Keep the Dial Fixed: How to Build an Established Heart
Dr RJ Sing, 27 min
Originally preached as “Established Hearts”
Sermon outline
Fix and establish your heart on the Word of God, not on bad reports, religion or tradition, and you will not be afraid and will see God's results.
Main text
- Psalm 112:1-10
Opening
He thanks viewers for their testimonies, phone calls, emails and praise reports, and introduces the theme of an established heart. He prays that viewers, including backsliders and those who do not know Jesus, will have a heart fixed on God, then reads Psalm 112 and highlights verses 7 and 8: his heart is fixed, his heart is established, he shall not be afraid.
A heart fixed and focused on God will experience results
When someone fixes their heart on something they cannot be swayed, and they will always make a way. Many people fix their hearts on a doctor's or lawyer's report, but we are called to believe the report of the Lord and be single-minded, because the double-minded man receives nothing from God. A heart can also be established in the wrong things, such as religion and tradition, so establish yours on the Word.
Illustration: People who keep repeating 'the doctor said this, the doctor said it can't be done', until their heart is fixed on that report.
“But how about you believing the report of the Lord?”
- James 1:7-8
What it means to be fixed and established
From the dictionary, fixed means focused, not easily adjustable, secure, established by law, immovable, adhering to a principle. Established means permanent, settled and not changeable. When your heart is established, you can slam the door on tradition, religion and mediocrity.
Illustration: In humid Durban you turn the air conditioner dial to maximum and the room does not cool at once, but if you leave the dial fixed, after about 30 minutes the room reaches the temperature you set.
“If your heart is fixed and you don't immediately get the result, don't throw in the towel and give up.”
To fix your heart you will have to fight some things
The first fight is the fear fight: fear, doubt and unbelief come to destabilise you, and you ward them off with the shield of faith. Listen to the voice of God rather than the voices of natural men, and walk by faith, not by sight, calling those things that be not as though they were. Walking by faith will sometimes mean stepping out of the boat.
Illustration: Peter stepping out of the boat: people remember that he sank, but he had the faith to step out while the other disciples stayed in the boat.
“You need to step out the boat and walk in the water.”
- Ephesians 6:16
- 1 Timothy 6:12
- John 10:27
- Psalm 23:1
- Hebrews 11:6
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
- Romans 4:17
- Matthew 14:28-29
Drop the 'but' and be a can-do person
Everyone's heart is established in something, like sport or the pull of the world, but a child of God must be established in the Word. The most dangerous word in walking after God is 'but', because it brings in an excuse. Lay aside every weight, let tribulation work patience, guard how you think in your heart, and be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
“I'd rather try and fail than fail to try.”
- Philippians 4:13
- Hebrews 12:1
- Hebrews 10:35-36
- Romans 5:3-5
- Proverbs 23:7
- Romans 12:1-2
21 facts about the righteous according to Psalm 112
He lists 21 facts from Psalm 112: the righteous man's children are mighty and blessed, he is wealthy, righteous forever and has light in darkness. He is gracious, compassionate, shows favour and guides his affairs with discretion; he shall not be moved, fears no evil news, trusts in God, and has a fixed and established heart. He sees his enemies defeated, is generous, merciful and good, and his horn is exalted.
“His heart is fixed in God.”
- Psalm 112:1-10
Putting it into practice
- Believe the report of the Lord over any other report.
- Keep your heart fixed on the Word even when results are slow.
- Take up the shield of faith against fear, doubt and unbelief.
- Stop saying 'yes, but' and step out in faith.
- Every morning, pray and read your Bible, and keep going to church.
Closing
He restates the definition of a fixed heart and leads a declaration that you will not be moved by the pull of the world but transformed by the renewing of your mind. He invites prayer requests by email, fax and phone, offering to pray over an anointed cloth and post it back in agreement according to Matthew 18, then asks viewers to place their hands towards the screen as he prays for healing, employment and favour. He closes with a word of knowledge for a viewer named James suffering from severe migraines, and commands the affliction to leave.
Declarations he led
- I am a man of God. I am a child of God. I am a son of God. I am a woman of God.
- I will not be influenced by the pull of the world.
- I will not be conformed to the image of this world. I will be transformed by the renewing of my mind and my heart is fixed and established in the things of God.
In his words
- “Establish your heart on the word of the Lord.”
- “If your heart is fixed and you don't immediately get the result, don't throw in the towel and give up.”
- “You see, but is a link word to bring in an excuse.”
- “I'd rather try and fail than fail to try.”
- “Peter had the guts and he had the faith to step out of the boat while the other disciples sat in the boat.”
Every scripture in this message
- Psalm 112:1-10
- James 1:7-8
- Ephesians 6:16
- 1 Timothy 6:12
- John 10:27
- Psalm 23:1
- Hebrews 11:6
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
- Romans 4:17
- Matthew 14:28-29
- Philippians 4:13
- Hebrews 12:1
- Hebrews 10:35-36
- Romans 5:3-5
- Proverbs 23:7
- Romans 12:1-2
- Matthew 18:19