Title: Your Heart...
Contents
Proverbs 4:23 Set your heart...
There are dichotomy and dichotomy when distinguishing the human form: The dichotomy divides people into spirit and body, and the dichotomy divides people into soul and body. : Many theologians support the trichotomy, but there are also many who support the dichotomy. : Among them, the words 'heart' or 'spirit' correspond to spirit when viewed in the dichotomy, but correspond to the soul in the dichotomy.
In other words, the word mind is clearly defined differently from the body. : If the body is visible externally, the mind is invisible internal. : The Bible says that the essence of a person depends on the appearance of the invisible mind rather than the appearance of the visible body. : It is also said in Proverbs 23:7. “For what the heart thinks, so is the great man.” : That is, a person's heart is the essence of that person.
That is why God said this to the prophet Samuel, who was about to choose a king for Israel. "The LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or height. I have forsaken him. I do not look like man; man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7): In this verse, the word center, which is the opposite of appearance and height, and appearance, is an expression of the heart. That is, when choosing a person, look at the heart of the heart rather than the appearance.
This verse gives a very important lesson to the bachelor virgins who are about to get married on what point of view when choosing their mate. : This lesson is not a lesson from man, but from God Himself. : Therefore, bachelor virgins, "I will make sure to follow this God's precept." Let's follow it with a heart. “God, when choosing a mate, I will choose without looking at the face, not the height, not the body, and only the heart.” Amen?
While confessing in front of everyone like this, and answering “Amen”, is there not a person here who is indecisive with a double heart who says to himself, “God, how tall are you?” And God told us to look at the heart, not the appearance, height, or outward appearance. Are you still praying to God like this? "God, my spouse, how tall are you, your face should be well-formed, your body should be like this and that. Okay? God, I believe you will."
I don't know how many of God's children are aging alone today as an old virgin and an old bachelor while praying like this. : Who is to blame for that? Think about it? God made tall people, but he also made short people. He also made people with beautiful looks, but he also made people with ugly looks. He made people with good bodies, but he also made people with bad bodies. And, from our human point of view, what we call beautiful, ugly, good or bad is only from human point of view, not from God's point of view.
God the Creator sees all the people and all the worlds he has created as beautiful. Look at Genesis. What did God say after he made everything? This is Genesis 1:31. “And God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” It is God who made the tall and short people. God said both were good to look at, he didn't say, "Only the tall one saw it, it was very good."
Think about it. From a parent's point of view, all their children look pretty. Short children and tall children, fat children and skinny children, all are precious and beautiful. But if someone says that my child is ugly, I get angry as a parent. And I don't want to buy food for such a person. I don't want to be friends with someone like that. And think about it. If everyone asks for a mate in this way, how many people are like that? Please don't embarrass God. It's not belief to force it like that.
Rather, how about praying like this while thinking about God's point of view? “God, how hard must it be for God to ask for only handsome men to be spouses? I will be grateful for what God gives me. God, please take care of my spouse. I will only obey.” Blessed are those who pray like this.
Everyone, obey the word of God. Let's follow it again with a new heart. “God, when choosing a mate, I will never look at the face, never look at the height, never look at the body, and choose only the heart.” Amen? Let the bachelor virgins who obey God's word like this find a mate with a good heart. make a happy family If possible, you will become rich.
God himself said, "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." : In other words, he sees the heart and chooses us, blesses us, and uses us. You must take good care of your mind. You must give your heart to the Lord. Today we are going to learn what the Bible teaches about the heart.
1. Guard your heart.
People try to protect what they see. In particular, he tries to protect his money and his property. He tries to protect his children and his health, and he tries hard to protect his appearance and body. However, they cannot keep the heart that God sees as the most important thing and that it is the source of life. Countless times a day, he hates people and harbors lust. The Bible says that everyone who hated his brother has murdered (1 John 3:15), and everyone who has lust in his heart has already committed adultery (Matthew 5:28).
Of course, there is no righteous person who does not commit such a sin of heart. We are all fallen beings who have no choice but to commit countless sins with our hearts and actions. That is why we need Jesus to change our hearts anew, and we need the help of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. And we also have to struggle to get rid of these sins of our hearts. I struggle to protect my heart. Occasionally, when a bad heart enters, he shouts "Blood of Jesus!" and "Go away" to drive out such a heart. Hebrews 12:4 says, "You have struggled with sin, and have not yet resisted it to the point of shedding blood." In other words, we must fight to the point of bloodshed in order not to sin. In particular, since sin enters the heart first, it is imperative to protect it from the heart.
God has made us realize through our conscience what kind of heart is good and what kind of heart is bad. And through the understanding of the Word and the Holy Spirit, he was able to discern what God's heart is and what the devil's heart is. Therefore, the good heart must be well guarded and nurtured, and the bad heart must be driven out and defeated. Our hearts are the temple of God. If we pollute the heart of God like a garbage dump, God groans. I'm sad. Therefore, I pray that you will protect your heart more than anything you can protect.
2. Expand your mind.
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 says this. "O Corinthians, our mouth has been opened to you, and our hearts have been broadened, for you are not narrowed in us, but in your hearts. As I say to children, broaden your hearts with the amount in return."
In Korean, there is a saying 'Bandengi beef ribs' or 'Bandengi beef ribs'. What is 'Bandengi'? Bandangi is a small saltwater fish like anchovy belonging to the herring family. A fully grown one is about 12cm in length, and both soup, grilled, and sashimi are delicious. I haven't eaten it yet. However, this bandit has a hasty personality and dies as soon as it is caught. Therefore, it is said that you can't see a live bandit other than the fisherman who catches it.
So, for those who are narrow-minded and not tolerant, those who are easily offended by nonsensical words, and those who insist that only their assertions are correct, they say, "That stinky cow gal head!" Tickling and holding your tongue. Growing up among them, I don't know if you've ever heard the word 'that bandage cow gal-meori' from your parents or adults. But even as an adult or a Christian, I don't think it's good to hear these words.
The Corinthians at the time of the apostle Paul received the Holy Spirit and had spiritual gifts. But strangely, the church in Corinth was a church with many sects. The church was divided into the Apollos, Paulians, and Jesuits. That is why Paul exhorts the Corinthians to broaden their minds. Fighting by forming factions and parties is the work of narrow-minded people. On the other hand, the pursuit of reconciliation and peace is characteristic of a person with a broad mind.
Which institution did the survey? "Do you like smart people? Do you like broad-minded people?" To this, 17% of the respondents answered, "Smart people are treated. I want to become smart." On the other hand, the majority of 83% of the respondents answered that "I respect broad-minded people." Of course, it would be better if you were smart and broad-minded. But even if you're not smart, it's much better to have an open mind. The heart of Jesus, the heart of God, and the heart given by the Holy Spirit are not narrow hearts. broad minded. With such a broad heart, I pray that you will bring peace to your family, nurture the church in harmony, and lead the society to health. And I pray that you will share deep fellowship with God with such a broad heart.
3. Be bold in your heart.
In the Bible, God spoke these words to Joshua, who followed Moses and led the people of Israel. "Be strong. Be courageous." (Joshua 1:6) And Joshua also said to the commanders. “Do not be afraid, do not be dismayed, be strong and courageous” (Joshua 10:26).
The Christian life is a spiritual warfare against the devil. Sometimes the waves of trouble come. Enemies and enemies are trying to kill me. The harder you work for God, the stronger the devil will come. You must not go back at this point. Don't let fear break your heart. Don't let your heart melt with worry. You must be strong and courageous.
In the book of Judges, Gideon's 300 men are mentioned. Enemy forces invaded Israel with hundreds of thousands of troops. At this time, Gideon recruited soldiers. The number of soldiers recruited was 32,000. The enemy is not enough to block the enemy. But God told them to return to their homes whoever trembled with fear. The fearful 22,000 soldiers returned home. Only ten thousand men remained. But God sent 300 strong and courageous men among them to overcome the great army of Midian through them.
Even today, strong and courageous cross soldiers who will not retreat back are needed to build the kingdom of heaven. Be strong and courageous in this foreign land. Believe that God is with you here in Canada, and trust that God will help you. God has said that He will never leave me and will never forsake me. However, my heart does not believe this, and I must not give up because my heart is weak. said again. Be strong and courageous.
Conclusion: A person can become like an angel or like a devil depending on how he feels. The mind may be as wide as the sea, or the mind may be smaller than the eye of a needle. You can become a failure because your heart is broken, or you can become a leader who is strong and courageous in the Lord and does great things. I pray that you will become a man of God by protecting your heart, broadening your heart, and being bold in your heart.