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Desires Of The Heart

Desires Of The Heart

Feb 18, 2024

Passage: Matthew 6:19-24

Preacher: Rob Holster

Series: Gospel of the Kingdom

Summary:

So far in Matthew 6 Jesus has taught us how to give, how to pray, and how to fast. The emphasis of each was to do them in secret––because that's where God is (v. 4, 6, 18). We meet him in the secret place. So we're not to do all these things––giving, praying, fasting––for others to see and admire our devotion. We are to meet God in the secret place where only he sees––and rewards us. Which brings up the next question: Who are we living for? Is God first, or are we? I read something that summarized Matthew 6 in this way: God first. That sounds about right. If we believe in the Lord Jesus––and we have received the Holy Spirit who works in us––then we are being changed. We've been given a heart transplant, and we're learning to use that new heart, which has new desires. Those new desires embrace "God first." But we also realize that they're in direct contrast to the desires of our flesh, which are decidedly "Me first." Galatians 5:17(NLT) explains it like this: "The sinful nature (the flesh) wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature (the flesh) desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions." Jesus warns us of that constant fight––which flares up in many facets of our lives––where we store our treasures (our money), what we choose to focus on, and who we serve. That's what our passage for Sunday (Matt. 6:19-24) is about––is our desire "God first"? or is it something else?

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