Desires of the Heart

Weekly Update – April 25th, 2024

In James chapter 4, our writer begins by asking the question, “what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?”  James is not asking because he doesn’t know the answer here though.  He is asking because he knows the answer and he is trying to make a point with his readers.  The reason for their fighting and quarreling is because their “passions are at war” inside of them. (Jas. 4:1).  What makes this worse is that their fighting and quarreling is occurring within the church (among you! 4:1). But to solve this problem, the solution must go deeper than a verbal warning or make-up handshake.  Their answer must probe deep into their hearts.

As people, we are a lot more complex than we often realize.  There is not one formula that fixes all our problems, nor is there some sort of easy ritual that will solve all our issues.  We are dynamic creatures that reflect the beauty of a magnificently intricate and multifaceted God.  That means that understanding our longings and desires is not always simple.  For example, what is it about our desires that can lead to fights with others?  Can our desires be good?  What makes them bad?  Understanding the nature of our hearts will help us understand these questions.

Typically, when we think of our hearts, we think of our emotions.  We feel sad in our hearts, we love someone or something from the heart, we play an instrument with all our heart.  The problem is this doesn’t represent what the heart really is.  The heart is the seedbed of life (Prov. 4:23).  As the seedbed, our thoughts, our wills, our desires, and our emotions, all find their root within the heart. Therefore, when fights and quarrels are outwardly present, the desires that are behind them find their root within a heart that is either pursuing friendship with the world or a relationship with God (Jas. 4:4).

How do the desires of the heart lead to fighting and quarrelling?  Well, Ken Sande in his book titled, Peacemaker (pgs. 101-109) gives a four-step progression to help explain this process.   First, desires may start out pure and innocent.  Perhaps with a desire for something good, such as providing for one’s family or receiving appreciation for hard work.  Second, if that desire is unmet though, that desire can turn into a demand.  The longing that was pure is slowly corrupted when you begin to demand that others ensure you have what it is you want.  Third, if the demand is not met, that desire then progresses into judgement.  Others are now seen as obstacles to you getting what you want.  Then, lastly, since others will not give you what you want, you begin to punish them.  Perhaps yelling at them, ignoring them, gossiping about them, or even looking for revenge.  When desires progress to this stage, they have become full blown idols within the heart.

How do we then evaluate our desires to know if they are pure?  Here, Robert Jones in his book titled Pursuing Peace (pg. 64) is helpful.  First, if the desire that you have begins to consume your thoughts and your mind, it might be on the slow move towards an idol.  Second, if you would sin to get this desire fulfilled, then it has become corrupted.  Then, third, if you would sin when you don’t get this desire fulfilled, it is a longing that is no longer pure.  If any of these three markers are true, then the desire is on the progression towards an idol within the heart.

So what is the solution?  James details this for us in chapter 4 verses 7-10.  Here he says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” The path towards a changed heart is through humility before the Lord.  This humility is shown through submitting our desires to God, confessing our sin and turning from our corrupted motives.  Then, we want to pursue peace through forming a heart that is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (Jas. 3:17)  These characteristics come about through faith in our savior Jesus Christ, the ultimate one who humbly submitted his heart towards God in obedience in everything, even to the point of death on a cross (Phil. 2:8).

With a heart that is shaped towards God, we then find the seedbed of wisdom shaping not only our desires, but our wills, our emotions, our thoughts and even our actions.  Therefore, guard your heart.  Strive to not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer (Jas. 1:22), ask God for wisdom (Jas. 1:5), and find encouragement within the church towards a life lived in peace with others.     

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

[but] God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8

Announcements:

Members’ Meeting: Following the morning service on Sunday, April 28th, we will have a potluck lunch and members’ meeting. There is a signup sheet for the potluck on the bulletin board in the hall. Please note that the church ovens are not working at this time, so they will not be available to keep dishes warm.

Harry’s Hay Days: On Saturday, May 4th, from 10:00am-4:00pm, First Baptist Church will be participating in the citywide festival called, “Harry’s Hay Days.” We will be hosting carnival games, face painters, balloon artists, Chick-fil-A, and more, right here in our parking lot. Put this date on your calendar and sign up in the hallway to help!

2000s Worship Night: We will join together at 7pm on Thursday, May 9th, for a worship night filled with prayer, scripture reading, and some of our favorite songs from the 1990s and 2000s. We hope you will join us for this special night of music.

Men’s Bible Study: This men’s study is based on the book, The Exemplary Husband. The study is held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday night of each month at 8:00pm in the library. If you are interested see Clint Blankenship.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over North America who are serving with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This year, our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $8500. You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Annie.” Or you can give online HERE and choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.

Food Pantry: We are in need of pop-top and ready to eat items for our food pantry. These items are needed specifically for the homeless in our community that stop by the church building throughout the week looking for a meal. We are also in need of spaghetti-o’s, ravioli, dry pancake mix, and maple syrup.

Nursery Volunteers Needed: Nursery volunteers are needed each week during the 10:30am service time. Contact Betty for more information on how you can serve.

Equipping Hour

We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” meets in the Sanctuary, a biblical exposition of 1 Peter meets in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament meets in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE. 

Wednesday Evening Activities

Awana, Youth Group, and Biblical Counseling are on Wednesday evenings. We will share a meal in the Faith Center Gym at 6:00pm before heading to classes at 6:30pm.