Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 26)
Introduction:
1. "Pure and undefiled religion before God" includes "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). 2. The Bible addresses many activities that will help us to remain unspotted from the world. 3. In this lesson we are concentrating on an activity mentioned in Proverbs 4:23 -- "keeping our hearts." 4. In studying this important activity, we will examine: a. 2 statements made in this passage b. a number of other passages that teach us how to keep our hearts. 5. Let us first consider . . .
Discussion:
I. THE 2 STATEMENTS MADE IN PROVERBS 4:23
A. (vs.23a) "Keep thy heart with all diligence" 1. To fully appreciate this admonition, we must understand several key terms that are used: a. "heart": the center of our thoughts and affections 1) Each person has a heart. 2) Each person is responsible for taking care of his own heart. b. "keep": to guard, to protect, to look after c. "with all diligence": to guard above all things that are to be guarded, including the mouth (vs.24), the eyes (vs.25), and the feet (vs.26-27). 2. Something that should motivate us to keep our hearts with all diligence is realizing that God knows what is in them (Psalm 44:21; Proverbs 21:2b; Acts 1:24). 3. The first statement made in Proverbs 4:23 teaches us to keep our hearts. 4. The second statement shows us why we must keep our hearts. B. (vs.23b) "For out of 'it' [the heart] are the issues of life." 1. What we are, say, and do will be determined by what is in our hearts (Proverbs 16:9; 23:7). 2. Jesus dealt at length with this principle. a. (Matthew 6:21) A person's treasure will be where his heart is. b. (Matthew 12:34-37) A person's words come forth from the heart. c. (Matthew 15:18-20) All sins come forth from the heart. C. Now that we understand the 2 statements made in Proverbs 4:23, let us turn our attention to a number of . . .
II. PASSAGES THAT TEACH US HOW TO KEEP OUR HEARTS
A. In keeping our hearts we must hide God's Word in them (Psalm 119:11). 1. (Hebrews 4:12) God's Word is "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 2. Hebrews 4:13 shows us why we must allow God's Word to discern the thoughts and intents of our hearts. B. In keeping our hearts we must allow God to search them regularly (Psalm 139:23-24). C. In keeping our hearts we must allow Christ to dwell in them (Ephesians 3:17a). D. In keeping our hearts we must think on the right things (Philippians 4:8). E. In keeping our hearts we must allow God's peace to rule in them (Colossians 3:15). F. In keeping our hearts we must not allow them to become hardened (Hebrews 3:12-13).
Conclusion:
1. If we will keep our hearts as the Bible teaches in Proverbs 4:23, we will be able to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. 2. Let us remember the 6th Beatitude: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).
