Matthew 22:35-39
One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
Biblical definition of heart:
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Sense of physical life
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Soul: thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors.
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Mind: understanding, seat of intelligence
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Will and character
How can we live our lives honoring the words Jesus spoke, “Loving God with our whole heart”? Or Wholehearted?
The most important moment for our heart is Salvation, the transformation of our heart
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
God wants to takes a hard, dark, sinful heart and transform it into the ultimate…
Acts 13:22
I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart,” –
Means literally his heart beats in perfect unison with God,
What are some of the benefits of Wholehearted Devotion
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Peace
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Joy
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Wisdom from God
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Hear His voice
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Able to withstand temptation (how can we sin if we are loving God with all we are?)
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Eternal Life
What are the negatives of Wholehearted Devotion? Nothing!
How do we live wholeheartedly? Heart checkups!
Don’t forget, like Ben said a last week
I was saved. I am being saved. I will yet be saved.
Wholehearted devotion is a process.
Heart Checkups help us make sure we are heading in the right direction! Towards God.
Ask God for help!
Ps 51:10 – Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
God cares so much about this…. God wants His best for us. He knows that wholehearted devotion to him is the key to our best life.
His grace and mercy allow for us, at any moment, to come to him as we are. Angry, worried, anxious, in pain, doubting, and ask him for help.
God wants us to learn and grow in this journey of wholehearted devotion.
When we do heart checkups We need to allow God to show us:
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Where we are not Surrendered
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Where we are disobeying
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Unforgiveness
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Bitterness
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Distrust (in God)
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Whatever he wants!!! Usually only one at at time!
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Now is a good time for a Seasonal, spiritual check up: Any time of transition is a good reminder for us to check in with our heart.
Two questions we can ask ourselves.
- Am I feeling distracted? (worried, anxious, scattered)
- Do I love God more than anything or anyone else?
Heart Checkup Prayer:
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Confess
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Repent
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receive forgiveness
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make fresh commitments to live in wholehearted devotion to God
Wholehearted devotion produces
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Worship
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gracious humility. “God has blessed me!”
Jesus is our example. His disciples became examples of this. David became an example of this. (wholehearted devotion, gracious humility)