The God-Directed Heart

4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.

5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.

8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.

9. If you were playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

10. If it’s broken, it’s yours.

-This selfishness is something all toddlers go through to some extent. But if toddlers are not taught and made to obey, they will continue in their selfishness until it will eventually become willful sin at some point in their lives. They do grow up.

-So instead of living a self-directed, self-centered life, we must yield ourselves to God and obey His word.

A God-Directed Heart…

5. Stays in God’s love and never gives up! (5)

-Some people say they don’t get mad, they get even.

-Bill once had a job as a truck driver. Twice a week, he hauled loads between Cincinnati and Atlanta. He always stopped for lunch at Joe’s Diner, a friendly little truck stop about halfway between the two cities.

-One day Bill parked his truck, walked into Joe’s Diner, sat down on a stool at the counter and ordered lunch. Off in the distance, there was a roar and a cloud of dust. As the roar got closer, out of the cloud of dust came 12 bikers. They parked their hogs and stormed into the Diner. They crowded around Bill and started to snap their fingers in rhythm. Bill just acted like they weren’t there and kept eating. Then the leader of the pack silenced his men, pointed at two of them, pointed at Bill, and snapped his fingers.

-One of them poured iced tea over Bill’s head, and the other one pushed Bill’s face into his mashed potatoes. Then the two of them pushed Bill off of his stool and beat the tar out of him. Bill never said a word. He got up, brushed himself off, paid Joe for his lunch and left.

-The leader of the gang swaggered over to Joe and said, “that guy’s not much of man is he? He didn’t even try to defend himself.” “No,” Joe replied as he looked out the window, “and he’s not much of a driver either. He just ran over twelve motorcycles.”

-As tempting as it might be to get even like Bill did, God wants us to leave vengeance to Him and not return evil for evil.

Romans 12:17-21 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Conclusion

The one whose heart is directed by the Lord PRAYS

1. (P) Pray for the messengers of the gospel (1-2)