Four Kinds Of Hearts

“How’s Your Heart?”

Jeremiah 17:1-11

I. Introduction

A. Read Jeremiah 17:1-11

B. In the 1930’s people would ask, “How’s your back?”

C. Folks in those days worked so hard, that such a question was common

D. Today, the question that folks ask is, “How’s your heart?”

E. So many folks are dying of cardiac diseases!

F. In Jeremiah 17:1-11, we find 4 Types of Hearts

II. Divided Heart (v. 1-4)

A. Babylon invaded Israel on 3 separate occasions – 605 BC, 587 BC, & 586 BC

B. Jeremiah preached “Judgment Is Coming” to Judah, but they did not heed

C. Notice the description of Judah’s sins – (v. 1)

 Iron – depicts “permanent”

 Diamond – depicts “precise”

 Horns of Altars – depicts “public”

D. God was fully aware of the sinful, divided heart of Judah, and He is just as aware of yours and mine as well!

E. Judah had worshipped Baal – an immoral religion based upon the god of fertility

F. Judah’s heart had become divided – The held on to God with one hand and on to the world with the other hand

G. In v. 3-4 God gives Jeremiah the words to describe their divided heart.

H. How YOUR Heart? Is it Divided like Judah’s heart between God & world?

I. If so, YOU need to repent and rededicate your life to the Lord!

III. Departed Heart (v. 5-6)

A. What is the difference between a Divided Heart and a Departed Heart?

B. The Departed Heart has both hands upon the world!

C. The man with a departed heart has misplaced his confidence completely.

D. Some today suggest that it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere…..Wrong!

E. It does matter what you believe – You can be sincere, but be sincerely wrong!

F. It matters WHO YOU TRUST! – John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 6:17

G. While the world teaches tolerance, the Word of God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

H. Are YOU trusting in tradition? Dead orthodoxy? Baptism? Membership? Works? Parents, grandparents, preacher?

I. Trust in the Lord, not man nor the arm of the flesh!

IV. Devoted Heart (v. 7-8)

A. The word “heart” is not mentioned in these two verses, but v. 7-8 clearly stand in direct contrast with the “Departed Heart” described in v. 5-6

B. The Devoted Heart belongs to that man whose hope is in the Lord – He is like a tree planted by the waters of life

C. Read - Psalm 1:1-3

D. The Devoted Heart bears fruit that others can see – Not enough professing Christians today bear fruit!

E. There are too many Tumble Weed believers today!

V. Deceitful Heart (v. 9-11)

A. Most deceitful thing of all is “desperately wicked” as well!

B. How’s Your Heart? Be careful how you answer….Your heart may be deceiving you!

C. Some claim to be “Devoted”, but in reality, they are “Deceived” by their own hearts – 1 John 1:8

D. 1 Tim. 2:14 – Eve was deceived

E. James 1:22 – Many deceive themselves and wind up in hell!

F. Heb. 4:12 – The Word of God is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”

G. There are so many who ask, “Who can know the heart?” (Jer. 17:9)

H. God says, “I CAN!” – Read Jer. 17:10

I. God judges each and every one and will render accordingly!

J. In every dispensation, Salvation is based upon GRACE….however, in every dispensation, Judgment is based upon WORKS

K. Heb. 9:27 – “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment”

L. Rom. 14:12 – “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God”

M. Rev. 20:11-15 – READ

N. Why does God resurrect the Unsaved Dead? He has already assigned them to hell when they died…so why resurrect them at all???

O. Because Jeremiah 19:10-11 / Rev. 20:11-15 clearly teach that God will render JUDGMENT according to our WORKS (Fruit of our labors), and the works of our lives will not be consummated until we stand in judgment before God

P. He will then tally all of the influences we have had on those who come behind us and so on and so on.

Q. My friend, it really doesn’t make any good sense at all to reject Christ as YOUR Savior and Lord.

R. YOU need Christ more than any thing this world can offer …..

S. How’s YOUR Heart? Are YOU prepared to meet God in your present condition?