SEE THEIR EMPTY STARE. THEY CANNOT KNOW WHAT WE HAVE FOR THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT. WE KNOW THAT ETERNITY IS IN THE BALANCE.
POINT THREE: DO WE HAVE A SORROWFILLED HEART FOR THE LOST:
IF WE DO HAVE AN AUTHENTIC HEART FOR THE LOST, IF THERE IS AN UNQUENCHABLE DESIRE TO SEE SOULS SAVED, THEN WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO DO ABOUT IT.
WHAT IS IT THAT CAN MAKE US COMFORTABLE IN WITNESSING TO THE LOST, IF WE HAVE AN AUTHENTIC HEART FOR THE LOST. THE ANSWER IS NOTHING. PAUL REALIZED THIS IN V.3.
PAUL WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP HIS SALVATION IN ORDER THAT HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN COULD BE SAVED. DO WE HAVE THAT SAME CONVICTION?
I HAVE SEVERAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR FAMILY, AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING I COULD TO HELP THEM IF NEEDED, BUT I DON’T KNOW IF I’M READY AS PAUL WAS TO SAY THAT I WOULD GIVE UP MY PLACE IN HEAVEN FOR PEOPLE I DON’T KNOW. THIS HOWEVER IS EXACTLY WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS. HE GAVE HIMSELF AS A SACRIFICE FOR ALL PEOPLE, THOUGH WE DID NOT KNOW HIM OR LOVE HIM.
ROMANS 5:6-8
YOU SEE, AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, WHEN WE WERE STILL POWERLESS, CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY. 7 VERY RARELY WILL ANYONE DIE FOR A RIGHTEOUS PERSON, THOUGH FOR A GOOD PERSON SOMEONE MIGHT POSSIBLY DARE TO DIE. 8 BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.
THIS IS THE HEART CONVICTION HE WANTS US TO SHOW FOR OTHERS. HE IS LOOKING FOR TOTAL COMMITMENT ON OUR PART.
CONCLUSION:
THE STORY IS TOLD ABOUT A KIND OLD LADY, WHO WAS SEARCHING FOR A MINISTRY TO PERFORM AT HER CHURCH. THEY HAD A BUS MINISTRY AND SO THEY DECIDED THAT SHE WOULD RIDE THE BUS AND TALK TO THE CHILDREN.
THERE WAS ONE LITTLE BOY WHO WAS VERY SHY. THE OTHER CHILDREN DIDN’T DO MUCH WITH THE BOY. HIS CLOTHES LOOKED OLD AND HE NEEDED A BATH THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN SOON.
THIS LADY WENT AND SAT BY HIM FOR A FEW RIDES AND TALKED TO THE BOY. AFTER A FEW DAYS HE SAT ON HER KNEE. SHE SANG “JESUS LOVES ME” TO THE BOY AND TOLD HIM THAT JESUS LOVED HIM.
AFTER RIDING THAT BUS FOR A FEW MORE DAYS WHEN HE GOT UP TO LEAVE THIS PARTICULAR DAY, HE TURNED TO THE LADY AND SAID “THANK YOU”. SHE ASKED WHAT FOR TO WHICH HE REPLIED. “I’M SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER KNEW THAT I WAS LOVED BY SOMEONE.”
THE NEXT DAY HE DID NOT GET ON THE BUS, AND SO WHEN THE ROUTE WAS FINISHED SHE CHECKED ON THE BOY. HIS MOTHER HAD BEATEN HIM TO DEATH. THAT BOY THOUGH KNEW THAT HE WAS LOVED BY A SWEET OLD LADY, AND BY JESUS.
SO I ASK YOU TODAY, WHAT IS YOUR HEART’S DESIRE, AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT. GOD WANTS A COMMITMENT FROM US TODAY. THERE CAN BE NO MORE SITTING ON THE FENCE. JESUS TOLD THE LAODICEAN CHURCH
REVELATION 3:15-16:
15 I KNOW YOUR DEEDS, THAT YOU ARE NEITHER COLD NOR HOT. I WISH YOU WERE EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER! 16 SO, BECAUSE YOU ARE LUKEWARM—NEITHER HOT NOR COLD—I AM ABOUT TO SPIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH.
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW SAID:
“THE WORST SIN TOWARD OUR FELLOW CREATURES IS NOT TO HATE THEM, BUT TO BE INDIFFERENT TO THEM.”
