Transforming the Heart: A Lenten Journey

 

Summary

In this Lenten season, we are invited to journey towards the crucifixion, seeking transformation through the teachings of Dallas Willard's "Renovation of the Heart." This journey is about entering a new reality where we become different kinds of people, a transformation that only God can facilitate. The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said, "Purity of heart is to will one thing," yet we often find ourselves unable to will just one thing due to the fragmentation of our desires. This internal conflict is akin to what Tennessee Williams described as "mendacity" in his play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"—a pervasive deceit that becomes so ingrained in us that we lose sight of where truth ends and deceit begins.

Our wills, apart from God, are fragmented and chaotic, leading us to act in ways that are often contradictory and self-deceptive. We may say we don't want to speak ill of others, yet our actions betray a different desire. This duplicity is not just external but internal, as we struggle with our own self-perception and the image we project to others. The heart, however, is what God observes and addresses. He is not concerned with outward appearances but with the true state of our hearts. God knows our thoughts and desires, and it is through our bodies that we often attempt to conceal the truth.

The journey towards purity of heart involves moving from surrender to abandonment, and ultimately to contentment. Surrender is acknowledging God's supremacy, but abandonment is a deeper release of all hidden deceit. Contentment follows, where we find joy in God's goodness, even amidst life's challenges. Beyond contentment lies active participation in God's will, where we become co-creators in His eternal drama. This is the essence of the "shake and bake" prayer—asking God, "Can I help?" in His work.

In a world filled with mendacity, we cannot change ourselves, but God can. We ask Him to free us from arrogance, deception, and self-centeredness, enabling us to embrace Him fully. As we go about our daily lives, we continually seek to participate in God's work, asking Him to purify our hearts and help us will one thing.

Key Takeaways:

1. Fragmentation of the Will: Our wills, apart from God, are fragmented and chaotic, leading to internal conflict and self-deception. This fragmentation prevents us from willing one thing, as our desires are often contradictory and unreconciled. [01:37]

2. The Deceit of Mendacity: Mendacity, or deceit, becomes so ingrained in us that we lose sight of where truth ends and deceit begins. This pervasive deceit affects our self-perception and the image we project to others. [06:06]

3. God Observes the Heart: God is not concerned with outward appearances but with the true state of our hearts. He knows our thoughts and desires, and it is through our bodies that we often attempt to conceal the truth. [07:36]

4. Journey to Purity of Heart: The journey towards purity of heart involves moving from surrender to abandonment, and ultimately to contentment. This process requires a deep release of all hidden deceit and finding joy in God's goodness. [09:19]

5. Active Participation in God's Will: Beyond contentment lies active participation in God's will, where we become co-creators in His eternal drama. This involves continually seeking to participate in God's work and asking Him to purify our hearts. [10:29]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:34] - Journey to the Crucifixion
- [00:45] - Kierkegaard's Insight
- [01:11] - The Problem of Mendacity
- [01:24] - Fragmentation of the Will
- [02:15] - The Deceit of Self-Perception
- [03:31] - Training the Body to Deceive
- [04:14] - The Division Within
- [05:24] - The Complexity of Motives
- [06:06] - Mendacity in Our Lives
- [07:04] - God Observes the Heart
- [08:22] - God's Heart Monitor
- [09:05] - From Surrender to Abandonment
- [09:29] - Contentment in God's Goodness
- [10:29] - Active Participation in God's Will

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 10:12 - "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him."
2. 1 Samuel 16:7 - "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

Observation Questions:
1. What does Søren Kierkegaard mean by "purity of heart is to will one thing," and how does this relate to the fragmentation of our will? [00:45]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "mendacity," and what role does it play in our self-perception and interactions with others? [06:06]
3. According to the sermon, how does God view our hearts compared to our outward appearances? [07:36]
4. What are the stages of the journey towards purity of heart as described in the sermon? [09:19]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the fragmentation of our will lead to internal conflict and self-deception, and what might be the consequences of this in our daily lives? [01:37]
2. In what ways does mendacity become ingrained in us, and how can it affect our relationships with others and with God? [06:06]
3. Why is it significant that God observes the heart rather than outward appearances, and how does this understanding impact our spiritual journey? [07:36]
4. What does it mean to move from surrender to abandonment and then to contentment in the context of our relationship with God? [09:19]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your desires were fragmented and contradictory. How did this affect your decision-making and relationships? What steps can you take to align your will with God's? [01:37]
2. Consider a situation where you might have been deceitful, either to yourself or others. How can you work towards greater honesty and integrity in your life? [06:06]
3. How can you cultivate a heart that is more focused on God's desires rather than outward appearances? What practical steps can you take this week to focus on your inner spiritual growth? [07:36]
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to move from mere surrender to full abandonment to God's will. What is holding you back, and how can you overcome it? [09:19]
5. Think about a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you find contentment and joy in God's goodness despite the difficulties? [09:29]
6. How can you actively participate in God's will and become a co-creator in His eternal drama? What specific actions can you take to engage more fully in God's work? [10:29]
7. Reflect on the "shake and bake" prayer. How can you incorporate the question "God, can I help?" into your daily routine to align your actions with God's purposes? [10:29]

Devotional

Day 1: The Fragmented Will and Its Consequences
Our wills, when disconnected from God, become fragmented and chaotic, leading to internal conflict and self-deception. This fragmentation prevents us from willing one thing, as our desires are often contradictory and unreconciled. The struggle to align our will with God's is a journey of transformation, where we must recognize the chaos within us and seek divine intervention to bring order and unity. This internal conflict is akin to what Tennessee Williams described as "mendacity" in his play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"—a pervasive deceit that becomes so ingrained in us that we lose sight of where truth ends and deceit begins. [01:37]

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where your desires are contradictory. How can you invite God to bring unity and clarity to this area today?


Day 2: The Deceit of Mendacity
Mendacity, or deceit, becomes so ingrained in us that we lose sight of where truth ends and deceit begins. This pervasive deceit affects our self-perception and the image we project to others. We often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of self-deception, where we justify our actions and ignore the truth. This deceit is not just external but internal, as we struggle with our own self-perception and the image we project to others. Recognizing this mendacity is the first step towards seeking God's truth and allowing Him to transform our hearts. [06:06]

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'" (Jeremiah 17:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you may have deceived yourself or others. How can you seek God's truth and transparency in this area?


Day 3: God Observes the Heart
God is not concerned with outward appearances but with the true state of our hearts. He knows our thoughts and desires, and it is through our bodies that we often attempt to conceal the truth. While we may be able to deceive others and even ourselves, we cannot hide from God. He sees beyond our facades and understands the true intentions of our hearts. This awareness should lead us to seek authenticity and integrity in our relationship with Him, allowing Him to purify and transform our hearts. [07:36]

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you may be more focused on outward appearances than the state of your heart. How can you invite God to transform this area?


Day 4: The Journey to Purity of Heart
The journey towards purity of heart involves moving from surrender to abandonment, and ultimately to contentment. This process requires a deep release of all hidden deceit and finding joy in God's goodness. Surrender is acknowledging God's supremacy, but abandonment is a deeper release of all hidden deceit. Contentment follows, where we find joy in God's goodness, even amidst life's challenges. This journey is not easy, but it is essential for experiencing true transformation and aligning our hearts with God's will. [09:19]

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one hidden deceit you need to release to God today? How can you find contentment in His goodness amidst your current challenges?


Day 5: Active Participation in God's Will
Beyond contentment lies active participation in God's will, where we become co-creators in His eternal drama. This involves continually seeking to participate in God's work and asking Him to purify our hearts. As we align our desires with His, we become active participants in His divine plan, contributing to His work in the world. This is the essence of the "shake and bake" prayer—asking God, "Can I help?" in His work. By doing so, we embrace our role as co-creators in His eternal drama. [10:29]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's work today? What specific action can you take to align your desires with His will?

Quotes


The constant character of the will, apart from God, is, or more accurately, fragmentation and multiplicity. It wills many things, and they cannot be reconciled with each other. Turned away from God, thought and feeling fall into chaos, and the will cannot but follow. [00:01:32]

I say, "Now I don't want to say something negative about another person, but," and that little word "but" almost always comes at the end of that phrase because the fact is I do want to say something negative about another person. It will feel good; it will make me feel superior. [00:02:11]

I have to train my body to help me to deceive other people so that I can say something negative about someone without them thinking that I really want to do this. But I have to train my body to do this without even being terribly aware that I'm doing that. [00:03:25]

It's not just that I'm lying; it's that the deceit gets so deeply inside me that after a while, I'm not even sure where the truth stops and deceit starts. [00:06:14]

The heart is precisely what God observes and addresses in human beings. He cares little or nothing for outward show. One of the amazing observations Dallas makes on page 149 is when it comes to the human spirit, nothing can be hidden. [00:06:48]

With my mind, I cannot lie to God. God knows all of my thoughts. It requires my body, which is a gift from God, to be able to lie, and that's why the Bible talks about how God looks at the heart. He responds to the heart because it is above all who we are. [00:07:22]

Surrender is where we consent to God's supremacy in all things, but often that's kind of with a grudging spirit. You know, God, you are more powerful. I recognize that you're wiser than me, so okay, I will acknowledge that. [00:08:43]

Abandonment is when there are no longer any secret hidden little places inside me that are covered up with mendacity, but I just say to God, all right, all right, full surrender now your will be done. [00:09:09]

Beyond contentment lies intelligent, energetic participation in accomplishing God's will in our world. We are no longer spectators but are caught up in a vivid eternal drama in which we play an essential part. [00:10:01]

In a world of mendacity, where my own spirit is consumed by it, I can't change this. I can't. God can. God, would you help me to will one thing? Would you free me from the arrogance and deception and self-centeredness? [00:10:38]

As you go through your day to day, whatever you are doing, whatever little bit of work, whoever you might be talking to, whatever task you are finishing, whatever errand you are running, whatever screen you are reading, whatever conversation you are holding, as often as you think about it, God, can I help? [00:11:19]

God, can I help? God, can I help? God, purify my heart. Let me just will that. [00:11:42]

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Transcript
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