THE HEART MATTERS MOST…

How important is it really to ensure that we have a pure heart and a contrite spirit when we come before God? I want you to stop and really meditate on this point? What is the condition of your heart? The insensibility to the call of God!

Go with me to 1 Chronicles 28:9- the Message Bible translation reads: "And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father's God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for GOD examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he'll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he'll leave you for good.

But why do we struggle in this area? Let’s look at the nature of the unrenewed mind/heart…

The heart is hateful towards God…Pro 11:20 They who are willfully contrary in heart are extremelydisgusting and shamefully vile in the eyes of the Lord, but such as areblameless and wholehearted in their ways are His delight!

The heart is full of evilEcc 9:3 This evil is in all that is done under the sun: one fate comesto all. Also the hearts of men are full of evil, and madness is in theirhearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

The heart is DeceitfulJer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedinglyperverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick!

Far from GodIsa 29:13 And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nearMe with their mouth and honor Me with their lips but remove theirhearts and minds far from Me, and their fear and reverence for Mearea commandment of men that is learned by repetition [without anythought as to the meaning],

Not prepared to seek God2Ch 12:14 And he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek

(inquire of, yearn for) the Lord with all his desire.

Blind…Eph 4:18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoningis beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from thelife of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (thewant of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deepseated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitivenessof their moral nature].

RebelliousJer 5:23 But these people have hearts that draw back from God andwills that rebel against Him; they have revolted and quit His serviceand have gone away [into idolatry].

It is clear that we are in a constant battle between the flesh and the spirit, we are fighting our human nature at all times. The nature of man is to harden his heart and take offence, but that does not please God!

Can you see that the motives and intentions of our heart matters to God?

For according to Prov 4:23 the issues of life flows from your heart.- “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life”.

Another translation says: And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.

Also in Psalm 44:21 Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart. Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Now that we are warned to guard our hearts above all and with all vigilance-(caution, care, observation).

Join me now as we look at the answers in God’s word concerning a pure heart as the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of

the breath of life (soul) and spirit, and of joints and marrow- exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

For we are to cry out in a constant heart cry unto our Heavenly Father: Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

1. We are to UNITE our hearts to Fear and honor His Holy name:Psa 86:11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart to fear and honor Your name.

2. We are not to Harden our hearts in any wayPsa 95:8 Harden not your hearts as at Meribah and as at Massah in

the day of temptation in the wilderness.

3. We are not to lean and trust and rely on our own mind & heartPro 28:26 He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own

mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.

4. Fill our hearts with everything that builds up for Mat 12:34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks

5. Forgive others freely from your heartMat 18:35 So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses.

6. Bridle your tongue Jam 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

7. Flood the eyes of your heart with lightEph 1:18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you,

and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

According to the word of God in 2 Ch 19:3 it is a heart matter- a decision you make in your heart when one decides to seek God.

There is big difference between seeking God with lip service and seeking God with your heart…for the heart matters most to God.

Let it be our constant prayer according to 1 Kings 3:9- So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart…

For all we need is His Mercy and His favor- but we always have a role to play!