I’m Just Minding My Business
EMOTIONAL HEALING
PART II: HEART
Psalm 139:23-24
I. INTRODUCTION
II. YOUR HEART IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
III. YOUR HEART IS THE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING YOU DO
- The Heart’s True Condition
- 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Pure gold is refined in fire. When gold is mixed with other metals, it becomes hard, less pliable, and more corrosive. As it goes through the fire, the other metals are burned away, and the goal becomes pure and pliable.
- The same is true of our hearts. The more our hearts are hardened to Pride and sin as we hold on to offenses, the more resistant to God we become God desires to purify our hearts
IV. YOUR HEART IS UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK
- God purifies us:
- God refines us with afflictions, trials, and tribulations, the heat of which separates impurities such as unforgiveness, anger, envy, and jealousy, and allows the character of God Purity and Holiness to grow in our lives
- Think about your own life. What are the impurities in your heart that are hindering the character of God from growing in your life?
V. HOW OFFENSE ERODES YOUR HEART FROM THE INSIDE OUT
A. We Must Examine How Offense Manifests in Our Lives and In The Lives Of Those Around Us.
- Many people are unable to function properly in God’s purpose and calling for their lives because of the wounds, hurts, and offenses in their lives. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their potential. Most often, hurt from a fellow believer causes them to say with David,
- If it was one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng” (Ps. 55:12-14).
B. This Is How the Enemy Uses Offense to Paralyze Our Lives…
- Satan’s greatest bait is the offense. The offense in itself is not deadly if it stays in the trap, but if we pick it up and consume it and feed on it in our hearts then we have become offended.
- Greek word for offend- skandalon: Stumbling block in someone’, in the Bible, a behavior or attitude that leads another to sin. Generally a snare, stick of bait or trap
- Offended people hurt, and their understanding is darkened. They begin to judge others by assumption, appearance, and hearsay.
VI. IT’S NOT JUST A FEELING
- Proverbs 18:19 NKJV A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
- And offended person is harder to win than a fortified city with a strong wall around it. The walls were the city’s Assurance of protection. They kept out unwelcome inhabitants and Invaders.
- We often construct walls around ourselves when we are hurt in order to safeguard our hearts and prevent future wounds. We become selective, denying entry to all we fear will hurt us.
- We open our lives only to those we believe are on our side. Yet often see these people who are “on our side” are offended as well, so instead of helping, we stack additional stones on our existing walls. Without our knowing when it happens these walls of protection become a prison. We not only are cautious about who comes in, but in terror we cannot venture out. We close our hearts up and won’t let anything out. Love does not seek its own, but hurt people become more and more self seeking and self contained. In this climate is where the love of God wax cold.
- So an offended Christian is one who takes in life but, because of fear, cannot release life. As a result, even the life that does come in becomes stagnant within the wall or prison of offense. The NT describes these walls as STRONGHOLDS
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
- These strongholds create set patterns of reasoning through which all incoming information is processed. Although they were originally erected for protection they become a source of torment and distortion because they war against the knowing or knowledge of God.
- One way the enemy keeps a person in an offended state is to keep the offense hidden and cloaked with pride.
- Selective about relationships
- Less open and vulnerable to others
- Closed to those we fear will hurt us
- Reticent to admit those who owe us something
- Open only to those who we believe are on our side
- Pride will keep you from admitting your true condition.
- In an attempt to protect ourselves from offense, we find ourselves imprisoned within our walls, unable to relate deeply to those around us. Our focus is turned Inward and introspective. We guard our rights and personal relationships carefully. Are energy is consumed with making sure no future injuries will occur. Yet if we cannot risk being hurt, we cannot give unconditional love. Unconditional love gives others the right to hurt us.
VII. PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES
- The Pharisees and Sadducees Were Extremely Self-Righteous and Were Continuously Offended By Jesus,
- Matthew 15:10-14 NKJV 10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
B. The Pharisees and Sadducees were so offended by Jesus that it made them go crazy to the point they wanted Him dead.
C. Offense breeds hatred and anger.
- Matthew 15: 15-20 NKJV 15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
- We must come to the place where we trust God not our flesh to protect us from an offense the sin of offense is serious. If it is not dealt with offense will eventually lead to death. A betrayal leads to hatred. Hatred is look upon as murder.
- 1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
- But when you resist the temptation to build walls of offense, God brings great victory.
VIII. OFFENSE CAUSES DIVISION OF THE HEART
A. One Of the Key Elements of Offense Is to Break Up Unity
B. Heated Arguments and Contention Put a Gap Between You and That Person
IX. FORGIVENESS BREAKS THE POWER OF OFFENSE
- Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh
X. KEYS TO A STRONG HEART
A. BUILD YOUR HEART UP IN THE WORD
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart
Psalm 119:11 NKJV I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 37:4 NKJV Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:21 NKJV For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Psalm 19:14 NKJV Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 119:10 NKJV With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
B. BUILD YOUR HEART WITH LOVE
Matthew 22:37 NKJV Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Love God, love people.
C. LOOK AT YOUR REFLECTION
When You Look at Yourself, Your Life What Do You See
It’s All a Direct Reflection of the Heart.
Proverbs 27:19 NKJV As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.
Our Reflection Should Be One of Christ