You and Your Heart Transformed
Mark Estepp - 10/16/2022
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Matthew 15:7-20
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
The transformation of the heart is not about merely doing the “right things” outwardly.
The transformation of the heart is primarily about the inner character being shaped and formed by the kingdom of God.
Examples:
Irritation (Mt. 5:21-26)
Outward “Right Thing”: Don’t murder.
Transformation: No undealt with anger or contempt.
Sexual Attraction (Mt. 5:27-30)
Outward “Right Thing”: Don’t commit adulterous acts.
Transformation: No cultivating lust.
Unhappiness in Marriage (Mt. 5:31-32
Outward “Right Thing”: Give a certificate of divorce.
Transformation: No divorce as then practiced.
Wanting someone to believe something (Mt. 5:33-37)
Outward “Right Thing”: Keep vows or oaths made to convince.
Transformation: No verbal manipulation.
Being hurt personally (Mt. 5:38-42)
Outward “Right Thing”: Punish the person according to their wrongdoing.
Transformation: No harming the person who hurt you, but rather help them.
Having an enemy (Mt. 5:43-48)
Outward “Right Thing”: Hate your enemy.
Transformation: Love your enemy.
There is hope for your heart - because transformation is an invitation from Jesus - to life not legalism.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
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. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
There is a trustworthy home for your heart.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
There are transformational habits for your heart.
Psalm 139:23
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me
Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
God’s will for your heart is to heal and fulfill.