Song – Give Me Thy Heart
See full series: hymns
Song – Give Me Thy Heart
Sermon by Thomas Thornhill Jr
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#270, Hymns for Worship
Tonight, we examine another song we sing from time to time. This song was published in 1898 by Eliza Hewitt. Born in 1851 in Philadelphia, she became a school teacher. But she developed a spinal malady which caused her to be a shut in for years. During that time, she wrote many hymns. Even after she recovered, she continued to write hymns. She died in 1920.
In our hymnal, some of her hymns include: More About Jesus (406), Stepping in the Light (518), Sunshine in My Soul (425), When We All Get to Heaven (194), Who will Follow Jesus (347).
This is a song that reminds us of our need to surrender our ALL to have a hope of heaven. It also reminds us of the triune God as each verse addresses a different person of the God head. Scripture is abundantly clear about the Godhead consisting of 3. Numerous passages from the command to obey the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20), the presence of all 3 at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17), 2 Corinthians 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen; 1 Peter 1:2, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied; 1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. Truly there are 3 in the Godhead. And they are all involved in our salvation.
- Trusting love
- Give me thy heart says the Father above –
- God the father calls for us to surrender to Him – James 4:7 calls for us “therefore submit to God.” Matthew 6:33 – seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Proverbs 16: 3 says, Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.
- The song speaks of the heart – this is descriptive of who we are within. It is descriptive of that which is most important to us. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that it is with the heart that one believes unto righteousness. Matthew 6:21 Jesus notes that where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be. See also Matthew 12:34-35.
- No gift so precious to Him as our love – genuine faith is about loving God. God’s precious gifts to us are the product of His love – Romans 5:8. What better way can we respond to that than by loving Him? Matthew 22:37 – the first and great commandment. 1 John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.” How do we demonstrate that love? By obedience – 1 John 5:3. God knows those who know and love Him. That is what pleases Him!
- Softly He whispers wherever thou art – While God is all mighty and make known His will with a powerful voice (consider Mt. Sinai – Exodus 20:18-21), He does not have to shout to get our attention. Remember Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-12. After his great victory against the prophets of Baal, Jezebel puts out a death warrant for him. He flees into the wilderness and wants to give up. YHWH provides for him and converses with him. He tells Elijah to go and stand on a mountain before the LORD. Note the text. We can see God in the smallest of things and often it is that quiet voice within us that turns us to God. Our conscience convicting us. We hear and are “cut to the heart.” AND He is everywhere (cf. Hebrews 4:13).
- “Gratefully trust me and give me thy heart.” We need to trust Him. Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 125:1 – Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
- Genuine trust is tied to our faith – Hebrews 11:6. 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that we walk by faith and not by sight.
- Give me thy heart says the Father above –
- A repentant heart
- Give me thy heart says the Savoir of men –
- Jesus came to save mankind. John 3:17, God sent His Son into the world not to condemn, but to save.
- He is our ONLY Savior – Acts 4:12.
- He calls for our loyalty – Luke 9:23.
- Calling in mercy again and again –
- Hebrews 2:17 reminds us that He is a merciful and faithful High Priest.
- He stands at the door knocks – Revelation 3:20. How long will He keep knocking?
- He is patient and long-suffering with us. So is God the Father – 2 Peter 3:9.
- “Turn now from sin, and from evil depart” – a call to repentance.
- As Jesus began preaching, His message was, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). From the beginning He called for man to change.
- That was His message throughout His time on earth. Matthew 9:13 – But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
- To be saved we must repent – Acts 2:38; 3:19. To stay saved, we must repent – Acts 8:22.
- “Have I not died for thee, give Me thy heart” –
- Jesus paid the ultimate price, demonstrating His love for us – John 15:13. 1 John 3:16, By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (cf. Ephesians 5:2).
- Does He deserve our heart? Again see 1 John 4:19. 2 Corinthians 5:14 begins, “For the love of Christ compels us…” He deserves our all – Galatians 2:20! Romans 6:13-14 says, And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Colossians 3:3 reminds us that our life is hidden in Him.
- Give me thy heart says the Savoir of men –
- Full surrender
- Give me thy heart says the Spirit divine – a reminder of His deity, also.
- We have already established the triune God – with Holy Spirit being the third person.
- He is also described in terms of personhood. He possesses various qualities that show personality – He gives commands – Acts 13:2, “The Holy Spirit said…” A call to send Saul and Barnabas to preach; 1 Timothy 4:1 notes that He “expressly says…”; Ephesians 4:30 – He is grieved, etc.
- Acts 5:3-4 – He is described as God (divine, deity). 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 notes that we know God because Holy Spirit has revealed deity to us.
- Like God the Father & Jesus, He wants our heart as well. He wants us to listen to His direction.
- “All that thou has to my keeping resign” –
- The work of the Spirit today in our lives is through His word. His dwelling is best described as an influence. Inspiration came through the Holy Spirit – 2 Peter 1:19-21, John 16:13 – He guided the apostles “into all truth.”
- We study His word and learn how to live our lives. We learn what to do and what to give up. Hebrews 4:12 – the word of God can convict us. It is the gospel that He revealed to us that leads to our salvation – Romans 1:16.
- He too expects us to be faithful to Him. When we are obedient to God’s word (revealed by the Holy Spirit) we are faithful. What will we give up for Him?
- Grace more abounding is mine to impart – consider the great grace of God and extended through the Spirit. Everything God does is the product of His grace.
- Hebrews 10:29 describes Him as “the Spirit of Grace”. Zechariah 12:10.
- We may not fully understand how the Holy Spirit works within us today (though there is much we can rule out, including a DIRECT indwelling or influence), but we know that He is gracious.
- If He influences us through His word, then the more His word abounds in us, the more He abounds in us. 2 Corinthians 3:6 tells us that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The “letter” here was likely the Old Law. And if so, then the life given by the Spirit would be the New law that we are under.
- Romans 8:26 tells of his involvement in our prayers. Also His word is able to build us up – Acts 20:32.
- Make full surrender and give Me thy heart – full surrender. God will accept nothing less than total commitment. As we study God’s word, we must do so with a desire to obey it completely – Matthew 28:19-20. Are we willing to give up whatever stands in our way of serving Him (Hebrews 12:1, Colossians 3:5 – put to death your members… To surrender to God and Jesus is to also surrender to the Holy Spirit.
- Give me thy heart says the Spirit divine – a reminder of His deity, also.
- Chorus – Give Me thy heart
- Give my thy heart – Repeated in the chorus. IF we sing all 3 verses with chorus, the phrase is sung 12 times. A continued reminder.
- Hear the soft whisper wherever thou art – let God continually REMIND you that you belong to Him. Whether it is as you obey, or as you are dealing with temptations – let that “still small voice” keep you on track. Often you KNOW what is right, and often if you pause and think you figure it out.
- From this dark world He would draw thee apart – He calls us to come out and be separate from the world. Luke 9:23, cf. 2 Corinthians 6:17. As Jesus prayed for His disciples – they are in the world, but not of the world – John 17:14-17.
- Speaking so tenderly, give Me thy heart.
This week we begin a new year. If your service to God has been less than full devotion, why not resolve that NOW is the time you will give Him your all? Think about it.