My Heart, His Goal

Follow Along with the Message

A very different commandment.  Not about what I DO.  Rather what I DESIRE.

Audacious claim!  "Able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus taught the same.  "Looks at a woman with lust. . .adultery in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

The Great God wants my heart.  Deserves it.  Requires it.

     "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.  For you clean the outside of the cup. . .but within they are full of robbery and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25).

     "God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

     "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet (chamad, to desire) your neighbor's wife" (Exodus 20:17).

     "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife and you shall not desire (avah, to crave) your neighbor's house" (Deuteronomy 5:21).

     "You shall not covet (epithumia, intense emotion, lust)"(Romans 7:7).

Be careful. God does NOT forbid desire.   "I have earnestly desired (epithumia, lust) to eat this Passover with you before I suffer" (Luke 22:15).

Be careful.  God denies that all desires are legitimate or righteous.  That they cannot be changed or create an entitlement.

What do you want?  In this arena, God does His sanctifying work.

Often the reason for adversity.  "Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word" (Psalm 119:67).

--IT IS WRONG TO WANT WHAT I CANNOT RIGHTEOUSLY HAVE

--IT IS WRONG TO WANT THINGS THAT RISE FROM REBELLION

--IT IS WRONG TO WANT EVEN GOOD THINGS MORE THAN GOD

     "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37).

     Abraham and Isaac--Genesis 22

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     "You have left your first love" (Revelation 2:4).

     "Whom have I in heaven but You?  And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever;  For behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.  But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works" (Psalm 73:28).

"I can't get no satisfaction" (Mick Jagger).