A Matter of the Heart

The Question

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The Answer:

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (See also 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalms 44:21; Proverbs 24:12)

The Bible tells us in Matthew 12:34 why we speak the way we speak.

Matthew 12:34 - O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (See also Luke 6:45)

Notice what the Bible says is in our hearts:

Matthew 15:17 - Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

Matthew 15:18 - But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Matthew 15:19 - For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Matthew 15:20 - These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

None of these are good things. None of these are things we should be guilty of. Yet we are, and the Lord tells us that it is with this deceitful and desperately wicked heart that we must believe the truth of the gospel in order to be saved.

Romans 6:17 - But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Man may say in his heart, “I do not need God, I can make on my own!!”, but the Scriptures warn of such haughtiness and pride.

Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 18:12 - Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Matthew 7:13 - Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Friend, do not be one of the many. Receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour today.

2 Corinthians 6:2 - (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Acts 16:30 - And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 16:32 - And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Romans 10:8 - But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:11 - For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 10:12 - For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I’m Not Going Your Way

I’m Not Going Your Way

“You’re just out of date,” said young Pastor Bate
To one of our faithful old preachers
Who had carried for years in travail and tears
The gospel to poor sinful creatures.

“You still preach on Hades, and shock cultured ladies
“With your barbarous doctrine of blood!
“You’re so far behind you will never catch up—
“You’re a flat tire stuck in the mud!”

For some little while, a bit of a smile
enlightened the old preacher’s face.
Being made the butt of ridicule’s cut
Did not ruffle his sweetness and grace.

Then he returned to young Bate, so suave and sedate.
“Catch up, did my ears hear you say?
“Why, I couldn’t succeed if I doubled my speed,
“My friend, I’m not going your way!”

- Author Unknown

Mine Eye Affecteth Mine Heart - Eve

Lamentations 3:51 - Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

The Lord made our eyes to see and behold the things around us, and what we see and look at will have an affect on our lives, both good and bad.

In the studies to come we will, as the Lord wills, look at a few places in Scripture to see where ones eyes affected their hearts.

The first place we will look at is in the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis.

Turn to Genesis 3, and we will see that one person's look has affected us until this present day.

Genesis 3:6 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Notice here is verse 6 that after Eve had listened to the serpents words, she “saw that the tree was good for food”. If we see something what part of our body are we using? Our ears? No. Our nose? No. How about our tongue? Of course not, we use our eyes. This is just what Eve used when she looked at the tree of knowledge of good and evil, because as we continue to read verse 6, it tells us that the tree was also “pleasant to the eyes“. It was only after Eve saw the tree with her eyes, after being deceived by the devil (1 Timothy 2:14) that her heart was affected to the point that she ate of that fruit, and as a result Adam, her husband, ate of that fruit as well, allowing sin to enter into this world, and death by sin (Romans 5:12).

Notice verse 7 of Genesis 3 the Bible tells us, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked;”. This is just what the devil promised them in verse 5, that they would have their eyes opened, and would know “good and evil“. Take careful note that when what the devil told them came true, they had sinned against God by disobeying His commandment (Genesis 2:16-17), and had began to die as a result (Genesis 5; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Timothy 2:14; James 1:14-15). So, it is never a good idea to listen to what the devil has to say, especially when comes to God‘s word. Remember “he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44), and he will lead you against the word of the God, every time.

So what is all this saying? Eve’s eye affected her heart, and caused her to sin against a holy God and His word, and be in the transgression (1 Timothy 2:14). God then had to make a blood sacrifice of an innocent animal to give Adam and Eve the covering they needed to hide their transgressions (Genesis 3:21). This is same act that God the Father did on mount Calvary almost 2,000 years ago when the Lord Jesus Christ made Himself the innocent and sinless sacrifice for our sin. The sinless One for the sinful ones (2 Corinthians 5:21). John the Baptist cried, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The thief on the cross said of the Lord Jesus Christ, “But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom“ (Luke 23:40-42). This sinless sacrifice was for you and for me because of our sins, and the only way to have them covered is by the blood of the only sacrifice that God has accepted, and that is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:7 “… and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour? If you have not, you can do so today. The Bible says, (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2). The Lord will accept you as you are, if you will just come to Him (John 6:37 - “…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."). Friend, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31).

Rendering Honour

"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." - Romans 13:7

Brother Walter Ziglar preaching on "The Blood"

Walter Ziglar - The Blood

Brother Ziglar has been a Paul to this young Timothy, and would like to take the time to make a small effort to render honour to one to whom honour is truely due.

I hope this is a blessing to you.

Will You Take The First Step?

Jeremiah 6:16 - "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

While meditating on this verse not too long ago, the LORD pointed out that He gave four commandments here to the nation of Israel in order for them to get on the old paths.

This is a verse we all like to quote in regards to getting our churches back to where they need to be. I for one am in favor of getting those old paths back in our churches today.

I believe they are needed, dare I say even wanted, but a closer examination of this verse will see that though our desire is for these "old paths", our answer to the Lord concerning them is no different than the nation of Israel's was.

What do I mean? Look closely at this verse and you will see that there are four commandments given to the nation of Israel concerning the old paths.

    1. They were to "stand in the ways".
    2. They were to "see" the ways that were before them.
    3. They were to "ask for the old paths".
    4. They were to "walk" in those old paths.

Notice in the nation of Israel's response to the LORD, that the only thing they said they would not do was "walk therein."

We do not usually have a problem standing for those things we know God wants us to stand for. We do not usually have a problem standing against the things that God would have us to stand against. We are willing to look and see where the LORD wants us to look and see. We will even ask for those old paths from time to time, because we know they are needed, but, sadly, we will not walk therein.

Unfortunately, today's churches answer can be found in Isaiah 30:8-11:

Isaiah 30:8-11 - "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."

Standing is good, but it is not walking. Seeing is good, but it is not walking. Asking is good, but it is not walking.

Beloved, Brother, Sister, Church member, how will you answer? Keep standing, keep seeing, and keep asking, but...Will you be willing to take the first step onto the old paths to walk therein?

"Blessed Is The Man..."

Many today want the blessings of God on their lives. Here are a few ways that we can be blessed of the Lord according to the Scriptures:

Psalms 1:1 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalms 32:2 - Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalms 34:8 - O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalms 65:4 - Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Psalms 84:5 - Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Psalms 84:12 - O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Psalms 94:12 - Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

Psalms 112:1 - Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Proverbs 8:34 - Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Isaiah 56:2 - Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

Jeremiah 17:7 - Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Romans 4:8 - Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.