From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
A Spiritual EKG
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (Note v. 5-6)
Intro: In these few verses the word “heart” is used two times. It is used 47 times in the book of Deuteronomy, and it is seen 830 times in all in your King James Bibles. This Bible is a book about hearts! I Samuel 16:7 says, “…the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” The word heart is used three ways in the Bible:
1. Metaphysically- sometimes it literally refers to the muscle in the chest that pumps blood throughout the body.
2. Geometrically- you will find the phrase, “the heart of the sea” in Exodus 15:8 to refer to the center of the sea.
3. Metaphorically- This is the primary way that it is used, and this is what I am interested in.
Heart, as metaphorically seen in the Bible, may be defined as the inner self that thinks, feels, and decides. The heart is that which is central to man.
In the Bible all emotions are experienced by the heart: love and hate (Ps 105:25; 1 Peter 1:22); joy and sorrow (Eccl 2:10; John 16:6); peace and bitterness (Ezek 27:31; Col 3:15); courage and fear (Gen 42:28; Amos 2:16).
The thinking processes of man are said to be carried out by the heart. Thus, the heart may think (Esther 6:6), understand (Job 38:36), imagine (Jer 9:14), remember (Deut 4:9), be wise (Prov 2:10), and speak to itself (Deut 7:17). Decision-making is also carried out by the heart. The heart has: Purpose (Acts 11:23), intention (Heb 4:12), and will (Eph 6:6).
The word “heart” often refers to someone’s true character or personality. It is shown in: Purity or evil (Jer 3:17; Matt 5:8), sincerity or hardness (Ex 4:21; Col 3:22); and maturity or rebellion (Ps 101:2; Jer 5:23). All these describe the heart or true character of individuals.
Since a person speaks and acts from his heart, he is to guard it well (Prov 4:23; Matt 15:18-19).
The most important duty of man is to love God with the whole heart (our text and quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22:37).
Rom 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
From the Heart man experiences both love from God (Romans 5:5) and the presence of Christ (Eph 3:17).
I Samuel 16:7 teaches that man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. God is in the heart business!
Recently, a potamedic came to our insurance office to complete an insurance physical. In the particular case an EKG was required. I inquired into just exactly what an EKG shows or does. The nurse stated in laymen’s terms that it just simply shows whether or not a heart was operating properly. I have since thought how nice it would be to be able to get out a spiritual EKG machine today and see whether or not our inner hearts that the Word of God speaks about are operating properly. In preaching today, I have requested of the Holy Ghost that he perform a Spiritual EKG on each of us!
Only qualified medical personnel know how to do EKG’s. Only qualified medical personnel know how to read them and what to make of them; there is no need for me to try to do your spiritual EKG or to try and interpret it. The Holy Ghost is the only one qualified for that. But God knows your heart today.
I do know, however, that to have a heart pleasing to God you must have:
I. A Converted Heart: Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
II. Committed Heart: God can only keep what has been committed unto his care (II Tim 2:12).
III. Caring Heart: Luke 10:27, “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” A right heart is a caring heart. A properly operating heart is a caring heart. I John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” Is there somebody you have ought against today? If there is the Holy Ghost will show inconsistencies in your spiritual EKG when you say you love God and have something against your brother!
IV. Concerned Heart: Paul was a man with a good heart. He was a man whose heart- often heard from the heart of God. He said in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” What is your heart’s desire?
Conclusion: Has the Holy Ghost run a spiritual EKG on you today? What are the findings? Do you have a converted heart? A committed heart? A caring heart? A concerned heart? Do you have a hard heart? Jesus spoke seven times in the Gospels of a hard heart. Are you serving God from the depths of your heart? God knows what is really in your heart, for Jesus said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8). Are you like David, a man after God’s own heart? If your heart is not what it needs to be, there is a Great Physician who can do surgery, and if you have never met him, he can complete an entire transplant! Job said, “For God maketh my heart soft.” (Job 23:16).
Hear the Full Length Sermon in MP3 Format
www.trumpetoftruthonline.org
Click on "Sounds Of The Gospel Trumpet"
