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Scripture Reading:  Psalms 7:6-17

My Condition of Heart

Intro.

1.  Heart:  Chief organ of phy. life;  Man’s entire mental & moral activity, both the rational & the emotional elements;  Seat of man’s inner life.

  a.  The heart represents the true character of man (1 Pet. 3:4).

  b.  The seat of our emotions, reasoning, will, conscience:  Our identity.

2.  The heart’s relation to right & wrong – Jer. 17:9-10 (Prv. 14:12; 28:26;     3:5-6).

3.  Vigilant protection necessary – Prov. 4:23.

I.  GOD KNOWS OUR HEART – Lk. 16:14-15.

  A.  An Astounding & Sobering Truth.

    1.  Astonished by the power involved.

    2.  Sobered to know the Lord knows everything about me!  (Heb. 4:13)

  B.  Things to Know about God’s Knowledge of Our Hearts:

    1.  God sees things differently than we do – 1 Sam. 16:6-7; Lk. 16:14-15.  He looks on the heart.

    2.  God searches & tries the heart – Jer. 17: 10; Psa. 7:9-11 – responds accordingly.  (Prov. 15:10; Lk. 6:8; Acts 1:24; 15:8)

    3.  Our conduct is attributed to our heart & judged accordingly – Jer. 17:10 (Mk. 7:20-21).

    4.  Our hearts are laid bare before God!  (Heb. 4:13)

II.  WE MUST EXAMINE & IMPROVE OUR HEARTS IN ORDER TO EXAMINE & IMPROVE OURSELVES (2 Cor. 13:5).

  A.  Before We Will Ever Carefully Examine Our Hearts We Must Want to Improve Ourselves– Psa. 17:1-3.

  B.  By Looking at Our Hearts we See Our­selves – Prov. 27:19.

    1.  By seeing our lives, others see our hearts! – Matt. 12:35; 15:7-9

    2.  Sin & its defilement will not cease until the heart is cleansed (nor will goodness exist)! – Matt. 15:18-20 (23:25-26)

    3.  We must be bold to examine our hearts before we can effectively & properly examine our actions! – Jno. 3:19-21

  C.  God’s Word Will Improve Our Hearts & Lives – Heb. 4:12.

    1.  With God’s law in heart, life’s journey is secure! – Psa. 37:29-31

    2.  God’s word laid up in the heart prevents sin – Psa. 119:11.

    3.  Christians must have the gospel in their hearts!  Forgiven! – Heb. 10:15-17 (Col. 3:16)

III.  LIKE DAVID, WE CAN BE PEOPLE “AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART” – Acts 13:22; 1 Sam. 13:14.  (David looked at things the way God does.)

  A.  A Responsive, Obedient Heart – Acts 13:22.

    1.  Saul failed to be this – 1 Sam. 13:14; 15:23.

    2.  David obeyed God’s word.  (“…who will do all My will…”)

    3.  Like David’s, our obedience must come from the heart – Rom. 6:17.

  B.  A Servant Heart – Psa. 89:20.

    1.  David was humble before God!

    2.  When confronted w/ his sin, David was immediate­ly repentant (took the blame & responsibility, didn’t rationalize & make excuses).  God forgave him – Psa. 32:5.

    3.  Humility translates into serving others – 1 Pet. 5:5-6.

       -cf. Jesus the Servant – Matt. 20:28; Jno. 13:12-17; Gal. 5:13.

  C.  A Loyal Heart.

    1.  David’s heart confidently trusted in the Lord God – 1 Sam. 17:37; 2 Sam. 22:1-4. 

    2.  David was not an idolater; he did not de­file the worship of the Lord God.

    3.  When he faltered, he acknowledged & confessed his sin, & relied on God’s justice & mercy – 2 Sam. 24:10, 14, 24.

    4.  Good & honest heart – Lk. 8:15:  Loyal & true to word of God…Fruitful.

       -David looked at things the way God does…so must we!

Conclusion

1.  Pure in heart shall see God – Matt. 5:8.

2.  Guard your heart – Life issues from it – Prov. 4:23.