INTRODUCTION: Read Matthew 12:43-45<\/p>\n
A. In Matthew 12:43-45 we will find Jesus describing the spiritual condition of the generation of His day<\/p>\n
1. He had just described them as “evil and adulterous” (Matt. 12:38-39)<\/p>\n
2. He also described how they would be condemned by the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba in the Day of Judgment (Matt. 12:41-42)<\/p>\n
3. In our present text of study, they are described as “this evil generation” (Matt. 12:45)<\/p>\n
B. Using the example of demon possession, Jesus warned it is not enough just to go through the process of having one’s sins forgiven<\/p>\n
1. Unless reformation continues and something positive is put in its place — the end might prove worse than the beginning<\/p>\n
2. Such had been the case with the Jews of Jesus’ day<\/p>\n
3. There is an important lesson to be gleaned that applies to us today as well:<\/p>\n
a. It is a lesson on the evils of “neutrality” or disinterest<\/p>\n
b. We must replace evil with good<\/p>\n
C. Matthew 12:43-45<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION:<\/p>\n
A. THE DANGER OF AN EMPTY HEART<\/p>\n
1. Our heart is like a home<\/p>\n
a. In it can reside things that produce much harm… Matthew 15:19<\/p>\n
b. But it can also be the source for much good… Matthew 12:35a<\/p>\n
2. Our house can be cleansed<\/p>\n
a. For our heart is cleansed<\/p>\n
1) Hebrews 10:22<\/p>\n
2) Acts 15:8-9<\/p>\n
b. Our conscience is purged from dead works to serve God ? … Hebrews 9:14<\/p>\n
3. We are expected to “fill” our home<\/p>\n
a. Through faith Christ Himself is to dwell in our hearts… Ephesians 3:17<\/p>\n
b. God’s peace and grace are to fill our hearts… Colossians 3:15-16<\/p>\n
d. Even God’s law is to be written in our hearts… Hebrews 8:10<\/p>\n
4. What happens when we do not fill our heart?<\/p>\n
a. Remember the maxim: “Nature abhors a vacuum” … This idiom is used to express the idea that empty or unfilled spaces are unnatural as they go against the laws of nature and physics<\/p>\n
b. If we do not make the effort to fill our home with good things, then evil things are likely to return, and with a vengeance!<\/p>\n
c. Consider the example of the Corinthians:<\/p>\n
1) 1 Corinthians 6:11 … They had been washed, sanctified, and justified<\/p>\n
2) Yet later they were engaged in sinful conduct once again… 2 Corinthians 12:20-21<\/p>\n
d. Consider the example of the false teachers mentioned by Peter:<\/p>\n
1) 2 Peter 2:1… (“the Lord that bought them”). They had been bought by the Lord, and escaped the pollution of the world through Jesus Christ<\/p>\n
2) 2 Peter 2:20… But they had become entangled again<\/p>\n
3) 2 Peter 2:21-22… For them, “the latter end is worse for them than the beginning”<\/p>\n
5. How do things become worse than at the first?<\/p>\n
a. In the case of the false teachers, they had…<\/p>\n
1) Forsaken the right way (2 Pt. 2:15)<\/p>\n
2) Eyes full of adultery, hearts trained in covetousness (2 Pt. 2:14)<\/p>\n
3) Even denied the Lord who bought them (2 Pt. 2:1)<\/p>\n
b. In our case…<\/p>\n
1) Our hearts can become “hardened” … Hebrews 3:12-13<\/p>\n
2) Hebrews 10:26-29… We can become so hardened through willful sin that we trample the Son of God underfoot and count the blood of the covenant a common thing and insult the Spirit of grace<\/p>\n
3) Hebrews 6:4-6… We can reach the point where it become impossible to be renewed again to repentance and where we are crucifying again the Son of God and putting Him to open shame.<\/p>\n
4) In such a case, how true the statement: “The last state of that man is worse than the first!”<\/p>\n
5) How important it is, then, that we do not let the home of our heart remain empty and thus invite worldly things to take up residence.<\/p>\n
6. To avoid this, here are some thoughts on…<\/p>\n
B. FILLING THE HOME OF YOUR HEART<\/p>\n
1. Filling it in principle…<\/p>\n
a. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts… 1 Peter 3:15<\/p>\n
1) The word “sanctify” means to “set apart”<\/p>\n
2) Set a special place in your heart for God as the Ruler of your life<\/p>\n
3) We must regard Christ as holy in our hearts<\/p>\n
b. Be selective as to what goes into your mind a.<\/p>\n
1) Set your mind on things above… Colossians 3:1-2<\/p>\n
2) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… Colossians 3:16<\/p>\n
3) Follow the example of David… Psalm 101:3-4<\/p>\n
4) Think upon things that are good and wholesome… Philippians 4:8<\/p>\n
c. Remember, transformation of character begins with renewing the mind… Romans 12:1-2<\/p>\n
2. Filling it in practice…<\/p>\n
a. Utilize every opportunity to study God’s word… 1 Peter 2:1-2<\/p>\n
1) Attend all services of the church<\/p>\n
2) Participate in the Bible study programs that are offered<\/p>\n
3) Read your Bible daily… Psalm 1:1-6<\/p>\n
b. Fill your heart with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.<\/p>\n
1) For this is how you:<\/p>\n
a) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… Colossians 3:16<\/p>\n
b) Allow yourself to be filled with the Spirit… Ephesians 5:18-19<\/p>\n
2) Sing at church, at home, in the car; sing alone and with others<\/p>\n
c. Let your mind dwell on things that are worthy of praise and virtue… Philippians 4:8<\/p>\n
1) Be selective about what you watch on television and in the movies<\/p>\n
2) Choose your books, periodicals, magazines, etc., carefully<\/p>\n
d. Choose your friends carefully… 1 Corinthians 15:33<\/p>\n
1) They will either help you to be strong or hinder your efforts… Proverbs 13:20<\/p>\n
2) We cannot have communion with darkness and expect the light of God to dwell in us!… 2 Corinthians 6:14<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n
A. What is the condition of your “home” (heart)?<\/p>\n
1. Are you are filling your “home” things that are good?<\/p>\n
2. If not, then your heart becomes an abode for every evil thing, and the condition of your heart may become seven times worse than before!<\/p>\n
B. Have you experienced the initial cleansing of your “home” (heart)?<\/p>\n
1. Have you been cleansed by the blood of Jesus in baptism?<\/p>\n
2. If so, wonderful; but don’t be deceived into thinking that you do not need to be concerned about filling that dwelling with the presence of God and all that is good!<\/p>\n
C. “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sermon on the Heart INTRODUCTION: Read Matthew 12:43-45 A. In Matthew 12:43-45 we will find Jesus describing the spiritual condition of the generation of His day 1. He had just described them as “evil and adulterous” (Matt. 12:38-39) 2. He also described how they would be condemned by the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba … Continue reading “Sermon on the Heart – How To Fill An Empty Heart – Bible Outlines”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43866\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}