Sermon – “Only God Knows the Heart”

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

This morning we’re going to continue in 1st Corinthians this week in chapter 4 verses one through 5 which is shorter than what my normal scripture reading is but never fear there is lots of other scriptures in there. You’re probably only going to have the one because I didn’t get all the information to them before they left for vacation but. If you could just follow along in your Bibles if you have them. Might title a message just morning only God knows the heart and God indeed does know each of our hearts now as this thinking this we really God knows this better than we know ourselves in many ways and he knows the heart of man he knows what’s in a man’s heart and we don’t always know what’s in another person’s heart sometimes we do but many times we do not but God truly knows the heart and his judgments are true and faithful 1st Corinthians 4 verses one through 5 hear the word of the Lord. Let a man so consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God Moreover is required in stores that one be found faithful but with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or a human court in fact I do not even judge myself for I know nothing against myself yet I am not justified by this but He who judges me is the Lord therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart then each one’s praise will come from God that us pray Father we do thank you and praise you for your word we thank you Father for your holy spirit it’s in this place and I think it’s your spirit guides us and direct us each and every day father may our ears and our hearts be open to receive your word which you have forced Today Father and I pray that you would be exalted and lifted high for you are the one that is worthy you are worthy of all praise and adoration and you are worthy that we should walk in your ways and follow you because you are God because you are the lord most high the creator we thank you and again we just invite your presence toward not just here but into our lives every day in Jesus’ name amen. When Paul’s speaking to the believers a Corinthians. And he tells them to consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God the US He’s referring to Gan he’s continuing to deal with this issue that was going on and create the in church this some were saying that why am of Apollos and I am of Peter and I am of Paul the believers there had taken these men had exalted them and lifted them up and thought one was greater than the other think well I am I’m better because Paul’s the one that led me to Christ Paul’s want to talk me so they were exulting men brothers and sisters we are not to exult men we’re not to I don’t care what evangelist or a pastor it is we’re not to exult men. Billy Graham when he was still alive would say I am a sinner saved by grace. I’m not going to get to heaven because I preach to millions of people on going to get to heaven because of the blood of Jesus Christ don’t exult Billy Graham don’t exult any famous pastor preacher or no man it’s all God and God alone so that’s what he say and consider us servants consider us stewards of the mysteries of God Don’t the sub just consider me a servant of the Almighty God That’s what he’s saying the servant of the ministry of the Gospel brother and sisters whether you are a teacher a Vangelis a pastor or even a parent your I minister of the Gospel and we need to be faithful stewards of the ministers be ministers of the Gospel we need to be faithful in what we say some say that Apostles the true apostles are only those that had seen Christ and the teaching probably is true but modern day ministers should also be considered stewards of the Gospel of Jesus Christ when we believe when we believe in our hearts we are to confess with your mouth. The Lord Jesus Christ and be faithful the Greek word for Steward is a coma me probably not a real good pronounce the ation of that but it means to be a manager to be a manager possibly over an entire household an administrator or overseer which is given trust the master puts their trust in them a steward could be intrusted to manage the household and yet he himself. Nothing you follow me and that’s what Paul saying here I’m a servant I’m a steward so a steward could earn nothing but yet be intrusted with great wealth or great amount of management and there is no better story to demonstrate this very probably already knows where I’m gone the story of Joseph the story of Joseph in the Old Testament Genesis who is Joseph he is the next to the youngest son of Jacob Benjamin is younger but Joseph was a favored son of his father because he was born to him he was the 1st born of Rachel Now this is just for those that maybe not have studied that if you remember Dick Jacob married Leah and then Rachel but his father and all tricked Dame and given him Leah he didn’t really want Leah because she wasn’t as pleasing to the eyes as a good way to put it. He wasn’t as pleasing to the eyes but he loved Rachel with all his heart he truly loved her well Rachel was of a long time before she was able to bear Jacob children so he had 10 sons with Leo and then Jake Joseph was the 1st born of Rachel and then then Benjamin So he was special in his father’s eyes and I’m sure everyone’s heard of the Coat of Many Colors I mean his father made in that beautiful coat and but Joe Joseph was blasting the god gave him dreams and visions and be able to interpret dreams but it it really wasn’t a downfall was all God’s plans but he would go tell his brothers these dreams he had in any dream his he was a you know they were weak they was we standing up in the field well and his brothers weep bow down to him so as brothers say you’re saying that we’re going to bow down and he’s I’m just telling you the dream dog and then another dream they were they were the stars and he was the moon and they too were bound down to him so all these things that he shared with these 10 older brothers did nothing but make them angry made then jealous made them better towards their younger brother Joseph So then one day his father says Joseph I need you to go WOW out into the field on the net off in a distant country you need to go check on your brother see how they’re doing see how the flocks doing so they see him coming to 4 of far off and there comes at that no good brother of ours so they devised this plan they’re going to killing but Jews spoke up and said No don’t kill so they threw him into a pit while they decided what they were going to do with them. And then there came a band of lights down the road so they pull Joseph out of the pit and they sell him sell their own brother to these Isma’il lights so that’s how Joseph gets carried down to Egypt so just a little bit of history there so now I want to read a scripture to you had to give you that so you know what this all men Genesis 391 through 6 not Joseph had been taken down to Egypt and pontiff or an officer of Pharaoh so you know pharaohs king of Egypt right pondered for is an officer for Pharaoh captain of the guard an Egyptian bought him from the Ishmael lights who had taken them down there the Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian I’m going to pause there a minute some people would say Now wait a minute you’re telling me that Joseph was a successful man he’s a slave his brother sold in this village bought him in the part of her body he’s a slave when you’re to tell me that God was with him God blessed him yes God blessed him we need to not look at our circumstances all the time we’re going to try to figure out if we’re blessed by God blessed him God was with him this and of the rest of this and his master Saul that the Lord was with them and that the Lord made all that he did prosper in his hands though none of this belonged to him all that Joseph touch prospered so Joseph found favor in his sight and served him then he made him overseer of his house steward made him oversee of his house and all that he put his put under his authority all the Had he put under his authority so it was from that time that he made him overseer of his house and all that he had that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Joseph sake. God bless this a gypsum household for Joseph of sake and the blessing the Lord was all in all that he had in the House and in the field thus he left all that he had in Joseph Sam and he did not know what he had except for the bread which be ate he had to worry about nothing Joseph took care of everything he was a faithful stored He never once lied to his master he never cheated his master he could have had opportunity because his master one word about men all he had to worry about was gone and sitting down Eaton’s meals he put that much faith and trust in Joseph he was a faithful steward since we’re talking about the mysteries of God how important it is that we are faithful stewards of the mysteries of God what an amazing thing the way God caused these events to turn out in Joseph life we know that Joseph eventually was put in charge over all of Egypt right under Pharaoh he went from being under pontiff 1st house to be in charge of all of Egypt because he interpreted the dreams and Pharaoh put him right under him all answer to Joseph God placed him there for a reason he was a great mystery God intervenes in amazing ways in amazing ways in the lies in the stories we read in the Bible but he also intervenes in our lives in amazing ways does he not God may not have delivered Joseph from slavery he may not deliver us from the circumstances we find ourselves in sometimes but we can trust that God is faithful So are we going to be faithful are we going to be faithful storages in every situation pontiff or had absolute trust in Josef’s complete trust and that’s the point. Because he was a faithful store to a master his master stewards are faithful to their master above all else above everything else there were probably other servants in that household that didn’t always like what Joseph did because Joseph was called to be faithful to his master in his that’s his master only we are called to be faithful to our master no matter what other people might think we are called to be faithful to our Master I found a story about a lighthouse keeper a newly hired lighthouse keeper he worked on a rocky stretch of coastline and he read receive a new supply of oil once a month to keep the light house burning not being far from the village he had frequent visits and request one night a woman from the village begged him for some oil to keep her family warm he thought well that’s of the jet in that request so he gave her some moral Another time a man came and asked for some all for their lamps and he thought well I guess that’s pretty important too the man needs to be able to see at night so he gives him some more Oh not long another comes for small for some brick and and since all these requests seem legit he tried to please everyone granted their request toward the end of the month though I noticed it is supply of oil was running now and it wouldn’t be for another week before the other all came soon the light went out that night several ships wrecked and lives were lost when the authorities investigated the man was very repentant to his excuses and pleadings their reply was you were getting oil for one purpose only to keep the lighthouse burning coals ministry in all Minister of the Gospel or given the light for one purpose to keep the light burning to keep the light shining to keep the message of the Gospel going. Be faithful to that that message that call always 1st Peter for $7.00 to $11.00 says but the end of all things is at hand therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers and above all things have fervent love for one another for the love for love will cover a multitude of sins be hospitable to one another without grumbling as each one has received a gift minister to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God the manifold grace of God How do you if anyone speaks that him speak as a oracles of God See when I get up here and speak I should be speaking as a oracles of God not me it’s about God I am representing him I am his steward and that’s what all Minister of the Gospel need to be stewards ministering as the oracles of God not me but him to a pulp this whole thing’s about give him the glory not me if anyone ministers let him do it as with the ability which God supplies that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to be long to glory and to Mannion forever and ever amen you know there’s a many years ago I preached a sermon called Leavin A I don’t know if title even a legacy or legacy one or the other and how important that we leave a legacy for those that will follow us but you know there’s a song as popular now you’ve probably heard it and you probably have to says I don’t want to leave a legacy. That I will be remembered don’t remember may. But the legacy that I leave I want you to remember Jesus that’s probably not exactly the way it goes but the legacy shouldn’t be about us if we leave any legacy at all it needs to be about Jesus. May they remember Jesus because of May That’s the legacy we should believe and whether they remember me a 100 years from now who cares but hopefully many know Jesus because of our ministry Amen that’s what it’s about that’s what being a faithful steward is about our scriptures the last part of verse 3 and all of verse 4 said I do not even judge myself this is Paul speaking he says for I know nothing against myself yet I am not justified by this but He who judges me is the Lord wow there buddy know who the apostle Paul was remember when he was Saul Saul was out to crush this new movement called the way for Christians he was out to crush them he would he got letters to go off the distance cities and drag them back bring them before the religious leaders he stood there they actually put sed Stevens jacket of clothes that his hands and he stood there watch Stephen be stoned to death this is song who became Paul and he saying I know nothing against myself nothing you say wow he did a lot of harm to the church what it was beginning and he says I know nothing why can he say I know nothing my friends brothers and sister same way that we can say I know nothing against myself because he understood the Sanka fine power of Jesus Christ do you understand a saying to find power of Jesus Christ if Paul could drag them off. In stand there and watch him be stoned to death because they believe in Christ and he could now say I know nothing against myself because the sins are forgiven we too can say that I don’t care how great your since you can say I know nothing against myself if you’ve asked for forgiveness from Jesus Christ 1st John 19 says if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness it’s what he did Amen nothing against myself brothers and sisters do not allow the devil to keep reminding you of sins you’ve already repented of here that because I know he likes to remind you of the past he might even like to remind you things you’re doing today to tell him to get behind me because I’m a child of the Living God I’m forgiven a found a story the titles statistics and stuff and it’s by C. of Henry he says the glory of a good person is the testimony of a good conscience and a good conscience is able to bear very much and is very cheerful in adversities while I need help with that sometimes because. Come on it’s hard to be cheerful in adversity isn’t an amen an evil conscience is always fearful in a quiet never never read joys except when you have done well you shall rest sweetly if your heart does not accuse you sinners never have. True joy or feel inward peace because there is no peace for the wicked says the Lord in Isaiah 5721 the glory of the good is in their conscience and not in the tongues of others the gladness of the just is of God and in God and their joy is of the truth a person will easily be content and pacified whose conscience is pure if your if you consider what you are within you will not care what others say concerning you people consider the deeds consider the deeds but God weighs the intentions to be always doing well and to esteem little of oneself is a sign of a humble soul for not he who commands himself is approved but whom the Lord commands says Paul and 2nd Corinthians to walk in Luke importantly with God and not to be kept abroad by any outward affections is the state of a spiritual person conscience is that faculty in me which attaches itself to the highest that I know and tells me what the highest I know demands that I do it is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or to what it regards as the highest authority if I am in the habit of steadily facing towards God my conscience will always introduce God’s perfect will indicate what I should do the point is will live day that is the point will we obey he says I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I walk without offense I should be living in such perfect sympathy with God’s Son that in every circumstance the spirit of my mind is renewed the one thing that keeps the conscience sensitive to him is the habit of being open to God on the inside when there is any debate quit. There is no debate possible when constant speaks and of quote back to verse 5 from our passage therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will bring both to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart friends judge nothing before the time pass no great decided opinion upon another do not have a horse opinion towards the conduct of any man since there are so many things that make up a man’s character that we cannot always know now I’m going to say yes there are those without a doubt that we know that they are evil through and through there are those that any fruit that they bear is rotten We know that but there are many that we do not know many that we do not know their hearts so be careful to pass judgment upon them for when the Lord comes at that day all the secrets will be revealed all of them true judgment will be passed upon all men on that day he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness he will bring to light the secret things that have been hidden in a man’s heart there will be no secrets and that day all will be revealed Matthew $71.00 says judge not that you be not judge for with what judgment you judge you will be judged and with what measure you use it will be measured back to you that’s an important passage if we truly take that to heart when we look at others oftentimes we would be quiet when we God knows the hearts of men and women you know when you think of heart what is the heart it is the most vital important organ that we have anybody’s right in it all right the heart is to this body what an engine is to a car on a. These illustrations are you sometime working with them but it is what an engine is to the car I’m telling you if you go out if your engine fails your cars don’t you’re not going anywhere it is the life of that car the engine blows up the engine dies the car is no good to you it’s not going to go anywhere it’s not going to move it’s not going to do anything and yes there are many other components of that car that work in conjunction with the engine you have to have a fuel tank and fuel lines to feed it feel to help it to go into cars today have that computer to help it to know what to do and keep it firing right so that is the brain working with the heart the arteries or the fuel line to feed the heart right so the heart is to these bodies that we have the same thing that a engine is to a car the mind works in conjunction with the heart the veins work in conjunction to pump blood to life to these bodies when these hearts fail these bodies are no more these bodies will die there is no life in them the heart is a life of the body right this is amazing organ it really is kids got a question for you you want to take a guess how many times a heart beats in a day 24 hour period take a guess 1000 times anybody else like to guess because that was way off 24 hour period. Now you’re way off again the other way anybody else a couple kids anybody else how many times a heart beat in a day can Isabel you’re in you’re in high school just give me a guess. It’s 100000 times a day 100000 times in the $24.00 hour period that is $35000000.00 times a year and that is $2500000000.00 times in the average lifespan. This is the heart amazing if we could get engines last that long. I mean if a car manufactured good engines at last that long they’d be amazing I mean they would they would they would out so anybody right amen it’s good to laugh hallelujah in both the Old Testament and New Testament you know the word heart is used thousands and thousands of times thousands of times but it’s not referring to that organ inside of our bodies it is not referring to that it is using heart figure to fully now we have Americans we tend when we think of heart we think how so and so has a broken heart because his girlfriend broke up with me or the other way around we think of emotions when we think of heart we do come on be honest broken hearted but we think of emotions but the biblical word heart is the inner aspect of a man and it’s all parts of the man it’s the mental process it’s where actions reactions take place it’s the process that will lead a man it is emotions also but it is also the will of a man it’s the direction that a man will go that’s what the heart is the heart is for understanding Job 3836 says who has put wisdom in the mind or who has given understanding to the heart who has given understanding to the heart it discerns between good and evil in 1st kings 39 therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people that I may discern between good and evil so the heart helps us to it be served what is right and what is wrong what is good and what is bad moral and immoral 1st Samuel 167 says. But the Lord said to Samuel Do not look at his appearance read his physical stature because I have refused him for the Lord does not see as man see for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart the heart he knows what’s in the heart Jeremiah says 247 that I will give them a heart to know me that I am the lord my friends this be a good prayer for our nation I will give them a heart to know me that I am the Lord and they and they shall be my people and I will be their God for they shall return to me with their whole heart their entire heart I manged their entire being all that is within them not just that organ in their pumping blood but its the person is what makes us who we are Proverbs 271000 says as in water face reflects face so a man’s heart reveals the man what a good placed in right a man has heart reveals the man you look in that water you’re going to see reflection the heart reflects what’s in here is good stored up in here out of the treasures of the heart the mouth speaks thank you carry out of the treasures of the heart the mouth speaks what’s in here is going to direct everything we do is going to direct how we treat others do we have compassion in here do we have what decided love covers a multitude of sins right do we have love in our hearts for a man for mankind do we have compassion do we have hope when Christ isn’t here. We will walk as he walked we will imitate him. We will love others and we will be faithful stewards knowing that we are doing His will we shouldn’t be so wrapped up in me me may or this mine mine mine what’s mine but it’s all his He’s e owner of it all I meant it let’s be faithful because God knows the heart he knows the intense of the heart and if there’s any wicked way in May We should pray Lord plans me that there will be no wicked way in May May OP may my heart be pure and may be truly devoted to see my creator Amen.