The cure for heart disease
A reflection on what it means to be a Christian
I. Introduction: The cure for the diseased heart
When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane sweating blood over the cross, he asked his father if there was any other way to accomplish his will, Jesus didn’t really want to say yes, but, ultimately, Jesus said yes. He said yes for you and me. Jesus wanted God’s will to be done even if that meant he would hang on a cross to pay for our sin. No matter what pain and suffering Jesus would go through, the will of his father was more important to him than his personal comfort.
Jesus knew the orphaned children of the world had a heart condition, death was certain without a transplant and the transforming love of family. When Jesus died on the cross he gave every person who would believe the ability to be a child of the king, a new heart and home that would last forever. “Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family, that is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). God has a great desire to seek out all the remaining lost children in the world and give them this transforming gift. “His unchanging plan always has been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ “(Ephesians 1:5). God knew if his adopted children helped him give this love away it would make their hearts strong like his and ready to last eternity. He knows his new children need much work to become royalty. Giving this heart cure away is not going to be easy for the giver or receiver, as any good father knows tribulation builds character.
The lost children with broken hearts will be hard to reach because they do not trust. God knows that the love of the church and the testimony of the each individual who has taken the cure can lead the lost to the very oxygen they need the living breathing authoritative word of God the Bible. So how are God’s children going to live up to this royal responsibility and give their father’s cure to the world as he commanded? “ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”( Mathew 28:19-20).
II. Personal testimony bringing the cure to other’s through the life transforming power of Christ.
If you saw a murder named Moses turn into ethical, kind leader, a coward name Gideon a courageous hero or a mere shepherd named David into a great king , would you not want to know what caused this astounding change. In these men’s weakness God great power is show to the world “For my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God wants to say something to the world through your life. “A Christian witness to others by the way he lives” “When he is controlled by the Holy Spirit, It won’t be long before others will realize there is something special about him” (Towns, 2007, p. 142). Christians cannot be disciples for Christ if they do not strive to be like the father. You can tell people all you want about Christ, if your life is not a testimony to the changing power of his love, your words will be futile. As a child of the king “The standards is a believer should conduct his life in this earthly world by the principles God has bestowed upon him in the heavenly world” (Towns, 2007, p. 63). “When the unsaved see your transformed life, your values and attitudes influence them to change” (Towns, 2007, p. 124). “The ultimate goal of silent witnessing is to get others to want the type of life that is lived by the Christian” (Towns, 2007, p. 142).
As children of God “believers are responsible for becoming different people, gradually growing into the likeness of Christ (Phil, 3:10).” Believers dishonor Christ when they continue to be controlled by their old sinful habits” (Towns, 2007, p. 78). The only way to become like the father is through a relationship with him. People were created for this relationship. God sent his only son to restore this relationship “now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with god all because of what our lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God” ( Romans 5:11).
One of the greatest things that a Christian can do to honor and worship God is to share his love with the children of the world lost in disobedience. In order for a Christian to be an effective witness, they must stay away from sin and practice disciplined lives of obedience and worship. Ultimately you cannot influence people to Christ if you do not let his transforming power change you.
III. The living breathing authoritative word of God. The oxygen to cure the broken hearted.
If you have every tried to get someone to put oxygen on that is confused from lack of it, the task is almost impossible. The lack of oxygen has caused them to have a delirious high that make them think the very cure they need for life is not necessary. It usually takes many attempts and many people that have established a relationship with the person to make them take the very cure that will save their life. This is exactly what the children of the world lost in disobedience are experiencing; they need assurance that the living breathing authoritative word of God is the cure they need. As Christians how can we convince the unsaved that the Bible is the inspired word of God?
In the article the arguments the Bible is the word of God the author gives us many practical facts to confirm the authority of the Bible. We can know the Bible is the word of God because of the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus claims to be God made into flesh to deliver the world from sin. “The unique revelation made by Jesus Christ demands examination by any rational person seeking the truth” (Liberty University, 2010, p.1). “You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the son of God: or else a madman or something worse” (Liberty University, 2010, p.1).
One of the strongest arguments that the Bible is the word of God is its ability to predict the future. No other book, man, or religion in history can make the claim of accurate fulfilled prophecy the Bible does, therefore it has to be inspired by God. Another point of creditability the Bible is the word of God “There were at least 36 authors perhaps 40, who wrote the 66 books of the Bible” Over a 1600 hundred year period (Liberty University, 2010, p.8). The Bible was written by men of various cultures, occupations, backgrounds and the messages still remains unified.
One of the most effective arguments in a world where truth is measured by sight is the convicting, convincing, converting power the Bible has to change lives. We have heard of murders such as Moses transformed into Godly leaders, barren women becoming mothers of great nations, children defeating giants, families restored, the sick healed, the mentally ill cured and the worst of mankind transformed into saints. D.L Moody stated “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” Christians are saved and given a mission of privilege by God to bring to the world the very breath of God the Bible to those with failing hearts. Your heavenly Father has trusted you with his kingdoms and families mission because he has made you his child.
IV. The establishment of God’s family on earth the church
Humans were created by God for relationships. “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Everyone has a desire to belong. God created the church to establish a family for believers on earth. One of the most effective ways to reach the lost is through the love, the church shows one another. This family of believers has been placed together by God not only for each other but, to increase his kingdom. Like any Father God wants his children to be respectful, loving, helpful, and kind to one another.” A church is not defined by what they do, but who they are” (Towns, 2007, p. 99). “You belong to God’s household with every other Christian for eternity “(Ephesians 2:19). God cannot bring hurt, lost, non-trusting children into a house of strife and expect them to heal. God knows that children tend to forget directions, so he only left two for his adopted children to keep his house running smoothly. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind.” This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matt, 22; 37-39).
If the children of his household to not obey God’s rules they take away the very breath the lost furlough children of the world need to live. Because God is a Father of character and he loves his family he cannot let such behavior go unpunished. He desired for all the children of the world lost and found to listen to his words so that their hearts may be restored and they may come to know what it truly means to be a child of the king. “ You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy the results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor”( James 3:18). When we obey our Father we are rewarded with loving relationships and we inherit his kingdom. He is trying to teach us all what life is about love “no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love (1 Corinthians 13:3).
Conclusion
God understands that children learn by imitation, watching, and hearing. He sent his perfect son Jesus Christ into the world so we could learn behavior the king finds appropriate for his royal children. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane has shown us God’s will is not always easy, he has a plan not to harm us but, to give us a life of abundance. God expects his children to make mistakes but, he does expect growth and he knows that takes time. “God began doing good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again” (Philippians 1:6). We live in a world of hurt broken people so we must come to understand that tribulation is expected on this fallen world. God is working on each and every one of our broken hearts to heal us from the hurt and grief of being orphans, so in heaven we can live in the house of our heavenly father that gave everything he had to seek us out and make us his.
;
References
Liberty University. (2010, August 10). Retrieved August 10, 2010, from Introduction to Christian thought: http://www.liberty.edu
Towns, E. (2007). Core Christianity. chattanooga: AMG publisher.
I. Introduction: The cure for the diseased heart
When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane sweating blood over the cross, he asked his father if there was any other way to accomplish his will, Jesus didn’t really want to say yes, but, ultimately, Jesus said yes. He said yes for you and me. Jesus wanted God’s will to be done even if that meant he would hang on a cross to pay for our sin. No matter what pain and suffering Jesus would go through, the will of his father was more important to him than his personal comfort.
Jesus knew the orphaned children of the world had a heart condition, death was certain without a transplant and the transforming love of family. When Jesus died on the cross he gave every person who would believe the ability to be a child of the king, a new heart and home that would last forever. “Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family, that is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). God has a great desire to seek out all the remaining lost children in the world and give them this transforming gift. “His unchanging plan always has been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ “(Ephesians 1:5). God knew if his adopted children helped him give this love away it would make their hearts strong like his and ready to last eternity. He knows his new children need much work to become royalty. Giving this heart cure away is not going to be easy for the giver or receiver, as any good father knows tribulation builds character.
The lost children with broken hearts will be hard to reach because they do not trust. God knows that the love of the church and the testimony of the each individual who has taken the cure can lead the lost to the very oxygen they need the living breathing authoritative word of God the Bible. So how are God’s children going to live up to this royal responsibility and give their father’s cure to the world as he commanded? “ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”( Mathew 28:19-20).
II. Personal testimony bringing the cure to other’s through the life transforming power of Christ.
If you saw a murder named Moses turn into ethical, kind leader, a coward name Gideon a courageous hero or a mere shepherd named David into a great king , would you not want to know what caused this astounding change. In these men’s weakness God great power is show to the world “For my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God wants to say something to the world through your life. “A Christian witness to others by the way he lives” “When he is controlled by the Holy Spirit, It won’t be long before others will realize there is something special about him” (Towns, 2007, p. 142). Christians cannot be disciples for Christ if they do not strive to be like the father. You can tell people all you want about Christ, if your life is not a testimony to the changing power of his love, your words will be futile. As a child of the king “The standards is a believer should conduct his life in this earthly world by the principles God has bestowed upon him in the heavenly world” (Towns, 2007, p. 63). “When the unsaved see your transformed life, your values and attitudes influence them to change” (Towns, 2007, p. 124). “The ultimate goal of silent witnessing is to get others to want the type of life that is lived by the Christian” (Towns, 2007, p. 142).
As children of God “believers are responsible for becoming different people, gradually growing into the likeness of Christ (Phil, 3:10).” Believers dishonor Christ when they continue to be controlled by their old sinful habits” (Towns, 2007, p. 78). The only way to become like the father is through a relationship with him. People were created for this relationship. God sent his only son to restore this relationship “now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with god all because of what our lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God” ( Romans 5:11).
One of the greatest things that a Christian can do to honor and worship God is to share his love with the children of the world lost in disobedience. In order for a Christian to be an effective witness, they must stay away from sin and practice disciplined lives of obedience and worship. Ultimately you cannot influence people to Christ if you do not let his transforming power change you.
III. The living breathing authoritative word of God. The oxygen to cure the broken hearted.
If you have every tried to get someone to put oxygen on that is confused from lack of it, the task is almost impossible. The lack of oxygen has caused them to have a delirious high that make them think the very cure they need for life is not necessary. It usually takes many attempts and many people that have established a relationship with the person to make them take the very cure that will save their life. This is exactly what the children of the world lost in disobedience are experiencing; they need assurance that the living breathing authoritative word of God is the cure they need. As Christians how can we convince the unsaved that the Bible is the inspired word of God?
In the article the arguments the Bible is the word of God the author gives us many practical facts to confirm the authority of the Bible. We can know the Bible is the word of God because of the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus claims to be God made into flesh to deliver the world from sin. “The unique revelation made by Jesus Christ demands examination by any rational person seeking the truth” (Liberty University, 2010, p.1). “You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the son of God: or else a madman or something worse” (Liberty University, 2010, p.1).
One of the strongest arguments that the Bible is the word of God is its ability to predict the future. No other book, man, or religion in history can make the claim of accurate fulfilled prophecy the Bible does, therefore it has to be inspired by God. Another point of creditability the Bible is the word of God “There were at least 36 authors perhaps 40, who wrote the 66 books of the Bible” Over a 1600 hundred year period (Liberty University, 2010, p.8). The Bible was written by men of various cultures, occupations, backgrounds and the messages still remains unified.
One of the most effective arguments in a world where truth is measured by sight is the convicting, convincing, converting power the Bible has to change lives. We have heard of murders such as Moses transformed into Godly leaders, barren women becoming mothers of great nations, children defeating giants, families restored, the sick healed, the mentally ill cured and the worst of mankind transformed into saints. D.L Moody stated “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” Christians are saved and given a mission of privilege by God to bring to the world the very breath of God the Bible to those with failing hearts. Your heavenly Father has trusted you with his kingdoms and families mission because he has made you his child.
IV. The establishment of God’s family on earth the church
Humans were created by God for relationships. “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Everyone has a desire to belong. God created the church to establish a family for believers on earth. One of the most effective ways to reach the lost is through the love, the church shows one another. This family of believers has been placed together by God not only for each other but, to increase his kingdom. Like any Father God wants his children to be respectful, loving, helpful, and kind to one another.” A church is not defined by what they do, but who they are” (Towns, 2007, p. 99). “You belong to God’s household with every other Christian for eternity “(Ephesians 2:19). God cannot bring hurt, lost, non-trusting children into a house of strife and expect them to heal. God knows that children tend to forget directions, so he only left two for his adopted children to keep his house running smoothly. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind.” This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matt, 22; 37-39).
If the children of his household to not obey God’s rules they take away the very breath the lost furlough children of the world need to live. Because God is a Father of character and he loves his family he cannot let such behavior go unpunished. He desired for all the children of the world lost and found to listen to his words so that their hearts may be restored and they may come to know what it truly means to be a child of the king. “ You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy the results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor”( James 3:18). When we obey our Father we are rewarded with loving relationships and we inherit his kingdom. He is trying to teach us all what life is about love “no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love (1 Corinthians 13:3).
Conclusion
God understands that children learn by imitation, watching, and hearing. He sent his perfect son Jesus Christ into the world so we could learn behavior the king finds appropriate for his royal children. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane has shown us God’s will is not always easy, he has a plan not to harm us but, to give us a life of abundance. God expects his children to make mistakes but, he does expect growth and he knows that takes time. “God began doing good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again” (Philippians 1:6). We live in a world of hurt broken people so we must come to understand that tribulation is expected on this fallen world. God is working on each and every one of our broken hearts to heal us from the hurt and grief of being orphans, so in heaven we can live in the house of our heavenly father that gave everything he had to seek us out and make us his.
;
References
Liberty University. (2010, August 10). Retrieved August 10, 2010, from Introduction to Christian thought: http://www.liberty.edu
Towns, E. (2007). Core Christianity. chattanooga: AMG publisher.
