Words about the Word - Paul Johnston - Friendship Baptist Church
Before I get into this message, I must give credit to John Tate. Every Sunday morning, he and I visit for a few minutes before he heads off to his church in Woodson. We often share the topics of our sermons for the day. The inspiration for this message comes from a series he preached recently.
Heart Transplant
As a young man, I accepted Jesus into my heart. However, it seemed like every time I messed up and did something a little less than Christ-like, I felt like I needed to re-ask Him into my heart. What I didn’t understand was that upon asking Jesus into my heart, I had already had that heart transplant. The Holy Spirit was working in me and convicting me.
John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Our hearts are changed the moment we accept Him as Lord and Savior. God made it clear in Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” And in Deuteronomy 30:6 “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.” Has your heart changed? Are your thoughts different? Think how important it is for future generations in your family that you know Jesus!
Eyes of my heart
When we are transformed by Jesus and our heart is transplanted, we should see people differently. Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” In my office when I was coaching, I displayed a sign that reminded me of how I can influence young lives. It said, “No one knows how much you know until they know how much you care.” When the eyes of your heart are changed it allows you to serve others in extraordinary ways. Examples are teachers and how they respond to young people, nurses and medical staff when things are bad (COVID-19) they continue to do the job even when they risk their own lives. First responders, policemen and the military chose to put themselves second. As Christians, our hearts should be like that for the lost and work to share Christ with everyone. Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,”
Heart on Fire
Luke 24:32 “They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Passion! Because we know that Jesus paid the price for our salvation, we should be working to tell someone--show someone the love of Christ. Romans 12: 11-13 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Serving Heart
Ephesians 6: 6-7, 10 “Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” It’s sometimes easy to get involved in Christian activities that are public. A serving heart doesn’t turn on and off. Seeing another person in need should put us into action—with the first action being prayer! Joshua 22:5 “But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
I will finish with a verse that has become somewhat of a motto for me. I’ve shared it many times with my church and through my work with FCA. Most recently I shared it with a group of coaches and God’s word came alive to several of them as they can so easily become weary in the day-to-day exhaustion of trying to be coaches and leaders. Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Don’t give up. Stay passionate about sharing Christ. If you’ve had a heart transplant, you have the Holy Spirit to guide you. If you have not accepted Jesus into your heart, today is the perfect day.
