“Prayer guards hearts and minds and causes God to bring peace out of chaos.”
Beth Moore
Passage
26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:26–28 (NASB95)
Background
Quote-Wanda Elizabeth "Beth" Moore (born Wanda Elizabeth Green, June 16, 1957) is an American Anglican evangelist, author, and Bible teacher. She is president of Living Proof Ministries, a Christian organization she founded in 1994 to teach women to know and love Jesus through the study of Scripture. Moore is "arguably the most prominent white evangelical woman in America," speaks at arena events and has sold millions of books.
The ministry, in conjunction with LifeWay Christian Resources, conducted more than a dozen conferences, known as "Living Proof Live", around the United States annually. Moore teaches through her radio show, Living Proof with Beth Moore, and on her YouTube channel of the same name.
Moore writes books and produces video resources based on the Bible studies that she conducts at the Living Proof Live conferences.
Passage- The book of Romans is a Pauline Epistle (letter from Paul). The Apostle Paul wrote it roughly about 56-57 A.D. He wrote it to give them a concrete theological foundation on which to construct their faith and to live for and serve God effectively.
The book of Romans reveals the answers to important questions and supplies information on many topics, such as salvation, the sovereignty of God, judgment, spiritual growth, and the righteousness of God. Many scholars also describe it as The Gospel and the Righteousness of God, which can be received only by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
Opening Statement
The answer always begins with prayer. It should end with giving thanks, but finding the answer should always start with prayer. However, be warned the Holy Spirit knows why we pray for things which means God knows and God does not answer prayers that do not conform to His ways.
Ask: Which is more important our heart or our mind?
Point: To God, our heart is more important. Please read the following:
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB95)
Ask: Why does God look on the heart instead of our mind?
Point: Let’s look at the Greek words behind heart and mind from verse 27. Please see the Definitions page.
Ask: How do the definitions of Heart and Mind answer why God is interested in our “heart?”
Point: The Greek wording indicates a desire to know the motivation behind the actions. We can hide our motivations, but we can color what others see and know about us.
Ask: If we can’t know what is in someone’s heart how do we know what their true motivation is?
Point: We can’t, not one hundred percent.
Ask: So, how do we make value decisions about other people if we can’t know their heart like God does?
Point: We don’t, at least not by just what we think. Please read the following:
2Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
3To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:2–3 (NASB95)
Ask: If we can’t trust our own judgment and decisions, what do we do?
Point: Please read the following:
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5–7 (NASB95)
Ask: Trust in God’s judgment, okay so what does that mean to me? Where do I start?
Point: Prayer. Please read the following:
6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:6–12 (NASB95)
Ask: Where is this salvation that creates in us a clean heart and renews a steadfast spirit?
Point: Please read the following:
11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”
14I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:11–14 (NASB95)
Ask: What is this blood of the lamb that makes robes white?
Point: Please read the following:
5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:5–7 (NASB95)
Ask: If it is about hearts over minds why do we have to have faith in Jesus to begin with? Isn’t our faith an act of the mind?
Point: The heart is the motivation behind the thoughts of the mind so why do we have faith at all? Please read the following:
13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:13–15 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
God wants our heart in the right place, on Him. He wants our heart on Him so that our actions flow from Him, His word, and His ways. We put what He thinks into our hearts so that our actions flow from what God thinks is right and wrong instead of what Man thinks is right and wrong. As long as we base our actions on His principles, we can reasonably believe we are doing what we need to do to stay on His path. Because they will know us by our fruits.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Review this week’s lesson and focus on one or more scripture which seem to stand out to you and list them in your journal.
Question 2 Pray asking the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and studies this week concerning those scripture that stood out.
Question 3 Consider Psalm 51 in its entirity.
Question 4 What steps can you take taking into consideration the scripture the Holy Spirit pointed out to you to “create in me a clean heart?”
Definitions
Greek Strong’s Number: 2588
Greek Word: καρδία
Transliteration: kardia
Phonetic Pronunciation: kar-dee’-ah
Root: prolonged from a primary kar (Latin, cor, “heart”)
Cross Reference: TDNT - 3:605,415
Part of Speech: n f
Vine’s Words: Heart, Heartily
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
heart 159
broken hearted + <G4937> 1
[Total Count: 160]
prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, i.e. (figurative) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:- (+ broken-) heart (-ed).
James Strong, “Καρδία,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
Greek Strong’s Number: 5427
Greek Word: φρόνημα
Transliteration: phronēma
Phonetic Pronunciation: fron’-ay-mah
Root: from <G5426>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 9:220,1277
Part of Speech: n n
Vine’s Words: Mind
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
mind 2
carnally minded + <G4561> 1
spiritually minded + <G4151> 1
[Total Count: 4]
from <G5426> (phroneo); (mental) inclination or purpose:- (be, + be carnally, + be spiritually) mind (-ed).
James Strong, “Φρόνημα,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
Psalm 51
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
4Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
Psalm 51:title–19 (NASB95)