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Now, here's today's podcast, From Pathway to Victory. Hi, this is Robert Jeffers, and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day on this Bible teaching program. On today's edition, a Pathway to Victory. The heart in the Bible is the center of our thought, our will, and emotions. Your heart is the real you.
Now, there is a visible you that everybody sees, but then there is the real you that God sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, the physical, but God looks at the heart. Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffers. You know, the essence of discipleship is a changed life that comes from a transformed heart.
But why is it necessary to transform our hearts? Who is responsible for making that happen? And what does that transformation process look like? Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress answers those questions and more in a message titled Heart Surgery 101.
Now, here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message. Dr. Jeffers. Thanks, David, and welcome to this Thursday edition of Pathway to Victory. Summertime is right around the corner, and in Texas, where it's warm, it's already time to jump in the pool or lake to go for a refreshing swim.
Now, when you go out for a swim, you don't leap into the water with your heavy clothes on. You don't wear a backpack or carry a briefcase. No, you take off anything that's heavy in order to stay afloat.
Well, I'm painting a picture for you because today we're talking about shedding the things that do little more than cause your heart to sink. To coincide with this study, I've written a book to help you. It's called Shine the Light. And if you're ready to rid yourself of the maddening obligations that pull you down, the biblical principles from my book will show you how to set yourself free. And I'll also show you how small acts of kindness will be used by God to shine His light.
A copy is yours when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory. In addition to receiving my book, you'll have the added benefit of knowing that your gift is catapulting this ministry to even greater heights. That's because the salt and light matching challenge of $1 million is fully activated, and every dollar you give between now and July 6th will be automatically matched and therefore doubled. That means your gift of $100 becomes $200. If you give $500, it becomes $1,000.
If you were to give $10,000, our friends would match it until it became $20,000. And on and on it goes until we reach the combined goal of $2 million or even more. I'll say more later on, but right now, let's give our full attention to the study of God's Word. Our primary passage comes from Proverbs 23, verse 7, and I title today's message, Heart Surgery 101. How many of you desire to live in the kingdom of God?
You say, Pastor, that is a dumb question. I mean, especially when you consider the alternative, living outside the kingdom of God. We know what Jesus said outside the kingdom of God is: it's a place where there's darkness, weeping, the gnashing of teeth. Who would ever choose to live outside the kingdom of God? And yet, many people are making that choice right now to live outside the kingdom of God.
You see, the kingdom of God is not a synonym for heaven.
Now, heaven is the ultimate expression of the kingdom of God. It's where everybody will revere, respect, and obey God's will. Likewise, hell is the ultimate expression and destination of those who refuse to respect, revere, and submit to God's will. But that delineation between the kingdom of God and Outside the kingdom of God is a delineation we see right now here on earth. You remember a monarch's kingdom Is that area where everyone respects and reveres the king's will?
For example, Queen Elizabeth is the monarch over A Great Britain. People who live within a territory owned by Great Britain, they submit to the Queen's will. They are part of her kingdom. Do you and I obey the Queen of England? No, we are not a part of her kingdom.
We are outside the kingdom of Great Britain. It's the same way with the kingdom of heaven and those who are outside the kingdom. Those who are living within God's kingdom right now are those who respect, revere, and obey the will of God. Those who are outside the kingdom of God are those who are right now rejecting and refusing to obey God's will. Heaven and hell are simply the continual.
Eternity. of the present choices people make right now.
Now Think about living in the kingdom of God. Probably one reason you said you want to live in the kingdom of God is you're thinking about those eternal benefits that await everybody who is going to be a part of the kingdom of God. We know what those eternal benefits are. We spent a whole sermon series talking about them when we talked about heaven. You know, bodies that never grow sick again, a reunion with our loved ones in heaven, freedom from sin.
Those are all part of the eternal benefits of living in the kingdom of God. But guess what? You don't have to wait until you die to experience the benefits of God's kingdom. Right now. Right now, you can experience the benefits of living under God's rule.
When you submit, Respect, revere the will of God in your life right now. There are some immediate benefits. What are those benefits? Think about freedom from worry. Peace, no matter what is happening around you.
Contentment with your financial situation, harmony in all of your relationships, a freedom from bitterness toward those who wronged you. You don't have to wait until you die to experience that right now, those kingdom benefits belong to you.
Now, this is where a lot of Christians get mixed up, and a lot of non-Christians get mixed up. They may say, well, you know. That sounds good.
So, how am I going to start experiencing those kingdom benefits right now? How do I become a part of the kingdom of God? Let's go back to our Great Britain illustration for just a moment. You know, Amy and I have been watching The Crown on Netflix. And let's just suppose one evening we're watching that, and we say, you know what, that Queen Elizabeth, she's a pretty cool chick.
And you know, Well, we'd like to be a part of her kingdom. We would like to live under her reign. And so what do we do?
Well, Amy and I decide to start. Sipping tea every day at three o'clock, we have high tea. Not only that, we work on developing our British accent. And not only that, we memorize the words to the British national anthem, and we sing it every morning at breakfast. Does that make us a part Of the Queen's Kingdom?
Does that automatically make us citizens of Great Britain? Of course not. In order to be under the king's reign, we have to become citizens of Great Britain. It is the same way with becoming a part of God's kingdom. telling people to quit getting angry.
or to start forgiving, or be pure in your relationships, that is useless. Because people can't do that naturally. There has to be a transformation of our life that gives us the desire and the ability to submit to God's will. We're in a series right now called Seven Marks of a Disciple. And we've said that the essence of being a disciple is a changed life that comes from a transformed heart.
If you haven't written that down yet, write it down across your outline because that's what it means to be a disciple. A disciple is somebody who experiences a changed life that comes from a transformed heart. And today we're looking at that first mark of a disciple, which is a transformed heart. You will never become a citizen of God's kingdom. You will never enjoy the benefits of living as a citizen of God's kingdom until you have that transformation of your heart.
And that's what we're going to talk about today. Today, I'm going to answer three questions about spiritual transformation. Number one, why is it necessary? Number two, who's responsible for it? And number three, what is the process by which it happens in our life?
Let's first of all talk about spiritual transformation. Why is it necessary? Turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 4. We're going to take about a three-minute course on anatomy. According to the Bible.
Because if you don't understand this, you'll never understand what we're talking about needs to be transformed until you understand what the Bible teaches about the heart. You know, in our culture, we have been influenced by Greek philosophy. Greek philosophy separates the mind from the heart. The mind is the real us, it's our intellect, it's our will. The heart is simply that seat of emotions that can never really be trusted.
But according to the Bible, the heart is the center of the real us. It's the center of our intellect, it's the center of our will, and it's the center of our emotion. For example, the Bible teaches the heart is the center of intellect. Proverbs 23:7, as a man thinks in his what? Heart, so is he.
Where do we think? It's in our heart. It's also the center of our will, the choices that we make. In Mark 3:5, there's a description of the Pharisees who rejected Christ. It says, and looking around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their heart.
It was their heart that had made the decision to reject Christ. The heart in the Bible is the center of our thought, our will, and emotions. Your heart is the real you.
Now there is a visible you that everybody sees, but then there is the real you that God sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, the physical, but God looks at the heart. Now The Bible teaches us that the visible us, That is our bodies. begin deteriorating the moment we draw our first breath. Did you know that?
The moment you were born, your body starts deteriorating. And then, when you hit age 50, it hits warp speed. God hear an amen on that. But here's the good news. Even though we are decaying physically, we can be transformed spiritually.
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, Therefore, we do not lose heart. But though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
Now, when we talk about spiritual transformation, To allow us to live the kind of life we want to live, we're talking about the transformation of our heart, our mind, our will, and our emotions. Why is that transformation necessary?
Well, look at what the Bible tells us about the heart. There are three insights the Bible gives us about our hearts. First of all, our hearts determine our behavior. Our hearts determine our behavior. Acts of sexual immorality.
Outburst of anger. Greed that would cause us to steal, these are not involuntary responses. They are all the fruit. the manifestation of what is in our heart. Jesus said in Matthew 12, verse 35, the good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.
To try to change somebody's behavior without changing their heart is absolutely futile. The Bible says our heart is where all behavior emanates from. Secondly, the Bible teaches our hearts have been polluted. We have all inherited a polluted heart. Genesis 6:5 says, Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Did you know that's true of how God views every person who is born? The moment we are born into this world, we are born with defective hearts. And the only thing that comes out of our minds are evil thoughts in God's eyes. Through Jeremiah the prophet, God said in Jeremiah 17:9, the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it?
People today want to talk about the goodness of the human heart. That's not God's point of view. By God's absolute pure standards, every heart is desperately wicked. How did that happen? How did our hearts become wicked?
Romans 5.12 tells us this. Virus that infects our heart came through Adam. Therefore, just as through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. From Adam, we inherited this defective heart. And Paul describes exactly what the result of that heart is in Romans 5:6.
He says, For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. The phrase or the word ungodly describes the condition of our life because of our defective heart. Do you know in the English language that prefix on means And not. For example, we think of an An attractive person is somebody who is not attractive. A person who is unintelligent is a person who is not intelligent.
So we assume that when we see the word here ungodly, that means somebody who is not godly. But in the Greek language, that prefix un actually means against. An ungodly person is not just somebody who is unlike God.
Well, duh, we're all unlike God. But that phrase actually means somebody who is against God. And the Bible says Christ came to die for all of us who are ungodly. That is our state in God's eyes. We are against God.
And that's why every time God says no, Our first inclination is to say yes. And when God says yes to something, our first inclination is to say no. We are born ungodly. Our hearts are the center of our actions. Our hearts have been polluted.
Thirdly, our hearts can be transformed. That's the good news.
Now, in Ezekiel 11, verses 19 to 20, God points to that day when we're going to receive a brand new heart. Look at verses 19 and 20. And I shall give them one heart and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. That they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances and do them, then they will be my people and I will be their God.
Did you know one day you're going to have a heart transplant? God's going to give you a brand new heart that is free from any defect whatsoever. A heart that automatically wants to please God. A heart that is never tempted with evil again. How many of you are ready for that kind of heart?
Well The good news is it's coming. The bad news is you have to wait for it. That heart transplant one day is coming. Does that mean then I have to walk around with this defective heart that is opposed to God and keeps me from benefiting from the kingdom of God? No.
Even though we don't receive a new heart right now, we can experience a transformed heart. Again, think about your physical heart. Maybe what you'd really like is a brand new heart. But you can't afford that right now.
So, do you have to walk around with a completely defective heart? No, the doctor will say: there are some things we can do to strengthen the heart that you have right now. We can give you some tablets that will help reduce the plaque buildup in your arteries that restrict the blood flow to your heart. Here are some exercises you can perform to strengthen your heart muscles. You can have a transformed heart right now.
God says the same thing to us. We don't have to live as citizens outside the kingdom of God, we can experience the benefits of obeying God from a heart that wants to know Him. We can have a spiritually transformed heart.
Well, then that brings up the second question. We understand why it's necessary to have something change in our heart, but who is responsible for that spiritual transformation of our heart? Who is responsible? Is God responsible? Or am I responsible?
We better understand it if it's going to happen.
Now, there are some people who say, oh, well, that's God's responsibility, Pastor. Surely you know that. Just as we can't save ourselves, God alone can save us. Only God alone is capable of transforming our hearts to become the kind of people we want to become. In fact, people who believe that will actually point to Scripture.
Galatians 3, verse 3. Paul said, Are you so foolish, having begun by the Spirit? Are you now being perfected by the flesh? They say, Paul is very clear: if you were saved by grace, do you think you can become more like Jesus through the flesh, through human effort? But an examination of the context here shows you that's not what Paul is talking about.
He's not talking about how we become like Jesus as Christians, he's talking about salvation. He said, if you begin. By trusting in Christ's grace alone for your salvation, why would you switch horses in the middle of the stream, so to speak, and start. Depending on your flesh, your good works to save you. If you begin by trusting in the Spirit of God, why not keep on trusting in the Spirit of God for your justification?
He's not talking about how we transform our lives here. You know, Dallas Willard has a great insight on this. He says, grace and effort are not opposites. We get the idea in Christianity, or if we exert any effort, There's something wrong. It all has to be of God.
No, grace and effort are not opposites. Grace and earning are opposites. Working for your salvation is heresy. But working out your salvation is basic Bible. Grace and effort are allies, not enemies.
Let me show you that in Scripture. Turn over to Philippians chapter 2, verses 12 to 13. Philippians chapter 2 verses Twelve. Paul says, so then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Oh, I can't believe you said that.
We're not supposed to work for salvation. It's a free gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Hey, read it again. He didn't say work for your salvation. He said, work out.
your salvation. When he talks about salvation, he's not just talking about our ticket to heaven. Salvation, in the fullest extent, is becoming the person God wants you to be. Yes, it includes going to heaven, but it includes right now living as that person who experiences the benefits of living under God's rule. He said that is something that we work out.
Not that we work for it, we work out. Then he goes on to say, verse 13: for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. God is the one who is in you, giving you the power to become the person He wants you to be. To illustrate this, just imagine. An electrical socket.
in your house. You know, inside that electrical socket. is all kind of amazing energy. And there's energy to power an oven. to cook a fabulous meal.
There's the energy to power a saw, an electric saw that will help you create a beautiful piece of furniture. Inside that electrical outlet is the energy to power your computer. to write a new book that will bless millions of people. But none of those things happen just because the energy is there. That energy has to be combined with your effort.
Without your effort, that energy produces nothing. It takes your effort to produce that. fabulous meal or that beautiful piece of furniture or that book. That's what Paul is saying here. The moment you become a Christian, God not only forgives you of your sin, but he places a power source in you.
It's a person. He's called the Holy Spirit of God. And the Holy Spirit of God has all of the energy necessary for you to live the kind of life God wants you to experience. But it takes your effort combined with the Spirit of God, His power, to become that person you dream of becoming. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is working within you.
Working out your salvation may seem heavy and difficult, but believe me when I say, the Spirit of God is your companion and He will provide all you need. I'm glad you joined us for today's pathway to victory. All month long, we're helping you discover new ways to become salt and light in our world, just as Jesus Christ wants us to be. And we're just getting started in what promises to be a productive month-long effort to live with purpose so that even your smallest acts of kindness and compassion will shine the light of His goodness in a world that's overcome by darkness. I've written a book on this important theme, and when you get in touch today with a generous gift, I'll be happy to send you a copy of Shine the Light.
As you strive to fulfill a never-ending inventory of requirements for being a godly parent, a spouse, an employee, and more, you may find yourself feeling progressively disconnected from the God you're trying to serve.
Well, my book will help you identify ways to become salt and light as you choose to follow Christ. And then there's some exciting news. I'm inviting you to join us in the Salt and Light Matching Challenge active right now at Pathway to Victory. Because of an amazing gift in the amount of $1 million, every dollar you give between now and July 6th will be matched by a group of generous contributors. These funds will allow us to broadcast Pathway to Victory not only on your station, but on more and more stations throughout our nation and our world.
So please get in touch with us today. God will use your gift to pierce the darkness with the light of His Word. David? Thanks, Dr. Jeffress.
When you give a generous gift to Pathway to Victory, you're invited to request a copy of the brand new book by Dr. Jeffress, Shine the Light. You can give online at ptv.org or call 866-999-2965. And when you give $100 or more, you'll also receive the complete collection of audio and video discs for this month's teaching series, Shine the Light. And because of our salt and light matching challenge, any gift you give right now will be doubled in impact.
One more time, here's that phone number 866-999-2965 or go online to ptv.org. You could send your request by mail right to PO Box 223-609 Dallas, Texas, 75222. Again, that's P.O. Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. I'm David J.
Mullins. Join us next time for part two of the message Heart Surgery 101, right here on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. You made it to the end of today's podcast from Pathway to Victory, and we're so glad you're here.
Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. And right now, your ministry gift will be matched and therefore doubled in impact thanks to the Salt and Light Matching Challenge. Take advantage of this opportunity to double your impact before the deadline on July 6th. To give toward the matching challenge, go to ptv.org/slash donate or follow the link in our show notes. We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast, From Pathway to Victory.
