HEARTFELT RELIGION

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Members of the church are often accused of not having a        
      heartfelt religion.
      1. They are accused of this because they do not have an
         emotional, charismatic type of worship.
         a. We do not scream and shout and run all about during
            our worship.
   B. The charge has grown out of the misunderstanding of what the
      Bible heart is and how it functions.
      1. God cannot be blamed for the confusion regarding the heart,
         because His word is plain and simple on the subject.

I. FIRST, LET'S LOOK AT THE DUEL NATURE OF MAN.
   A. Man's physical heart is, of course, the muscular organ which
      maintains the circulation of blood in the body.
      1. We sometimes hear people, while holding their hand on their
         chest, say, "I know it is true because I feel it in my      
         heart," or "I'll follow the way I feel in my heart."
   B. Their misunderstanding has arisen in their failure to see that 
      man is both an outward and inward being, physical and          
      spiritual, and each has a seat of life. 2 Cor. 4:16
      1. In 2 Sam. 18:14, Joab and his men killed Absalom.
         a. Absalom's heart was pierced with spears and he died.
      2. In Acts 2:37, the hearts of those Jews were pricked with the
         gospel and they lived.
      3. The two hearts were acted upon with two different weapons.
      4. It is evident that it is the inward heart, the spiritual    
         one, that is acted upon in one's faith and practice before  
         God.

II. NEXT, CONSIDER THE MAKEUP AND EXERCISES OF THE HEART. (Of course,
   we are considering here the spiritual heart, not the physical     
   one.)
   A. The heart is that part of man called the "intellect" which:
      1. Thinks. Prov. 23:7
      2. Reasons. Mark 2:8
      3. Understands. Matt. 13:15
      4. Believes. Rom. 10:10
      5. Thus, the Bible shows that the heart thinks, reasons,
         understands, and believes. What the Bible ascribes to the
         heart, man attributes to the intellect.
   B. The heart is also seen to be that part of man called "emotions"
      which:
      1. Despises. 2 Sam. 6:16
      2. Desires. Rom. 10:1
      3. Loves. Matt. 22:37
      4. Trusts. Prov. 3:5
      5. So, we see what God calls the heart, man calls the emotions.
         God's word says the heart despises, desires, loves, and
         trusts.
   C. The heart is that quality of man called the "will" which:
      1. Determines. 1 Cor. 7:37
      2. Intends. Heb. 4:12
      3. Purposes. Acts 11:23; 2 Cor. 9:7
      4. Obeys. Rom. 6:17-18
      5. Again, the heart determines, intends, purposes, and obeys.
         Man calls this quality of man the will or volition. God     
         calls it the heart.
   D. The heart is that faculty of man called "conscience" which:
      1. The heart condemns or does not condemn. 1 John 3:20-21; 2
         Sam. 24:10
         a. Thus, the Bible heart is that part of man which
            condemns or approves oneself.
      2. The Scriptures make it clear that the heart of the inward   
         man is that part of man which embraces the intellect,       
         emotions, will, and conscience.
         a. It embraces the whole of man's inner nature.

III. HOW IS THE SPIRITUAL HEART CHANGED?
   A. The intellect is changed by the evidence which is presented.
      1. John 20:27-28 - Thomas' thoughts, reasoning, and
         understanding was changed when the evidence was
         presented.
         a. The evidence presented to us is the written things. John
            20:30-31
   B. How are the emotions changed?
      1. One's emotions are changed when he believes the evidence.
      2. Gen. 37:31-35 - Jacob concluded that a wild beast had
         devoured his son, and he had the same feelings as if his son
         had been truly dead.
         a. Many years ago, the parents of a young sailor received a
            telegram stating that their son had been killed in the
            Pearl Harbor attack.
            (1) They mourned the death of their son.
         b. A few weeks later they received another telegram from
            the same authority saying that the first telegram was a
            mistake, and their boy was yet alive.
            (1) Now, they rejoiced. Why? They again believed the
                evidence which was given to them.
   C. How is the will changed?
      1. The will is changed by motives produced by faith.
      2. Saul of Tarsus determined, intended, and purposed not to
         obey Christ, thinking in his heart that Christ was an
         impostor.
         a. Saul had no N.T. to read, but when he heard the audible
            word of Christ, his heart was changed from unbelief to
            belief.
         b. When he was told what to do, he obeyed. Acts 9:6;
            22:16
         c. One becomes free from sin, and a servant of
            righteousness, when he obeys from the heart. Rom.
            6:17-18
   D. How is one's conscience changed?
      1. The conscience is changed by knowing that one has done
         what he has been taught.
      2. If one understands and believes what Christ has commanded,
         he can never have an approving conscience until he obeys.
      3. For example, baptism is a command which is to be obeyed
         (Acts 10:48) and, if one understands and believes that
         baptism is a command, he cannot have a clear conscience
         until he had been baptized. 1 Pet. 3:21
      4. It is faith in having done right, having obeyed the commands
         of God, that changes the condemning conscience. Heb. 10:22
      5. The conscience does not prick or condemn until one believes
         he has done wrong.
         a. This is why multitudes are in disobedience to God with
            approving consciences.
         b. They just do not know or believe they are living in
            disobedience.
   E. When man's whole heart is changed, when his intellect,         
      emotions, will, and conscience are changed, it can be truly    
      said that he has a "heartfelt religion."
      1. By way of summary, the intellect is changed by the evidence,
         the emotions are changed by faith, the will is changed when
         it is motivated, and the conscience is changed when action  
         is taken.
      2. The evidence produces faith which motivates into action.

IV. THE CHANGE OF HEART MUST BE PERMANENT.
   A. Over the years, there have been many sermons on "What must I
      do to be saved?"
      1. This is well and good when there are those in the audience  
         to which the question applies.
      2. No doubt, a more important question for most audiences is,
         "What must I do to keep saved?"
   B. Here are a few ways from passages using the word "heart" to
      make the change of heart permanent.
      1. We need to take control of our hearts. Prov. 4:23; 23:12,19
         a. We need to sanctify (set apart) the Lord God in our
            hearts. 1 Pet. 3:15
         b. We need to prepare our hearts to seek God. Psalm 84:2;
            2 Chron. 19:3; Ezra 7:10
         c. We need hearts devoted to God. Psalm 9:1-2;
            119:10,69,112,145
         d. We need hearts which delight in the ways of the Lord. 2
            Chron. 17:6
      2. We need to keep our hearts pure before God.
         a. Those with pure hearts will be blessed. Matt. 5:8
         b. God shows Himself strong to hearts who are loyal to
            Him. 2 Chron. 16:7
         c. We need a broken and contrite heart regarding our sins.
            Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isa. 57:15
         d. We need to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. Col.
            3:15
         e. Some people's hearts are far from God. Matt. 15:8
      3. We need open hearts.
         a. Many people are hardhearted. Ezek. 3:7; Eph. 4:17-19
         b. Many people have dull (lazy or sluggish) hearts. Matt.
            13:15
         c. Good and honest hearts bring forth fruit. Luke 8:15
         d. Good hearts will bring forth good things. Matt. 12:35
         e. The hard and impenitent heart will be destroyed. Rom.
            2:5

Concl.
   A. A religion that does not touch the heart is not the religion of
      Christ.
      1. The heart is the spring from which all actions flow.
   B. How is your heart in the sight of God? Do you find worship
      services delightful or, are they boring to you? Do you find joy
      in Bible study? Do you enjoy singing with other Christians? Do 
      you get angry with those who rebuke you? Do you hold malice in
      your heart toward anyone? Do you place God and His kingdom
      above all else in your life?
      1. If your heart is not right in these matters, will you not   
         repent, pray, and make whatever changes necessary to have a 
         pure heart before God?