Ministry of Matthew Else Grace Baptist Church Peel, Isle of Man
Lord's Day Morning 14th May 2006
Hymns:
Sweet is the work, my God
Teach me, O Lord, the perfect way (Psalm 133)
When upon life's billows
My heart is resting, O my God
Proverbs 23:17-26 Romans 12:1-21
Text Proverbs 23:26 "My son, give me thine heart"
As Christians, we are in the privileged position of being children of God (John 1:12), even to those that believe on his name. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15) - a term of endearment, a loving Father, children of the heavenly king. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:" (1 John 3:1). We have seen before that the word "behold" introduces something marvellous. That is the case here. Look at yourself. Marvel at what love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called. Now with privilege comes responsibility
1. We will glorify God. In the sermon on the mount Jesus speaks of glorifying the father. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) It is the special duty of God's people to glorify our Father in heaven. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:20) This is man's chief end. God is glorified when we comply with his word.
2. God will be pleased. When you love someone, you do your best to please them. If you do not, then your love is questionable! You take time and trouble, you want to please. Well God is pleased when you give him your heart. Jesus Christ was the son of God in a unique sense, the only begotten of the Father; he always did those things which pleased His Father. Remember that word at his baptism " This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Jesus Christ pleased his Father. So we should too. The truth is, God is well pleased when we give him our hearts.
3. Because it will displease God when we don't. Now people do all manner of things in the name of religion, even in the name of Christ. But what God really wants is your heart. Paul had been a persecutor in the name of religion. When he set of to Damascus to bring followers of Christ bound do Jerusalem he thought that he was doing God a favour. But God did not want that. God wants us to please him by giving him our hearts. There is no substitute. Some folk will do almost anything except give God their hearts. But if we don't give him our hearts he is not pleased with us.
4. It is the reasonable thing to do "present your bodies as living sacrifice -... which is your reasonable service." (Roman 12:1). The dedication of your body to the service of God is your reasonable service. It is reasonable and it is rational. He so loved you and gave his son for you so it is reasonable that you should give him your heart. In giving us his son God has given us all, so we would be most unreasonable not to give give our hearts!
5. It is the least you can do! Get to grips with the magnitude of what God has done for you. Jesus came and was rejected, despised, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53). Jesus came down from the glory into a world that hated him, At Calvary, he went through terrible agony. Physical pain, mental anguish and spiritual torment. In the light of all that Jesus Christ has done for you the least that you can do for him is to give him your heart. The words of C.T. Studd are most appropriate: "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, there can be no sacrifice too great for me."
6. It is in the interest of safety so to do. Safekeeping can be important. If you write a will, it is important to keep it safe! We give our hearts unto to God and he keeps them safe. Many today feel unsafe. It is dangerous to go out. Our world is unsafe; but your heart is safe. It is in the hands of God.
7. Because if you don't, you can't serve him aright. This is a challenging reason. One of the problems of the Old Testament was that so many people did not put their hearts into religion. They sacrificed etc. But their hearts were not in their religion. Many actually worshipped idols at the same time. God's displeasure was highlighted by Amos. "I hate .[your worship].." (5:21-24). They did right things but their hearts were not in their worship. God requires the heart in every act of worship, or it is just hypocrisy. Things have not changed. If you worship today without your heart, God dosn't want it. Now let us bring this close to home! So that no one thinks I am just looking at others, I will look at myself. I am here preaching. This is a solemn responsibility. It is possible to prepare and preach mechanically, but if my heart is not in it, God is not pleased with me. God says to me Give me your heart. Now perhaps you work in Sunday School or Good News Club. The work is small, and you are easily discouraged. But this is God's work! As you prepare for these, God wants your best. He says to you, "Give me your heart." Who knows but one may be a Spurgeon or a Gladys Aylward. What you do in music or for charity, what you do in your work. It is all to be done for the Lord God does not want slackness. Do you work harder in your secular employment? Give me your heart!. Don't just give me going through the motions. Do you feel discouraged? Is it that you didn't give him your heart? Is it that you didn't give him your heart?
8. Because we gain from giving, we can understand gain from receiving! But with God, he doesn't gain from getting; we do. C.H. Spurgeon said, " Brothers and sisters, if we all did give our hearts to God, would he be any the richer? The cattle on a thousand hills are his (Psalm 50:10). When he cries, give me thy heart! It must be for our benefit!" We gain everything. So when you respond to God and give him your heart, you gain.
9. It will enable you to prosper spiritually. If you don't give, you won't prosper. "He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2Corinthians 9:6). Pressed down and running over (Luke 6:38). Spiritual prosperity is known by those who give God their hearts. Face up to reality. Do you feel spiritually bankrupt? If so, perhaps you need to take this verse to heart
10. Because it will prove the reality of your faith. It is a test of the reality of your faith. You can make your calling and election sure by giving God your heart. Don't fall into the trap of complacency. We need to be woken up from apathy and slumber. Give me your heart! How do you respond? By saying what you ask for is really yours already. Take it, Lord, I give myself to thee.
May God help you to appreciate the true nature of the Christian. "My son give me thine heart"