29/09/2026
THEME: ALWAYS HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS
God does not only judge what you do, He judges WHY you did it.
1 Samuel 16:7 - Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
Proverbs 21:2 - A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.
1 Corinthians 4:5 - He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.
Matthew 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
INTRODUCTION
Two people can do the same thing, but with different intentions, and one will be blessed and one will be cursed.
- Two people give offering: One gives to be seen, one gives to honor God.
- Two people correct you: One corrects to help you, one corrects to shame you.
- Two people preach: One preaches to save souls, one preaches to make money.
- Two people marry you: One marries for love, one marries for papers and property.
Men look at ACTION. God looks at INTENTION.
Many people today have destroyed good relationships, good churches, good marriages - not because their actions were bad, but their intentions were bad.
1. WHAT ARE GOOD INTENTIONS?
Good intention means your heart is clean even when your hand is misunderstood.
Good intention is:
1. To do good without expecting evil in return. - 3 John 1:11
2. To help without a hidden agenda. - No strings attached.
3. To speak truth in love, not to destroy. - Ephesians 4:15
4. To want what is best for the other person, even when it costs you.
Bad intentions include:
- Jealousy hiding behind advice.
- Competition hiding behind concern - "I'm just worried about you."
- Lust hiding behind love - "I love you" but you only want the body.
- Greed hiding behind ministry - "God told me" but God didn't tell you, your stomach told you.
- Revenge hiding behind justice - "I just want truth" but you want to destroy.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 - The heart is deceitful above all things... I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct.
1. WHY GOOD INTENTIONS MATTER
1. Intentions determine reward.
Matthew 6:1-4 - Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
You can fast, pray, give, help the poor - but if your intention is to be praised on Facebook, your reward is likes, not heaven. God gives zero.
Pharisees prayed long prayers - zero reward. Widow gave 2 coins with pure heart - Jesus remembered her 2000 years later.
2. Bad intentions will be exposed.
You cannot hide bad intention forever. Time will expose it.
- Joseph's brothers pretended to have good intention - "Let us kill him and see what becomes of his dreams" - Genesis 37:20. After 20 years, their intention was exposed.
- Judas kissed Jesus - action looked like love, intention was betrayal. Within hours, it was exposed.
- Ananias and Sapphira brought offering - action good, intention was to lie. They died same day.
Numbers 32:23 -...and be sure your sin will find you out.
Luke 12:2 - There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed.
3. Good intentions protect you when you make mistakes.
David had good intentions when he wanted to build a temple - 2 Samuel 7. God said "You will not build it, your son will." But because his intention was good, God blessed his house forever.
You may advise someone and it fails. You may try to help and you are misunderstood. If your intention was pure, God will vindicate you.
Moses struck the rock with bad anger - lost Canaan. Same Moses interceded for Israel - saved them. Intention matters.
1. 5 AREAS YOU MUST CHECK YOUR INTENTIONS
1. IN HELPING PEOPLE
Why are you helping? Is it to control them later? "After all I did for you..."
Many help so that they can have power to insult you tomorrow.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Check: If that person never repays me, will I still be happy I helped?
2. IN RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGE
Why do you want her? Why do you want him?
- If you want him because of money, when money finishes, love will finish.
- If you want her because of beauty only, when beauty fades, you will cheat.
Samson loved Delilah with lust, not pure intention. He lost his eyes.
Amnon loved Tamar with lust. After sleeping with her, he hated her - 2 Samuel 13:15. That was not love, that was lust with good English.
Have good intention: "I want to build, not to use."
3. IN YOUR WORDS ABOUT OTHERS
Why are you telling that story? To inform or to destroy?
Many gossip in the name of prayer request - "Please pray for Sister X, she is sleeping around." Is that prayer or gossip?
Proverbs 16:28 - A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.
Before you speak, ask: If he was here, would I say this same thing in the same way?
4. IN SERVING GOD
Why are you serving? For position, for money, for fame, or for Jesus?
Gehazi served Elisha with bad intention - wanted money and clothes from Naaman. He got leprosy - 2 Kings 5:27.
Balaam prophesied for money - lost his life.
Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
God will not use a man whose intention is dirty for long.
5. IN CORRECTION AND JUSTICE
When you correct your wife, your child, your member, your worker - is your intention to build or to shame?
Some fathers beat children not to correct but to revenge. Some bosses shout not to teach but to humiliate.
Galatians 6:1 - Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.
Good intention restores. Bad intention destroys.
1. HOW TO KEEP GOOD INTENTIONS
1. Ask God to search you daily.
Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Every morning pray: "Lord, purify my motives today."
2. Don't do what you cannot explain to God.
Before you send that message, before you take that money, before you visit that woman - ask: Can I kneel now and tell Jesus why I am doing this?
If you cannot, stop.
3. Love without hypocrisy.
Romans 12:9 - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
No masks. Be real. If you don't like someone, don't pretend with fake hug. If you love someone, don't use them.
4. Remember God will judge intentions on the last day.
1 Corinthians 4:5 - At that time each will receive their praise from God.
Many will do big miracles but be rejected - Matthew 7:22-23 - "Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?" Jesus will say "I never knew you." Because intention was not to glorify God but self.
CONCLUSION & ALTAR CALL
Church today - God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people with pure hearts.
You may have failed in action, but if your intention is good, God can restore you.
You may have succeeded in action, but if your intention is bad, God will reject you.
Stop living for eye service. Stop helping people to be praised. Stop giving to be seen.
Check your heart:
- Are you in that relationship with good intention or using someone?
- Are you in that business with good intention or to defraud?
- Are you posting that status with good intention or to make someone jealous?
- Are you coming to church with good intention or to show clothes and find customers?
God is watching the heart.
PRAYER:
Father, forgive me for hidden bad motives. Cleanse my heart. Create in me a pure heart, O God. Give me good intentions towards my spouse, my children, my church, my work, and towards You. Let my life be acceptable in Your sight, not just before men. In Jesus' name, Amen.
