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A TENDER HEART

A TENDER HEART. Biblical Listening. The Heart of Josiah. Dark day in the Kingdom - II K ings 21:1-2,6 So terrible were his murderous ways that it was said that the streets of the capital were awash with blood from one end to the other – II Kings 21:16

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A TENDER HEART

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  1. A TENDER HEART Biblical Listening

  2. The Heart of Josiah Dark day in the Kingdom - II Kings 21:1-2,6 • So terrible were his murderous ways that it was said that the streets of the capital were awash with blood from one end to the other – II Kings 21:16 • It took being conquered by an enemy nation to shake Manasseh and he returned to God at a late age - II Chronicles 33:10-13  • When his grandfather died and his father rose to rule at the age of 22, the evil returned in even greater proportions - II Chronicles 33:21-23 • In just two short years Amon was so hated and despised that his own servants plotted to murder him in the palace - II Chronicles 33:24 • After over 50 years of wickedness conducted by cruel and evil kings, Josiah was crowned king at the age of 8 – II Chronicles 34:1

  3. After so many years of darkness and blood shed, what kind of leader would Josiah turn out to be? II Kings 22:2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. A major event in Josiah’s life occurred when he was 26. Josiah had ordered the temple to be cleaned out and repaired During the work, the priests found the book of Law in the temple. It was brought to Josiah and read to the king – II Kings 22:10-11 Josiah tore his clothes in grief on hearing the sins of his people and he wept before God.

  4. God’s answer was thus - II Kings 22:18-20 - But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— Josiah was a man with a tender heart.

  5. The heart does not refer to the organ in your chest that pumps blood. The heart refers to the very core or center of a person’s being. “The heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity.” (J. Stowell, Fan the Flame, Moody 1986, p. 13)

  6. There Are People Like Josiah Tender hearts are not just soft, they are strong enough to bear the burdens of others. Tender hearts are not just meek, but they are mighty in handling the tasks before them. Tender hearts are not just caring, but courageous in doing what needs to be done. Desire to have a heart like Josiah; a heart pleasing to God and helpful to men.

  7. A heart that listens A hard heart will not listen - Exodus 8:19 God pleads for the stubborn of heart to listen - Isaiah 46:12  “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: A tender heart trembles and listens to God - Isaiah 66:1-2 It is a cultivated ground, ready to receive the seed. It respects God’s Word - Psalm 119:161 Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. It listens - Isaiah 66:5a Hear the word of the Lord, You who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, That we may see your joy.’ But they shall be ashamed.”

  8. A tender heart listens to others God listens to us:             a. He hearkens unto the voice of my cry - Psalm 5:2             b. He hears the voice of my weeping - Psalm 6:8             c. He considers and hears me - Psalm 13:3             d. He inclines His ear unto me, and hears my speech - Psalm 17:6             e. The Lord will hear thee in the day of trouble - Psalm 20:1             f.  He will hear me speedily - Psalm 69:33             g. He hears my voice according to His loving kindness - Psalm 119:149             h. In my distress I cried unto the Lord and he heard me - Psalm 120:1 We should imitate our God - Ephesians 5:1 Be swift to hear - James 1:19 Let us have a tender heart that listens to God and man

  9. A Heart That is Humble  A proud heart cannot be tender:         Pride causes us to forget God - Deuteronomy 8:14 Pride hardens the heart - Daniel 5:20 A hard heart follows trouble - Proverbs 28:14    A hard heart follows sin - Psalm 95:8-11 A tender heart is humble towards God:       Remember what God said of Josiah? - II Chronicles 34:27 God dwells with the contrite and humble - Isaiah 57:15 God does not despise the contrite - Psalm 51:17 A tender heart is humble

  10. A Heart That Weeps A tender heart weeps for the sins committed against God Josiah wept because of the sins of his people - II Kings 22:19 Tender hearts morn over their sins and turn from them They will see and feel the ugliness of sin. The burden of the guilt of sin will grieve their souls.Joel 2:12-13;James 4:8-9 We need tender hearted people who feel and share the tears of those around them Jeremiah’s cried for his people - Jeremiah 9:1 Jesus’ cried for his friends - John 11:33-36 Our hearts should be touched by the troubles of others - Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

  11. A Heart That Helps The hard hearted withholds help from those who need it. God wants more than just compassion towards others. He wants us to act with compassion toward those who are less fortunate. Replace the selfish, hard heart with tender, helping hearts I John 3:16-18 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

  12. A Heart That Forgives In order to forgive as we ought, Christians must be tenderhearted Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Our tender hearts are to extend even to our enemies Luke 6:35-36 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

  13. A Heart That Repents The hard of heart refuses to repent Romans 2:3-6And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to They mock and despise God’s goodness They will not repent, nor turn away from sin and unto God. Yet the tender hearted will repent of sin They weep, but they also change - Joel 2:12-13 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents Simon learned this lesson - Acts 8:22-23 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

  14. A Heart That Obeys God has always wanted His people to follow Him Deuteronomy 30:2 and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, David’s prayer for his son, Solomon - I Chronicles 29:19 Solomon’s prayer for his son - Proverbs 23:26 Psalm 119:34 It is God who gives us tender hearts - Job 23:16 For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me; But to do so, we must give our heart to God - Jeremiah 24:7 Ezekiel 36:26-28(also Ezekiel 11:19-20) We cannot be saved without a tender heart Belief must come from the heart - Romans 10:9-10 Obedience must come from the heart - Luke 8:15 Romans 6:17;Ephesians 6:5-7 Those who obey the Gospel must have tender hearts - Acts 2:37-38 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;

  15. Do you have a tender heart? The proof is in your response to the word of God. Will you learn of your sins, weep over your mistakes, repent of your ways, and obey the Lord in baptism? Or as a child of God, cultivate that seed which was planted in you. Be kind hearted, pleasing God and winning souls to His service.

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