IS YOUR HEART
RIGHT WITH GOD?
FILING
INFORMATION:
96065
11/24/96 - Cyclone, KY
I. Introduction.
A. This lesson is designed
to bring greater spirituality and closeness to God. It is designed to help build and increase personal happiness
because of our relation to God.
1. Why aren't we, as members
of the body of Christ, a happy people?
2. The Christian can't be
happy if his heart is not right with God.
3. James 4:8 - Let us try to
improve our closeness (having our hearts right) with God.
II. LESSONS
FROM THE ACCOUNT OF SIMON THE SORCERER.
A. Be on guard against old
weaknesses.
1. 1 Pet. 5:8 - Satan will
work on our weak points.
2. Acts 8:9-10 - Simon was
regarded as someone great.
a. He still wanted to be
someone great and thus wanted to buy the power to impart the Holy Spirit.
b. Acts 8:18-19
B. Avoid the evil heart.
1. His thinking
("thought") was all wrong. Acts 8:20 He literally had sinned by thinking wrong; he had not acted as
of yet.
2. Jer. 17:9-10 - As a
garden tends to weeds, so does one heart. Thus, Prov. 4:23.
C. Avoid the impenitent
heart.
1. Acts 8:24- Simon did
appear to have a penitent heart.
a. Rom. 2:5 - Some people
will never repent; they have hard hearts.
b. "Harden not your
hearts" - repeated three times Heb. 3:8;15; 4:7. Perhaps
the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something!
D. Maintain a heart suitable
for correction.
1. Christianity is a
religion of the heart. A good
heart is vitally important and essential.
a. We must have good and
honest hearts which can be easily entreated. Luke
8:15; James 3:17
b. God constantly purifies
our hearts through His Word. John
15:3
E. Repent and pray. Acts 8:22
1. This is our means for
keeping our hearts pure.
III. IS YOUR
HEART RIGHT WITH GOD?
A. Do you have an evil
heart?
1. An evil heart can spring
up at any time. Heb. 3:13
2. Bitterness can spring
up. In many families, churches,
relationships, etc., where there was once love, bitterness has taken over. How sad! Heb. 12:15
a. As weeds have a tendency
to always spring up where they ought not be, so does bitterness.
3. Here's a personal
question: "If you should die today, would you be saved?" Here are some common answers, "No," "I don't
know," "I hope so," "yes." How would you answer? Take an
inventory. 2 Cor. 13:5
B. The Lord knows all.
1. Many act as though God
can't see what they do. They think
that the cover of darkness hides their sins. 1 Thess. 5:4-8
2. Remember, God knows
everything. He even knows our
thoughts. Psalm 44:20-21; 139:1-4
C. One can be self-condemned.
1. 1 John 3:19-20
2. One could have a clear
conscience and still be wrong, but one cannot have an evil conscience and still
be right.
a. God would never save us
in spite of our evil consciences--thus, the importance of keeping our hearts
right with God.
D. We all must make
corrections when needed.
1. Out hearts have been
sprinkled from an evil conscience. Heb. 10:22
a. This is the inward part
of regeneration. Baptism is the
other part "our bodies wash with pure water."
2. The Christian is blessed
with the opportunity to obtain forgiveness at all times.
E. We all must maintain pure
hearts.
1. 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:22;
Matt. 5:8
a. We need to set reasonable
goals and maintain them.
b. For example, one might
say, "I don't study like I should."
1. To obtain and maintain a
good heart, one must change - began to study like they should.
c.
If one says, "I don't
love my husband (wife, children, relatives, enemies) like I ought," he
must change; otherwise, his own heart condemns him.
III. WHEN IS
ONE'S HEART NOT RIGHT?
A. Do you find services
boring?
1. Some slip in late and/or
slip out early.
2. Do you enjoy studying,
singing, praying? Or, are you
looking for an excuse to quit? Psalm 122:1
B. Do you find true joy in
Bible study?
1. 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 3:15;
2 Tim. 2:2 - We can learn to enjoy it, can we not?
a. It is like getting
involved in a hobby, sport, etc. The more we involved ourselves the more we enjoy it, and the more we
enjoy it, the more knowledgeable and skilled we become in it.
C. Do you enjoy the company
of brethren?
1. For example, would your
rather attend a gospel meeting (at one's home congregation or elsewhere) or
would you rather be with worldly friends?
2. 1 Cor. 15:33; Prov. 13:20
D. Do you get mad at others
when they rebuke you?
1. Prov. 9:7-9; 10:17;
12:15; 13:1; Psalm 141:5
E. Are you truly interested
in souls? Prov. 11:30; Luke 5:9-10
1. Do you encourage (hold up
the hands of those) who are doing the work? Ex. 17:11-13
IV. HOW CAN WE IMPROVE?
A. How can
we have a better relationship with God? How can we obtain a real personal happiness?
B. Let wisdom reign in our
hearts. Prov. 23:23; Col. 3:16
C. Feed our minds with
wholesome things. Phil. 4:8
1. Listen to tapes of
sermons and songs. Read Bible,
and/or church bulletins, brotherhood papers etc. Much of the reading material available in this world is
nothing but garbage.
D. Purpose in our hearts to
do good. Acts 11:23; Ezra 7:10
E. Let joy reign in our
hearts. Psalm 4:7-8
"Happiness is a choice."
1. We rejoice in God through
Jesus Christ who has brought us joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pet 1:8
F. Seek God with all our
hearts.
1. Psalm 34:8-10; 84:11;
119:2; Lam. 3:25 This is the only way to find a lasting peace and happiness.
V. Conclusion
A. Is your heart right with
God?
B. First, let's get our own
hearts right with God, and then perhaps you can help others to get their's
right.