OPEN YOUR HEART TO GOD Sylvester Onyemalechi

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1 OPEN YOUR HEART TO GOD Sylvester Onyemalechi Rev 3:20 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To open one s heart is to allow one into your life. It is to be receptive to the person, his words and counsel. To open one s heart is to embrace a person, his teachings, ideologies, beliefs, principles and lifestyle. It is to love and enter into a close relationship with a person. It is to trust the person. An open heart is a willing heart. 1 Chron 28:9 9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chron 28:21 21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command." Ex 35:5 5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass, KJV Ex 35: Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence, 21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 23 Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or hides of sea cows brought them. 24 Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. 25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. 26 And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and

2 for the fragrant incense. 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do. Opening your heart to God is all about allowing God free access into your life, embracing Him and His teachings, and committing yourself to loving Him and partnering with him to accomplish your purpose on earth and expand His kingdom. It is walking with Him in faith, love and obedience. Deut 4:29 29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Mark 12:30 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Eph 6:6 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. PROOF OF AN OPEN HEART 1. An ever growing love for God and His Kingdom. Mark 12:30 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Song 8:6 6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. 2. A burning desire to know Him more a panting after God and His teachings. Ps 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3 Ps 63:1-5 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Ps 84:1-4 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young--a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 3. A burning desire to be in a gathering where He is being praised and worshipped. Ps 84:10 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Ps 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." 4. A strong faith in the truths of God s word discovered and straightaway practicing it without delay. Gal 3:6 6 Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Jonah 3:5 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Rom 10: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

4 5. An eagerness to obey God and walk in a truth just discovered. Isa 1:19 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 6. A changed character and life. Eph 4: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness Matt 7:16 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? KJV 7. Meekness and humility. Matt 11:29 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 8. Positive thoughts and words. 2 Cor 4:13 13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, Rom 12:2 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. LET GO AND LET GOD

5 Stop resisting God in your life. Allow the word of God that you hear to enter you, renew your mind and change your life. Think more about God. Fall in deep love with Jesus Christ and think more about pleasing Him and making Him known.