Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
October 17, 2004 - W0442

How important is the Heart? Well, we know that the physical heart pumps blood through our bodies continuously throughout our lives without ever being reminded. And while we can live without a limb or digit, we cannot live without a heart. Just as our physical heart (which is visible and can be seen) is very important, so is our spiritual heart (which is invisible and cannot be seen) because it is from our spiritual heart that we have emotions, feelings and values. So, both are very important.

The heart is made up of many parts – the right ventricle, the left ventricle, the right atrium, the left atrium, etc. -- but  it functions as a whole or not at all. Unlike kidneys or lungs where you can remove one of the parts and rest of the organ can function okay, for the heart, you can’t remove part of it and expect it to continue functioning.  With our heart, if part of our heart is damaged or not working properly, that part either needs to be repaired for the heart to work or the whole heart needs to be replaced. It’s as though God is showing us a correlation between what is seen (our physical hearts) and what is unseen (our spiritual hearts.)

Although a surgeon does very detailed work and is able to locate damaged tissue or blocked vessels, God’s work in our unseen heart goes much deeper. A surgeon cannot pinpoint that place in our heart where we fall in love, choose to sin or cry out in fear. Neither is he able to locate that place where we choose to worship God and establish our life values; however, God can because these places are not hidden from Him. He knows exactly where these places are and when He chooses, He touches them with laser-like accuracy.

Man’s spiritual heart is what God checks because out of it flow the issues of life. Where heart disease is the #1 killer in America today, given the correlation between our physical and spiritual hearts, spiritual heart disease kills marriages, families and even churches.

So how can we strengthen our spiritual heart and is it even possible? Sure it is! The Bible says David was a man after God’s own heart. He walked before God with a perfect heart. Although we may not be perfect, we’re in the process of being perfected by the Lord day by day. Let’s take a look at scriptures to learn some ways to strengthen our heart into a perfect heart. Let’s look at the example of David and see how God instructed him to make him a man after God’s own heart. 

THE MAKING OF A PERFECT HEART

“Make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” ( Lk. 12:33-34).

What is God saying here, “Make yourselves purses which do not wear out…?” Well, imagine the heart being like a purse holding valuables such as one’s identity and money.  Now, to develop a perfect heart, begin by having the same values as heaven does. When our values are the same as heaven’s, they become unfailing treasures that no one or nothing can take away. It is also true that where our values are, our affection and emotions will follow.  So in that last phrase, God is saying where our values and “treasures” are, our affections will be there also. If you choose to treasure things that are not of heavenly value, those things will eventually fade away and soon you will be disheartened. So, to avoid disheartenment, be sure to set your heart on heavenly values. As the Lord’s Prayer says, "…thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” So, the first key to making a perfect heart is…

1.     ESTABLISH ETERNAL VALUES.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal, for where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also” (Mat. 6:19-21).

God encourages us to store up heavenly treasure by establishing eternal values that will never fail.  We know what those treasures are.  They include values such as moral purity, honesty, marriage, family and honoring parents. All things are defined for us in the Bible, so begin to value what God values and write a list of the top 20 things you feel God values for your life.

When you establish God’s values as your own, it doesn’t matter what happens in the world, you’ll still feel valuable. Women, it is particularly important that you feel valuable because if not, you’re likely to get yourself into a lot of trouble. You’ll start taking value from what a guy says. Just remember that guys will tell you what you want to hear in order to get what they want to get. So make sure your sense of worth comes from the Father. With this, you’ll keep your identity in your heart and it won’t wear out.

·        VALUE WHAT GOD VALUES.

Distractions and temptations are inevitable but the Bible tells us, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, ‘Come with us…we shall all have one purse.’ My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path” (Pr. 1:10-11, 14-15).  By distractions and temptations, others are saying, “Let’s have the same values as the world.” However, be very  careful because your heart does not know if a value is right or wrong and when your heart attaches itself to something or someone (whether it’s right or wrong), your emotions will follow and set in. Then, if you realize your basic value is incorrect – it is not what God values – it is very difficult to disconnect because your heart and emotions are already attached.

·        OUR HEARTS WILL ATTACH ITSELF TO WHAT WE PLACE VALUE ON.

Once you have a wrong value, you’ll find yourself in an addiction because your heart will attach itself to what it valued. Remember your heart does not know right from wrong but in a wrong relationship, it’s tough to break loose because your heart’s already attached. So, before you enter a relationship, ask yourself, “Will God value this relationship?” If not, then don’t value it either.

So, if your heart doesn’t know if a value is right or wrong, then what sets the value? You should set your values on  what you know to be true and right, not by how you feel. Instead of following your heart, you must direct your heart. The inner, spiritual part of you that came alive when you received Christ sets those values. The Bible calls part of you the inner man, or spirit. Your soul includes your emotions but your spirit is where God takes up His abode as it were…where that part of you starts to hear God. By this, you’ll know in your spirit when a choice, a relationship or something is right or not. “For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man” (Ro. 7:22).

·        OUR INNER MAN MUST DISCERN WHAT ARE ETERNAL VALUES.

 “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16). One way to strengthen the inner man and make right decisions is reading your daily devotions. The more you read God’s Word, the more you understand what it is that God values. By this it strengthens the inner man. After awhile, discerning between what’s right and wrong becomes easy.

God created us in His own image and because of that, something deep in our inner heart concurs with the law of God on what is right and what is wrong. Before coming to Christ, the flesh is strong and the spirit is weaker, however, when the spirit starts to do the will of God, it becomes stronger.  And, after a while, things become intuitive and the struggling dissipates.  Then, it is no longer a battle but a victory.

So begin by establishing eternal values and valuing what God values, because the heart will attach itself to what we place value on, and once you know what is valuable to God then you…

2.     DIRECT YOUR HEART TO GOD’S WAYS.

Don’t let your heart direct you; direct your heart. When your heart starts to stray, say, “No!” and immediately direct your heart to God’s ways. If not, it won’t be long until you’re in deep weeds. “Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way” (Pr. 23:19).

Wisdom comes from establishing what is valuable and telling your heart to value the same things. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts;  and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way”  (Ps. 139:23-24). Once you value what God values and you direct your heart, your emotions will follow. After awhile you’ll desire to do God’s will and His best. Your emotions and passions will be trained and they’ll be righteous, Godly passions. The zeal of God will be there and you’ll love serving God.

To make a perfect heart, first establish eternal values and value what God values. Second, be aware that our hearts will attach itself to whatever we place value on knowing our inner man must discern what are eternal values. By this, direct your heart to God’s way and finally, the last of three key points is…

3.     GUARD YOUR HEART’S AFFECTION.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Pr. 4:23). So direct your heart and keep re-directing it all the time. Go by what you know and not by how you feel because emotions will come and go all the time but God’s values will never change. “Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name” (Ps. 86:11).   

God wants us to develop perfect hearts, like Daniel, hearts that follow His own. To do that, we must establish eternal values that are in alignment with God’s values.  Once you’ve done that, direct your hearts in God’s ways. Doing daily devotions is a good way of get to know God’s values and ensure you are following His ways.  Then once your values have been set, protect your heart’s affection.  Do not let your values (and following affection) fade or slide but rather guard your affection and hold yourself accountable. When you establish these unfailing, heavenly treasures, you will not grow weary or disheartened but instead be developing a perfect heart! God will look at you and say there’s a man (or a woman) after my own heart. Then, He’ll release the blessings of heaven to you because you’ll influence your community, your family and your generation…For where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also!

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1.      What are the top twenty (20) things that the Lord deems valuable in your life? List them. (Remember, these are not what your friends or the world values, nor are they temporary, trendy or necessarily politically correct values.)

2.      Recall the last time you directed your heart in God’s ways. In what ways did you discipline your emotions?

3.      Heart check - in this season, what does your heart value? Are they the same values as God’s top 20 listed previously?