The Centrality of the Heart

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

There are no routine moments, days, relationships or positions in life. Every moment matters. Rather than this increasing the “pressure” on your life, it is rather a discovery that you must pour your heart completely into your relationship with God and others at all times. Something crucial may be at stake or may be happening in what we think are ordinary times. In the last week I have heard (and thought myself) that with school beginning again for me and so many other families, we are “getting back into our routines.” But is any day “routine”? If we see each moment, task, and relationship as a divine opportunity to know and experience God in a greater way, we will put our whole heart into our knowing Him rather than “just going through the motions.” David was having what he may have considered an ordinary day, but the God of the universe had life altering plans behind the scenes. It all hinged on what was happening in David’s heart at the time. Israel was in need of a new king - David was a teenage boy tending the flock of his father Jesse every day. To many this may have seemed like a meaningless, monotonous task with no feeling, emotion, engagement or purpose. But God saw what was happening in this young boys heart as he defended and guided those sheep. David sang, reflected, and served – and God saw a boy who was becoming a man after His own heart. God saw a heart that through all the seasons of life would belong to Him and be a shepherd for His people. Jesse’s seven oldest sons looked the part, and would have been the “people’s choice” – but only David was chosen by God to replace Saul as king over Israel. God had an infinitely bigger purpose for David’s life, even bigger than being king over Israel. His life was to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, who would be called the Son of David. (Matthew 1:1) We constantly judge ourselves, others and life situations by outward appearance. God knows the heart, and sees the full future potential of the heart in all situations. God had chosen a new king, one “after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14). God measured all the potential kings by the heart and inner character, and declared that David would be better than Saul (1 Samuel 15:28) Samuel would find and anoint this chosen one in a small village called Bethlehem, and the chosen one was not even invited to the “draft” by his father Jesse. Instead, this youngest David was left out, tending the sheep. But God saw the heart, and made His choice, one that would pave the way for another King born in Bethlehem . . . . God is looking into your heart. What is at stake? What does He see? How will you condition your heart to be completely His? That is the challenge we face every day as we take up our cross and follow Jesus.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10)
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His . . .” (2 Chronicles 16:9)








“It is our daily lament that we cannot love enough. If only our hearts were capable of holding more and reaching further. Like Samuel Rutherford, we sigh and cry, "Oh, for as much love as would go round about the earth, and over heaven-yes, the heaven of heavens, and ten thousand worlds-that I might expand it all upon this fairest Lord Jesus." Unfortunately, our longest reach is only a span of love, and our affection is like a drop in a bucket compared with what He deserves. Measure our love by our intentions, and it is strong indeed; we trust that the Lord judges it in this way. If only we could give all the love in all hearts in one great offering, a gathering together of all loves to Him who is altogether lovely!” (Spurgeon)

“All the things which men count as privileges, and therefore as creating fitness for position and high service, are in themselves of no value in the sight of God. He looketh on the heart. He considers the deepest fact in personality, the inner and hidden impulse, desire, affection.” (Morgan)

“You may have nothing in your outward semblance, nothing in your surroundings or circumstances, to indicate the true royalty within; but if you bare your heart to God, you shall stand revealed as his son, as a priest and a king unto Himself.” (Meyer)

“David was none of your strutting peacocks who cannot be content unless all eyes are upon them; he sang God’s praises as the nightingale will sing in the dark when no human ear is listening and no eye is admiring. He was content to bloom unseen, knowing that the sweetness of a renewed heart is never wasted on the desert air. He was satisfied with God alone as his auditor, and he coveted not the high opinion of man.” (Spurgeon)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Week’s Revival Schedule:
6pm Sunday : Bob Norton
Monday – Wednesday 10:30 am (Scott Googe) Lunch following daily
7pm Monday: Clifford Anderson
7pm Tuesday: Justin Richards
7pm Wednesday : Andrew Owensby (Youth Pizza Party at 6pm)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------









This week’s Message:

The Centrality of the Heart 1 Samuel 16:1-13

God replaces king Saul with a young shepherd boy named David – and the condition of the heart is at the center of God’s choice.

1. The Choice is God’s (1 Samuel 16:1-2)
a. God had a plan to replace Saul after his disobedience.
b. What was God going to look for in the new king?
c. See 1 Samuel 13:14; 15:28

2. The Way is Worship (1 Samuel 16:3-5)
a. Samuel was paralyzed by grief and fear.
b. God commanded him to move ahead and worship in Bethlehem!
c. How will you make the significant choices in your life?

3. The Measure is the Heart (1 Samuel 16:6-13)
a. Jesse’s seven sons were rejected by God though they appeared acceptable by human standards.
b. How does the world judge by external standards? What often is the end result of this kind of measurement?
c. Cultivate a heart which will be completely His through:

i. Brokenness and humility: Psalm 51:17
ii. Purity and integrity: Psalm 51:10; Matthew 5:8
iii. Trusting in the Lord: Proverbs 3:5
iv. Seeking the Lord: Psalm 119:10-11; Jeremiah 29:13
v. Loving God with all your heart: Mark 12:30
vi. Strengthened by Grace: Hebrews 13:9
vii. Set apart Christ as Lord over the Heart: 1 Peter 3:15
viii. Indwelt by Christ: Ephesians 3:17
ix. Desiring and delighting in God: Psalm 37:4; Matthew 15:8-9
x. Gratefulness of Heart: Luke 17:11-19
xi. Peacefulness: Phil. 4:6-7
xii. Wisdom: Psalm 90:12