INCLINE MY HEART
December 26, 2004 AM
Sermon Outline
PS 119:36
INTRO: The heart of man ... the seat of knowledge ... the seat of understanding ... the seat of affection. It is so important, then, that the inclinations of the heart be in right directions. It is out of those inclinations that a persons life is formed and fashioned. With that apparently in his mind the psalmist prays for Gods help in the inclining of his heart. So obstinate can the heart be that Gods help must be sought if it is to incline in wholesome directions. This little sentence prayer is full of reality ... full of what should be of concern to us.
I THE HEARTS INCLINATIONS?
A. The usual inclination of human hearts is toward self
1. what will make self happy? what will make self successful
2. 1 Jno 2:16 - this little verse is absolutely full of self
3. self is what was the undoing of Adam and Eve
B. Affections, attractions, then, determine how hearts are inclined
1. you can see this in the lives of people all around you
2. affection determines action ... for good or ill!
3. 1 Jno 2:15 reminds us of a very important truth - if our affection is toward the world and worldliness, there will be no room for God
C. The problem of covetousness?
1. Prov 27:20 - here is indisputably a most serious heart problem
2. Col 3:5 - ...covetousness, which is idolatry...
3. and what is idolatry? notice Ezek 14:3
II INCLINE MY HEART UNTO...
A. Reality: there is a struggle going on here!
1. the struggle is between two very different life choices! that of the world (covetousness) and that of the Lord (thy testimonies)
2. many hearts have divided interests - life objectives
3. those divided interests invariable work against our spiritual strength!
4. Mt 6:24 and Mt 12:30 - the Lord puts this into perspective for us
C. Hearts must find their way to inclination toward the Lord
1. I know the struggle is not always (ever?) easy - Rom 7:23
2. Prov 28:26 - and it takes more than following our hearts to gain momentum toward the Lord and His testimonies
3. we must recognize the struggle if we are going to move to spiritual gains
4. Mt 13:22,23 - these verses show us the struggle in a very practical way!
III SO, HOW IS THE HEART INCLINED?
A. Prov 23:26 - Choice is involved here
1. while I admit the difficulty of the struggle, choices must be made
2. I have always loved the challenge of Deut 19,20 - ...choose life...
B. Josh 24:23 - Deliberate action is involved here
1. choosing is one thing; taking action based on choices is another
2. Joshua understood that hearts could not be inclined toward the Lord until people had begun putting away their idols
C. Ps 78:1 - There must be the hearing of the word of God
1. this, of course, is the psalmists plea in our text - incline my heart unto thy testimonies
2. we cannot successfully engage in the struggle between godliness and worldliness if we are not hearing God speak through His word
D. Hos 11:4 - There must be consideration of how much God loves us
1. there is no doubting the role of the drawing power of His love here
2. not wanting to disappoint His love has its place in our hearts inclining to His testimonies
E. Some of the realities of this struggle...
1. some people do seem more naturally inclined toward spiritual interests
2. some people, more analytical perhaps, seek conclusions based more on logic than natural inclinations ... I have to have proof
3. some people, accepting of inspiration, readily accept as authoritative the word of scripture - are readily taught by it because they accept it
4. some people need more reassuring (Mk 9:23,24)
F. Ps 119:24 - The place to which we want to come!
1. we must grow to seeing Gods way as a truly happy choice we delight to make
2. if we see the testimonies of God as onerous, but necessary, Im not sure we will ever have hearts truly inclined toward the spiritual!
CLOSE: Be careful, oh, so careful, of the affections of your heart. Or, as the apostle Paul said it, Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Phil 3:2).
Cecil A. Hutson
19 December 2004