It All Starts With The HeartIt All Starts With The Heart The heart is a mysterious spiritual reality The heart is a mysterious spiritual reality

that allows us to experience the fullness of that allows us to experience the fullness of life. It includes emotion, but the heart is life. It includes emotion, but the heart is not limited to emotion. According to not limited to emotion. According to Scripture, the heart can be grieved, Scripture, the heart can be grieved, troubled, broken, pierced, divided, and troubled, broken, pierced, divided, and joyful. Dr. Charles Ryrie defined the heart joyful. Dr. Charles Ryrie defined the heart as “the very core of life.” Our heart is the as “the very core of life.” Our heart is the truest expression of who we really are.truest expression of who we really are.

Guarding Your Heart Guarding Your Heart Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)

23 23 Keep Keep andand guard your heart guard your heart with all vigilance with all vigilance andand above all above all that you guard, for out of it that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. flow the springs of life.

1. RECOGNIZE THE TREASURE1. RECOGNIZE THE TREASURE Two phrases jump off the page when Two phrases jump off the page when

reading this passage, “above all else” and reading this passage, “above all else” and “wellspring of life.” To experience the “wellspring of life.” To experience the fullness of our faith and partake of the fullness of our faith and partake of the blessings of God, we must recognize the blessings of God, we must recognize the treasure of the heart. “Above all else” treasure of the heart. “Above all else” communicates priority, and “wellspring of communicates priority, and “wellspring of life” communicates a glorious promise. The life” communicates a glorious promise. The text identifies guarding your heart as more text identifies guarding your heart as more important than anything else.important than anything else.

Jesus declared that we should love the Lord Jesus declared that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). When describing the strength (Mark 12:30). When describing the kingdom of God, Jesus revealed the things kingdom of God, Jesus revealed the things that come out of the heart defile a man that come out of the heart defile a man (Matt. 15:16-20). He also taught, “For where (Matt. 15:16-20). He also taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). The apostle Paul prayed also” (Luke 12:34). The apostle Paul prayed for the saints that “the eyes of your heart for the saints that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Eph. 1:18). may be enlightened” (Eph. 1:18).

We find similar instruction in the Old We find similar instruction in the Old Testament where we are commanded Testament where we are commanded to trust the LORD with all our heart to trust the LORD with all our heart (Pvbs. 3:5) and to hide God’s word in (Pvbs. 3:5) and to hide God’s word in our heart (Psalm 119:11). The prophet our heart (Psalm 119:11). The prophet Samuel revealed that God does not Samuel revealed that God does not evaluate people by outward evaluate people by outward appearance, but He looks at the heart appearance, but He looks at the heart (1Sam. 16:7). (1Sam. 16:7).

Perhaps, the most significant verse Perhaps, the most significant verse describing the treasure of the heart describing the treasure of the heart is found in Romans 10:9 which says is found in Romans 10:9 which says a person may be saved by a person may be saved by “believing in your heart” that God “believing in your heart” that God raised Jesus from the dead.raised Jesus from the dead.

2. PRIORITIZE THE TASK2. PRIORITIZE THE TASKHaving identified the biblical mandate for

us to recognize the treasure of the heart, we must prioritize the task of guarding our heart.

The command to guard our heart rarely, if ever, receives the priority that the Scriptures attach to the heart.

Jesus WarnedJesus Warned……about ‘offenses’ - about ‘offenses’ - And then many will And then many will

be offended, will betray one another, be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (Mat 24:10)and will hate one another (Mat 24:10)

Offense can affect our heart, mind and Offense can affect our heart, mind and actions: (Greek -> actions: (Greek -> skandalizoskandalizo ) )

The Causes For OffenseThe Causes For Offenseare many:are many:TWordsWords (things said and not said), (things said and not said),

actions (things done and not done), actions (things done and not done), perceptions...perceptions...

dExpectationsExpectations (realistic / unrealistic; (realistic / unrealistic; spoken / unspoken )spoken / unspoken )

nPridePride

3. MINIMIZE THE TRASH

Guarding your heart includes seeking Guarding your heart includes seeking God, but we cannot ignore the God, but we cannot ignore the instruction to minimize the trash from instruction to minimize the trash from our lives. The verses that follow the our lives. The verses that follow the command to guard our heart describe command to guard our heart describe putting away perverse speechputting away perverse speech, , looking looking straight aheadstraight ahead, and , and choosing good choosing good paths. paths.

Hebrews 12: 1-2,Hebrews 12: 1-2, These verses are similar to the New These verses are similar to the New

Testament challenge contained in Hebrews Testament challenge contained in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore since we also have such a 12:1-2 “Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and run with endurance easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith.”our faith.”

To Remove Trash…To Remove Trash…We should embrace the challenge that We should embrace the challenge that

the apostle Paul gave Timothy to the apostle Paul gave Timothy to purify himself so that he would be a purify himself so that he would be a “special instrument, set apart, useful to “special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:24).work” (2 Tim. 2:24).

4. ENERGIZE WITH TRUTH4. ENERGIZE WITH TRUTH

A fourth strategy for guarding your heart is to energize with truth. Note the instruction “pay attention and listen closely” (Pr. 4:20). This emphasis to give careful attention to divine truth is followed by the promise of life and health.

CONCLUSION:CONCLUSION:Guarding your heart is critical to Guarding your heart is critical to

experiencing all that God desires for experiencing all that God desires for your life. When we Recognize the your life. When we Recognize the Treasure, Prioritize the Task, Minimize Treasure, Prioritize the Task, Minimize the Trash, and Energize with Truth, we the Trash, and Energize with Truth, we place ourselves in a position to receive place ourselves in a position to receive the blessings of Godthe blessings of God.