Ordering Your Private World Series

Introduction

Illustration

The popular TV series, “Extreme Makeover” and another called “Swan” that characterizes man’s pre-occupation with outward appearance. The “Cinderella-type” stories feature startling physical makeovers courtesy of liposuction, implants and cosmetic surgery. The skill of man may enhance the physical appearance of a person but what is far more important is a new birth experience which beautifies from the inside out.

You see that is what Jesus is saying to these Pharisees. The Pharisees were those “keepers of the law”. It was their job to make sure that all the laws were followed. As a matter of fact they had come up with thousands of laws that became part of their religion.

But there was more. They were not just law keepers. The problem was they were shallow on the inside. They put on a good external with no internal foundation.

Inside is the heart. It is important that we keep the heart straight because it is what defines us.

The Heart-the inner being of the life, it is what affects how we make our moral decisions. The mind is what helps us make our intellectual decisions

Psalms 44:21 “God knows the secrets of the heart”

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also”

Pr 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

Our Heart is Who we Are:

Pr 23:7 “For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”

It is like this bowl here. This is the bowl I like to use when I eat cereal. Rebekah and I actually fight over this bowl. The first one to get up and get cereal gets the bowl. We have some fun competition.

As is the same with this cup.

God looks on the heart

1Sa 16:7 NKJV “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

I believe that this message is for two people.

1) Some of you are looking good on the outside. You play the game well. People look at you and hold you to high esteem as a Christian but inside you are dead and dry.

2) There are others of you who hold life well. You look good.

The problem with both of you is what happens when the storm comes.

WE are SUBSTANCE… not image Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus told the story of the man who built his house/life on substance… the Rock.

And another man built his house/life on image… sand

Into both lives came the storms…

And the storms WILL come to your life too.

Maybe the storms of

Sickness

Divorce

Lay-off

Cancer

Financial collapse

Temptation

Failure

Betrayal

But it not the storms it is who rides with us in the storms.

Luk 8:22-25 NKJV Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out. (23) But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. (24) And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. (25) But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"

Where is your faith? In other words who do you have your faith in. Do you have your faith in the boat? It was failing them. Do have your faith in the sea? The storms were coming non stop. Do you have your faith in each other? They were not doing any good.

There was another man in scripture who thought he had it all together. His farm produced an abundance. He had built great wealth. So he decided to big bigger barns and bigger bank accounts and more investments.

Luke 12:20, “Thou fool, this very night shall thy life be demanded of you. Then who will get the things you have prepared for yourself and the things you thought would keep you secure?”

The secure man’s 23rd Psalm says…

I am my provider, I shall not be in want

I have stored up hay if the grass is not green in the valley

I have a big canteen just incase the waters are dried up

I have a map so I can find the right path

Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I have no fear… I have a living will, my funeral paid for and a healthy life insurance policy to care for my family.