1. The Heart
of the
Matter

2. What the heart of the matter is
2. How did we lose it?
3. What can we do to recover it?
4. What will that look like?

3. The Heart of the Matter ….
Recover the Awe

4. Understanding what it is….

5. “An emotion that combines honor and fear and respect.”
Holman Bible Dictionary

6. “Reverential fear; the emotion inspired by contemplation of the sublime.”
Webster’s dictionary

7. How the Bible describes it:
It is our reaction when we encounter God as Majestic in Holiness, Awesome in Glory, and Working Wonders…
Ex. 15:11

8. A look at Isaiah’s experience of awe:

9. He saw his own sinfulness in comparison to the holiness of God.

10. It drove him to repentance.

11. It helped him hear the voice of God.

12. It led him to volunteer for service.

13. What does our awesome God expect of us?
Deut. 10:12-13

14. 1. To be people who reverence Him.

15. 2. To be people who are willing to walk in His ways.

16. 3. To be people who serve Him with all of our hearts.

17. 4. To be people who obey His commands.

18. 5. To be people who worship Him in the splendor of His holiness.

19. Reverence
Fellowship
Service
Obedience
Worship

20. What causes us to lose this ….
“Heart of the Matter?”

21. Many possible reasons. But basically two:
Satan
Self

22. Satan does not want us connecting with God, so….
He Blinds our eyes

23. 2. He tells us to focus
on anything except God

24. 3. He lies to us about
what is important

25. Self (the old nature within us) tells us we should be king or queen of our own lives.
We are easily deceived

26. 2. We are bored with life and seek earthly satisfaction

27. 3. We are born with the
downward pull away from God

28. What can we do???