## How's Your Heart?

## Philippians 4:1-7

Last Thursday, Clyde Miller was wheeled into the operating room at Bloomington Hospital and underwent major heart surgery. The surgeons by-passed a number of blocked arteries, and while they were elbow-deep in his chest they decided to replace his aortic valve as well. I am thankful to report that all went well with the surgery and the progress of his recovery seems to be right on schedule.

Prior to the surgery, we joked about different aspects of this procedure. I told him that he would be joining a very elite group of folks in our church who bear the scars of initiation upon our chests. But as we all know, heart surgery is serious. The heart is an organ that is vital to human life. In much the same way, our spiritual heart is vital to our spiritual life.

With that in mind, I ask the question…how's your heart? The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Philippi and suggests some important truths for each of us. Read: Php. 4:1-7

In our text this morning we will find five characteristics of the believer's heart. Now, before I get started I must clarify that the spiritual heart of an individual does not beat…is not alive…until the Savior performs CPR on it! Until one has a personal relationship with Jesus, they remain spiritually dead! But it is when we place our faith in the Son of God, and His finished work on Calvary we are born again!

We have spiritual life…we have been regenerated by faith in Jesus! In the medical realm, CPR stands for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. For my purposes this morning, I want it to stand for Christ Provides Regeneration. Our hearts will never be right, until we come to God by faith. So today, if you have never trusted in the blood of Jesus Christ as an atonement for your sin, you are for all spiritual consideration dead!

(Ephesians 2:4-5) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [or made alive] us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

So I again ask the question, "How's your heart?"

I. Is It A Helping Heart? v1-3

A. Euodias and Synteche

1. Here is an example of two ladies within this local church who had some sort of disagreement.

2. Can you imagine that? Christians…church members…who couldn't get along?

3. Of course we can understand this, just because we are Christians, it doesn't mean that we will never sin…it doesn't mean that we will never have a problem with a fellow believer or a fellow church member.

4. Note the specific problem had to do with their thinking.

5. Paul said his desire for them was to be of the 'same mind in the Lord'.

6. We are not told what the specific issue was…because it doesn't matter what the issue may be…the problem was they were not in harmony.

(Philippians 2:2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

(Psalms 133:1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

7. That also means that it isn't good and it isn't pleasant when the brethren are not in unity!

B. Who were these troublemakers?

(Philippians 4:3) And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

1. They weren't troublemakers or busybodies!

2. They were fellow laborers in the gospel.

3. Workers? YES!

4. People who had dedicated themselves to reach others with the gospel message? YES!

C. What are we to do?

1. We are to help them!

2. We are to have a heart that loves enough to help…

3. Helping when there is a physical need…

4. An emotional need…

5. But certainly when there is a spiritual need!

(Galatians 6:1-2) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

6. Jesus' ministry was one of 'helps'!

(Acts 10:38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

7. We need a helping heart! How's your heart?

II. Is It A Rejoicing Heart? v4

A. Rejoice in your salvation cf Luke 10:20

1. If ever there was a reason for a believer to rejoice…this is it!

2. Realizing that our name is written in Heaven!

3. Not because we are such wonderful or perfect people…

4. But because we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God!

B. Rejoice with others

(Romans 12:15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

1. I don't have to be the recipient of every blessing of God in order to rejoice!

2. When God blesses you, I can rejoice.

3. When I hear of God's blessings upon another servant of God…my response is to rejoice!

4. The woman who found the lost coin called for her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her.

(Luke 15:8-9) Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

C. Rejoice at all times

(Philippians 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16) Rejoice evermore.

1. Rejoicing doesn't come from circumstances…

2. It comes from the heart!

3. How's your heart? Is it helping…is it rejoicing?

III. Is It A Proper Heart? v5

(Philippians 4:5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

A. 'Moderation' = appropriate

1. The four other places in Scripture this word is translated as 'gentle' three times and 'patient' once.

2. Paul is talking about our behavior as a Christian…

3. How we act…our attitude…our testimony if you will.

4. Why is this so important?

B. The Lord is at hand…Jesus is coming soon!

1. Our testimony to others may mean the difference between their going to heaven or hell.

2. How we behave is as important as what we believe!

3. We do not know who may be observing our lives…let your moderation (or appropriate behavior) be known unto all men.

4. How's your heart?

IV. Is it a Worry-Free Heart? v6

(Philippians 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

A. Why worry?

1. The phrase 'be careful' speaks of worry or anxiousness.

2. Jesus used the same word when He told us not to 'take thought'

3. He explained the futility of worry.

(Matthew 6:27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

4. Worry doesn't change anything!

(Psalms 127:2) It is vain [or pointless] for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

B. How to avoid worry.

1. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving…

2. Let your requests be made known unto God…

3. Are you troubled…are you heavy hearted… tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus!

4. How's your heart?

V. Is it a Peaceful Heart? v7

(Philippians 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A. How is this possible?

1. Only through faith in God and a proper relationship with Him.

2. Peace with God…means peace from God.

(Isaiah 26:3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

3. This goes beyond human understanding…

4. This can only be obtained by faith in the God of peace!

(Philippians 4:9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

B. Every person in the world desires and seeks for this peace.

1. But it isn't obtained through knowledge and ability.

2. It doesn't come through wealth and possession.

3. It only comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.

4. How's your heart today? Is it…

- A Helping Heart?
- A Rejoicing Heart?
- A Proper Heart?
- A Worry-Free Heart?
- A Peaceful Heart?

What is your need today? If you have never accepted the free gift of salvation…I invite you to come today and let us tell you of how you can be saved for all eternity.

Believer, has your heart grown cold toward the Lord and toward His work? Why not come now and recommit yourself to Him. If your heart needs cleansing, will you come?