Let’s Examine “The Heart”
Our SINFUL NATURE is the Problem of the Heart
15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead,
I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree
that the OT law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t.
I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” - Genesis 6:5
“As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man” Proverbs 27:19
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer She is like a woman observing her natural face in a mirror” James 1:23
Turn with me to Proverbs 4:20-27 – Let’s take a look at the mirror of “The Word”
Proverbs 4:20-27
“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, From the heart springs up the issues of life”
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”
“Keep your heart with all diligence, “From the heart springs up the issues of life”
A Tree is Known by its Fruit
Matthew 12:33-37 –
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word menmay speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
DO YOU HAVE A HEART PROBLEM?
Matthew 15:8 – UNCLEAN HEART
“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”
• What “Secret sins”, is the Lord asking you to put away?
• Is there something that you struggle with that you need to put down?
• Let today, be the day, that you put it down.
Matthew 24:12 – COLD HEART
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold”
• Are you feeling far away from God?
• Is your heart cold towards the things of God?
• Realize you need to get back to the place where you found your 1st love?
Psalms 12:2 – DOUBLE HEART
“They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak”
• Do you have one foot in and the other out?
- What are you holding back from God?
• Is your love for the world more than your love for God right now? …
• Are you drifting away from God?
• Are you comfortable with being complacent – just doing your own things?
• Stop being lazy
Proverbs 24:1-4 – PROUD HEART
“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; It is God that guides it wherever He pleases. People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.
• Have you surrendered your high thoughts to God?
• Remember this, “Humility” is the opposite of pride…
LET’S LISTEN TO THE PARABLE THAT JESUS SPOKE ABOUT THE PHARISEE & TAX COLLECTOR
• And ask the question, “Do I see myself”?
LUKE 18:9-10
9 “Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
• A proud heart, God despises.
16 “These six things the Lord hates,
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood”
Hebrews 3:12 – UNBELIEVING HEART
• We ALL have seasons in life where we WILL struggle with our faith.
• Ask yourself, “What and why is there unbelief / doubt in my heart”?
• What must I confess to God?
Hebrews 12:15
“looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled”
• God through His Son, is the perfect example to follow, so that we WILL forgive those who harm, hurt, lied or even betrayed us?
• You need to be obedient in this command to “forgive”
• Let today be the day that you are set free from the past ..from the wounds that still feel raw in your mind, in your heart and in your spirit.
• Jesus, your Savior came to get you free … Let the Holy Spirit do its wonderful work in your heart today, … that you may be set free.
Luke 17:15-17 – UNGRATEFUL HEART
15 “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you”
- Do you see your healing?
- Do you see God working for you?
- Do you give “thanks and praise to God?
“DO I HAVE A HEART PROBLEM”?
• Listen to / Broken Vessel 9.28 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiyYoe678yI
• As we have looked into God’s mirror (HIS WORD) allow the Holy Spirit to show you your need for prayer today.
• Take this time, to examine yourself, and ask God “what must I do”?
Prayer Psalms 139:1-3
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down And are acquainted with all my ways.
• Listen to / Change My Heart O God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwudqCO7mSQ
Prayer Psalm 51:10-15
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
• Listen to / Refiner’s Fire 4 minshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8zP34AhuU
CLOSING PRAYER
Isaiah 64:8
“And yet, O Lord, You are our Father.
We are the clay, and You are the potter.
We all are formed by Your hand”
Father,
Let me not be conformed to this world but rather let me be transformed into more of You, and less of me.
In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen
Wow, this hits home. So much of this is me, especially Romans 7:15-21. An eye opener! Thank u!
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned about my Heart is that I need to:
ReplyDelete1. Love my neighbor- this is anyone.
The story of the Good Samaritan is the example of showing compassion to a stranger. This is my neighbor
2) Do not resist my enemy - this is “turning” the other cheek.
3) Strive to love others. This is letting love shine through me, so that my Father in Heaven can be given all the glory.
When I can do this, others will see God.
4) Do good to others - this is doing what is right to others.
5) Lend when needed and if possible.
6) Bless others - this to me is, showing honor, kindness and gentleness to others, so that they may feel the “love of God” through me.
7) I am held to a higher standard by Jesus - therefore be perfect like my Father in Heaven - although I am not perfect until I leave this world, this is that I must strive to be like Jesus.
After all, He is the perfect One.
We are not perfect, but we do strive to be perfect by the work of the Holy Spirit that works through us.
Taken from Matthew 5:21-48 Study by Carmel on 2/14/2025