Rejoicing the Heart

1. Rejoicing the Heart Proverbs 15:30  The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.

2. Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever. [b] [a]. Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; I Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11 [b]. Ps. 16:5-11; 144:15; Isa. 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil. 4:4; Rev. 21:3-4

3. Consider this analogy of a wedding anniversary: Mine is December 21. Suppose on this day I bring home a dozen long stem roses for Noel. When she meets me at the door I hold out the roses, and she says, “oh Jonny, they’re beautiful, thank you,” and gives me a big hug. Then suppose I hold up my hand and say matter-of-factly, “Don’t mention it; it’s my duty.” What happens? Is not the exercise of duty a noble thing? Do we not honor those we dutifully serve? Not much. Not if there’s no heart in it. Dutiful roses are a contradiction in terms. If I’m not moved by a spontaneous affection for her as a person, the roses do not honor her. In fact they belittle her. They are a very thin covering for the fact that she does not have the worth or beauty in my eyes to kindle affection. All I can muster is a calculated expression of marital duty. ~ John Piper

4. Proverbs 15:30  The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. • Proverbs 15:13  A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. • Proverbs 17:22  A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. • Proverbs 25:25  Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

5. Isaiah 52:7-8 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.

6. What is preaching? Logic on fire! Eloquent reason! Are these contradictions? Of course they are not. Reason concerning this Truth ought to be mightily eloquent, as you see it in the case of the Apostle Paul and others. It is theology on fire. And a theology which does not take fire, I maintain, is a defective theology; or at least the man’s understanding of it is defective. Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire. ~ Martyn Lloyd Jones

7. Outline 1) The effects of gospel good news 2) Yearning with the affection of Christ 3) Grieved at their hardness of heart 4) Good News Refreshes the Bones

8. The effect of gospel good news to those who receive it • Proverbs is more than good advice. • Luke 24:32 They said to each other, “Did not our heartsburn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” • The human heart is the nerve center for everything we think, feel and do.

9. Yearning with the affection of Christ Mark 10:21 (Rich Young Ruler)  And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Mark 1:41 (Jesus cleanses the Leper)  Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” John 11:35 Jesus wept over Lazarus. Luke 19:41 [Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem]  And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, Mark 7:34 [Jesus sighed over the deaf man] And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

10. Grieved at Their Hardness of Heart Mark 3:5 [Angry at the Pharisees] [5] And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, Mark 10:14 [Irritated at his disciples] [14] But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. John 11:33 [Angry about death] [33] When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

11. Grieved at Their Hardness of Heart John 2:13-15 [Jesus angry at the money changers Cleanses the Temple] [13] The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14] In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. [15] And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. • Key point: Jesus had emotions of anger and he didn’t sin. Is it possible for us to do the same?

12. Grieved at Their Hardness of Heart Ephesians 4:26-27 [26] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, [27] and give no opportunity to the devil. • Paul’s concern with the Ephesians’ is that they would put off the old self and put on the new. (Eph. 4:23-24) • What must we never be guilty of. • How are we deal with this sinful anger? • Key Point: The old man is contrary to the gospel. This wrath, and vindictiveness, and sinful anger is against the gospel.

13. Good News Refreshes the Bones • 1. The gospel is the good news of God’s grace, it is free and unmerited acceptance. • 2. The gospel is the good news of changed lives. • 3. The gospel is the good news of the new world coming.