TEXT: 1Kings 8: 56-61
TOPIC: Heart transformation
INTRODUCTION: The heart is the seat of emotions, passions and appetites in man. Whatever we resolve to do, we incline towards and determine to do come from it. As the center of our physical and spiritual being it plays an important role in our relationship with God. The bible declares; “you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength (Deut 6:5). In these verses called the Shema, the whole heart of man is required in relationship with God for positive results. Solomon was careful to underscore this to the people of God as conditions for continued fulfillment of God’s promises, faithfulness and presence. Why did he need to stress this fact? It is because of the following reasons:
1. The natural inclination of the heart: The natural inclination of man’s heart is willful, wicked, selfish and evil continually Is. 57, 17; Gen 8:21; Ps 51:5. David confessed to having been shaped and conceived in sin just as all the offspring of Adam. It is not inclined towards God as Jesus exposed in Matt. 15:18-19. Out of it comes what is always opposed to God- evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft , false testimony (Prov 6:16-19). What has been coming out of your heart? You need to ask God to expose it to you. Ecclesiastes 10:2 tells us about 2 types of hearts Wise hearts that do right – strong, skill and favor and foolish heart that do evil- weak and bad and Jesus further broke them down to 4 likening them to soils; Hard, stony, thorny and good. Which one are you carrying? The only one inclined to God is the good soil and the wise heart.
2. The Divine expectation of the heart: In confirmation of the point made above, the bible tells us that when God looked at the heart of His people what did He see? Gen. 6:5 –wickedness and evil ;Psalm 53:2-3 “ God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand and seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one”. What a disappointment. He says through Jeremiah Jer. 17:9-10, that our hearts are deceitful. He is the only one who searches the heart and rewards accordingly whether good or bad. He expects the eyes of our hearts to be open (Eph. 1:18) to know and understand Him and His purpose for our lives. God expects us to know that He is more valuable to us than what He created and for us to perform our duty to Reverence Him. Eccl. 12:13. Essentially it is to incline our hearts wholly to Him
3. The transformation of the heart: The only way God is pleased is for the heart to be transformed. It is a way of faith and it comes by believing in the power of the blood to wash the heart and make it clean. We can desire it as David did (Ps 119: 36, 47, 97,113, 127, 163, and 167, ps. 141:4; Ps. 51:10, 11) and God would make it happen. We need to ask God to help us study, understand, obey and love His requirements. In the Adamic heart, this is impossible but with Christ, this is. Solomon knew that this could not happen naturally and so asked for God to incline the heart of His people to Him. The transformation of the heart would make inclination to the things of God possible- prayerfulness, study and meditation of His word, fellowship with the brethren, giving and all other virtues pleasing to God. The heart of Solomon and Israel at this time was inclined to God and the Presence of God was so much that God did everything by Himself. They could no longer minster by reason of the Abiding Presence of God. Translation everything was made easy for them. That is what the Dwelling presence of God does in the life of a believer. Are you here this day and need a heart transformation for the New Year? God is ready for you. Before we begin to pray, I wish to declare that the Year 2020 is our year of Godly Inclination and Overflowing Divine presence.
pp. Father, show me the condition of my heart
pp. Father, shape my heart in wisdom
pp. Let my heart and action reflect the heart of Jesus.
pp. As I incline my heart to you in 2020, let there be an overflowing of your presence in my life.
Pp. Ask for heart’s desire for 2020