Date: January 2nd, 2011

Speaker:  Pastor Kevin

Title:  My Heart, Christ's Home

Text:  January 2nd, 2010

Introduction

Come to new year:

• New  blank page
• Set goals
• Make course adjustments
• Resolve to do some things differently

Today:

Focus on setting a new spiritual course.

Make this an intentional year where “Christ will be formed more” in your heart.

Today, I am re-using a story that I love that causes us to reflect so well on how we can have “Christ more formed in our heart”

              I want to borrow Robert Munger’s idea from article “My Heart, Christ’s Home”

              In that story he envisions his life as a house (after all the Cmas turkey for some of us it is not that difficult) a house with several rooms

Likens it to the process of when a person invites Christ into his life.

Retell the story and then consider some targets in our lives. 

1. The Invitation

              I remember when I first invited Christ into my life.

He came...

• into my darkness and turned on the light
• built a fire in the cold stone hearth & banished the chill
• started the music where there had been stillness
• filled my emptiness with companionship.

I have never regretted inviting Christ in that day.

But after Christ came into my heart, I said

“Lord, I want this heart of mine to be yours.  I want you to settle down here and be perfectly at home.  Everything I have belongs to you.  I want you to feel free to enter every room in my life and bring it to reflect you.”

That began a process of growth and change...

The first room he looked at was the den.

1. The Den

- library - books and magazines, T.V. room

- study room of the mind

He came in and started looking around.

- went over to the shelf & looking at the magazines & books I had there

- felt nervous, embarrassed, never felt that way before.

             

              Suddenly in the light of his presence I saw I had trash that was not good for my mind.  His eyes were too pure to behold some of that stuff.

- saw it wasn’t helping me

So, I said:

               “Lord, I know this room needs some changes.  will you help me to bring, as it says in your word –“every thought captive to you.”

Will you help me to fill this room with stuff that is true, excellent, praiseworthy, things that lift  my life, inspire and motivate me.  Things that glorify you.”

He said,

              “Sure.  He set a copy of His Word in the middle of the desk & encouraged me to read that more.  And to feed my mind on more Cnclassics, novels, music & tapes.

He gave me a picture of himself and told me to hang it in a central position in the room of my mind.

He told me those simple things would go a long ways to overcome the battle in mind and to help me to reflect him more in my actions and reactions during the day.

The 2nd room was the kitchen 

2. The Kitchen

-like this room

-room of appetites and desires

-spend alot of time & effort there satisfying my desires

I offered to make supper

Appetizers:

              potato chips & onion dip

Main Course:

               Pizza & French fries

              can of pork & beans

Dessert:

              chocolate covered doughnuts

              raspberry ice cream & marshmallow sauce

Later:

              popcorn& cotton candy

              After I set it in front of him, he asked:

“Do you always eat like this?”

              “Yeah”

              “Does it satisfy?”

I didn’t know anything else, so as far as I knew it seemed to.

Jesus said,

“Let me make you something that will satisfy your hunger and nourish you like you never have before.  I have food that you know nothing about.  My meat is to do the will of him who sent me.”

              He gave me a real meat and potatoes meal of serving others, getting involved in a ministry, doing his will, seeking him…It was funny,I didn’t think it would taste very good compared to my selfish indulgence, but that meal satisfied my longings like nothing else.

And I felt good, nourished, and I didn’t feel hungry for some thing more right after…It felt good to help others.

The third stop was the living room. 

3. Living Room

              Jesus liked this room immediately.  He called it the fellowship room.

He said,

“I’ll be here every morning.  We can meet and talk.  It can be your time to share what’s going on your life and a time when we can just talk. It sounded great.  Because he is so encouraging.  Reminds me all the time of his love…that I am of value…that I can do something significant…that he really likes me.”

              It started out great.  I loved it.  It made my day.

               It seemed I had

• less worries,
• a better attitude,
• a more prayerful spirit,

              as I met with him.

              But somehow, and I don’t know why, little by little under the pressure of responsibilities,this time began to be shortened.  Why?  I don’t know.But, I got too busy to spend time with Christ.

              At first the times became shorter and shorter, then I started missing a day here and there, then 2 days, then a week.The last while I was so preoccupied that I didn’t even think to yell out as I passed by “Got to go. See you later.”

But I miss those times. There’s an ache and hole in my heart.

I find I doubt his love more.  I feel more timid. I question my value and usefulness.  I lack courage. Worry and anxiety & fear seem to have crowded in on the sense of quiet repose I had at my center.

Jesus has been there faithfully every day, it’s me.  I see the sadness in his eyes…not like I’m doing him a favor.  But he sees that I’m not the same.  My anger lashes out more.  My frustration level is greater.  I am constantly worrying about little stuff.  I forget he is there and find myself afraid of what might happen.  He sees through me and sees all that.  And everytime I rush by again I hear that quiet voice:“Come to me you with your heavy burdens…and I will give you rest.”

I miss the living room …I just wish I could take even a few moments every day to just sit and enjoy it…and enjoy meeting with my friend.

The next stop was …

4. Workshop

              Jesus came in here and was right at home, him being a carpenter and all. 

He said:

“You’ve got a lot of good tools.  With all these you could make some pretty substantial things!  What have you been producing with all the tools and talents you’ve got that has eternal significance?”

             

              I hadn’t given it much thought, but suddenly I realized that I just had puttered and frittered away the time.  I made a couple little “toy things” but never even took them out of the shop. Everything I did in here was really meaningless…distractions…things to just pass the time.

              I remember Jesus saying:

“With these tools you can make some useful and lasting contributions?” 

              But I don’t really know how to use this stuff.  I don’t really know how to make anything that is useful, lasting, and helpful.

And he said:

“Let me have your hands.  Let my Spirit work through you.  Your ability isn’t the fundamental thing, but your availability. 

Are you willing to give your time, resources, talents, to me.  If you will do that you’ll be surprised & amazed at what we can make out of this workshop.

5. Rumpus Room

- Playroom - associations & friendships & activities, amusements

              Jesus checked out this room at the worst possible time.

I had planned a big party.  It was New Year’s Eve. All my old friends were there.

• Gossip was making out with Lust on the couch.
• Arrogance & Envy were playing ping pong & yelling at each other.
• Pride was in the center of the room boasting about his accomplishments.
• Anger was in the bathroom stewing over covetous actions.
• Depravity was on the way with all his lewd jokes.
• Drunkenness was making a fool of himself stumbling around the room.

Suddenly Jesus walked in…his face said it all.  He quietly left.

But that ruined my evening.  After that I didn’t enjoy myself. I didn’t sleep much as I thought about it.”

I got up to talk to him in the morning.

 I told him I was sorry and how I realized it wasn’t the kind of fun I wanted anymore.

He said,

“I am the author of real fun.  I came that you might have an abundant life, joy.  Let me introduce you to some of my friends. Friends that you can bear your heart to and will still love you.  Friends that will love you no matter what.Friends that will walk the journey with you and stand with you.

I will show you a joy that doesn’t last just for a night….that doesn’t need a bottle to get the party going….doesn’t need to be dirty to be funny.  I’ll show you the joy you can have in the simple things of life.  Joy in looking at a flower. Riding through a park.Going for a walk with friends.Hanging out with some meaningful conversation. Laughing until your belly hurts not at others expense but that comes from the joy of living life. I’ll show you a joy that doesn’t need to go somewhere and do something, but resides in you and comes into every place you go.”

I wanted that…this other felt cheap.

Then he discovered the closet

6. Closet              

“I knew it would happen some day, but honestly I hoped he wouldn’t bring it up, even though I knew he could smell it.”

He said,

 “I think something has died in there.  He pointed to the closet.

“I know there are some things in there I should have dealt with but I thought if I just kept it locked up they would go away...

• If I just gave it time…
• If I forced myself to not think about it…
• If I just used something more to dull the aroma…
• If I just kept all the hurts, & wounds, & pains hidden and locked up…
• I thought I could just get over it….avoid it, that it wouldn’t stink up the rest of the house with its bitterness and un-forgiveness.

But it hasn’t worked has it.  Get close to it and you can smell it, can’t you? It seeps out despite all my efforts to hide it.

I’m ashamed of what’s in there…that’s why I haven’t shown anyone…not even you. I’m afraid that when you see it you won’t want to be my friend….that you will think less of me.  That you will avoid me. I fear what you will think of me…cuz I know what I think of myself.

 I just wish I could “will” it all away.

I want to get rid of it, but I can’t do it.  I’m afraid.  Can you handle it? “

He said:

“Say no more.  Give me the key.  Just authorize me to do it.”

Just let me deal with it. I won’t think less of you.  I will still love you. In fact, I’ll be happy to see you free of that shame  and all the effort you spend trying to keep a cover on the odors. You’ll feel so light, and clean, and released….with nothing to hide when I’m done.  You won’t have to fear someone finding out anymore.”

 

He cleaned out so sensitively. He never rubbed my nose in it.  He never said “You should have known better” or “You deserved this” He never looked at me different but in the midst of it would come, give me a hug, and ask “You okay? Don’t stop now.”

And pulled out all kinds of garbage, dirt and stinky stuff.  He bagged it and took it out my house.

I asked “Where did you take it” He said he buried it a tomb with him.

Then, he washed it, painted it, and said “let’s not put anymore garbage in there, okay. When there is hurt, and guilt for wrongs, bring it to me. Tell me about it.  We’ll bag it and get rid of it.  Then you can live free and live with nothing to hide.

 

Oh, the peace and victory to have that out of my life.

7. Transferring Title

              Recently I brought the title of my house to Christ at one of our meetings.   I told him, “I still owe a lot on it.  In fact, at my rate of paying it off, I might not live long enough. But I want you to have it. What you have done to this house is absolutely miraculous.  I never thought it could be like this.  And it’s all because of you.  And I’ve come to the conclusion that you care for it and love it even more than I do.  I want you to have it…all of it. With all it’s debt, its weaknesses, imperfections and flaws…it’s yours.”

“Here it is Lord.  All that I am and have forever.  You run the house.”

 

He took that title.  Wrote 3 words on it and then showed me. “Paid in full” is what he wrote. He said: “You owe no more.  I’ve paid off the mortgage. And together let’s use this house for all it can be.  Let’s make a place where everyone who comes in touch with it encounters love & acceptance.

• Let’s make it a place where people are drawn to it because there is something real & caring, and attractive about it.
• Let’s make it a place that is a place of hope, and true joy.
• Let’s make it aa giving place where what comes out of here is good, helpful, and builds people up.
• Let’s make a place where people are infused with faith, hope, and love and where wind is put in their sails.

 

I said “I’d love that…but it would take more of him and less of me for that to happen.” 

CONCLUSION:

For Christ to be formed in you this year, where do you need to invite him into?

Let me close with these from Matthew 7.  Reading from “The Message”

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

     26–27     “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

Shall we pray

Lord, in 2011 come into our house.  Help us to build them on rock. May each of these rooms we invite you to renovate that progressively this year “Christ may be formed in us.”

Amen

Personal Application

              Friends, when you think of the rooms in your house as we move into this new year.  If “Christ is to be formed more in you” this year what rooms do you need Christ to dwell in more.

1. Den

• What are you feeding your mind? Presently.
• Reading? 
• Watching?
• What changes do you need to think more positively, wholesomely, purely, lovingly, upliftingly?

a. Read God’s Word.  Time each day.

2. Kitchen

What’s your diet?  What are you seeking after to satisfy you?

Are you still looking to...

• money,
• or a girlfriend or boyfriend,
• or  entertainment,
• possession

              to satisfy your heart?

The diet Christ gives that will satisfy is one of serving others, seeking to give to the needs of others & putting the things of God first.

Jesus said,

               “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you”

             

“He who finds his life must lose it.  And he who loses his life will find it.”

 

True life is found in giving ourselves in service, not trying to find things to serve us.

3. Living Room

• How about your personal relationship with Christ?
• Your time spent with him?  In prayer? Worship?
• Do you long and need to set aside more time in your life just to meet with him and have his thoughts, and character infused into you?

4. Workshop

God has entrusted resources into your hands.  Everything we have comes from him.  What will you do with those?  Will you fritter them away or allow Christ to use them for the bettering of his church and this world?

             

5. Rumpus Room

• What about your associations, amusements?
• Where you are looking for fun?  Are you looking for “God knows what?”  Will you be willing to walk & let Christ infuse your heart with real joy that goes with you?

6. Closet

Is there something buried in your life that you have clung to, are ashamed of, that has a grip on your life?

• Hurt?  Un-forgiveness?
• Secret Sin?
• Habit?
• Fear?

Have you locked it up and never exposed it to Christ?

Is there a closet you will to open to him for cleaning today?

Is it a commitment to “keep short accounts” and not allow your heart to accumulate garbage but to come regularly to him for confession and cleaning.

7. What about the title to him?

Are you wanting him to be just a guest in the house but you maintain control or are you willing to hand over the title? With all its debts, weaknesses, liabilities & flaws.

Conclusion

That’s the journey to having Christ formed in you.

Click here to return to sermon page

 

Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002, S. Mt 7:24-27