IntroductionIn making important decisions, the world will

tell you to just follow your heart.

But God’s word warns us in Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know

it?”

Why is the heart wicked? It is not God’s fault- He has made us pure (Gen. 1:26-27; Eccl.

7:29).

God’s word is truth and He tells us why we should not trust in our heart concerning

matters of the soul.

Man Chooses to Follow His Heart into Sin

The devil got Eve to focus on the forbidden fruit which she desired in her heart (Gen.

3:1-6).

These same worldly desires are what we face today [lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes,

and the boastful pride of life] (1 John 2:15-16)

Sin was lying at the door of Cain’s heart and he chose to kill his brother (Gen. 4:7; 1 Jn.

3:12).

The devil put it into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus and he gave in for 30 pieces

of silver. (John 13:2, 26-27; Matt. 26:15, 45-50)

Man Chooses to Follow His Heart into Sin

Even Peter followed his heart in denying Jesus. (Luke 22:31-34)

Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie to God in his giving (Acts 5:3)

Ananias and Sapphire chose to follow their heart into sin and they died (Acts 5:4-10).

We have all given into Satan’s temptation to follow our heart into sin and have died spiritually. (James 1:13-16; Eph. 2:1-3)

We can’t blame God, Satan, or anyone else.

From Our Hearts Come Evil DeedsJesus warned that these things defile the

man. (Matthew 15:18-19; Mark 7:21-23)

If you lust after a woman, you have committed adultery in your heart (Mt.

5:28; 2 Pt. 2:14).

If you gamble, you’re greedy (2 Pt. 2:14; Col. 3:5).

If you steal, you are a thief (1 Pet. 4:15).

If you tell lies, you are a liar (John 8:44).

If you’re self righteous, you’re prideful (Lk. 18:9ff).

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer (1 Jn. 3:15).

We Try to Justify Ourselves in Our Hearts

“Everybody sins or everybody else is doing it” (Genesis 6:5ff; Exodus 23:2)

“God will not hold me accountable” (Psalm 10:3-4, 6, 11; Romans 1:18ff).

“I was born to sin…my parents failed me…I couldn’t help it…I have a disease…etc.” (Ezekiel 18:20ff; Galatians 6:7-9; Mt.

18:3)

What may seem right to us leads to death. (Prov. 14:12; 16:1-2, 25; 20:6, 9; Luke

16:15)

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Pr. 28:26)

ConclusionWe cannot just follow our heart because it is We cannot just follow our heart because it is

wicked (we choose to sin, try to justify wicked (we choose to sin, try to justify ourselves, and out of our heart comes evil ourselves, and out of our heart comes evil

deeds). deeds).

God knows your heart and if you just follow God knows your heart and if you just follow what you think, it will lead you to be what you think, it will lead you to be

condemned in judgment condemned in judgment (1 Ti. 5:24; He. 4:12-13; Mt. 7:21ff).

But you can be saved from God’s wrath by But you can be saved from God’s wrath by trusting and obeying Jesus Christ from trusting and obeying Jesus Christ from your heart. your heart. (Prov. 3:5-7;

Rom. 5:8-9; 6:3, 16-18; 10:9-10).

Is your heart right with God? If not, be Is your heart right with God? If not, be baptized or restored right now baptized or restored right now (Acts

22:16; 8:20-22)!