The Cry of My Heart

2. The Cry of My Heart

3. What Do You Want? …but do not have right now? Not what you “should” want… but what DO you want?

4. Material • An upgraded ____ • A new _______ • A vacation (for family/to visit loved ones) • Debts paid off (house, car, loans) • Home repairs • Top gift idea… • Enough money to…. • Other…

5. Physical • Healing from injury or chronic pain • Change in physical attributes (posture, weight, strength) • Contentment with non-changeable physical features • Control over physical appetites: • Eating • Drinking • Sleeping • Sexual desires

6. Mental • Acquiring needed or desired competency • Understanding of (a person, situation, concept) • Realization of…. • Satisfying work • Enjoyment of a hobby • Freedom from recurring or pervasive thoughts (constant planning, figuring, analyzing, re-hashing) • Other….

7. Emotional • Healing from past hurts (no bitterness, cynicism, or critical spirit) • Freedom from outbursts (anger, sarcasm, crying) • Freedom from mood swings (depression, feeling worthless or aimless) • Balanced reactions to unexpected situations • To be more lighthearted • Greater empathy/sympathy toward others

8. Relational • A “best friend” • A spouse • A child • A restored relationship • Closure from past • To not be lonely • To fit in • To say appropriate things • To have continued closeness with… • Other…

9. Spiritual • Victory over ___ • Consistency in ____ • Boldness to ____ • Ability to ____ • Freedom from ____ • Greater _____ (love, faith, joy, trust, peace) • Fruitfulness in _____ • Growth in ____ (knowledge, wisdom, warfare, spiritual disciplines) • Other…

10. What are your top 5 CURRENT wants? Put a star next to them. Which 3 wants are ones you have either cried over or journaled about in desperation?

11. People will drive toward what they truly want in their heart.

12. A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

13. Many who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.    “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

14. The blind man said, “Lord, I want to see.”  Jesus had compassion on (him) and touched (his) eyes.  “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road., praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

15. Jesus cares and helps this man. He answers his cry.

16. Syro-Phoenician Woman’s Daughter Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.   In fact, as soon as she heard about him,A Canaanite woman from that vicinity (The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. ) came to him, crying out,

17. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” [(She was a woman whose) little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit.] Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

18. He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and fell at his feet. “Lord, help me!” She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

19. “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs under the table eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” (And her daughter was healed at that moment.) She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

20. Jesus cares and helps this woman. He answers her cry.

21. The Cry of Self-Interest • The things that cause me pain. • The things that cause pain to those I love so dearly.

22. Jesus cares and helps me. He answers my cry.

24. A Story Did you hear the one about the church goer and the night club stripper?

25. They both showed up for service one Sunday morning. The church goer took her normal seat near the front on the side. The stripper sat near the back close to the wall.

26. As the music started, the church goer stood, raised her hands and was filled with thankful thoughts to God: “God, thank you for the good life I’ve led. Thank you that I don’t cheat, that I am fair in how I treat my friends, and that I haven’t committed adultery like some other people I know.”

27. The stripper wouldn’t even stand up from her seat but slumped over in shame with her face in her hands. “Oh God, I don’t even belong here in Your presence. Please, I beg You, have mercy on me!”

28. One person went home right with God that day. Who was it? Luke 18:9

29. “Humanity is not divided into Big Sinners and Little Sinners. We are all Big Sinners. This earth is rather divided into Big Sinners who recognize it and Big Sinners who don’t. Ours is a world of Prostitutes and Pharisees. Which are you?” Overwhelmed by Grace, Kent McQuilkin

30. The Cry of the Sinner • The ones I don’t see. • The ones I can’t let go of.

31. What Sin? “3G” Network • Gossip • Gluttony • Greed

32. What Sin? 7 Deadly Sins Lust Gluttony Greed Sloth (Indifference) Wrath Envy Pride

33. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Relationships: (parents, siblings, friends, at school, at church, neighborhood) when you have been unforgiving, unyielding, unthoughtful, impatient, judgmental, gossiping, manipulating, controlling, not listening, burdening, proud, avoiding, flattering…

34. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Attitudes: in regards to relationships, circumstances, losses, pleasures, possessions, duties, plans, obstacles, changes, success… Thoughts: dirty, useless/repetitive, unkind, proud, selfish, covetous, jealous, double-minded, discouraging, doubting, complaining, judgmental, self-pity…

35. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Character: sins which are repetitive, irresistible, unresisted, habitual, controlling, typical, reputed, personality trait, unchanging, common… Omissions: failures to help, love, bless, encourage, give, befriend, correct, complete, start, repair, visit, share, study, develop, practice, return, edify, support…

36. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Sinning against grace: strength given but not used, escapes provided but not taken, lessons taught but not obeyed, forgiveness granted but the sin repeated, victories received and turned to pride, blessings given but forgotten, opportunities neglected, wasted benefits and blessings… Compromises: with work, conscience, methods, money, truth, principles, pressure, compromising attitudes (“partly right, mostly true, fairly pure, generally good, only a little sinful”)…

37. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Excuses: blaming others, circumstances, weaknesses, inabilities, time, ignorance, tiredness, mood… Clinging to: things, sins, rights, advantages, reputation, positions, situations, past, relationships, lies, plans…

38. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Hatred, dislike: of holiness, sacrifice, correction, prayer, discipline, hard work, good in others, pity/condescension, menial tasks, limitations, appearance, suggestions, other people’s possessions, success, reputation, ability or opportunities… Irresponsibilities: broken promises, unfulfilled commitments, poorly done work, hastiness, laziness, indiscipline, quitting, taking advantage of others, slowness, quick-fixes, shortcuts…

39. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Resistance, Stubbornness: to God, godly advice, spiritual truth, rebuke, correction of the Holy Spirit, conscience, Word of God. Unwillingness to rejoice, be reconciled, agree, cooperate, assist, talk, listen, smile, forgive… Unbelief: depending on money, on others, on talent, on connections, fearing others or future potential losses or weaknesses; doubting God’s promises or love or power; thinking own way is best, God’s way is impossible or unsatisfying or confining…

40. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Blind spots: sins which are unrecognized, denied, subconscious, excused, renamed, ignored, blamed on others, only partially recognized, misperceived… False Good: good attributed to self which is—exaggerated, falsely motivated, good only in appearance, mostly the work of others, unintentionally done…

41. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” Uncleanness: of mind, heart, mouth, ears, eyes, hands, location, clothing, relationships, reading, music, entertainment, dreams, hopes, unconfessed past… Half-heartedness: in devotions, worship, prayer, obedience, love, giving, studying, helping, working, listening, preparing, fighting temptation, seeking God, repenting…

42. What Sin? From “Overwhelmed by Grace” More and More: selfishness, stinginess, unfriendliness, shyness, cowardice, anger, sloth, fear, complaining, gluttony, over-sensitivity, lust, self-centered, uncaring, revengeful, bitter, impure, unkind, rude, self-pitying, grudges, compromising, insinuation, critical, peevish, argumentative, self-exalting, aloofness, killing time, insincerity, manipulation, callousness, cheating, scheming, prayerlessness, rebellion, irritability, pornography, bad influence, disrespect…

43. “Grace visits those with a spirit of brokenness over their failures, weakness, and inadequacy. We may feel less guilty by down-sizing our sins or up-sizing our holiness, but both drag us from grace.” Overwhelmed by Grace, Kent McQuilkin

45. Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. • Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

46. Luke 19:41 (13:34) As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it. • John 11:35 Jesus wept. • Matthew 27:46 (Psalm 22) “About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

47. Revelation 5:9 You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. • Revelation 6:9 -11 They called out in a loud voice (Luke 18 parable!), “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the earth and avenge our blood?”

48. Revelation 8:3,4 An angel…was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God. • Revelation 11:15 The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.

49. The Cry of Surrender • Ask. Cry for Justice. • “Not my will, but Yours be done.”