Baptist City Blog

Checklist of a Right Heart

Ezekiel 36:28

"And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."

When a person desires to get right with God it is always difficult to know how sincere they are, but often their actions will tell if they are sincere. Though you should not judge the motives of people, their actions will tell you a lot. In Ezekiel 36:24-28, God shows us what a person must do to get right and the results of their getting right.  

First, if a person is going to get right with God, they must separate from the old crowd.  Verse 24 says, "For I will take you from among the heathen..." You will notice the first step for Israel to get back to a right relationship with God was separating from the heathen.  You will never get right and stay right with God and still run with the old crowd. I often hear people tell me that the old crowd are their friends.  That may be true, but those friends are the ones who pulled you away from God. You can't play in mud without getting muddy. A person will never be, or stay, right with God when they run with the old crowd who pulled them away from God.  

The second step in getting right with God is confession of sin and avoiding the sin. Verse 28 says, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." You must confess your sins to God in order to be right with Him, but confession alone won't keep you right. You must also avoid the sin's that you were committing. Yes, that is changing your lifestyle to avoid that sin.  

The third step in getting right with God is new desires.  In verse 26, God talks about a "new heart." Once you separate from the old crowd, confess and avoid sin, then new desires will start coming into your heart.  You will notice when a person comes to this step that their thinking process has changed. Their desire for the old is not driving them like their desire to do right. Desires tell a lot about a person.  

The fourth step in getting right is a good attitude. God talks about a "new spirit" in those who get right. If a person still has a bad spirit, then they are not right with God. When you get right, and the load of sin and guilt is lifted, a new spirit of obedience and excitement is immediately found within.  An attitude that wants to do right will immediately come.  A person's attitude reveals their heart.

The fifth step is a tender heart. Here is a step that cannot be manufactured.  God talks about the "heart of flesh." This is a tender heart for the things of God. When people once were never moved about the plight of others, now they become emotional when they see others hurting. This is when you will start seeing tears in the eyes. You can't hide a tender heart just like you can't hide a cold heart of stone.  Preachers can tell in their preaching when someone is cold because they show no emotion.  Nothing ever moves them! A tender heart is a sign of getting right with God.  

The next and final step is a Spirit-filled life that daily strives to live like a Christian.  When a person is right with God, they will live in God's will for their life.  Like the verse above says, they will "dwell in the land" where God wants them to live. When a person is right with God, they want nothing other than to please God in all that they do.  

Go honestly through this checklist and see if you are right with God.  Many times we fool ourselves, but a checklist like this reveals when we are straying from God. If you find yourself failing in an area, then it is time to get right with God and get back to where God wants you to be.

Idolatrous Hearts

Ezekiel 14:3

"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?"

Idolatry is one of the sins which God hates the most. In fact, the very first of the ten commandments is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) You would think that everyone would understand the importance of this commandment for God chose this to be the first that He mentioned.  This theme is mentioned throughout the Scriptures and confirmed in Matthew 6:33 when it says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." God wants and commands everyone to keep Him, and Him alone, as the only One Whom they worship and serve.  

If I told you today that in your church your pastor decided to set up idols on the platform for you to serve, you would be angered.  Yet, though you would be angered by this wicked act, it seems that many Christians couldn't care less about the idols they have set up in their hearts. The verse above says, "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their heart..." You will notice that Israel had not set up any actual idols that you could see or touch, but in their hearts they had set up idols which are just as bad and physical idols.  Though you may not have any physical idols that you worship, let me remind you that an idolatrous heart is just as bad.  

An idol is anything that would be placed above God.  That is why God says in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first..." God demands Christians to take away the idols in their hearts.  Let me ask you, do you have any idols set up in your heart?  For instance, if anything else brings more excitement and emotion to you than God, then you have an idolatrous heart.  When you get more emotional over politics, sports, money, job, position, recognition, etc., then you have idols in your heart.  When preachers preach error and you continue to follow them, then you have an idolatrous heart.  If anything is of greater value to you than God, then you have an idolatrous heart.  

You must be careful about the idols that can be set up in the heart. I don't think many set those idols up on purpose, simply over time God is pushed aside for other things.  Perform an honest search on your heart today to see if you have any idols that are set up in your heart. If you are not willing to obey God's Word in every instance, then idols have been set up in your heart.  Be sure that your life is idol free.  Just as physical idols that you can see should anger you, likewise the idols that can be set up in your heart should anger you also.  Be careful that you don't allow anything to become of more importance than God.

Restoration Process

Jeremiah 52:31

"And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,"

There is a process that must be taken in order for someone to be restored from sin. Sin is an ugly part of life that everyone must deal with at some time. When sin has been committed, it is very important that the one who has sinned be restored back to usefulness. The whole purpose of the restoration process is so that the one who committed sin can be used by God again.  Let me show you several steps that must be taken in order for someone to be completely restored.  

First, there must be a penalty for sin.  I know this sounds strange, but part of the restoration process is paying for what you have done. Remember, the purpose is to bring them to the point where they can be used by God again. Without a penalty for what they have done, then they will continue to do wrong. Jehoiachin was in captivity for fourteen years before he was lifted out of prison.

Second, the penalty of sin must end. One of the mistakes many people make is they never end sin's penalty.  If there is no end for sin's penalty, then there is no hope for the fallen to be restored.  If there is no hope to be restored, then there is no reason for someone to follow through the whole restoration process.  

Third, restoration must immediately begin. You will notice that the king of Babylon lifted Jehoiachin out of prison.  Likewise, when someone falls into sin, and they acknowledge their sin, then you must immediately start the restoration process of lifting them out of the prison of their sin.  

Fourth, forgiveness must be exercised.  In verse 33, you will see that forgiveness was exercised when his prison garments were changed.  Your goal in the restoration process is to bring the person to the point that they are not remembered for the wrong that they did, but for the good that they will do.

Fifth, fellowship must be restored.  In verse 32, the king of Babylon "spake kindly" to Jehoiachin. One of the sad results of sin is that fellowship is broken with those whom you love.  Therefore, it is very important that those who have been wronged forgive the offender so that they can continue to go through the restoration process.  

Sixth, relationships must be reestablished. Jehoiachin was able to eat at the king's table daily.  When someone sins, you will never restore them unless you allow your relationship with them to be reestablished.  Part of the restoration process is for the fallen to be able to walk with those who will pull them out because of their influence.  If you continue to shun those who have sinned, then how will they ever be restored?  

Last, position must be available again. Yes, sin forfeits the right for certain positions to ever be held again, but a person who has gone through the restoration process must be allowed to gain position in some area once they have proven that they are not going to commit that sin again.  There must be a goal in sight for the fallen to drive them through the whole restoration process.  

Let me ask you, are you helping people who have sinned to go through the restoration process, or are you condemning them? If you want to be like Christ, then you need to make it a part of your daily life to help restore people back to usefulness.

Put Your Sword in Its Scabbard

Jeremiah 47:6

"O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still."

Two very important principles are found in this verse. The first principle is that at times the LORD does expect His people to fight. You will notice that the LORD asks about the sword, "...how long will it be ere thou be quiet?" In the next verse there is an answer to this question when it tells us that the LORD is the One Who gave the sword the charge. In other words, the LORD is not always for peace, but at times He does expect His children to fight when He gives the command.  

There is a need for the Christian to fight.  When truth is attacked, every Christian should stand up and fight.  I become weary of pacifists Christians who idly stand by and watch truth be attacked and compromised. When truth is being attacked, it is time to stand and defend it.  

On the other hand, the other principle that was being taught is that there is a time for everyone to put their sword in the scabbard.  Notice it says in the verse above, "...put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still." Just as much as there is a time to fight, there is also a needed time to stop fighting.  Yes, there are some times when people should stand up and fight, but there are many times when people fight with each other when it is not needed.  

One of the times you should put your sword in its scabbard is with family. You only have one family, and you must be careful not to fight with family. I have found one of the reasons family members fight with each other is because they are trying to better each other. Listen, we are not in a competition to see who has the best family. Every family member must realize that they are all in this together.  There is no trophy handed to the best family at the end of life, therefore, stop trying to compete and start pulling for every family to succeed.  

Another reason families fight is because of meddling family members. I have watched family members try to read each others motives as to why they are doing something, only to cause hard feelings. It is time to put your sword in your scabbard with family. Don't allow yourself to judge the motives of other family members, and stop trying to meddle in their family affairs.  Take care of your own family and you will stay busy for the rest of your life.  

Yes, there is a time to fight, but when it comes to family put your sword in its scabbard and stop fighting.  Don't destroy your relationship with your family over petty issues.  No, you are not always going to agree with family, but you can still have a great relationship with every family member if you will learn to put your sword back in its scabbard.  Don't be guilty of wielding your sword with your family. Put the sword in its scabbard and enjoy the family God gave you.