The Filling of Your Heart

✝️ The Filling of Your Heart

Text: John 16:1–7
Theme: Some things that can fill the heart of the believer

🌟 Introduction

  • Jesus knew what could trouble or fill the disciples’ hearts (John 16:6).

  • Question: What is your heart filled with this morning?

  • The heart is a vessel—it will be filled with something (Prov. 4:23; Luke 6:45).

  • Four possible fillings: Sorrow, Self, Satan, Spirit.

I. 😢 Sorrow Can Fill Your Heart (John 16:6)

A. Truth Brings Sorrow

  • Sorrow is right when rooted in truth, not in lies.

  • Comfort comes from the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter (John 14:16–17; 15:26; 16:13).

B. God Uses Sorrow for His Purposes

  • Joseph’s departure led to salvation for Israel & Egypt (Gen. 45:5–7).

  • Moses’ death led to Joshua’s conquest (Josh. 1:1–2).

  • Naomi & Ruth’s sorrow led to the lineage of Christ (Ruth 1–4).

  • Christ’s death brought eternal salvation (John 12:24).

  • Our sorrows may prepare us to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:4–6).

📌 Illustration: “Tears in God’s bottle” (Psalm 56:8) — He doesn’t waste them.

II. 🙍 Self Can Fill Your Heart (Prov. 14:14)

A. The Selfish Heart

  • The backslider is “filled with his own ways.”

  • Examples: Prodigal son, elder brother, Demas, Judas, Achan, Adam, Orpah, Jezebel.

B. Markers of a Selfish Man

  1. Talks only of himself (or negatively about others).

  2. Always paints self in the light; others in the dark.

  3. Ignores how his actions affect others.

  4. Believes he’s always right, never at fault.

  5. Finds peace only in solitude.

  6. Refuses to consider others’ feelings or needs.

C. Markers of a Good Man (cf. Christ in Phil. 2)

  1. Dissatisfied with self (Rom. 7:18).

  2. Makes himself of no reputation.

  3. Takes the form of a servant.

  4. Humbles himself, obedient unto death.

📌 Illustration: “The man who loves only his own reflection is in love with a shadow.”

III. 👿 Satan Can Fill Your Heart (Acts 5:3)

A. A Self-Filled Heart Is Vulnerable to Satan

  • Ananias lied.

  • Judas betrayed.

  • Peter denied.

B. Rooted in Self-Interest

  • Self-praise (Prov. 27:2).

  • Self-promotion (Ps. 75:6–7).

  • Self-preservation (Phil. 1:21; 1 Cor. 15:31).

C. Doctrinal Deception

  • Satan works through seducing spirits & false doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1).

  • A heart filled with lies becomes a heart filled with the devil.

📌 Illustration: A Trojan Horse—selfishness is the hidden way Satan infiltrates the heart.

IV. ✨ Spirit of Christ Can Fill Your Heart (Eph. 5:18)

A. The Only Cure

  • To be filled with the Spirit is the answer to sorrow, self, and Satan.

B. How to Be Filled

  • Washed by the Spirit.

  • Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16):

    • Read & obey Scripture.

    • Pray & cast down imaginations.

    • Praise & thank the Lord.

    • Worship, hear, & respond to preaching.

    • Fellowship with believers.

    • Evangelize the lost.

    • Give as God provides.

C. The Benefits of Spirit-Filling

  • Wisdom in daily walk (Eph. 5:15).

  • Redeeming the time (Eph. 5:16).

  • Understanding God’s will (Eph. 5:17).

  • Music & melody that glorifies God (Eph. 5:19).

  • Thanksgiving always (Eph. 5:20).

  • Submissive spirit (Eph. 5:21).

  • Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23).

📌 Illustration: A sponge—what fills you is what will come out when life squeezes you.

🔑 Closing Application

  • Take an inventory of your heart:

    • Is it filled with sorrow, self, or Satan?

    • Or is it filled with the Spirit?

  • What fills you will overflow from you (Luke 6:45).

  • Spirit-filled hearts produce love, joy, peace, and lasting fruit.

Jeffrey smith