Examine the Heart (2)

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

What we are reading here is Luke’s interpretation of the Last supper. This supper was taking place during the Passover Week.

John 19:14 “Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!””

While this is juicy enough to preach a sermon. I want to focus on something more personal.

Luke22:23 “And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.”

Syzeteo

Luke 22:24 “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.”

Philoneikia

A lack of self-examination leads to pride and self-delusion

It reveals the state of your heart. If you do not check internally the status of your self, you will live in a state of denial. You cannot make adequate choices without internal contemplation.

Luke 5:16 “But he would withdraw to lonely places and pray.”

Luke 6:12 “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”

Mark1:35 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

No matter what you might do, everything is based on a belief system. I call it our BS.

If you’re angry, it’s because your BS

If you’re sad, It’s because of your BS

If you’re Offended, it’s because of your BS

If you're happy, it’s because of your BS

If your belief system is twisted, your not going to make healthy choices.

We see an example of this is in

Hag 1:5 “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.”

The book of Haggai is a small book only 2 chapters, but those two chapters house the framework of revival.

Haggai is a prophet of the Lord around 520 bc

First prophet after the Israelites were released captivity from Babylon

Historical context of Haggai

Israel had a victim mentality leaving captivity and avoided any thoughts of confrontation.

The groundwork of revival begins when we set aside the desires we have for ourselves, embracing the will of the Father and engaging the world in a manner that reflects the light of Christ to everyone around us.

This is not done by telling people how to live, it is done by showing people Jesus Christ. Through your actions and determination to allow your temple to grow people of the world will start building their temple.

Self-examination is not easy because of humanity’s fallen nature

It’s a natural inclination to satisfy the desires of our flesh and avoid anything that feels uncomfortable.

We see it in society all the time.

The world programs us at a young age to:

Follow your dreams

Believe in yourself

I am strong and independent

Me, Myself, and I

We don’t want to examine ourselves because it removes the excuse we have that allows our behavior.

If I examine myself and look inwardly to who I am, I am held accountable by the Holy Spirit.

Accountability is essential to healthy living

But the reason we oppose this mentality is because the heart is deceitful above all things.

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

There are two directions to take in life

The blessing

The curse

Being able to distinguish from the two can be much harder than we believe.

Sometimes the blessing looks like a curse, or the curse a blessing.

There are three realms of contrast seen in Jeremiah 17.

The object of trust

The ungodly, Trust men and flesh.

Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.”

Flesh represents weakness, frailty, and self-love.

They seek to appeal to the areas that comfort the flesh.

Flesh can only be comforted temporarily

The Godly, Trust Jehovah and the Spirit.

Jeremiah 17:7 ““Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.”

Jehovah stands for strength, might, power, and vitality

The object of a man’s faith determines his character.

They are also contrasted by

The Operation of Their Faith

The ungodly look to the Temporal

Jeremiah 17:6 “He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come.”

Temporary fixes for internal conditions.

Seeking to attain the next best thing.

Never Satisfied.

The Godly look to the Eternal

Jeremiah 17:8 “He does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought”

Heat and trials do not weaken the resolve of this man

There is confidence in the future hope of eternity

The third contrast is

The Outcome of Their Faith

The Ungodly is Always Chasing a Feeling

Jeremiah 17:6 “He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.”

His life is filled with endless wandering

Just wants to be happy

The Godly Embraces Joy

Jeremiah 17:8 “He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream”

True joy is a lifestyle of knowing the Truth

Joy is a mindset that will not falter during the harshest winds.

Self-Examination cannot be accomplished when we succumb to the desires of the flesh.

Self-Examination Glories God

We were created together for a purpose, and we were bestowed in the image of God.

Just as God posses perfect qualities and attributes we too have been allotted these qualities.

However, the fallen nature of man has twisted and abused these qualities for self-gain.

Man uses these qualities to bolster themselves up making them feel better about their flaws.

Luke 6:6-11 “On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.”

When Jesus was with His disciples during the last supper, He was aware of who would betray Him, yet He still broke break with His betrayer.

We need to learn to embrace the ways of Christ.

We should not strive to expose the sinner

We should expose the sin

People are broken through their fallen nature and need guidance.

Don’t fall victim to the fallen nature, embrace to forgiving nature.

Pray.

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