Romans 10:1 – “BRETHREN, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
We could do a detail study of Romans, chapter 10 specifically, and take tonight’s study many different ways, Yet there is a snippet of scripture that I want to focus on tonight. It’s not taken out of context from the remainder of the book, or chapter, rather, it represents the very core of Paul’s being. It verbalizes the very internal heart of Paul. And perhaps, it should be our own.
What do you desire the most from life? Family? Job? Finances. Often it seems that what we often desire we work hard for. We expend all the energy, time and finances to “make” something happen because it satisfies that desire deep inside. I’ve have a couple of examples…
- When I wanted to get my pilots license I bought all the necessary books and read them them through weeks before I took ground school. I paid for a test ride with an instructor. I sailed in glider planes with a friend to get a sense of flight without engines. Then I found a school and poured my self into all it took to get my license.
- When I wanted to get a programmer job I registered at a junior college and took classes for a year – all without anyone prompting me to do such a thing. Ultimately I programmed in over 35 languages, even when school counselors advised against doing anything with computers!
- When I decided I had met the love of my life, nothing and no one could talk me out of asking her to marry me – and now, nearly 37 years later, we’re still hitched!
A Heart’s Desire is a desire at the innermost core of your being. In our scripture, the word for “Desire” is from the Greek word that means “satisfaction….” In essence: What satisfies you at the very core of your being.
Everyone has heart desires, even the wicked.
- Ps 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his hearts desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
For the Christian, the heart’s desire should be a longing after God’s will
- Ps 119:20 “My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.”
The word ” breaketh ” here is from a Hebrew word meaning “to crush, dissolve, break.” The real judgment of a man is not what he is doing at any give time, but rather what the deep longing of his heart is.
Consider some folks from scripture…
David was a man after God’s own heart, even though some of his behaviors outwardly were deplorable.
- Acts 13:22 he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.
Compare two men who walked with Jesus as one of His chosen ones.
- Luke 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Judas cleared out his desires and it became open hunting season for Satan. He eventually lost everything.
- Luke 22:62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Then the infamous questioning by the Lord in John 21 – Lovest thou me?
We must realize that man looks at the outward, but God Is Looking At The Heart
- 1Samuel 16:7 man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
It’s what’s inside that counts!
- Mat 12:34 KJV O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Consider the two thieves hanging on their crosses next to Jesus.
- Luke 23:42-43 {42} And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. {43} And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
In other words, Jesus looked into the man’s heart and saw something you and I cannot see. We see a thief, dirty, dying, corrupt. He sees a need, a heart, a life, etc.
What is the Desire of Your Heart?
- Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
Thinketh means “to split or open, i. e. to act as gate-keeper. It means your Heart, or your core being, can either be opened or closed to something. There is a parallel in the spiritual. Even a child has to begin forming their heart’s desires — making heart choices.
We’ve oft times laid claim to the scripture in Psalms that says he will give you the desires of your heart. And yet consider the passage as it only makes sense that our desires are in line with his desires.
- Psa 37:1-8 KJV A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. {2} For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. {3} Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. {4} Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. {5} Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. {6} And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. {7} Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. {8} Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Consider these key words…
- Delight: be soft or pliable
- Desires: Petitions
- Heart: very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything.
In other words, the CORE of it all. It matters first what we are INSIDE… God will help us with the OUTSIDE.
There is a song from my background, a Gaither music tape for my kids. I listened to it all the time.
From The Inside Out
Chorus 1
From the inside out (From the inside out) God’s lookin’ at me (God’s lookin’ at me)
From the inside out (From the inside out) I hope He likes what He sees (I hope He likes what He sees)
From the outside I might not look so good But you might change your mind If only you could
See me from the inside out
Verse 1
When I look in the mirror I see my body and my face and my hair
And I have to confess That I’m often a mess And I don’t like what I see there
But when God is looking at me He knows just where to start He looks deep into my heart
Verse 2
Now if God took an inventory I’ll tell you what He’d check
He’d wanna make sure That your heart was pure That’s the first place He’d inspect
And if He founnd that you loved Jesus With your heart and soul and might
Then He’d say you checked out alright
CCLI Song No. 1163608
© 1984 Ariose Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Janet McMahan-Wilson | Kathie Hill
For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License No. 11029110