Part 1. Guard Your Heart. The First Message in a Series Exploring a Right Relationship With God. Pastor Larry Goding

Transcription

1 Part 1 Guard Your Heart The First Message in a Series Exploring a Right Relationship With God. Pastor Larry Goding Community Church At Sun Village Surprise, Arizona

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3 Matters of the Heart Part 1 Guard Your Heart Proverbs 4:20-27 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 NIV The heart is the most important organ in the entire human body. It is a uniquely designed pump, composed of muscle and valves which pumps blood throughout the body, beating approximately 72 times per minute throughout our lives. The heart pumps the blood, which carries all the vital materials which help our bodies function and removes the waste products that are not needed. For example, the brain requires oxygen and glucose, which, if not received continuously, will cause it to lose consciousness. Muscles need oxygen, glucose and amino acids, as well as the proper ratio of sodium, calcium, and potassium chloride in order to function normally. The heart, being so vital to the wellbeing of our body and its ability to function should be protected and meticulously cared for. I guess that is why as we advance in age we spend so much time visiting with our cardiologist. If it is essential that we guard our human 1

4 heart, it is equally essential that we guard spiritual heart. It is that part of you that connects with God and other people. When the word heart appears in the Bible it is not talking about that major organ in the body that pumps blood throughout the body. Rather, it denotes a person s center for both its physical, emotional, intellectual, and moral activities. Jesus said that it is out of the inner part of man (heart) that either good or evil intentions flow (Mark 7:21). So the wisdom that Solomon is urging upon his son and that has been passed on to us has to do with guarding the inner being so that out of it will come what is wholesome and to the glory of God. In this brief passage, I want to drawn out four principles for guarding our heart our inner self. Protect Your Treasure Above all else [4:23]. That first phrase jumps off the page when reading this passage, above all else. The Message Paraphrase says it this way, Keep vigilant watch over your heart. Give it top priority. 2

5 Above all else clearly indicates that nothing else matters when it comes to matters of the heart. Whatever enters my ears, and whatever my eyes come in contact with will ultimately influence my mind, my heart, and my decisions. Therefore, I am urged to be careful about what I allow to enter into my inner being. The apostle Paul speaks of the importance of protecting our treasure from the evil influence of the world. We live in a fallen world where Satan seeks to keep us from having a vital relationship with God. We are in a spiritual conflict, battling against an unseen enemy who wars both against God and anyone who would desire to live a godly life. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled [2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV]. His message is: Keep a strict guard over the workings of your mind, your thoughts, and inclinations. Your manner 3

6 of life and your conversation will be conformed to what your mind conceives of. Listen to the urging of Paul to believers. 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God [Romans 12:1-2 NKJV]. In this world, it is impossible to completely prevent unwholesome thoughts and ideas from coming our way. Realistically, we are part of a fallen world where sin and evil intent is all around us. It is not within our own power to prevent distractions that impact our relationship to God, but we can choose whether we will cultivate a familiarity with them. 1 In its natural state the heart of man is inclined toward evil. Through the prophet Jeremiah God reminds us of that fact. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every 1 Bible Illustrator. 4

7 man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings [Jeremiah 17:9-10 NKJV]. Therein lies the importance of the guard over our heart. Left without restraint, the mind can conceive of most anything either good or bad. With that in mind, let me take you to what the psalmist cautions regarding the company we keep. He makes a bold comparison between the person who makes it a point to guard his heart protect his treasure with one who chooses not to be so protective. The best restraint we have is the Word of God. 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper 4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 5

8 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. [Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV] Perhaps the best prayer that we can offer is what David prayed: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; 24 and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting [Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV]. In giving the Law of God to the Children of Israel, Moses said, 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength 6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart [Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NKJV]. Protecting your treasure begins with a deep seated love for God coupled with an inner knowledge of His laws and commands for life. When asked to define the greatest commandment in the Law Jesus simply restated what Moses had already said, 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as 6

9 yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these [Mark 12:30-31 NKJV]. Jesus also taught, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:34). Protecting your treasure puts into perspective those things that are of the most important in life. When our focus is on heaven the things that are attractive to us on earth become less in importance. That is what the apostle Paul would have us understand. 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God s laws, and it never will. 8 That s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God [Romans 8:5-8 NLT]. Prioritize The Task Guard Your Heart [4:23]. Your primary task is to guard your heart. This protection of our heart that we put into place is essential because 7

10 everything we do flows from it. The injunction is: Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you fix your eyes upon Jesus. Give careful thought to the path for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. We have already noted that when Solomon refers to guarding the heart, he really means the inner core of a person, the thoughts, feelings, desires, will, and choices that make that person who he/she is. The Bible tells us that our thoughts often dictate who we become. The issues of the mind of a man, not simply his actions or words, reflect who he really is. As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person [Proverbs 27:19 NLT]. When selecting a king for Israel after the kingdom had been taken away from Saul, God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king. After all Jesse s sons had come before Samuel except David, the ruddy shepherd boy, and Samuel was beginning to wonder what God had in mind, God reminded him that it is not what a man looks like on the outside that makes him suitable to be the king, but what is on the inside of that man. 8

11 Samuel took one look at Eliab, Jesse s first born, and concluded that he was the one who would become the next king of Israel. But God had a different plan. But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart [1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV]. Why do we make it a matter of priority to guard our heart? Solomon gives us the answer to that question because out of the heart springs the issues of life. Guarding your heart is more about feeding your mind than avoiding sin. Let me explain. When the inner being is being continually fed from the Word of God perpetual sin will not be an issue. It was D. L. Moody who said, The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. When our heart is strong, we are able to resist the temptations that cause many Christians to stumble. The book of Proverbs identifies some things to avoid, but it also contains numerous instructions to pursue wisdom, grace, discipline, and life. 9

12 Protect Against Trash [Psalm 119: ; Psalm 19:12-14]. We might think of much of what the world throws at us in life as trash. In the work place or on the street, on the television and over the news, so much of it is of no value to us spiritually. The Scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus day questioned why the disciples did not wash before eating. That was a violation of the tradition of the elders that required the ceremonial washing of hands before eating. This Rabbinic tradition involved an elaborate washing ritual involving not only one s hands but also cups, pitchers, and kettles. 2 Jesus told them that they were missing the point. It is true that washing before you eat is a good idea but a little dirt will not corrupt the soul. Jesus said that it is not what goes into the mouth that corrupts a person, but what come out of the mouth. What comes out is a clear indication of what is going on inside. 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, 2 Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament. 10

13 fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man [Matthew 15:18-20 NKJV]. The only protection against the trash that the world throws at us is the Word of God. The Psalmist declared: 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 106 I ve promised it once, and I ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations [Psalm 119: NLT]. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer [Psalm 19:12-14 NLT]. Heart murmurs are abnormal flow patterns due to faulty heart valves. Heart valves act as doors to prevent the backward flow of blood into the heart. Spiritual heart murmurs occur when we as believers engage in complaining, gossip, disputes, and contention. Believers are instructed many times to avoid grumbling, 11

14 murmuring, and complaining. In the words of the apostle Paul: 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain [Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV]. When we engage in these activities we shift our focus away from the plans, purposes, and past blessings of God to the things of the world. God sees our actions and views them as a lack of faith, and as the writer of Hebrews reminds us, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Instead, Christians are instructed to strive for contentment in all things, trusting in God to provide what is needed in His good time (Hebrews 13:5). Guarding against a complaining spirit and cultivating a spirit of gratitude and trust is an important step toward guarding the heart. 12

15 Practice The Truth [4: 20-22]. Solomon tells us that the only real way to guard our heart is to pay close attention to wise instruction. He has gone into great detail giving his son the instruction needed to live a godly life. Now the son needs to heed what he has been taught. 20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. The apostle James says basically the same thing: 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does [James 1:22-25 NKJV]. Following the instruction of God s Word, takes us back to the position of total dependence on Him for 13

16 everything. It means going directly to God, as a child goes to a parent for wisdom and guidance. The apostle Paul urges: In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God [Philippians 4:6]. In talking to God, the psalmist David said, Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts [Psalm 51:6]. His advice to us is: Let truth issue from within the depth of your being. Let it always be characteristic of your life. Let it come from your meditation of the word of God. The Psalmist prayed: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer [Psalm 19:14 NKJV]. We must not only be aware of the truth or intellectually know the truth but allow that truth to become a part of us. This is what God desires. We must become living epistles sharing the truth. To practice the truth is to practice righteousness. That means to practice what is right before the eyes of the Lord. This will lead to God s testimony about us just like He had for Elijah and Enoch that their ways pleased the Lord and He took them into His presence without them 14

17 having to go through the channel of death. It will reflect what God said about Job he was upright in all his ways and a man of utmost integrity. It will be the same testimony that was said about David whose ways so pleased God that he was spoken of as a man after God s own heart. If you don t love the truth, you will be casual about it and that will bring compromise into your life. Actually, if your love for the Lord is only minimal so will be your love for the truth. The reality is that when we draw closer to the Lord, we start loving what He loves more and more and we begin hating what He hates even more. We must keep the whole heart in: A state of holy watchfulness; a state of continued devotion; a state of joy and confidence; a state of lively activity; a state of preparedness for death and uncertainty. 3 Conclusion It is far too easy to get caught up in the way the world system thinks and acts. It is too easy to drop our guard and to allow the deceptions of the devil to creep into our minds. There is only one way to keep our guard up so we 3 J. Burns D.D.,The Biblical Illustrator 15

18 do not succumb to the temptations that Satan would put before us. Let the words of the psalmist be the last words we hear this morning: 3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. 6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. 7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act [Psalm 37:3-7 NLT]. 16