JEREMIAH 17:5 – 10 5 THUS SAYS THE L ORD , “ CURSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN MANKIND AND MAKES FLESH HIS STRENGTH, AND WHOSE HEART TURNS AWAY FROM THE L ORD . 6 “FOR HE WILL BE LIKE A BUSH IN THE DESERT AND WILL NOT SEE WHEN PROSPERITY COMES , BUT WILL LIVE IN STONY WASTES IN THE WILDERNESS, A LAND OF SALT WITHOUT INHABITANT. 7 “ BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE L ORD AND WHOSE TRUST IS THE L ORD . 8 “FOR HE WILL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE WATER, THAT EXTENDS ITS ROOTS BY A STREAM AND WILL NOT FEAR WHEN THE HEAT COMES; BUT ITS LEAVES WILL BE GREEN, AND IT WILL NOT BE ANXIOUS IN A YEAR OF DROUGHT NOR CEASE TO YIELD FRUIT. 9 “THE HEART IS MORE DECEITFUL THAN ALL ELSE AND IS DESPERATELY SICK ; WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT? 10 “I, THE L ORD , SEARCH THE HEART, I TEST THE MIND, EVEN TO GIVE TO EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF HIS DEEDS.
KEY POINTS: THE HEART THAT TRUSTS IN HIS OWN STRENGTH OR THE STRENGTH OF OTHER MEN: 1. HAS TURNED AWAY FROM GOD 2. WILL BE LIKE A BUSH (TUMBLEWEED) PLANTED IN THE DESERT: LITTLE WATER , ROCKY AND SALTY SOIL 3. IS CURSED: GOD WILL HEM IN (FRUSTRATE) WITH OBSTACLES THAT HE WILL BE POWERLESS TO RESIST. 4. HIS LIFE WILL NOT SEE PROSPERITY / INHABITANTS . THE HEART THAT TRUSTS IN YAHWEH WILL BE LIKE A TREE THAT IS CONTINUALLY NOURISHED AND REFRESHED BECAUSE ITS ROOTS DRAW FROM A NEVER-ENDING STREAM OF WATER. EVEN WHEN THE HEAT RISES (DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES) AND THE DROUGHT (LACK OF SUPPORT) COMES, GOD WILL BLESS: 1. HIM WITH A CONSTANT SOURCE OF REFRESHMENT (WORD) AND STRENGTH (SPIRIT) 2. HIS HEART SO THAT HE WILL NOT BE AFRAID OR ANXIOUS ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES. 3. THIS MAN’S LIFE WITH ABUNDANT SPIRITUAL FRUIT ( GREEN LEAVES , CONTINUAL FRUIT )
KEY QUESTIONS : 1. IN WHOM DOES YOUR HEART TRUST? A. ARE YOU SURE … OR HAVE YOU DECEIVED YOURSELF? 2. WHY DOES IT MATTER? A. GOD SEARCHES AND TESTS OUR HEARTS/MIND (HE KNOWS WHAT IS TRUE) B. HE PROMISES TO JUDGE OR BLESS EACH MAN BASED UPON HIS WAYS, DEEDS MAIN POINT: OUR FRUIT ( WAYS , DEEDS ) REVEALS IN WHOM OUR ROOT ( HEART , MIND ) HAS TRUSTED. LIFE IMPLICATION: IF I WANT TO CHANGE MY FRUIT ( WAYS , DEEDS ) , THEN — WITH GOD’S HELP— I MUST FIRST CHANGE MY ROOT ( HEART , MIND )
3 TREES DIAGRAM Spiritual Truth Visualized: Our Root Dictates Our Fruit
STEP 1: HEAT – THE SITUATION ONE IS FACING, WHETHER BLESSING, TRIAL AND/OR TEMPTATION 1. TYPES OF HEAT : PAIN, SICKNESS, FAILURE, HUNGER, POVERTY, SHAME, OPPRESSION, PRESSURE, CONFLICT, REJECTION, FEAR, ETC. 2. WITH ISRAEL, GOD USED TRIALS TO (DT. 8): * REVEAL THEIR HEART, * TEACH THEM, * HUMBLE (EXPOSE SELF- SUFFICIENCY), * DISCIPLINE THEM
DEUTERONOMY 8:2 – 6 2 “YOU SHALL REMEMBER ALL THE WAY WHICH THE L ORD YOUR GOD HAS LED YOU IN THE WILDERNESS THESE FORTY YEARS, THAT HE MIGHT HUMBLE YOU, TESTING YOU, TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, WHETHER YOU WOULD KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS OR NOT. 3 “HE HUMBLED YOU AND LET YOU BE HUNGRY, AND FED YOU WITH MANNA WHICH YOU DID NOT KNOW, NOR DID YOUR FATHERS KNOW, THAT HE MIGHT MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT MAN LIVES BY EVERYTHING THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE L ORD .
DEUTERONOMY 8:2 – 6 4 “YOUR CLOTHING DID NOT WEAR OUT ON YOU, NOR DID YOUR FOOT SWELL THESE FORTY YEARS. 5 “THUS YOU ARE TO KNOW IN YOUR HEART THAT THE L ORD YOUR GOD WAS DISCIPLINING YOU JUST AS A MAN DISCIPLINES HIS SON. 6 “THEREFORE, YOU SHALL KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE L ORD YOUR GOD, TO WALK IN HIS WAYS AND TO FEAR HIM.
STEP 2: BAD FRUIT – HOW DID YOU RESPOND? WHAT DID YOU FEEL, THINK, SAY, DO? 1. OUR RESPONSE IS NOT SHAPED BY THE SITUATION , BUT BY THE THOUGHTS AND DESIRES OF OUR HEART . 2. EVERY SINFUL REACTION TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES REVEALS : (1) WHAT OUR HEART TRULY BELIEVES (2) WHAT WE REALLY LOVE AND DESIRE (3) WHERE WE HAVE PLACED OUR HOPE AND TRUST (4) THE IDOLS WE REALLY SERVE AND WORSHIP
STEP 3: BAD ROOT – * WHAT DID YOU WANT, FEAR, BELIEVE? * WHAT LIES ARE YOU BELIEVING ABOUT GOD, YOURSELF AND OTHERS? * WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY ABOUT THESE DESIRES, FEARS AND BELIEFS? DESIRES OF THE HEART ARE THE SOURCE OF RELATIONAL CONFLICTS, NOT CIRCUMSTANCES OR PEOPLE (JAM. 4:1-2) CONFLICT IS ROOTED IN SPIRITUAL ADULTERY: GIVING THE HEART’S DEVOTION TO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING OTHER THAN GOD (JAM. 4:4)
STEP 3: BAD ROOT (CONT.) HEART DESIRES (LUST) WAGE WAR TO GAIN CONTROL OVER YOUR HEART AND LIFE (1 PET. 2:11) DESIRE HAS BECOME INORDINATE OR CONTROLLING, IF THE HEART BECOMES ANGRY (ENVIOUS) AND THE BEHAVIOR SINFUL WHENEVER (JAM. 4:2-3): (1) DO NOT GET WHAT IS DESIRED (2) DESIRE ALREADY POSSESSED IS TAKEN AWAY (3) GIVEN WHAT IS NEVER WANTED.
STEP 4: CONSEQUENCES – * HOW HAVE YOUR ATTITUDES, WORDS AND ACTIONS AFFECTED OTHERS? * HOW HAVE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS BEEN IMPACTED? IF WE REBEL AGAINST GOD’S CHARACTER AND HIS LAW, * WE AND OTHERS WILL REAP THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS HERE IN THIS LIFE, * EVEN IF THE LORD FORGIVES OUR SIN UPON OUR REPENTANCE. 1. OTHERS REAP THE CONSEQUENCES FROM MY SINFUL ACTS 2. HURT/TORN DOWN BY MY WORDS 3. FEEL USED/VIOLATED 4. TRUST & RESPECT IS LOST, 5. ALIENATION IN RELATIONSHIPS 6. UNGODLY EXAMPLE TO EMULATE GALATIANS 6:7 -8, COL. 3:25, JAMES 3:14, 1 COR. 3:14 -15
STEP 5: THE CROSS * HOW DOES THE REALITY OF CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK AFFECT YOUR HEART AND YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES? * WILL YOU TURN FROM THE LIES YOU HAVE PRACTICED AND BELIEVED? * WILL YOU BELIEVE THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL? GOD’S RESOURCES FOR HEART CHANGE: 1. WORD OF GOD (PS. 119:11) 2. INDWELLING SPIRIT (GAL. 4:6) 3. CHURCH, ONE ANOTHERS (HEB. 3:12-13)
STEP 5: THE CROSS CROSS GIVES A NEW PURPOSE : AND (JESUS) DIED FOR ALL, SO THAT THEY WHO LIVE MIGHT NO LONGER LIVE FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR HIM WHO DIED AND ROSE AGAIN ON THEIR BEHALF . (2 COR. 5:15) ETERNAL BENEFITS FROM JESUS’ WORK ON THE CROSS : * REGENERATION * JUSTIFICATION * ADOPTION * SANCTIFICATION * GLORIFICATION (ROM 8:18 -30)
STEP 5: THE CROSS RESPONSE TO THE CROSS: REPENTANCE 1. WAKE UP: COME TO YOUR SENSES (LUKE 15:17) * REALIZE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS YOURSELF, NOT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES * SEE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR HEART DESIRES AND YOUR BEHAVIOR. 2. OWN UP: ADMIT YOUR SIN (LK. 15:18) * GODLY SORROW (2 COR. 7:10): BROKEN THAT YOUR SIN HAS OFFENDED GOD/HURT OTHERS, * SEE THE SINS BENEATH THE SINS : SEE THE HEART SINS AGAINST GOD THAT LEAD TO BEHAVIORAL SINS. 3. SHIFT WEIGHT: RECEIVE CHRIST’S GRACIOUS EMBRACE (LUKE 15:20)
STEP 6: GOOD ROOT WHAT SHOULD YOU DESIRE, LOVE, FEAR, BELIEVE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE? WHAT TRUTHS SHOULD YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD, YOURSELF AND OTHERS? WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DESIRE, FEAR, AND BELIEVE?
STEP 6: GOOD ROOT 3-STEP HEART SANCTIFICATION PROCESS (EPH. 4:22-24) 1. CONFESSION, REPENTANCE : PUT OFF THE OLD SELF 2. TRANSFORM MOTIVES, THOUGHTS, HUNGER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS : BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND 3. OBEY, WALK IN THE SPIRIT : PUT ON THE NEW SELF
STEP 7: GOOD FRUIT WHAT SHOULD YOU FEEL , THINK , SAY OR DO IF YOU ARE LOVING GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE? THE INDWELLING SPIRIT OF CHRIST WILL PRODUCE GODLY FRUIT REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES (GAL. 5:22-23) 1. THINK TRUTH ABOUT GOD, OTHERS AND SELF (MT. 22:36-40) 2. SPEAK TRUTH IN LOVE THAT EDIFIES (EPH. 4:25, 29) 3. ACT IN OBEDIENCE WITH THE MOTIVE TO LOVE (JOHN 14:15, 21; 1 COR. 13:4 -8)
STEP 8: RIGHTEOUS CONSEQUENCES WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES? 1. UNRULY ARE ADMONISHED 2. FEARFUL GIVEN COURAGE 3. DOUBTING ARE HELD UP 4. OTHERS BUILT UP, EDIFIED 5. ONE ANOTHERS EXPERIENCED 6. GODLY EXAMPLE TO EMULATE SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION’S OBJECTIVE : 1. GOD’S GLORY [IS 42:5, 8, PS 57:5] A. EMBRACE GOD’S NATURE B. EMULATE HIS NATURE 2. OUR SATISFACTION [MK 8:3, MT 5:6] A. HUNGER, THIRST FOR GOD B. DENY SELF FOR HIS GLORY C . PROCLAIM GOSPEL TO LOST
PERSONAL CHALLENGE & APPLICATION 1. WHAT DIFFICULT PERSON OR PAINFUL CIRCUMSTANCE HAS BECOME AN EXCUSE FOR YOUR SINFUL CHOICES? 2. WHAT LEGITIMATE HEART DESIRE HAS MORPHED OVER TIME INTO AN IDOL AND HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT MOTIVATION BEHIND ONE OF YOUR SINFUL ATTITUDES, WORDS, ACTIONS AND/OR HABITS? 3. WHAT CONSEQUENCES HAVE YOU REAPED IN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN REBELLION, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN BLAMING IT ON OTHERS?
PERSONAL CHALLENGE & APPLICATION 4. WHICH TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL DO YOU NEED TO APPROPRIATE INTO YOU R LIFE BY FAITH AND WHICH LIE DO YOU NEED TO FORSAKE? 5. FOR YOU TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST, WHICH OF THE 5 FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR SANCTIFIC ATION DO YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE OR INCREASE IN(TO) YOUR PERSONAL DISCIPLESHIP PROCESS: A. God (more dependent prayer) B. Word of Truth (devotions, study, sermon series, book) C. Wise People (mentor, counseling, accountability partner) E. Struggle (new perspective on an old struggle) F. Self (plan, act and follow through to completion)
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