G. T. Ministries

G. T. Ministries

Who has Your Heart?

30 min · 9. juni 2026
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Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359736/fan_mail/new] Sermon Title: Who Has Your Heart? Scripture: Joshua 24:15 Joshua 24:15 (KJV) "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."   Introduction: Everybody Serves Something Many people believe they are completely independent. They say: • "I do what I want." • "Nobody tells me what to do." • "I live life my own way." But the truth is everyone serves something 1. Some Serve Money Example: Judas Iscariot Matthew 26:14-16 Judas loved money more than he loved Christ. He sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Lesson: Money is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. When money becomes our god, we will sacrifice our values for profit. Illustration: Many people work overtime to get more money but never make time for God, family, or worship. 2. Some Serve Pleasure Example: Samson Judges 16 Samson was chosen by God and gifted with supernatural strength, but he repeatedly pursued sinful pleasures. His desire for pleasure eventually led to his downfall. Lesson: Pleasure is temporary, but its consequences can be permanent. 3. Some Serve Pride Example: King Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 4:3 “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?” Nebuchadnezzar became consumed with pride and took credit for what God had done. God humbled him until he acknowledged God’s sovereignty. Lesson: Pride lifts us up only to bring us down. Quote: “The same sun that melts butter hardens clay.” 4. Some Serve Success Example: The Rich Fool Luke 12:16-21 This man focused his entire life on building bigger barns and accumulating wealth. He was successful in business but bankrupt toward God. God called him a fool because he prepared for retirement but not eternity. Lesson: Success without God is failure in disguise. 5. Some Serve Popularity Example: King Saul 1 Samuel 15:24 Saul admitted: “I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” Instead of obeying God, Saul wanted the approval of people. Lesson: When you live for applause, you become a slave to opinions. Illustration: Saul lost a kingdom because he cared more about public opinion than God’s opinion. 6. Some Serve Habits Example: Esau Genesis 25:29-34 Esau had a habit of satisfying immediate desires. He traded his birthright for a bowl of stew because he could not control his appetites. Lesson: A habit that seems small today can cost you something valuable tomorrow. 7. Some Serve Addictions Example: The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-16 The prodigal became addicted to a reckless lifestyle. He wasted his inheritance and ended up feeding pigs. His desires controlled him until he finally came to himself and returned to the Father. Lesson: Whatever controls you becomes your master. Others serve God. The question is not if you serve. The question is who or what has your heart? Joshua understood this truth. As he approached the end of his life, he gathered the nation of Israel one final time. He reminded them of God's faithfulness: • God called Abraham. • God delivered them from Egypt. • God opened the Red Sea. • God fed them in the wilderness. • God gave them victory in Canaan. Then Joshua asked a powerful question: "After everything God has done for you, who has your heart?" That same question is relevant today.   Why Joshua Said This Israel had entered a dangerous season. The battles were mostly over. The Promised Land had been conquered. The people were becoming comfortable. Joshua knew that prosperity often creates spiritual forgetfulness. The people were surrounded by the false gods of the Amorites. There was pressure to fit in with the culture around them. Joshua knew that if Israel lost their devotion to God, they would lose everything else. So he challenged them: Choose today. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today.   1. Your Heart Determines Your Direction Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Whatever captures your heart eventually controls your life. What you love most will determine: • Your priorities • Your decisions • Your habits • Your future Illustration A compass always points north. No matter where you carry it, its direction remains the same. Your heart is the compass of your life. Where your heart points, your life follows.   2. The World Constantly Competes for Your Heart 1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." The enemy doesn't always attack with persecution. Often he attacks with distraction. Today people spend more time: • On phones • Social media • Entertainment • Material pursuits Than they spend seeking God. Short Story A little boy asked his father: "Dad, how much do you make an hour?" After hearing the answer, the boy asked: "Can I buy one hour of your time?" Many things compete for our attention and affection.   3. God Wants Complete Commitment Matthew 22:37 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." Notice God did not ask for part of the heart. He asked for all of it. Joshua understood that divided loyalty creates spiritual weakness. Illustration A husband cannot successfully be committed to two wives. Neither can believers successfully serve God and the world. God demands complete devotion.   4. What Has Your Heart Will Influence Your Home Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my house..." Joshua understood leadership. His personal devotion would affect his family. Parents pass down more than possessions. They pass down values. Short Story Timothy became a mighty servant of God because of the influence of Lois and Eunice. Their faith became his faith. Their devotion became his devotion.   5. Your Choices Today Shape Tomorrow Galatians 6:7 "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Every choice plants a seed. Every seed eventually produces a harvest. Joshua knew Israel's future depended on today's decision. Illustration An oak tree begins as a tiny acorn. The future often hides inside small daily choices.   6. God Deserves Our Loyalty Deuteronomy 6:5 God had already proven Himself faithful. Joshua reminded Israel of everything God had done. The question wasn't whether God deserved their loyalty. The question was whether they would give it. Illustration If someone repeatedly saves your life, you naturally develop trust and gratitude. How much more should we honor a God who saved our souls?   7. One Person's Decision Can Change an Entire Family Joshua 24:15 Joshua didn't wait for everyone else. He didn't take a poll. He didn't ask for public opinion. He simply declared: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Illustration One light bulb can illuminate a dark room. One committed believer can change the atmosphere of an entire household.   8. Choose Before the Crisis Comes Ecclesiastes 12:1 Many people wait until trouble arrives before seeking God. Joshua urged the people to decide before disaster struck. Illustration You don't buy flood insurance after the flood arrives. You prepare beforehand. Strong families choose God before the storm comes.   Conclusion: The Most Important Decision Joshua was not asking Israel to choose a religion. He was asking them to choose their allegiance. Who will have your heart? Who will direct your life? Who will guide your family? At the end of his life Joshua stood firm and said: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." His mind was made up. His loyalty was settled. His heart belonged to God. Today God is asking us the same question: Who has your heart?   Altar Call Perhaps your heart has drifted. Perhaps other things have taken God's place. Perhaps your family needs spiritual renewal. Today is the day to make a fresh commitment. Come and declare: "Lord, You have my heart, my home, my family, and my future." And together let us say: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359736/support]

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episode The Joy of Freedom cover

The Joy of Freedom

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359736/fan_mail/new] Sermon Title: The Joy of Freedom Monthly Theme: Freedom & Favor Theme Scripture: John 8:36 (KJV) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Introduction One of the greatest emotions God gives mankind is joy. Joy is more than happiness. Happiness depends on what happens around you, but joy comes from what God has done within you. There is no greater joy than knowing you are free. When a soldier returns safely from war, there is joy. When a patient hears the doctor say, "You're cancer free," there is joy. When a person who has been declared innocent walks out of prison, there is joy. When the Berlin Wall came down, people celebrated because freedom had finally come. And on Juneteenth, after years of slavery and two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued, many enslaved African Americans in Texas finally heard they were free. There was shouting, crying, hugging, dancing, praying, and praising God because freedom always brings joy. Spiritually, many people are still living like slaves when Jesus has already purchased their freedom. Jesus did not die merely to forgive us. He died so we could live free. The devil wants Christians to drag around chains that Christ has already broken. But God wants His children to walk in victory, favor, peace, and joy. Today we are going to discover why every believer ought to rejoice because of the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. 1. There Is Joy When You Discover You Are Truly Free John 8:36 (KJV) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Notice Jesus didn't say you would be "a little free." He didn't say "partially free." He said free indeed. That means genuine freedom. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from the penalty of sin. Freedom from Satan's control. Freedom from fear. Many people have been forgiven but still live as though they are condemned. Jesus says, "Stop living like a prisoner when I have already opened the prison door." Illustration Imagine someone sitting inside a prison cell after receiving a full pardon. The prison door is unlocked. The sentence has been canceled. But he refuses to leave because he doesn't believe the pardon belongs to him. Many Christians live exactly like that. Jesus says, "Come out and enjoy what I already paid for." 2. Freedom Gives You a Song Even Before the Chains Fall Off Acts 16:25-26 (KJV) "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Paul and Silas had every reason to complain. They had been beaten. Humiliated. Locked in prison. Feet in stocks. Yet they started praying and singing. They praised before they were delivered. Many people wait until God changes their situation before they praise Him. Paul praised God while still in prison. Sometimes your praise becomes the key that unlocks your prison. The joy of freedom often begins before the chains actually fall off. 3. Freedom Restores Everything Bondage Tried to Steal Psalm 126:1-3 (KJV) "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Notice what freedom restored. Their laughter returned. Their singing returned. Their hope returned. Their dreams returned. Bondage steals joy. Bondage steals peace. Bondage steals confidence. But when God sets people free... Laughter comes back. Hope comes back. Purpose comes back. Joy comes back. 4. Jesus Came Specifically to Bring Freedom Luke 4:18 (KJV) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Jesus announced His ministry by saying, "I came to free people." He came to free: The brokenhearted. The addicted. The oppressed. The discouraged. The wounded. The captive. Everywhere Jesus went... People left different than they came. He still does that today. 5. Freedom Gives Us Power to Live for God Galatians 5:1 (KJV) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Paul says, Don't go back. Don't pick up yesterday's chains. Don't allow old habits... Old sins... Old attitudes... Old fears... To enslave you again. Freedom is not permission to sin. Freedom is power to overcome sin. 6. Freedom Opens the Door to God's Favor When people become free... God begins trusting them with greater assignments. Joseph Joseph was freed from prison. Soon afterward... He became governor of Egypt. Freedom prepared him for favor. The Three Hebrew Boys They refused to bow to idols. Their spirits remained free. God promoted them after the fiery furnace. Peter Peter was released from prison by an angel. Immediately afterward... He went right back to preaching the Gospel. Sometimes your greatest favor begins after your greatest freedom. 7. Somebody Paid for Your Freedom Freedom is never free. America's freedom cost the lives of soldiers. The freedom celebrated on Juneteenth came after generations of enslaved people endured unimaginable suffering, and after countless abolitionists, soldiers, and ordinary men and women risked everything to end slavery and secure liberty for others. Our spiritual freedom cost even more. Isaiah 61:1 (KJV) "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. He shed His blood. He died on the cross. He paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. Every time we worship... Remember— Somebody paid. Every time we pray... Remember— Somebody paid. Every blessing we enjoy spiritually came because Jesus paid the ultimate price. Humorous Illustration A little boy was flying a kite. Someone asked, "How do you know it's still up there? I can't even see it." The little boy smiled and said, "I know it's still there because every now and then I feel it pulling." You may not always see everything God is doing. But every now and then... You'll feel His joy. You'll feel His peace. You'll feel His freedom reminding you... God is still holding you. Conclusion When Israel crossed the Red Sea... They sang. When the captives returned to Jerusalem... They laughed. When Paul and Silas were delivered... They praised. When Jesus rose from the grave... The disciples rejoiced. And today... Everyone whom Jesus has set free ought to have joy. Don't just say you're free. Walk free. Live free. Love free. Forgive free. Praise free. Serve free. Because the joy of freedom is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. John 8:36 (KJV) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." The prison door is open. The chains have been broken. The price has been paid. Now rejoice in the joy of your freedom!   Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359736/support]

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