Getting Healthy Hearts
Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 17, 2024 | John 14:1-4
KEY VERSE:
”Do not let your hearts be troubled. (You) Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
Getting healthy hearts? Yes, not only getting our physical hearts in the best state of health, and we surely need to pay attention to that, but getting the seat of our life healthy and in good shape, which is the most important matter for our lives. The Bible uses the word “heart to refer to the physical blood-pumping organ in the left side of our chest. But just as that physical organ is so central and crucial to our life and survival, the inner orientation of the human being, the soul and seat of the emotions, choices, feelings and relationship with God and others is referred to as the heart of the person.
The human heart is open to anxieties and trepidations, and sometimes genuinely so. The disciples of the Lord have been hearing Him tell them about His soon departure from them, and the circumstances which include the fact that one of them would betray Him, and also that they all will be so shocked that they will all abandon Him. The concern for what would happen to them after the predicted death of their teacher, leader, protector, and provider would have dulled the excitement of their expectation of His earthly Kingdom in which they would have taken ministerial and ambassadorial positions, and in which the pride of their nation would be restored from Roman colonial occupation. The disciples had reasons to be troubled.
No matter what happens to the believer and the Church of God, the words of the Lord Jesus come back to us “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:1 a).
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Are there things that scare you, or circumstances that trouble you? On the authority of Christ, speak to your soul, and calm yourself. Choose not to be troubled by what troubles you.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for the confidence that you speak to me, at the deepest level of my being. When I feel afraid, please help me to look beyond what frightens me, and to refuse to be troubled. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen!
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: TROUBLED
The Greek word for "troubled" in John 14:1 is "ταρασσέσθω" (tarassesthō), which comes from the root "ταράσσω" (tarassō). It means to agitate, disturb, or cause inward commotion. It conveys a sense of anxiety, worry, or emotional turmoil.
The words of Jesus in John 14:1 address the emotional and spiritual state of His followers, urging them to find peace and stability in their beliefs. Theological implications include the idea that faith in Jesus provides a foundation for inner peace, countering the natural human inclination towards anxiety and fear in the face of uncertainty or crisis. This reflects the broader biblical theme that trusting in God brings calm and assurance (Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 42:11). Reflections: Jesus' instruction to not let their hearts be troubled invites believers to seek a healthy heart—free from the burdens of worry and fear—through faith and trust in Him. This entails a deliberate shift from focusing on distressing circumstances to relying on the steadfastness of God's promises. In what ways can you strengthen your faith in Jesus to combat the anxieties and fears that trouble your heart, thereby nurturing a spiritually healthy heart?
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