TITLE: OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART
TEXT: PRO. 3:1-7
Prov 3:1-7(KJV)
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
PROP: WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IN OUR LIFE. SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IS‑ESSENTIAL IN FUFILLING GOD'S PLAN/‑BEING IN HIS PERFECT WILL.
EXCLAM: THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE‑NEED TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO GAINING SPIRITUAL INSIGHT OR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE LORD. THE FIRST FACT IS THAT SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IS THE‑ABILITY TO GRASP‑THE MIND/ HEART OF GOD/ APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE.
I. THE ABILITY TO GRASP THE MIND/ HEART OF GOD/ APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE.
A. ABLE TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO YOUR LIFE
1. Paul finishes giving three spiritual illustrations or analogies to Timothy . The first illustration was about a farmer, the second was about an athlete, and the third was about a soldier. Afterwards being led of the Holy Spirit, he writes…
2 Tim 2:7(KJV)
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2 Tim 2:7(TLB)
7 Think over these three illustrations, and may the Lord help you to understand how they apply to you.
2. How do we understand and apply the scripture to our lives? We ask god how!
B. WHY DO WE ASK GOD?
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that‑giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be‑given him.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that‑wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and‑tossed.
James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any‑thing of the Lord.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
1. God knows everything. He is omniscient(all knowing)
2. He knows what is best for our lives.
3. Lack of direction for our life
be unstable "tossed as the waves of the sea"
4. Unanswered prayers
experience unanswered prayers "let not that man think‑that he shall receive anything of the Lord" Because you only receive answers to your prayers when‑you ask in God's will. We cannot ask according to His will if we do not have understanding of His will.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that,‑if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we‑know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
C. WILL GOD ANSWER US?
2. He has promised to reveal His plan freely to all men. - "gives to all men liberally"
D. ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS?
1. We must ask in faith.
If I did not believe in a God who could speak to me, I‑would have no purpose in praying to Him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:‑for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is‑a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
2. We must have knowledge of God’s Word.
3. We must be Spirit led.
4. Our heart must be right.
TRANS: # 2 THE CLIMATE OF OUR HEART DETERMINES OUR LEVEL OF WISDOM & SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.
II. THE CLIMATE OF OUR HEART DETERMINES OUR LEVEL OF WISDOM & SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.
A. SOME BELIEVERS HAVE A HEART CONDITION
1. A calloused (LAYERED) heart (hard) creates an inability to hear God's‑voice of wisdom.
Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their‑ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest‑they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and‑understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I‑should heal them.
happens gradually through rationalization (that's not‑what God is saying to me) "their eyes they have shut"
eventually causes you to be incapable of listening or seeing God’s will for your life.
Evidenced in church today (People flocking to preachers & prophets for “a word.”)
Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without‑natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
B. WE MUST MAINTAIN A TENDER HEART TO POSSESS UNDERSTANDING!
1. A tender heart creates a climate for God to speak to you.
1 Kings 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by‑night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1 Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to‑judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for‑who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
2. 3 things that demonstrate Solomons tender heart.
Showed humility - he admitted his lack of understanding.
He desired to help / bless others.
He wanted to do right
Result: Solomon possessed more wisdom than any other man that ever lived with the exception of Jesus Christ.
3. We need to pray for a Humble/ Tender heart (as did Solomon).
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE THINGS THAT BLIND OUR SPIRITUAL VISION:
III. THINGS THAT LIMIT OUR SPIRITUAL VISION
A. 5 THINGS THAT OBSTRUCT (BLOCK THE VIEW OF) OUR SPIRITUAL EYES
1. Appearances - looks are deceiving, cults appear quite spiritual.
Isaiah 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear‑of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes,‑neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
2. Natural Intelligence
1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the‑Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he‑know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Tim 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge‑of the truth.
Spiritual understanding is not just facts or information... We‑need to know/ understand the author)
3. Lack of exercise of our spiritual senses (school or exercise)(live in a cave)
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full‑age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised‑to discern both good and evil.
4. Spiritual hard hearing
Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be‑uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Health issue (God can heal us)
Not listening (pay attention)
Selective hearing (We hear what we want to!)
5. Preconceived ideas
TRANS: WE MUST PLACE GREAT IMPORTANCE ON LEARNING TO CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL‑UNDERSTANDING IN OUR LIVES.
IV. WE MUST PLACE GREAT IMPORTANCE ON LEARNING TO CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL‑UNDERSTANDING IN OUR LIVES.
A. THE GREATNESS OF GOD IS PERCEIVED BY GAINING SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IN OUR LIVES.
we don't want to miss out on the greatness/ depth of God.
Psalms 92:5-6 (AB) "How great are Your doings, O Lord! Your‑thoughts are very deep. A man in his rude and (uncultivated)‑state knows not; neither does a [selfconfident] fool understand‑this.
B. WE CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IN 4 BASIC WAYS:
1. Holy Spirit guides us
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will‑guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but‑whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew‑you things to come.
disciples were not the most perceptive people before‑they were baptized in the Holy Spirit!
Matthew 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it‑not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven‑of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
2. God's word stimulates our senses.
Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the‑word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full‑age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised‑to discern both good and evil.
3. Through the exercise our faith
Rom 12:6(TLB)
6 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then prophesy whenever you can-- as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God.
4. By maintaining a tender/ sensitive heart that is ready to hear God's voice.
CONCLUDING THOUGHT: REVISIT OUR EARLIER THOUGHT ON HOW THE
GREATNESS OF GOD IS PERCEIVED BY GAINING SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING IN
OUR LIVES.
we don't want to miss out on the greatness/ depth of God.
Psalms 92:5-6 (AB) "How great are Your doings, O Lord! Your‑thoughts are very deep. A man in his rude and (uncultivated)‑state knows not; neither does a [selfconfident] fool understand‑this.
