Troubled Hearts

Temple Baptist Church - 11-3-2013

John 14:1-6

Introduction: My message this morning will be simple in content and yet profound in practical
application. There will be no great depths of theology, but rather a simple, down-to-earth message geared
to help each of us.
A. I believe that all of Gods people, at one time or another-in one way or the other, have troubled
hearts.
1. Moses, a man who spoke to God face to face, was troubled. Numbers 11:11 And Moses said unto the
LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that
thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
2. David, a man after Gods own heart, was troubled. 1 Samuel 27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall
now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape
into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so
shall I escape out of his hand.
3. John the Baptist, the greatest preacher born of woman, was troubled. Luke 7:19 And John calling
unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for
another?
4. Paul, the greatest missionary who ever lived, was troubled. 2 Corinthians 7:5 For, when we were come
into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within
were fears.
5. The list could go on but I think we all get the message. There are times when each of us has a troubled
heart.
B. One of the signs of the last days (I know that this verse is speaking of the Tribulation Period and I am
simply making application) is Mens hearts failing them for fear. With great knowledge comes great fear.
With our ability to see or hear the news in a moments time lends to more and more worries. When I was a
boy, people did not know what was going on around the world like they do now.
C. The number one killer in America today is stress related problems. Gods people are not exempt and
I know of even preachers who have taken their own lives when their fears were not handled properly.
People are different and their areas of concern are often diverse.
D. Some people are strong in certain areas while having weakness in others. We can have great faith in
one area of live and then have a trembling soul in another. This makes it easy for us to indict others when
they become troubled or worried while we worry about our problems in other areas.
1. Fearful Concerning Our Health
2. Fearful Concerning Our Finances
3. Fearful Concerning Our Families
4. Fearful Concerning Our Future
5. Fearful Concerning Our Foes
6. Fearful Concerning Our Failures
E. The key to peace of heart could be summed up in one word: TRUST! Trust is a big word!
Troubled and fearful are the exact opposites of trust. Gods Word says much about trust and we will tie
those verses to those concerning fears.
F. Fear is a hard taskmaster that can both control and ruin the lives of Gods people. Even those who
have placed into the Lords hands the safe keeping of their souls have concerns and fears. Fear and faith are
polar opposites and cannot cohabitate.
Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear
sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable-and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at
the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.
G. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, was troubled about many things. Luke 10:41 And Jesus
answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.
H. Some people worry about not having anything to worry about while others live in a more
peaceful existence. One of the main culprits in this area of worry and distress is found in Psalms 25:17,
which reads, The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. (Notice that
the troubles were enlarged in the heart. Not that the problems were enlarged for they
remained constant but they became enlarged when the heart became troubled and fearful.
The more you worry about something the worse it seems to get.)
I. Gods Word commands us not to worry - Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1. There Is The Certainty Of Troubled Hearts be troubled - 2 Corinthians 7:5 For, when we
were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were
fightings, within were fears. (Notice I said, The certainty of troubled hearts. Everyone is
plagued with this problem. Even Gods men are troubled in heart at times.)
2. There Is The Choice Of Troubled Hearts Let not - John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid. (It is simply up to us when and how much we worry! We can either have a trusting
heart or a troubled one.)
3. There Is The Cause Of Troubled Hearts if it were not so (Troubled hearts are a result
of unbelief and mistrust.)
Mark 4:35-38 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the
other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there
were also with him other little ships.And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the
ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake
him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
a. They Relied Upon Their Own Strength so that it was now full. (They rowed and bailed
until all hope was gone before awaking the Lord.)
b. They Failed To Realize Who Was With Them Master (Dear Lord, you got us into
trouble again!)
1) The Realization Of His Omnipresence
2) The Realization Of His Omniscience
3) The Realization Of His Omnipotence
c. They Forgot Who They Were carest thou not (You had better believe that He cares!
Oh, yes He cares!)
d. They Forgot His Promise Let us pass over unto the other side.
4. There Is The Cure Of Troubled Hearts ye believe in God, believe also in me
a. Trust In The Lord - Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding.
Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
Selah.
Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
b. Rest In The Lord - Psalms 37:7 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.
c. Commit Unto The Lord - Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he
shall bring it to pass.
Job 23:10-11 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My
foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
















Why Are You Here?
Genesis 1:23-30


Gadgets
powered by
Google

Introduction: This will be the first message in a series on biblical change. The first messages will
lay the foundation for what is biblical change and why does God desire it of you and how can
you change.
The first two messages will deal with "Why are you here? Not just in this service (although
that's a good question). Why are you living on earth.
1. Evolution says you are a biological accident. Totally a matter of change, with no
purpose or future. If you do an internet search you will find various idea. One says that
Buddhism I the best answer. You preexisted and will exist again as something, from a
rock, animal, better or worst person depending on how you handle this life.
A doctor recently said the best answer is bio centralism . In classical physics, the
past is assumed to exist as a definite series of events, but according to quantum physics,
the past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities." The
observer is the first cause, the vital force that collapses not only the present but the
cascade of past spatio-temporal events we call evolution. Our father was some chemical
in a primeval soup 5 billion years ago, that became a amino acid, that produced a protein.
Do you one common thing about all these idea about the origin of man?
It gives no hope for the present. You are on the evolution's mythical railroad
headed into the stars. Present struggle of the fittest is a sacrifice for the future. The
present is not important.
Kill off anyone who hinders the future. Abortion, Kill the baby that would be an
inconvenience to it mother. Kill old people who can not produce, or kill anyone who
maybe is not intelligent enough to help future generations.
ILLUS: Scandinavia in Northern Europe has a very enlightened and modern population.
Some years ago they passed euthanasia laws which gives a doctor the authority to
terminate the life of an old person who has lost their health to the degree they would have
a poor quality of life. They also have socialized medicine and many are afraid to go to
doctors even with minor problems....afraid they will murdered for the benefit of the state.
Obamacare is socialized medicine.
You see the Devil's substitute for the biblical account of how God created the earth
is that evolution is god. Evolution's premise is that only the strong have the right to
survive. In other words, the only purpose in life is to prepare for a future generation.
That's your only function....to biologically produce the next generation.
No wonder folks are confused, no wonder the eat, drink and be merry philosophy of
today. What hope does a person have....you only live and then die....there conclusion is
there is no purpose to life!
2. Why are you here? Does the world's answer give you any satisfaction?? Does it give
you any hope?
3. This Bible is God's word. That just means it is a written record of what God wanted to
tell man. It is His Word. His word on why we are here and what we are to do.
4. Only God was at the Creation or the beginning of the Universe. The Evolutionist were
not, nor any man. The best man can do apart from hearing an eye witness account is read
a eye witness account.
I. GOD SAID IN THE BEGINNING HE CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE.
A. "Let us make man in our own image." (Genesis 1:26)
1. Hebrew word means "that which is representative." It does not mean we look like
God, but have characteristics that God has.
2. The Heb. word, likeness, means "a model, resemblance, fashion, manner or
similitude."
3. God gave man a mind, a will and emotion. By the way...if we all had a common
ancestor, why do not animals and all life have a will, intelligence and emotion.
Where did the plants come from?
B. "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the
likeness of God made he him;" (Gen 5:1)
C. If we are made in the image of God, having godly characteristics....there must be a
reason!
1. If I gave you a hammer, would you not think I wanted you to hammer something?
2. If God gave us a mind (intelligence) we ought to use it. If a will then we should
make choices, and if emotion..then we should feel. That simple to understand.
3. If I gave you a hammer, and you conclude I want you to hammer something!?
Right. Well the next logical question is WHAT?? I must have had something in
mind to give you a hammer.
4. God gave us a mind, a will and emotion to use them. That logical...but For WHAT
Purpose. A mind to think...think what....a will to chose...chose what....emotion....to
feel what!?
II. WHAT THEN IS GOD'S STATED PURPOSE?
A. If I walked up to you and gave you a hammer, without saying anything else you would
wonder...Why did he do that, what does he want me to do with it?
1. God did not give us these His characteristic without telling us why!
2. His word tells us why! He gave us written instructions to know what to do with
them.
B. What then does the Bible, God's instruction tell us?
1. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Eccl. 12:13)
2. "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord
thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with
all thy heart and with all thy soul, (13) To keep the commandments of the Lord, and
his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (Deut. 10:12-13)
C. It is easy to see man is not doing that! The world is in gross sin. Even many professing
Christians also are not living for the Lord. For many if it were not for them saying they
were believers you would not suspect they were.
D. So mankind is not fulfilling God's stated purpose in being here. By the way....who is
mankind? Is it not you and me?
1. Many rebel against the thought that we are created and not created for our own
gratification.
2. World seeks to please itself...not the one who created them.
3. Even a believer will find himself in great trouble if he runs contrary to fulfilling
his created purpose.
ILLUS: There was once a not to bright farmer who made a lot of money. He got to thinking
about riding that open old hot and dusty John Deer tractor. He had lot of money so he
went into town and brought a brand new Lincoln Continental with an air condition and
heater. He then got a welder and wielded a three point hitch on the rear bumper and
hooked his disk up and headed to the field. Well, you can imagine what happened. You
should have seen him driving a Lincoln Continental out in the field pulling a plow behind!
He only went a short way and then he got struck! Folks a new Lincoln is not made to plow
fields, cultivate crops and spread manure! He had a great idea....but it was faulty.
You say...what a silly illustration...no one would do something that dumb! Think a moment...
E. Neither is man made to live in sin.
1. Sin ruins man. Rom. 6:23. The wages of sin is death.
2. QUESTION?: Name me one thing that is sin that is beneficial to you? Just one.
F. Romans 1:21-25. Note: Verse 32.
1. The whole matter is this:
God knows what is best for you.
He created you for a purpose.
People are not fulfilling that purpose and are having great difficulty, heartache
trouble.
2. God gave us all we needed to live purposeful, happy and productive lives. He gave us a
mind a will, and emotion.
3. The world says if you give me what I want I will be happy! Folks win the ungodly
lottery...and get everything they want...it ruins their lives and they commit suicide and
they lives are ruined. All it does it makes bigger problems.
ILLUS: I have an Internet web site called Bible Truth. I get many e-mails a week from people from
all over the world....many are hurting and frustrated.....their lives have no purpose.
Recently I received mail from two women the same week who we so confused. They were
asking for help. Both explained they were living with a man....who they were not married too.
Yes, there were children....the man was being unfaithful... Folks God never intended a man and
woman to live together outside wedlock and have children go up such a situation.. Here we have
two couples living without any real purpose.
4. BUT THERE IS GOD'S WAY!! You can live happy, production and fulfilled likes in spite of
sickness, poverty, loneliness, and trouble of every kind!! Folks sin of every kind can be
overcome...it can be overcome, forgiven and put behind you through belief and trust in Jesus
Christ. That why we are here, so that we can have a personal relationship with our Creator and
God....for all eternity.
III. WHAT IS A MAN WHO LIVES WITHOUT GOD.
A. The truth is you were created by God to live for him and in doing so you would live the
greatest like possible. But so many, live to themselves.
ILLUS: While in the 70's I lived in Winston-Salem, NC and the newspaper on Sunday came with
another paper called "Parade." One Sunday morning as I opened it i looked at the cover and it
almost broke my heart. Pictured was a young teenage girl standing in the rain on a busy highway
holding a sign that said....."Any Where."
B. What are you apart from a personal relationship with God?
1. Hopelessly separated from God. God says in describing what a person is who believes
in Christ and lives for the Lord:
TURN TO; Ephesians 2:1-3
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once
walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
2. Spiritually dead. Folks, the best the lost man can do is a failure. TURN TO: 1 Cor. 2:14
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
What the verse says a man with out Christ is like a ship out of water. A ship that
goes nowhere. It has all the potential, but out of its intended element of operation which is
water...it is worthless. Is it not a tragedy that Christ offers us a wonderful life and yet so
many are totally missing it.
ILLUS: What if a man would find a map that tells where a great treasure is buried. But, the
map is in a language unknown to him. A person who is schooled in foreign languages
tells him he knows the language and can help him. Wouldn't it be foolish for the man with
the map to not believe or trust the man and reject his offer? The way is there, the
instruction is there, yet he can not use the information. That is like the unsaved.
The person who does not know Christ as their Lord and Savior...the way is there for
a fulfilled and purposeful life, yet because they will not believe they miss God's treasures.
Note what God says about the person who will not believe and received Jesus
Christ as their Savior.
He is:
3. Hostile to God. Does like to hear preaching on sin either. James 4:1-7
4. Blinded by Satan. 2 Cor. 4:1-6
5. Powerless to Overcome Sin's Hold. John 8:34
6. Incapable of Living a Spiritual Fruit and Meaningful Life. John 15:4-6
7. His/her life is marked and scarred by sin.
ILLUS: Have you notices the faces and appearance of people who live in sin.....?
The live for another high. Always seeking fun and entertainment, yet never
satisfied. I have a relative who has lived a life of sin. You can see the tragedy of her
life in her face. It is empty....
A. Through coming into a right relationship to Christ by faith in Jesus Christ you can:
1. Have your sins forgiven. Eph. 1:7
Col. 1:13-14. Compare this with being hopeless separated from God.
2. Receive the new Birth. John 3:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3)
Compare this to being spiritually dead as God's says the lost man is.
3. Have excess to God. Heb. 10:19-22.
Compare this to being separated and alienated from the God who created you.
4. Understand the things of God. 1 Cor. 2:9-13
Compare this to being blind to God and spiritual dead.
5. Become a new person living a wholesome and abundant life.
B. Compare this to remaining a person who is a vile sinner, unable to overcome
sin...living a life of being defected to sin. And the list goes on and on!!!
V. YOU MUST CHOSE TO ACCEPT OR REJECT GOD PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.
A. He gave you a mind. You can hear and understand God's instruction. You can reason and see
the evidence it is true.
1. You also have the will God gave you. You can chose to do what you know is right,
because you understand that this is God's plan for you.
2. You can also to a degree feel the convicting power of God's Spirit drawing you.
B. God instructs in his Word. To Believe in Him.
1. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me
has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into
life." (John 5:24)
2. "But what does it say? "The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"
(that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
to salvation." (Romans 10:8-10)
C. God says to repent of your sin. What is the reality?
1. You are a sinner. You will die in you sins and go to a Devil's hell, unless you receive
Christ.
". . . and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and
believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15)
2. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Dear friend God wants you to be saved.
D. WHOLEHEARTED BELIEVE THAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST PROVIDES COMPLETE
FORGIVENESS.
1. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7)
2. "For it pleased {the Father that} in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to
reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven,
having made peace through the blood of His cross."(Colossians 1:19-20)
VI. IF YOU REJECT GOD'S TRUTH TO REPENT OF YOUR SIN AND THUS FAIL TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF
ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH GOD'S SON, JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL REMAIN:
A. UNDER GOD'S JUDGMENT.
1. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. "And
this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:18-19)
2. "And even as they did not like to retain God in {their} knowledge, God gave them over
to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;" (Romans 1:28)
B. POWERLESS TO OVERCOME SIN IN YOUR LIFE.
" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
(John 8:34)
C. DOOMED TO DIE IN YOUR SINS.
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you
will die in your sins." (John 8:24)
CONCLUSION:
1. You were created to be saved. To have the nature of God and forgiveness of sin.
2. You were created...your creator has a plan for you. That's God's purpose for you life.
Everything begins with believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. It begins the moment you say
YES....stop fighting with the Lord who loves you....and it will continue for all eternity.
3. Will you accept it, believe and trust in Christ as your Savior to forgive you sins and give you
the gift of eternal life.
4. The Bible says God is long suffering, desiring that nor perish.
5. God is the God change. God wants to give you forgiveness and eternal life. He wants to give
you a full and abundant life.....yet He can only do it if you let Him in.
You have to want the change do you want the life God intended for you? You can have it right
now...believe and ask God to save you...right now.

It is always encouraging to receive email from those who find the messages helpful, or who have comments.