The Holy Spirit has a short lesson for us today and some of you say Amen because you want to get to lunch. But how many of you know a small nugget can stir your heart?
Today’s title Has to do with resetting your heart. But you say: preacher, how do we reset our heart? Let’s begin by reading the following Scripture in two versions.
Psalm 119:112 King James Bible
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
Now, let’s look at the following version : New International Version
My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.
So, what does it mean to incline thy heart?
Well, to incline your heart means that it must come within the person. Your beliefs drive your behavior. Sometimes, you have to change your beliefs. Or to put it another way: you have to change your mind. If we do not change our mines then the new behavior won’t stick.
So, the Psalmist is saying here that he is going to incline his heart to God and his statutes. Canned the Holy Spirit ask you a question this morning? Will you incline your heart to God and your statutes? Are you willing to change your mind; so that, you can change your behavior and it will stick?
So, if you incline something that means that you are moving or changing the position of something.You have to act upon it in order to orient. For example, you don’t inclined something that is already up right. The Psalmist here, is informing the reader, that his heart is declined; therefore, he is going to incline his heart. He is going to turn from his wicked ways, repent, and follow the statutes of God.
We even go through life reclined. We even prop up our feet. But lasting change is what the Holy Spirit is looking for in uS. We are to repent of our sins and go and sin no more. The truth is that we act upon our attitude. Did you know that we are in charge of our heart? Scripture tells us over and over again to guard our heart. We are to screen what goes into our minds, because it affects our heart and our outcomes. I hate when people say: “they broke my heart.” Well, I want to say to them, sometimes, quit giving them your heart. People can’t break your heart if you don’t give it to them. Give it to Jesus instead.
I believe in the power of the word of scripture. I believe, that the Holy Spirit, is telling someone in here that their heart needs a check up and a tuneup. We need to do as the Psalmist says it in this scripture: incline our hearts to the Holy Ghost. Listen, wait, and obey his instructions.
Psalm 37:3-4 puts it this:
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; … Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. This verse not only commands us to trust the Lord, but reminds us that finding delight in the Lord will also result in positive things coming your way!”
The Holy Spirit wants you to know that everything does not always go your way. I question the Holy Spirit about inclining my heart just wants to God. I asked the Holy Spirit if that was enough? Then this example came to my mind? Say when you were 12 years old that you had the privilege of going to a vacation Bible school for Christian summer camp and you gave your heart to the Lord just wants, But you never did incline your heart again. Were you not tempted again? Did you never sent again? Let’s be real, this morning! We’re tempted with sin every day and every day we must choose the right path and incline our heart to Christ. People want and really desire for us to be like the rotisserie chicken commercial. That guy was on there selling his rotisserie chickens and he would say this: “set it and forget it!” The problem is that many people have treated Christianity this way. They have said it and then forget it. I actually have heard people say: “ I watched your New Year’s sermon the first Sunday of the year and that should hold me until Easter.” So in other words, I inclined my heart at the beginning of the year and that’s good enough! How sad is that? They are totally missing their blessing of the Sabbath! I know, when I grew up, I wanted to grow up fast. With each birthday, it bring new excitement and it was the same way for me when I became a Christian. I want to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. I couldn’t learn stuff fast enough. I wanted to follow that Holy Spirit and be the closest person ever link with Christ. Why do we settle for that phrase: said it and forget it? Why do we believe we can only incline our hearts just wants? Why do we believe that’s good enough? The Psalmist said: “incline the heart.” Which means you said it, you reset it, your jacket, and you repeat. Always incline your heart to the Lord. We get to choose what we treasure and we get to choose who we serve. Well, in the last day Scripture says strong little delusions will fall on the land and people will believe the lies of the devil.
The truth is, that your heart is going to be tempted to fall into a decline position. Where you are going to fall decline emotions of sadness, of hurt, despair, of dysfunction, or have issues of abandonment. We must return to the Holy Spirit and incline our hearts to him only. We must reset and re-check! Everyone repeat the next phrase: “take charge of your heart!” Now, find a neighbor text, or Facebook the following Freeze: “take charge of your heart.”
We can look really good on the outside but on the inside we are rotten to the core. We can look really good on the outside, but be blocked on the inside. see, our habits dictate the condition of our heart. Physically, if we do not take care of our cholesterol our heart will not be healthy. Then one day, while you are walking around; you’ll fall over. This is the same thing with a Christian spiritually. We do not have a strong relationship rooted and grounded, We will be route it up. We can wear our little disguise, but will be found out in our marriages, in our homes, in our communities, and in our church. Wolves in sheep clothing are always found out. Oh Christian, protect your heart. Be true on the inside to be true on the outside.
Today, I feel like the Holy Spirit is going to convict someone. Holy Spirit is going to set that heart in the right direction. In order for this to happen something is required. let’s consider the following scripture: Psalm 119:113-115
Psalm 119:113-115New International Version
113 I hate double-minded people,(A)
but I love your law.(B)
114 You are my refuge and my shield;(C)
I have put my hope(D) in your word.
115 Away from me,(E) you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!
The writer informs us that God actually hates. Yes, we know that scripture tells us God hates sin, but he also hates double mindedness. He does not hate the person or the soul, because he created them and love, but he hates the state of being double minded.
So, what does it mean to be be double minded?
The Bible says, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (Jms. 1:8). A double-mind is “having in the mind opposite or opposing views at different times.” … To be double-minded is to be inconsistent, vacillating, to be and act one way today and be and act some other way tomorrow.
It’s interesting here that we can note: that hate motivates us more than love. If you want to change some things realize that you have to hate them first! For example, I love to drink Diet Pepsi, but if I drink too much caffeine then my heart races. I have heart palpitations! These palpitations make my heart weak. Eventually, I’m going to crash! See we love what we hate.
What if, during this Lent season, I started saying: “I hate that Pepsi.” Then I started reducing the amount of that Pepsi I drank. Well, I’m gonna receive the benefits.
Sometimes in our spiritual life we hate the wrong things. Sometimes, we enter the church and we say: “I hate the spiritual hymn.” Before long we end up not singing praises to God; which he is worthy. We become double minded about worshiping God with music and song.
Before long our joy might be stolen. We just might miss our Sabbath blessing. Therefore God hates a double minded state of being, Because it’s not good for his children.
The psalmist said, “I hate the double minded, but I love your law.” Before I can love you are law; Then, I must hate my Sin. So, there is a healthy way to hate something. Yes, that sounds a little bit funny, but it’s true. For example, I hate poverty! I hate wickedness! I hate racism! I love the self-pity! See sometimes we have to hate something in order to change it.
See, we must incline our hearts to God and love his statues. When we do this everything else falls into place. Turn your heart from the world and turn it on to the things of Christ. You’ll love the results! You’ll love the presence of God. You’ll love the protection of God. You love the forgiveness of God. You love the mercy of God. You’ll love ones on answers your prayers. You’ll find that Good opens doors and opportunities for you. You’ll find more than 10,000 reasons to love God into a client in your heart to him.
That’s our message for today! Open your heart, and Incline it to God, and love his statutes.
