Introduction : Introduction: An impressed heart becomes a tremendous motive to accomplish things. An old proverb says, "Even a whale dances when it is praised." A sales person needs to move a customer´s heart. (I was once deeply impressed at a department store in Tokyo). All of the great men of God in the Bible moved His heart.
1. The foremost figure who moved God´s heart in the Old Testament 1) Abraham gave His only son Isaac as an offering at Mt. Moriah (Ge 22:1-2, 12, 15-18, Heb 11:17-19). 2) Moses kept firm faith and obedience. - He courageously set to the deliverance of Israel and a trip in the desert that seemed impossible to man (Nu 12:5-8, Ac 7:38, Heb 11:27-30). 3) David fought for the glory of God (1Sa 17:31-36, 45-47, Ac 13:22)
2. The foremost figure who moved God´s heart in the New Testament 1) Peter broke ground by bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles: faith and obedience - The Jews were sternly forbidden to enter the houses of the Gentiles or eat with them. - God was impressed (Ac 10:11-16, 44-48, Ac10:34-35, 1:18) 2) Paul´s vision for a mission (Ac 26:16-18, 19-23; 2Ti 4:6-8)
3. If we want to live a life to move God´s heart 1) We should have a vision To enter the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey (Dt 11:8-9). To preach the Gospel to all creation in the world (Mt 28:19-20, Mk16:15, Ac1:8). To live a life for the glory of the Lord (1 Co6:19-20, Eph 1:6). 2) We should have courageous faith and obedience (Heb 3:18-19, Nu 14:30, Heb 10:35-38). 3) We should have sacrificial love for God - God is in the foremost place ( Mt 22:37, Jn 14:23, 1Jn 2:15, 17, Ps 91:14).
Conclusion : If we intend to make others surrender to us, we will fail in the end. Others will follow us, only when we move their hearts. Moreover, even if we unreasonably claim and insist against God, He will not listen to us. We should first prepare our lives to move His heart and then come to Him.
|