The Pastor's Heart

Bishop Eddy Addy taught the hungry conference attendees on "The Pastor's Heart" during the third afternoon session of the 2018 Art of Shepherding Conference. His theme text was Proverbs 4:23, which says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."


 He adumbrated some reasons why the pastor's heart is important as follows:


# A pastor's heart is important because of the strong admonition to guard it. Your heart is the centre of your life.


# Your heart is the source of all that you minister. Negative thoughts will change your message.


# Your heart is the source of all issues and problems. When you're born again God takes away your stony heart and He gives you a heart of flesh.


# Your heart influences everything else in your life.


# Your heart is where life begins. Pray that something in your heart will change. Your heart must be full of truth and revelation.


# Your heart is an unknowable element (see Jeremiah 17:6).


# Your heart is a treasure box containing many good things (see Matthew 12:36).


# Your heart is also a source of many evil things (see Mark 7:21-23).


# Your heart is the residence of God.


# Your heart is where demons can reside. Lucifer was perfect until iniquity was found in him.


Bishop Eddy went on to teach on the good heart to develop viz.:


# A willing heart (Exodus 35:21).


# A stirred heart (Exodus 35:21).

Let your heart be stirred by the vision from the top.


# A heart of wax (Psalm 22:14).

Just as wax is mouldable, malleable, bendable, foldable and pliable, so must your heart be.


# A pure heart (Psalm 24:4; Titus 1:15).


# A proclaiming heart.

This heart makes the Gospel known to the public.


Allow your heart to toss the message therein. Pause and think deeply about it.


Bishop Eddy cautioned that one evil heart you should not have is a bitter heart. He noted that the converse of such a heart is a forgiving heart.


He challenged participants to overcome hurts and bitterness (study Matthew 18:32-35).