THE HEART OF GOD

THE HEART OF GOD

      I. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

Matthew 16:13-19

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” ¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

But who do you say that I am?   You here is plural.  Jesus was asking the whole group what they thought of Him. Peter spoke up for the group and declared He was the Christ (Messiah).

Jesus declared: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven

The revelation of Jesus being the Messiah is a supernatural work. No man can come except the Father draw him (John 6:44). Simon was blessed because He received this revelation, but the disciples also had the revelation. Peter simply spoke up for the group.

Jesus responded,  ^18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church”

Peter in Greek is Petros – a masculine word that means “rock”. Then Jesus talks about building his church on that rock. That word rock is petra, a feminine form of the same word.  Jesus said you are Petros, and on this petra, I will build my church. Jesus was not saying the church was built upon a man. Jesus didn’t call it Peter’s church. He said it is “my church.”

Summary: The church is built on who we say that He is…

If we are not saying who He is, we hinder the building of the church.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9,12 The Message

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted… ¹² having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good (kalos) works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Proclaim (exangello gk.) – Has to do with proclaiming the gospel. Comes from the concept of a herald. In those days news was translated by a herald, who announced information to others. Exangello includes the notion of speaking forth verbally what others don’t know.

The church is God’s own chosen people that should declare Him through verbal proclamation and behavior of good works.

    II. THE HEART OF GOD FOR LOST SOULS

The value and priority of Jesus’ heart for the lost is displayed in these three parables. In each parable the thing lost wasn’t the only thing had. There were more sheep, more coins and another son. But those things did not consume the owner’s heart. The thing that was lost moved him.

Luke 15:1-32

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” ³ So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

The Lost Sheep

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

The Lost Coin

⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ¹⁰ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Lost Son

¹¹ Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. ’ ²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. ²⁵ Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ ²⁸ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ ³¹ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. ³² It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”.

MAN LET’S DO SOMETHING

MAN LET’S DO SOMETHING

Genesis 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” ² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” ⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

There is a tendency many men have and that is to remain silent during important times. This is a seemingly inherited point of struggle for most men.  Since Adam, many men have had a natural inclination to remain silent when he should speak. We are most comfortable in situations when we know exactly what to do.  When things get confusing and scary, uncertain we sometimes back away.

       I. ADAM WAS PRESENT WHEN EVE WAS TEMPTED

·         “With her” (Imha) I'm – with; ha – her. It denotes close proximity even to the point of sexual contact. 

·         Nothing in the verse suggest a time-lapse

·         Genesis is a story that unveils a theme and traces it out.  Several other men were silent.

-          Abram and Hagar

Genesis 16:2-3

So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go into my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. ³ Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan

-          Abraham and Sarah

Genesis 20:1-4

And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. ² Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. ³ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” ⁴ But Abimelech had not come near her…”

-          Isaac and Rebecca

Genesis 26:6-9

⁶ So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. ⁷ And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah because she is beautiful to behold.” ⁸ Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. ⁹ Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?”

SPEAKING CREATES SILENCE DESTROYS

·         God speaking caused creation out of chaos

·         Adams silence brought chaos

·         God rested after he spoke

·         Adam labored harder after his silence

    II. THE PLIGHT OF ABSENT OR SILENT MEN

·         Four times greater to be in poverty

·         Seven times more likely to become pregnant as a teenager

·         More likely to have behavioral problems

·         More likely to face abuse and neglect

·         Two times greater risk of infant mortality

·         More likely to abuse drugs and alcohol

·         More likely to go to prison

·         Two times more likely to suffer obesity

·         More likely to commit a crime

·         Two times more likely to drop out of high school

1.      THE POWER OF WORDS

·         Whatever Adam called something that’s what it was

·         Death and Life is in the power of the tongue

·         We are made in God’s Image

·         Quarks

Mark 11:12-14

¹² Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. ¹³ And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ In response, Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

Mark 11:20-24

²⁰ Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. ²¹ And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” ²² So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

2.      THE POWER OF ACTION

·         Fathers are needed for discipline

·         Fathers are needed for affirmation

·         Fathers are needed for identity

Luke 1:57-64

⁵⁷ Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸ And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹ And on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰ but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ⁶¹ And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” ⁶² And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. ⁶⁴ And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

·         Fathers are needed for Security

3.      AREAS WE MUST SPEAK AND ACT

·         When we see the serpent coming

·         When our wives need us to speak

·         Regularly to our children

·         When our community needs us

·         When other brother needs us

·         When God needs us

GOD WE NEED YOU

GOD WE NEED YOU

Exodus 19:1-18

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. 10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people….14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.” 16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly….

I. FOUR HUNDRED YEARS OF BONDAGE

II. FIRST STOP REPHIDIM (REST)

Amalekites fought them

Descendents of Esau

The son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau

Esau was betrayed by his brother Joseph

III. SECOND STOP SINAI

IV. MOSES CALLED TO MEET WITH GOD

V. INVITATION TO BE HIS

Exo. 19:4-6

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

VI. PREPERATION

Consecration

Wash Clothes

VII. THE THIRD DAY

VIII. THE MEETING

Exo 19:16-20

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain.The people met with God

Finally

While I was relating these facts I observed the people looking as if they were angry. Many of the men were in their shirt sleeves; and they looked at each other and at me, as if they were ready to fall upon me and chastise me on the spot. I saw their strange and unaccountable looks, and could not understand what I was saying, that had offended them. However it seemed to me that their anger rose higher and higher, as I continued the narrative. As soon as I had finished the narrative, I turned upon them and said, that I understood that they had never had a religious meeting in that place; and that therefore I had a right to take it for granted, and was compelled to take it for granted, that they were an ungodly people. I pressed that home upon them with more and more energy, with my heart full almost to bursting.

I had not spoken to them in this strain of direct application, I should think, more than a quarter of an hour, when all at once an awful solemnity seemed to settle down upon them; the congregation began to fall from their seats in every direction, and cried for mercy. If I had had a sword in each hand, I could not have cut them off their seats as fast as they fell. Indeed nearly the whole congregation were either on their knees or prostrate, I should think, in less than two minutes from this first shock that fell upon them. Every one prayed for himself, who was able to speak at all.

Of course I was obliged to stop preaching; for they no longer paid any attention. I saw the old man who had invited me there to preach, sitting about in the middle of the house, and looking around with utter amazement. I raised my voice almost to a scream, to make him hear, and pointing to him said, "Can't you pray?" He instantly fell upon his knees, and with a stentorian voice poured himself out to God; but he did not at all get the attention of the people. I then spoke as loud as I could, and tried to make them attend to me. I said to them, "You are not in hell yet; and now let me direct you to Christ." For a few moments I tried to hold forth the Gospel to them; but scarcely any of them paid any attention. 

The Striking Down (Mostly on Sinners) – loose their bodily strength and struck to the floor Ex. John Wesley, Peter Cartwright, Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards. Ex. Page 146 “Holy Fire”

Pastor Samuel Moore witnessed when the conviction as of it’s mental process reaches it’s crisis. The person through weakness is unable to sit or stand and either falls or kneels down. A great number of convicted persons in this town and neighborhood are smitten down suddenly and they fall as nerveless or paralyzed as if killed instantly by a shotgun. CaneRidge Kentuky

3000 people were fallen at one time. They were not able to move because of the power of God.

1.    Intense Conviction of Sin

Senate of Balamena – “Through the instrument of the word and prayer convictions that are most powerful even to the convulsing of the whole frame, the trembling every joint, intense burning of every heart and complete prostration of strength have been produced. The arrow of conviction pierces the conscious, the heart swells nigh unto bursting, a heavy and intolerable burden presses the spirit and the burden burning heart unable to contain it any longer burst forth in the piercing cry of distress saying Lord Jesus have Mercy on my sinful soul. “

2.    The Converts Remain

3.    Intellectual Quickening (people who did not know things suddenly knew them etc)

4.    Profanity Stopped

5.    Hysteria (Joy)