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.