Read: PS. 51 & Proverbs 4:23
A: Introduction
- Red Fort
- Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life…”
B. Why is the heart so important?
The Bible portrays the heart negatively as it uses words like these about the heart…
- Hard, Deceitful, Bitter, Evil, Proud, Grudging, Despairing, Sad, Guilty, Anguished, Lustful, Perverse, Foolish, Anxious, Envious, Arrogant, Corrupt, Rebellious, Idolatrous, Malicious, Adulterous, Unforgiving.
It grieves God’s heart, injures our hearts and family, and grants Satan legal doors of access to our lives.
But the Bible also talks about a different kind of heart: a heart that is:-
- Rejoicing, Faithful, Discerning, Wise, Devoted, Seeking after God, Upright, Joyful, Pure, Contrite, Obedient, Trembling, Heart of flesh, Noble-&-good, Encouraged,
What a much better list.
1. The heart is important because ____________________________.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (Samuel saw Eliab, but God saw David)
2. The Heart Is Important Because __________________(hard-disk – bad sector comes)___.
- Matthew 15:18-20 “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ùnclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ùnclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ùnclean.'"
- Luke 6:45 “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
- RO 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
- We are not ordinary people….. ……….we are the brides of his Son Jesus Christ.
- Forerunner, Intercessor, kings in his kingdom.
- To seek him to restore the original heart that he created first in us.
- Paul was right when he said -- Work out your salvation? PHP 2:12b --continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
- 1 Pet 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- Jesus gave us entry pass — there promotion and demotion.
- 1 TH 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Angelic protection will gradually be taken away (we must struggled ourselves)
- King Sole and David both were anointed by God.
- Impurities in each believer need to be exposed and expelled so that more of His light and nature can flow from us.
C. How do we guard out heart?
1. Ask for God’s help to have a pure and noble heart.
- Phil. 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
- Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
2. Ask for God’s help to have an undivided heart. .
- Psalms 86:11 “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” (united with God’s heart)
- Psalms 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
- Mathew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (100% loyal to Jesus the king)
- Luke 12:34 Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
A small test –
- Food or drinks - Movies - Sports - Emails - Mobile - Reading Bible - An hour of prayer - Fasting - Attending church
Our war to guard our heart is difficult but it is the only way to enter the narrow gate (experience “life in the Spirit”).
- MT 7: [14] But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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