Keep Thy Heart With All Diligence

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

In this post I'm going to share my sermon notes on a message preached by Pastor/Missionary Allen Sligh on January 15, 1995.  Pastor Sligh was my Pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church when I was stationed at Howard Air Force Base in the Republic of Panama.  I had these notes tucked away in my Bible and came across them the other day and felt they needed to be shared and be a help and blessing to others.  Here are my notes:

Introduction:  The heart is the very seat of emotion, source of being, it's not talking about the organ.  Our problems come when our heart is not right with the Lord.

1.  The Command:  Proverbs 23 is a command, it must be done, it is not an option.  None of God's commands are options.  He doesn't make a command that can't be kept. 1 John 3:20; Hebrews 8:10; Ephesians 6:6; Ephesians 4:18; Acts 11:23.  We harden our hearts by refusing to do what God tells us.

2.  The Cause:  As a man thinks, so he is (Proverbs 23:7).  Do you think on the world, you will be worldy.  The fountain of all our actions is our heart.  The heart controls our actions, actions become habits.  The heart can never be settle permanently.

3.  The Challenge:  With all diligence - guard your heart.  Great attention should be given to your heart.  Every inlet of sin should be guarded (Proverbs 4:24-27).  Make no provision for evil (Romans 13:14).  a) surrender your heart to God  b) diligence to guard  c)  saturate it with the Word of God  d) a will to pray  e)  confess sin immediately.