Our Hearts Are Under Consturction

Last week we started a sermon series on how our character is under construction. Last week, we talked about that there is a battlefield that is happening in our mind. We were challenged to change the way that we think. That it is important to think positively, and in a biblical way. This type of thinking really has a purpose.

We talked about how our words can take us as high as we want to go or they can take us as low as we use them. We learned that over time our words produce our habits, and that our habits then become our character. Over time, our character then becomes our destiny. Today, we are continuing with our character under construction sermon series and we are talking about our hearts.

This morning we are dealing with the condition of this spiritual heart and determining out true intentions of our heart. We are going to discuss the importance of our heart, how our heart is attacked and closing with the condition of our heart.

I. The importance of our heart

A. Be on guard

a. Our first point here this morning is addressing the importance of our heart.

b. In fact, the bible says in Proverbs 4:20-23(NKJV) 20 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, For out of it spring the issues of life.

c. This verse is dealing with three important areas of our lives: our ears, our eyes and our heart.

d. When we look further at this text, the word heart is really dealing with a part of our beings which is called our soul

i. We understand that we are a three part being: Body, Soul, and Spirit.

e. Our soul consists of our mind, will and emotions.

f. If we are able to take control of our minds and control our thoughts then we will have not have any trouble with any of the other parts.

g. Truly our hearts hold a significant importance in our spiritual journey as our heart is the epic center of our thinking.

B. The physical heart

a. In discussing our spiritual heart, we also can look at our physical heart as this really is a prime example.

b. We understand that our physical heart can determine what we are able to accomplish.

c. For example, if your physical heart is weak, then we are not able to accomplish much.

d. One of our deacons, Jim had a heart issue several months ago and I remember going to visit him in the hospital and he was lying in the bed and was not able to do much of anything. We did not want Jim to do much because, his heart was not able to handle it,

C. Decisions from the heart

a. We understand the importance of the heart as that is where a lot of decisions are made.

b. In many cases, our spiritual heart is where the Lord speaks to us in His still small voice.

c. It is from our heart, that we share God’s love to others. It is from our heart that we share God’s grace and His mercy.

d. When praying about coming to Clintonville. I heard the voice of the Lord, the Lord spoke to my heart that this is the direction that He was leading me in.

D. The heart is a revealer

a. If your heart is in the right place then you will be in the right place. In other words, If your heart is evil, then you will be evil, while if your heart is good, then you will be good.

b. The bible says in Proverbs 27:19(NKJV) 19 As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.

c. Truly, the heart is a reflection of what kind of person that we are.

d. If your heart reveals to you that your motives are not pure, work to make changes that your motives would be pure.

E. God sees our heart

a. When God looks at us, He sees our heart. It is man that looks at the outward appearance and judges accordingly.

b. God is really not that much interested in our outward appearance as opposed to your inward condition.

c. There is a story in the bible that illustrates this point. The prophet Samuel was called to go to the home of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel. Jesse brought all his sons before the prophet absent of one. The one that Jesse failed to bring was the one that was going to be king. While Jesse did not see anything kingly about David, for he was a ruddy little shepherd boy. The Lord saw it differently. In fact, the Lord spoke to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7(NKJV) 7 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.”