1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,080 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 2 00:00:07,080 –> 00:00:12,660 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365. 3 00:00:12,660 –> 00:00:15,500 Or visit our website, opensmithbible.org. 4 00:00:15,500 –> 00:00:20,680 Let’s get to the message, here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:20,680 –> 00:00:26,379 Our series is titled, Soul Care, How to Guard Your Most Valuable Possession. 6 00:00:26,639 –> 00:00:32,459 Looking at the teaching of Jesus, you have a soul and your soul is of great value. 7 00:00:32,459 –> 00:00:38,419 In fact, it is more valuable, Jesus says, than all of the world. 8 00:00:38,419 –> 00:00:42,939 The reason my soul is of such value, that your soul is of such value, is that it will 9 00:00:42,939 –> 00:00:47,099 last forever, said in a very simple way to children. 10 00:00:47,099 –> 00:00:49,380 I have a soul, it’s inside me. 11 00:00:49,380 –> 00:00:52,840 I can’t see it, but it lasts forever. 12 00:00:52,840 –> 00:00:56,520 We’ve been seeing from the teaching of Jesus that one of two things can happen with regards 13 00:00:56,520 –> 00:00:57,520 to your soul. 14 00:00:57,520 –> 00:01:03,380 Your soul could be lost, and to lose a soul is the worst possible loss in all of life, 15 00:01:03,380 –> 00:01:07,680 because it’s the only loss in life that ultimately can never be recovered. 16 00:01:07,680 –> 00:01:14,120 We saw that a soul can be lost as it’s starved, as it’s strangled, or as it is surrendered. 17 00:01:14,120 –> 00:01:18,519 Then, we came on to see that Jesus says your soul can be saved. 18 00:01:18,879 –> 00:01:24,760 And we looked at what that actually is like in the Bible, in the first letter of Peter, 19 00:01:32,279 –> 00:01:39,839 And we saw that to be a Christian, for your soul to be saved, involves returning to this 20 00:01:39,839 –> 00:01:42,099 saviour and this shepherd. 21 00:01:42,099 –> 00:01:47,279 In other words, to be a Christian is not only to believe in the Jesus who died for your 22 00:01:47,279 –> 00:01:55,300 sins, it is also to submit to the shepherd who lives as the overseer of your soul. 23 00:01:55,300 –> 00:01:58,879 And so, we’ve been seeing the value of the soul over these weeks, and what I want us 24 00:01:58,879 –> 00:02:08,839 to do today is to focus in on what it means to care for your soul that has such great 25 00:02:08,839 –> 00:02:09,839 value. 26 00:02:09,839 –> 00:02:14,320 And we’re going to look at just one verse from the book of Proverbs chapter 4 and verse 27 00:02:14,320 –> 00:02:15,320 23. 28 00:02:15,320 –> 00:02:20,720 It does stand to that, a great verse to mark, and to remember. 29 00:02:20,720 –> 00:02:26,160 And what we’re looking at today, particularly, is to practice. 30 00:02:26,160 –> 00:02:37,020 Keep your heart, God says, with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 31 00:02:37,020 –> 00:02:44,000 Now, obviously, the word heart here is referring to the inner life, which is what we’ve been 32 00:02:44,259 –> 00:02:48,300 talking about, the life of the soul. 33 00:02:48,300 –> 00:02:51,039 God says you are to keep your heart. 34 00:02:51,039 –> 00:02:56,820 You are to guard your inner life. 35 00:02:56,820 –> 00:02:58,740 What does that mean? 36 00:02:58,740 –> 00:03:01,699 Why is it so important? 37 00:03:01,699 –> 00:03:08,199 And most significant of all, how am I actually to go about doing what God calls me to do 38 00:03:08,199 –> 00:03:09,460 here? 39 00:03:09,460 –> 00:03:16,639 One of the joys for me in preparing this message has been just to read fairly widely, particularly 40 00:03:16,639 –> 00:03:22,679 in some of the older writers who have so much insight and so much to teach us and are so 41 00:03:22,679 –> 00:03:25,139 very, very helpful on the subject. 42 00:03:25,139 –> 00:03:30,419 And so I’m going to be quoting from a number of these more extensively than usual today 43 00:03:30,419 –> 00:03:39,020 alongside speaking somewhat from my own experience in regards to this very important theme. 44 00:03:39,020 –> 00:03:45,240 So we begin here then with this call from God that we are given this command, we are 45 00:03:45,240 –> 00:03:47,320 given this duty. 46 00:03:47,320 –> 00:03:52,979 God says to us, keep your heart. 47 00:03:52,979 –> 00:03:57,059 Please understand, I’m speaking to everyone who’s a Christian here. 48 00:03:57,059 –> 00:04:00,800 When you become a Christian, God gives you a new heart. 49 00:04:00,800 –> 00:04:03,559 God gives you a heart that loves him. 50 00:04:03,559 –> 00:04:06,740 God gives you a heart that trusts him. 51 00:04:06,779 –> 00:04:12,460 And then God says to you and me as Christian believers, he says, keep your heart. 52 00:04:12,460 –> 00:04:18,220 Naturally, we might say, well, surely only God can keep the heart. 53 00:04:18,220 –> 00:04:23,239 Well, that would be rather like farmer saying, only God can make things grow. 54 00:04:23,239 –> 00:04:27,760 But if the farmer who believes that only God makes things grow simply sits there and doesn’t 55 00:04:27,760 –> 00:04:31,739 plant and water his fields and so forth, then there’s not going to be much of a harvest. 56 00:04:31,739 –> 00:04:35,519 No, the farmer who believes that God makes things grow, he goes out and he tills the 57 00:04:35,540 –> 00:04:38,359 ground and he plants the seeds. 58 00:04:38,359 –> 00:04:42,619 And in the same way, we’re being told here that God who gives us a new heart and God 59 00:04:42,619 –> 00:04:49,100 who sustains spiritual life within us, he gives to us this act of duty, this responsibility 60 00:04:49,100 –> 00:04:56,119 that lies upon every Christian believer, you are to keep your heart. 61 00:04:56,119 –> 00:04:59,140 And I am to keep my heart. 62 00:04:59,140 –> 00:05:02,559 John Flavell, who wrote a book called Keeping the Heart, it’s a short book. 63 00:05:02,559 –> 00:05:05,459 You can download it for free from a number of places on the internet. 64 00:05:06,399 –> 00:05:13,079 John Flavell says that the greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God. 65 00:05:13,079 –> 00:05:20,380 But the greatest challenge after conversion is to keep the heart with God, and 66 00:05:20,380 –> 00:05:23,299 every Christian knows what he’s talking about. 67 00:05:23,299 –> 00:05:29,260 Remember, on one occasion, God said to Samuel the prophet, man looks on the 68 00:05:29,260 –> 00:05:33,660 outward appearance, and you can finish this for me and with me please, 69 00:05:33,739 –> 00:05:36,859 but God looks on the heart. 70 00:05:36,859 –> 00:05:41,820 We looked at that earlier this year in our study in The Life of David. 71 00:05:41,820 –> 00:05:47,859 So, we’re being told that the eye of God is fixed first upon your heart. 72 00:05:49,859 –> 00:05:54,679 Therefore, if the eye of God is fixed first upon my heart, 73 00:05:54,679 –> 00:06:01,179 my eye must be fixed first upon my heart. 74 00:06:01,720 –> 00:06:03,600 Saul Flevel says, 75 00:06:03,600 –> 00:06:08,519 The guarding and the right managing of the heart in every condition 76 00:06:08,519 –> 00:06:12,119 is one great business of the Christian’s life.” 77 00:06:12,119 –> 00:06:14,299 This is what I’m to be about. 78 00:06:14,299 –> 00:06:22,179 The guarding, the keeping, the right managing, he says, of my heart. 79 00:06:22,720 –> 00:06:28,380 Now, another wise writer who I first read nearly 30 years ago now 80 00:06:28,380 –> 00:06:33,000 is a man by the name of Octavius Winslow. 81 00:06:33,000 –> 00:06:35,279 Don’t you think that’s a wonderful name, by the way? 82 00:06:35,279 –> 00:06:38,380 Wouldn’t you like to be called Octavius Winslow? 83 00:06:38,380 –> 00:06:41,779 Maybe you’re called Smith, something like that really gets to you 84 00:06:41,779 –> 00:06:45,420 and might even provoke a little bit of envy. 85 00:06:45,420 –> 00:06:49,019 And he wrote a book that had a matching title with his name. 86 00:06:49,100 –> 00:06:57,339 It was called Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul. 87 00:06:57,339 –> 00:06:59,179 Not a populace title, 88 00:06:59,179 –> 00:07:01,779 but actually it’s a very simple one, personal declension. 89 00:07:01,779 –> 00:07:05,059 How is it that a person goes into decline? 90 00:07:05,059 –> 00:07:07,339 And revival of religion in the soul, 91 00:07:07,339 –> 00:07:09,839 how is it that faith gets fired up? 92 00:07:09,839 –> 00:07:13,700 Love gets fired up, joy gets fired up? 93 00:07:13,700 –> 00:07:16,019 And he writes with great wisdom and great perception 94 00:07:16,079 –> 00:07:20,559 in a way that for years has been so very, very helpful to me. 95 00:07:20,559 –> 00:07:23,940 And he says this right at the beginning of his book. 96 00:07:23,940 –> 00:07:29,899 If there is one consideration more humbling than any other 97 00:07:29,899 –> 00:07:33,920 to a spiritually minded believer, 98 00:07:33,920 –> 00:07:39,519 it is that after all that God has done for him, 99 00:07:39,519 –> 00:07:43,799 and then lists all of God’s goodness and is abundant blessing 100 00:07:43,980 –> 00:07:46,380 and all of our experience in Christ 101 00:07:46,380 –> 00:07:48,559 and all that we’ve received from his loving hand, 102 00:07:50,119 –> 00:07:52,980 and he says if there’s one thing that is more humbling 103 00:07:52,980 –> 00:07:56,000 than anything else to a spiritually minded believer, 104 00:07:56,000 –> 00:08:01,799 it is that after all that God has done for him, 105 00:08:01,799 –> 00:08:07,000 there should still exist in the heart a principle 106 00:08:07,720 –> 00:08:11,279 the tendency of which is to secret, 107 00:08:11,279 –> 00:08:17,899 perpetual and alarming departure from God. 108 00:08:17,899 –> 00:08:20,079 Now you think about that you’ll find it is true 109 00:08:20,079 –> 00:08:21,480 I know that in my own life, 110 00:08:21,480 –> 00:08:23,239 after all that God has done for me, 111 00:08:24,100 –> 00:08:28,160 after all that I’ve experienced of his mercy and his grace 112 00:08:28,160 –> 00:08:31,000 of every good gift that he has poured into my life 113 00:08:31,000 –> 00:08:33,599 over all these years that I’ve walked with him, 114 00:08:33,599 –> 00:08:38,799 there still exists within my heart 115 00:08:39,760 –> 00:08:43,940 a principle, the tendency of which, 116 00:08:43,940 –> 00:08:47,479 is to this secret and perpetual. 117 00:08:47,479 –> 00:08:49,599 That means it’s always there, 118 00:08:49,599 –> 00:08:54,460 and alarming departure from God. 119 00:08:54,460 –> 00:08:56,059 And everyone who walks with God 120 00:08:56,059 –> 00:08:58,960 knows exactly what he’s talking about, 121 00:08:58,960 –> 00:09:03,280 that we need to keep our hearts. 122 00:09:03,280 –> 00:09:07,400 And it doesn’t get less as you go on in the Christian life. 123 00:09:07,479 –> 00:09:09,679 We need what God is calling us to hear. 124 00:09:09,679 –> 00:09:11,179 John Bunyan, you folks know, 125 00:09:11,179 –> 00:09:13,799 wrote the book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, 126 00:09:13,799 –> 00:09:14,739 if you’ve never read that, 127 00:09:14,739 –> 00:09:16,260 it’s a great, great book to read, 128 00:09:16,260 –> 00:09:18,219 especially to read with your children. 129 00:09:18,219 –> 00:09:20,280 Great description of the Christian life. 130 00:09:21,140 –> 00:09:22,080 But he wrote another book 131 00:09:22,080 –> 00:09:25,640 that’s not quite so well known called The Holy War 132 00:09:25,640 –> 00:09:28,760 and in that he uses another picture. 133 00:09:28,760 –> 00:09:31,419 He pictures the soul, your life, 134 00:09:31,419 –> 00:09:34,179 as being like a walled city 135 00:09:34,179 –> 00:09:38,140 and there are enemies attacking from the outside 136 00:09:38,140 –> 00:09:40,539 but there are also traitors 137 00:09:40,539 –> 00:09:44,260 that are hidden on the inside 138 00:09:44,260 –> 00:09:46,000 and so his point is simply this, 139 00:09:46,000 –> 00:09:49,679 your heart needs constant defending 140 00:09:49,679 –> 00:09:51,900 both from the enemies on the outside, 141 00:09:51,900 –> 00:09:54,140 the temptations that come and all the rest of it 142 00:09:54,140 –> 00:09:57,659 but also from the traitors on the inside. 143 00:09:57,659 –> 00:10:00,119 They need to be tracked down 144 00:10:00,119 –> 00:10:02,460 and they need to be exposed. 145 00:10:02,460 –> 00:10:03,460 Well, the enemies outside, 146 00:10:03,479 –> 00:10:05,260 they simply need to be resisted 147 00:10:05,260 –> 00:10:07,320 but the problem with the traitors on the inside 148 00:10:07,320 –> 00:10:09,599 is that you don’t even know they’re there. 149 00:10:09,599 –> 00:10:11,780 They need to be tracked down 150 00:10:11,780 –> 00:10:15,359 and then they need to be brought out into the open 151 00:10:15,359 –> 00:10:16,979 and so all of this really 152 00:10:16,979 –> 00:10:19,400 is in this wonderful verse 153 00:10:19,400 –> 00:10:21,419 that is being laid before us today. 154 00:10:21,419 –> 00:10:23,479 We’re talking about caring for your soul 155 00:10:23,479 –> 00:10:25,440 and God says, here’s what you’re going to have to do 156 00:10:25,440 –> 00:10:26,940 every day of your Christian life. 157 00:10:26,940 –> 00:10:28,039 You’ve got a new heart now, 158 00:10:28,039 –> 00:10:30,940 you gotta guard that heart 159 00:10:30,940 –> 00:10:32,979 and you gotta guard it with all vigilance 160 00:10:33,440 –> 00:10:38,200 because from it flow the springs of life. 161 00:10:39,520 –> 00:10:42,739 So the duty that’s given to us, the responsibility. 162 00:10:44,200 –> 00:10:46,619 Second thing I want us to notice is the reason 163 00:10:47,500 –> 00:10:49,200 because right in this verse, 164 00:10:49,200 –> 00:10:51,219 it’s amazing how God has given it to us 165 00:10:51,219 –> 00:10:53,880 so condensed in one place 166 00:10:53,880 –> 00:10:55,979 he gives us the reason as to why we have 167 00:10:55,979 –> 00:10:58,559 to keep our heart in particular. 168 00:10:58,559 –> 00:11:02,659 You see it there, keep your heart for, 169 00:11:02,679 –> 00:11:07,679 here’s the reason, from it flow the springs of life. 170 00:11:11,419 –> 00:11:13,739 That’s why you need to keep your heart 171 00:11:13,739 –> 00:11:18,739 because the springs of life flow from your heart, 172 00:11:19,179 –> 00:11:20,559 not from anywhere else. 173 00:11:22,780 –> 00:11:26,940 Now my father-in-law, who’s now getting quite elderly 174 00:11:26,940 –> 00:11:31,580 was a concert musician throughout his career 175 00:11:31,619 –> 00:11:33,539 and had the great privilege and joy 176 00:11:33,539 –> 00:11:36,059 throughout his playing years 177 00:11:36,059 –> 00:11:41,059 of being trusted with the use of a Stradivarius violin. 178 00:11:43,179 –> 00:11:46,859 I tell you it’s seriously beautiful instrument. 179 00:11:46,859 –> 00:11:48,099 He did not own it. 180 00:11:48,099 –> 00:11:49,900 I wish that he did own it. 181 00:11:49,900 –> 00:11:51,859 But he did not own it, 182 00:11:51,859 –> 00:11:55,619 it is owned by the Royal Academy of Music in London. 183 00:11:55,619 –> 00:11:59,219 But the lady who had given it when she died to them 184 00:11:59,219 –> 00:12:01,280 had named him through his playing life 185 00:12:01,280 –> 00:12:03,919 as the first person to have its use. 186 00:12:03,919 –> 00:12:07,479 And so he has had the great, great joy 187 00:12:07,479 –> 00:12:12,479 of playing this priceless instrument over many, many years. 188 00:12:14,239 –> 00:12:18,320 Now you would think that a violin 189 00:12:18,320 –> 00:12:21,619 that is worth millions of dollars 190 00:12:23,239 –> 00:12:26,960 would at least always be in tune. 191 00:12:27,099 –> 00:12:27,940 All right. 192 00:12:30,039 –> 00:12:32,239 But you know, every time I saw him take 193 00:12:32,239 –> 00:12:35,020 that priceless instrument out of the case so very carefully, 194 00:12:35,020 –> 00:12:36,619 what was the first thing he did? 195 00:12:37,979 –> 00:12:39,280 He has to tune the thing. 196 00:12:40,559 –> 00:12:43,719 Now your heart is like that violin. 197 00:12:43,719 –> 00:12:45,280 It is of great value. 198 00:12:45,280 –> 00:12:47,919 Jesus says, well, it’s more value than a Stradivarius. 199 00:12:47,919 –> 00:12:49,400 It has to be because Jesus says 200 00:12:49,400 –> 00:12:51,880 it’s of more value than the whole world. 201 00:12:51,880 –> 00:12:54,799 And yet like that Stradivarius, 202 00:12:54,840 –> 00:12:59,280 your heart’s nature with all of its value 203 00:12:59,280 –> 00:13:02,460 is that it constantly falls out of tune. 204 00:13:02,460 –> 00:13:04,099 I need to tune my heart. 205 00:13:04,099 –> 00:13:05,739 I need to keep my heart in tune. 206 00:13:05,739 –> 00:13:10,119 Why, because from it flow the springs of life. 207 00:13:11,059 –> 00:13:13,380 And friends, if we go out into this week 208 00:13:13,380 –> 00:13:16,460 with a heart that is out of tune with God, 209 00:13:16,460 –> 00:13:20,059 the music that will come from this instrument 210 00:13:20,059 –> 00:13:22,479 that is of such great value 211 00:13:22,479 –> 00:13:24,739 will nonetheless be discordant. 212 00:13:24,739 –> 00:13:27,260 It will not be beautiful, it will be atonal. 213 00:13:27,260 –> 00:13:29,739 The sound will be ugly, it will be offensive 214 00:13:29,739 –> 00:13:32,940 to people who are around us and it will be offensive 215 00:13:32,940 –> 00:13:35,539 of course, before God. 216 00:13:35,539 –> 00:13:37,059 But what this verse is saying 217 00:13:37,059 –> 00:13:38,979 is that if we keep our heart in tune, 218 00:13:38,979 –> 00:13:40,380 you keep your heart, 219 00:13:40,380 –> 00:13:45,200 then something beautiful is going to come from it, 220 00:13:45,200 –> 00:13:49,119 from it flow the springs of life. 221 00:13:50,080 –> 00:13:51,340 What are the springs of life? 222 00:13:51,340 –> 00:13:56,340 Joy, love, peace, strength, courage, contentment. 223 00:13:58,780 –> 00:14:03,780 They all flow from the heart, the springs of life. 224 00:14:07,119 –> 00:14:08,280 Now look at this phrase 225 00:14:08,280 –> 00:14:10,320 and think about it for a moment with me, 226 00:14:10,320 –> 00:14:13,099 the springs of life. 227 00:14:14,200 –> 00:14:18,340 Where do you think that the springs of life come from? 228 00:14:19,760 –> 00:14:22,799 What would really make you happy? 229 00:14:24,140 –> 00:14:27,679 What would be the thing that would cause you to say, 230 00:14:27,679 –> 00:14:30,280 oh, now, this is life. 231 00:14:31,520 –> 00:14:32,599 That’s the question. 232 00:14:32,599 –> 00:14:35,059 Where do the springs of life come from? 233 00:14:36,219 –> 00:14:38,000 And of course, the natural instinct 234 00:14:38,000 –> 00:14:39,400 that we all live with is oh, 235 00:14:39,400 –> 00:14:42,119 well now, if only my circumstances were different, 236 00:14:42,119 –> 00:14:44,119 then the springs of life would flow. 237 00:14:44,119 –> 00:14:45,559 If I was in a different place, 238 00:14:45,559 –> 00:14:47,859 if I wasn’t under this particular pressure, 239 00:14:48,799 –> 00:14:50,500 if I had a different job, 240 00:14:50,500 –> 00:14:52,260 if I was in a different financial position. 241 00:14:52,260 –> 00:14:53,859 If I was in a different relationship, 242 00:14:53,859 –> 00:14:55,979 if I had what he had or what she has, 243 00:14:57,119 –> 00:14:59,760 then the springs of life would flow for me. 244 00:14:59,760 –> 00:15:01,260 Ask yourself this question. 245 00:15:01,260 –> 00:15:03,179 Ask it pointedly today. 246 00:15:03,179 –> 00:15:06,760 From where do I think the springs of life flow? 247 00:15:07,799 –> 00:15:09,900 Is it for your, oh, if I was married, 248 00:15:09,900 –> 00:15:11,419 then the springs of life would flow. 249 00:15:11,419 –> 00:15:14,940 Oh, if I had a child, then the springs of life would flow. 250 00:15:14,940 –> 00:15:17,419 Oh, if only my children would believe, 251 00:15:17,500 –> 00:15:19,359 then the springs of life would flow. 252 00:15:20,159 –> 00:15:25,119 Where do I think that the springs of life flow from? 253 00:15:25,119 –> 00:15:27,000 If I lived in a beautiful place? 254 00:15:29,159 –> 00:15:31,059 If I led a thriving ministry? 255 00:15:32,880 –> 00:15:35,419 Well, you see what this is saying? 256 00:15:35,419 –> 00:15:37,859 Keep your heart, 257 00:15:39,200 –> 00:15:42,859 for from it, the springs of life flow. 258 00:15:44,780 –> 00:15:46,080 And you see the point. 259 00:15:47,080 –> 00:15:50,599 Wherever you go, whatever you do, 260 00:15:51,780 –> 00:15:55,840 whatever gifts in life and privileges and opportunities 261 00:15:55,840 –> 00:15:57,020 are trusted to you, 262 00:15:58,179 –> 00:16:02,219 you will carry your own heart with you into these. 263 00:16:03,260 –> 00:16:06,500 And if you do not guard your heart, 264 00:16:06,500 –> 00:16:09,640 then whatever opportunities may come or not come to you, 265 00:16:09,640 –> 00:16:11,380 whatever the course of your life may be, 266 00:16:11,380 –> 00:16:13,159 if you do not guard your heart, 267 00:16:13,159 –> 00:16:15,719 the springs of life will always be blocked 268 00:16:15,820 –> 00:16:19,359 up for you because wherever you go 269 00:16:19,359 –> 00:16:22,780 you are carrying this fountain of unhappiness 270 00:16:23,679 –> 00:16:24,919 in your own heart. 271 00:16:26,239 –> 00:16:30,059 Guard your heart, keep your heart because from it, 272 00:16:30,059 –> 00:16:32,599 not from a change in your circumstances, 273 00:16:32,599 –> 00:16:36,280 flow the springs of life. 274 00:16:37,760 –> 00:16:40,919 So you will see with me that this is of huge 275 00:16:40,919 –> 00:16:43,880 and practical importance 276 00:16:43,880 –> 00:16:47,059 with regards to the whole of our lives 277 00:16:48,059 –> 00:16:49,559 as Christian believers. 278 00:16:50,619 –> 00:16:54,559 And so the question now that we come down to here 279 00:16:54,559 –> 00:16:56,000 is obviously this, 280 00:16:56,000 –> 00:16:57,659 I see how important this is, 281 00:16:57,659 –> 00:16:59,840 I have to do it, I have to guard my heart, 282 00:16:59,840 –> 00:17:02,440 I can see that I’m never going to know 283 00:17:02,440 –> 00:17:05,599 joy and peace, the springs of life will never flow 284 00:17:05,599 –> 00:17:07,420 unless I guard my heart. 285 00:17:08,239 –> 00:17:11,339 So how am I to do it, how am I to do it? 286 00:17:12,219 –> 00:17:15,060 And again I want you to notice that right here 287 00:17:15,060 –> 00:17:18,839 in this verse we are given direction 288 00:17:18,839 –> 00:17:21,079 on this very, very clearly. 289 00:17:21,079 –> 00:17:24,819 I want to give to you now just five steps 290 00:17:24,819 –> 00:17:27,540 that are involved, they’re very practical steps 291 00:17:27,540 –> 00:17:31,560 in guarding your heart as it says here 292 00:17:31,560 –> 00:17:34,079 with all vigilance. 293 00:17:34,079 –> 00:17:37,660 And the first obviously is this word watch. 294 00:17:37,680 –> 00:17:39,140 Notice what the verse says, 295 00:17:39,140 –> 00:17:44,140 keep your heart with all vigilance. 296 00:17:45,180 –> 00:17:47,780 And vigilance simply means watching, 297 00:17:47,780 –> 00:17:50,180 and this takes up a very broad theme in the Bible. 298 00:17:50,180 –> 00:17:53,219 Remember Jesus says, watch and pray 299 00:17:53,219 –> 00:17:55,800 that you do not enter into temptation. 300 00:17:55,800 –> 00:17:58,939 Paul says to Timothy, just a young person, 301 00:17:58,939 –> 00:18:01,420 watch your life. 302 00:18:01,420 –> 00:18:03,479 Then he says to the elders of the church, 303 00:18:03,479 –> 00:18:05,000 spiritual leaders of the church, 304 00:18:05,040 –> 00:18:08,199 watch yourselves and the flock 305 00:18:08,199 –> 00:18:12,099 over which God has made you over seers. 306 00:18:12,099 –> 00:18:15,219 So watch, guard your heart with all vigilance 307 00:18:15,219 –> 00:18:17,839 for from it flow the springs of life. 308 00:18:17,839 –> 00:18:18,780 How are you to do this? 309 00:18:18,780 –> 00:18:21,380 How am I to watch my own heart? 310 00:18:23,900 –> 00:18:27,979 Now, all of us are familiar with the concept of a dashboard, 311 00:18:27,979 –> 00:18:31,359 and we use that nowadays in a number of different spheres. 312 00:18:32,199 –> 00:18:34,180 But let’s start here, the most familiar, 313 00:18:34,199 –> 00:18:36,560 you think about your car, 314 00:18:36,560 –> 00:18:39,939 you drive along, and as you are driving on the road, 315 00:18:39,939 –> 00:18:41,099 there’s certain information 316 00:18:41,099 –> 00:18:43,699 that you need to have immediately at hand, 317 00:18:43,699 –> 00:18:45,300 like what speed am I going? 318 00:18:45,300 –> 00:18:48,459 Especially, you see the blue light and so forth, 319 00:18:48,459 –> 00:18:52,099 then you need to know how much fuel do I have, 320 00:18:52,099 –> 00:18:55,959 how many miles therefore am I able to continue. 321 00:18:55,959 –> 00:18:57,140 Then there’s other information 322 00:18:57,140 –> 00:18:58,260 you’re not looking at all the time, 323 00:18:58,260 –> 00:18:59,520 but it’s really very important. 324 00:18:59,520 –> 00:19:01,319 What’s the temperature of the engine? 325 00:19:01,319 –> 00:19:04,900 Is there adequate oil and so forth, and so on? 326 00:19:04,900 –> 00:19:08,599 So all of this information in the car every time you drive 327 00:19:08,599 –> 00:19:13,040 is displayed for you on a dashboard. 328 00:19:14,160 –> 00:19:15,640 The concept of a dashboard, 329 00:19:15,640 –> 00:19:18,199 as many of you know much better than I do, 330 00:19:18,199 –> 00:19:21,719 has become very popular in the world of business. 331 00:19:21,719 –> 00:19:25,180 In every business, there are key metrics 332 00:19:25,180 –> 00:19:27,280 that you need to watch. 333 00:19:27,280 –> 00:19:29,959 And the movement in these metrics, 334 00:19:30,319 –> 00:19:32,640 whether it’s growth or decline from month to month 335 00:19:32,640 –> 00:19:35,560 or from year to year are going to be the way 336 00:19:35,560 –> 00:19:38,680 in which you can gauge the direction, the progress, 337 00:19:38,680 –> 00:19:42,880 or the decline of your particular business. 338 00:19:42,880 –> 00:19:46,459 And so for many of you in your working environment, 339 00:19:46,459 –> 00:19:48,920 you are regularly used to looking at a dashboard 340 00:19:48,920 –> 00:19:53,920 of sales and clients and revenue, 341 00:19:54,040 –> 00:19:56,400 or maybe enrollments, or whatever it is 342 00:19:56,439 –> 00:20:00,119 that are the particular metrics that you are tracking. 343 00:20:00,119 –> 00:20:01,319 Now, here’s my question. 344 00:20:03,160 –> 00:20:05,959 What would a dashboard for your soul look like? 345 00:20:06,839 –> 00:20:08,760 What about a dashboard for your soul? 346 00:20:09,719 –> 00:20:13,939 There would be red lights, and there would be green lights. 347 00:20:14,959 –> 00:20:18,359 Let me suggest to you some of the red lights 348 00:20:18,359 –> 00:20:21,900 that you might want to arrange on your dashboard 349 00:20:21,900 –> 00:20:23,300 to watch your soul. 350 00:20:24,459 –> 00:20:25,920 Fear would be one. 351 00:20:27,119 –> 00:20:29,680 Pride would be another. 352 00:20:29,680 –> 00:20:31,560 Greed would be a third. 353 00:20:32,400 –> 00:20:36,439 What about self-pity or resentment 354 00:20:37,400 –> 00:20:41,560 or cowardice or anger? 355 00:20:42,760 –> 00:20:45,839 You could add to that hard thoughts about God. 356 00:20:45,839 –> 00:20:47,979 Here, I am a Christian believer, 357 00:20:47,979 –> 00:20:50,939 and God has blessed me in Christ in so many ways, 358 00:20:50,939 –> 00:20:53,160 but I’m finding creeping into my heart 359 00:20:53,400 –> 00:20:54,300 these thoughts that God 360 00:20:54,300 –> 00:20:57,400 is somehow not done right by me and owes me, 361 00:20:57,400 –> 00:21:00,540 and I’ve got these hard thoughts towards God 362 00:21:00,540 –> 00:21:02,400 and they’re creeping into the heart. 363 00:21:03,420 –> 00:21:04,560 I wanna watch that. 364 00:21:04,560 –> 00:21:06,420 Coldness and worship. 365 00:21:06,420 –> 00:21:09,699 Remember times of coming and having such joy 366 00:21:09,699 –> 00:21:12,180 and love for Christ. 367 00:21:12,180 –> 00:21:13,599 And now I just, 368 00:21:13,599 –> 00:21:15,339 feels like I’m going through a routine, 369 00:21:15,339 –> 00:21:17,660 and that’s a change. 370 00:21:17,660 –> 00:21:20,420 That’s something that needs to be watched, 371 00:21:20,420 –> 00:21:22,260 and I’m suggesting that you might like 372 00:21:22,260 –> 00:21:27,260 to include these things in the dashboard of your heart. 373 00:21:29,500 –> 00:21:31,479 Now, these are just a few suggestions 374 00:21:31,479 –> 00:21:34,420 that I’m giving to you for starters. 375 00:21:34,420 –> 00:21:37,739 They’re ones that I have found to be very useful. 376 00:21:37,739 –> 00:21:40,439 But remember this, that God says to you, 377 00:21:40,439 –> 00:21:43,180 keep your heart. 378 00:21:43,180 –> 00:21:44,339 Keep your heart. 379 00:21:45,520 –> 00:21:47,739 So be a student of your own heart. 380 00:21:47,739 –> 00:21:51,979 Nobody can know the impulses that are most 381 00:21:51,979 –> 00:21:54,739 threatening to your heart better than you can. 382 00:21:55,819 –> 00:22:00,500 You have to be the world expert on your own heart 383 00:22:00,500 –> 00:22:01,819 because nobody else can be. 384 00:22:02,760 –> 00:22:05,199 I can be learning much about my heart, 385 00:22:05,199 –> 00:22:06,959 but you need to be the person 386 00:22:06,959 –> 00:22:11,959 who is the world expert on your heart. 387 00:22:13,160 –> 00:22:15,900 And if you take some time to really think about it, 388 00:22:15,900 –> 00:22:17,380 you will be able to identify 389 00:22:18,199 –> 00:22:20,660 some of the characteristic red lights 390 00:22:20,660 –> 00:22:24,920 that ought to be on the dashboard of your heart. 391 00:22:26,900 –> 00:22:28,660 So take what I’ve suggested, 392 00:22:28,660 –> 00:22:30,459 include some or all of them, 393 00:22:30,459 –> 00:22:32,900 include others that you are aware of 394 00:22:32,900 –> 00:22:35,459 are danger areas in your own heart, 395 00:22:35,459 –> 00:22:38,040 ways in which there is this secret perpetual 396 00:22:38,040 –> 00:22:41,719 and alarming tendency towards a departure from God. 397 00:22:41,719 –> 00:22:45,439 How does that manifest itself in your heart 398 00:22:45,439 –> 00:22:48,780 and put them on the dashboard? 399 00:22:48,780 –> 00:22:51,540 Don’t be a stranger to your own heart. 400 00:22:54,660 –> 00:22:56,540 Calvin said on one occasion, 401 00:22:56,540 –> 00:22:59,260 nearly all the wisdom we possess comes in two parts, 402 00:22:59,260 –> 00:23:01,260 I love the simplicity of this. 403 00:23:01,260 –> 00:23:04,260 You want to be wise, two things. 404 00:23:04,260 –> 00:23:05,780 One is the knowledge of God, 405 00:23:05,780 –> 00:23:07,739 the other is the knowledge of yourself. 406 00:23:08,579 –> 00:23:12,699 You get the knowledge of God by studying the Bible, 407 00:23:12,699 –> 00:23:14,040 you get the knowledge of yourself 408 00:23:14,040 –> 00:23:17,160 by studying your own heart in the light of the Bible. 409 00:23:18,400 –> 00:23:20,640 And there are many Christians 410 00:23:20,640 –> 00:23:23,500 who being part of a small group 411 00:23:23,500 –> 00:23:26,699 and hearing preaching on Sunday 412 00:23:26,699 –> 00:23:30,420 are regularly used to learning about God from the Bible, 413 00:23:31,579 –> 00:23:34,640 but don’t really have much familiarity at all 414 00:23:34,640 –> 00:23:36,500 with regards to what it really means 415 00:23:36,500 –> 00:23:39,520 to look at your own heart 416 00:23:39,520 –> 00:23:41,319 and to come to an honest evaluation 417 00:23:41,319 –> 00:23:43,239 of what’s actually going on there. 418 00:23:44,119 –> 00:23:45,800 And the Word of God says to us, 419 00:23:45,800 –> 00:23:47,939 you got to keep your heart 420 00:23:47,939 –> 00:23:52,420 and you’ve got to do it with all vigilance. 421 00:23:53,400 –> 00:23:55,839 And just as those of you who are in business 422 00:23:55,839 –> 00:23:58,739 all the time are watching dashboards with trends 423 00:23:58,739 –> 00:24:00,239 and the first thing you’re looking for 424 00:24:00,239 –> 00:24:02,020 is where is there any change? 425 00:24:02,020 –> 00:24:04,439 It’s always what we look for on a dashboard. 426 00:24:05,839 –> 00:24:08,119 So it is with the dashboard of the heart, 427 00:24:08,119 –> 00:24:10,540 W. Pink puts it this way. 428 00:24:10,540 –> 00:24:12,420 For the Christian to keep his heart 429 00:24:12,420 –> 00:24:15,199 means for him to pay close attention 430 00:24:15,199 –> 00:24:19,579 to the direction in which his affections are moving, 431 00:24:20,719 –> 00:24:22,800 to discover whether the world is gaining 432 00:24:22,800 –> 00:24:24,920 a firmer and fuller hold over him 433 00:24:24,920 –> 00:24:26,959 or whether affection for the world 434 00:24:26,959 –> 00:24:28,839 is losing its charm for him. 435 00:24:29,959 –> 00:24:32,160 Remember, C. S. Lewis said in Skrewtaped letters, 436 00:24:32,160 –> 00:24:34,780 one of the devil’s great, great tactics 437 00:24:34,780 –> 00:24:36,959 is to make a man or a woman feel 438 00:24:36,959 –> 00:24:39,400 that they are making their way in the world 439 00:24:39,459 –> 00:24:41,099 when all the time it is the world 440 00:24:41,099 –> 00:24:44,459 that is making its way in them. 441 00:24:45,339 –> 00:24:48,260 So keep your heart with all vigilance. 442 00:24:50,060 –> 00:24:51,459 The power of sin 443 00:24:52,699 –> 00:24:56,979 is like a stone rolling down a hill. 444 00:24:58,400 –> 00:24:59,780 And at the top of the hill, 445 00:24:59,780 –> 00:25:02,099 when the stone’s just beginning to roll over, 446 00:25:02,099 –> 00:25:03,619 it’s actually not that difficult 447 00:25:03,619 –> 00:25:06,479 to be able to grab hold of it and to put it in its place. 448 00:25:07,140 –> 00:25:10,520 But if you let a stone go rolling down a hill 449 00:25:10,520 –> 00:25:12,859 for half a mile, it has gained so much momentum, 450 00:25:12,859 –> 00:25:16,099 so much speed that you’re trying to stand in its way. 451 00:25:16,099 –> 00:25:19,859 It kind of blow you apart and to halt that thing 452 00:25:19,859 –> 00:25:22,219 is just so, so much more difficult. 453 00:25:22,219 –> 00:25:23,979 And this is why keeping your heart 454 00:25:23,979 –> 00:25:25,439 is of such huge importance. 455 00:25:25,439 –> 00:25:30,439 Friends, every time you come across a sad story 456 00:25:31,380 –> 00:25:34,660 of a Christian who has gone into complete total 457 00:25:34,660 –> 00:25:37,359 and utter moral collapse, 458 00:25:38,780 –> 00:25:41,939 you can be very sure that behind that story 459 00:25:41,939 –> 00:25:46,560 has been a long story of not keeping the heart. 460 00:25:47,500 –> 00:25:50,880 What’s happened is that the stone that in the heart 461 00:25:50,880 –> 00:25:54,459 began to roll some long time ago 462 00:25:54,459 –> 00:25:56,300 has gained more and more and more momentum 463 00:25:56,300 –> 00:25:58,400 and in the end, it just blew the guy away. 464 00:25:59,979 –> 00:26:01,180 Keep your heart, 465 00:26:01,180 –> 00:26:05,020 with all vigilance, 466 00:26:05,020 –> 00:26:10,020 because from it flow the springs of life. 467 00:26:12,380 –> 00:26:13,979 So you got to watch, 468 00:26:13,979 –> 00:26:16,420 world expert on your own heart. 469 00:26:16,420 –> 00:26:17,859 Know what’s going on there, 470 00:26:17,859 –> 00:26:20,880 monitor what’s changing very, very carefully. 471 00:26:22,140 –> 00:26:24,619 Second, and I move through these more quickly, 472 00:26:24,619 –> 00:26:27,219 investigate, investigate. 473 00:26:27,219 –> 00:26:30,760 So there’s a little flicker on one of these red lights. 474 00:26:31,760 –> 00:26:34,020 Why, what’s causing that? 475 00:26:35,339 –> 00:26:39,619 On one occasion, Paul spoke at writing to the Galatians. 476 00:26:39,619 –> 00:26:41,060 He asked this question. 477 00:26:42,020 –> 00:26:43,780 “‘You were running well,’ 478 00:26:43,780 –> 00:26:46,459 he said to these Christian believers. 479 00:26:46,459 –> 00:26:48,439 “‘Who hindered you?’ 480 00:26:49,439 –> 00:26:52,180 That’s a very important question. 481 00:26:52,180 –> 00:26:53,300 And he doesn’t give an answer. 482 00:26:53,300 –> 00:26:55,160 He just puts the question out there for them. 483 00:26:55,160 –> 00:26:56,420 This is the question you have to answer, 484 00:26:56,560 –> 00:26:57,400 who hindered you? 485 00:26:57,400 –> 00:27:00,400 What was it that got in the way of your spiritual progress? 486 00:27:00,400 –> 00:27:02,640 You had a heart for God. 487 00:27:02,640 –> 00:27:04,920 You had a great joy in Christ. 488 00:27:04,920 –> 00:27:08,280 Your love for the Savior burned very, very brightly. 489 00:27:08,280 –> 00:27:10,280 At one point, you had great passion 490 00:27:10,280 –> 00:27:11,579 for the advance of the gospel. 491 00:27:11,579 –> 00:27:13,739 You made significant sacrifices. 492 00:27:14,760 –> 00:27:17,959 You had courage in the way that you stood for Christ. 493 00:27:17,959 –> 00:27:21,160 You battled with deeply-set sins 494 00:27:21,160 –> 00:27:23,359 and you made some significant progress. 495 00:27:23,359 –> 00:27:24,959 You grew in holiness. 496 00:27:24,959 –> 00:27:27,199 All these things were happening in you. 497 00:27:27,199 –> 00:27:29,680 Now what has changed? 498 00:27:29,680 –> 00:27:30,959 What has got in the way? 499 00:27:32,000 –> 00:27:34,319 What have been the factors that have slowed you down? 500 00:27:34,319 –> 00:27:35,479 Investigate. 501 00:27:36,359 –> 00:27:39,180 Is there a person, is it company? 502 00:27:39,180 –> 00:27:42,119 Is it a set of circumstances, what has happened? 503 00:27:42,119 –> 00:27:44,760 Where has the problem come? 504 00:27:44,760 –> 00:27:47,599 And when you ask these questions, 505 00:27:48,439 –> 00:27:51,119 you might say, I don’t know. 506 00:27:51,119 –> 00:27:53,520 Well, if you don’t know, ask God. 507 00:27:54,520 –> 00:27:58,079 Psalm 139, use this prayer. 508 00:27:58,079 –> 00:28:00,359 I’m seeing this change, Lord, in my heart, 509 00:28:00,359 –> 00:28:04,880 now search me and know my heart 510 00:28:04,880 –> 00:28:07,959 and try me and know my thoughts. 511 00:28:07,959 –> 00:28:11,680 Help me to understand what’s going on in this heart 512 00:28:11,680 –> 00:28:13,900 because I need to guard it, I need to keep it 513 00:28:13,900 –> 00:28:16,239 because from it flow the springs of life. 514 00:28:16,239 –> 00:28:18,060 I’m seeing a change here. 515 00:28:18,060 –> 00:28:19,979 I need to know what’s behind it. 516 00:28:20,839 –> 00:28:23,420 Three. 517 00:28:23,420 –> 00:28:24,959 How to keep your heart to confess? 518 00:28:26,560 –> 00:28:27,839 How can you deal with the problem 519 00:28:27,839 –> 00:28:31,619 if you don’t even know what it is or why it is there? 520 00:28:33,719 –> 00:28:37,400 These impulses that have the tendency 521 00:28:37,400 –> 00:28:42,400 towards secret, perpetual, and alarming departure from God. 522 00:28:44,520 –> 00:28:46,180 Then number three. 523 00:28:46,180 –> 00:28:47,839 How to keep your heart to confess? 524 00:28:48,079 –> 00:28:48,920 And we know this verse so well. 525 00:28:48,920 –> 00:28:53,540 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just 526 00:28:53,540 –> 00:28:55,959 to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us 527 00:28:55,959 –> 00:28:59,839 from all unrighteousness. 528 00:28:59,839 –> 00:29:02,839 So, here’s this marvelous promise that we love, 529 00:29:02,839 –> 00:29:05,719 but there is a condition, isn’t there? 530 00:29:05,719 –> 00:29:07,160 There’s an if. 531 00:29:07,160 –> 00:29:09,500 If we confess our sins. 532 00:29:11,160 –> 00:29:13,199 So, how much of that are you doing? 533 00:29:13,199 –> 00:29:15,400 What was the last sin that you can remember 534 00:29:15,500 –> 00:29:17,540 particularly confessing to God? 535 00:29:20,300 –> 00:29:22,880 A.W. Pink says this, and see if you think this 536 00:29:22,880 –> 00:29:26,900 is a good and accurate description of the Christian world 537 00:29:26,900 –> 00:29:28,680 in our country today, 538 00:29:30,359 –> 00:29:32,839 many talk about salvation, 539 00:29:32,839 –> 00:29:34,859 but few experience the joy of it. 540 00:29:36,699 –> 00:29:38,839 There is much of the form of godliness, 541 00:29:38,839 –> 00:29:40,880 but very little of its power. 542 00:29:42,500 –> 00:29:44,839 O how rare it is to find any who know 543 00:29:45,199 –> 00:29:47,000 anything in their experience 544 00:29:47,000 –> 00:29:49,359 of the power that separates from the world, 545 00:29:49,359 –> 00:29:52,359 delivers from self, defends from Satan, 546 00:29:52,359 –> 00:29:54,920 makes sin to be hated, Christ to be loved, 547 00:29:54,920 –> 00:29:59,099 truth to be prized, and error and evil to be deported from. 548 00:30:00,599 –> 00:30:05,599 You see, what’s missing is this honest heart work 549 00:30:07,000 –> 00:30:11,599 that is the business of the Christian life. 550 00:30:15,800 –> 00:30:18,479 Now, confession, of course, is first to God, 551 00:30:19,719 –> 00:30:23,920 but it will help you if you are able to talk honestly 552 00:30:23,920 –> 00:30:27,640 with a friend, someone who loves you and who knows you 553 00:30:27,640 –> 00:30:30,920 and who cares about you and about your spiritual life. 554 00:30:33,359 –> 00:30:35,599 I was doing this recently in a conversation 555 00:30:35,599 –> 00:30:37,520 with a few of our lay leaders. 556 00:30:39,040 –> 00:30:42,119 Seen some changes in my own heart, 557 00:30:42,119 –> 00:30:44,319 don’t like what I see, 558 00:30:45,180 –> 00:30:47,739 I listed several of these things. 559 00:30:49,000 –> 00:30:53,760 One of them is I see myself becoming less patient, 560 00:30:53,760 –> 00:30:57,939 and there’s a red light that’s flashing on the dashboard. 561 00:30:57,939 –> 00:31:02,020 That’s one of them and it needs to be addressed. 562 00:31:03,560 –> 00:31:08,400 And to identify it clearly has been helpful to me. 563 00:31:10,839 –> 00:31:13,359 I was talking with a friend the other week. 564 00:31:13,400 –> 00:31:15,160 He’s in his early 70s 565 00:31:16,599 –> 00:31:19,699 and experiencing another of these passages of life 566 00:31:19,699 –> 00:31:21,239 in which things are changing, 567 00:31:21,239 –> 00:31:25,160 moving away from being at the center of a number of things 568 00:31:25,160 –> 00:31:27,060 and so forth. 569 00:31:27,060 –> 00:31:29,680 Away from responsibilities that had been trusted 570 00:31:29,680 –> 00:31:31,619 and carried with joy before. 571 00:31:32,939 –> 00:31:34,020 And he said to me, 572 00:31:35,079 –> 00:31:39,500 “‘Colin, I can see from here the path 573 00:31:39,500 –> 00:31:41,920 “‘to becoming a grumpy old man.” 574 00:31:42,020 –> 00:31:42,920 Wow. 575 00:31:43,959 –> 00:31:48,339 “‘I can see it, I can see how guys become grumpy old men. 576 00:31:48,339 –> 00:31:50,300 “‘I can see it, I can see it from here. 577 00:31:52,219 –> 00:31:55,540 “‘Oh, and I’m so determined not to go down that path. 578 00:31:56,939 –> 00:31:58,180 “‘I wanna fight that with it. 579 00:31:58,180 –> 00:32:00,420 “‘But I can see it, I can feel it.” 580 00:32:02,800 –> 00:32:05,500 That world in which one ends up living 581 00:32:05,500 –> 00:32:08,819 that nothing is as good as it would have been 582 00:32:08,819 –> 00:32:10,699 if I was doing it or when I was doing it. 583 00:32:10,780 –> 00:32:12,180 All the rest of it. 584 00:32:14,339 –> 00:32:16,900 He said, I need to guard my heart. 585 00:32:18,160 –> 00:32:21,020 Guard your heart with all vigilance 586 00:32:21,020 –> 00:32:23,900 for from it flow the springs of life, 587 00:32:23,900 –> 00:32:26,099 and I’d be a miserable old person. 588 00:32:28,459 –> 00:32:31,520 So watch, investigate, confess. 589 00:32:33,180 –> 00:32:34,859 And commit, here’s number four. 590 00:32:35,819 –> 00:32:37,140 As you rearrange your dashboard, 591 00:32:37,140 –> 00:32:38,979 I hope some of you are really gonna draw this 592 00:32:38,979 –> 00:32:41,140 on a bit of paper, and keep it in a journal, 593 00:32:41,140 –> 00:32:44,260 and use it because we want to be doers 594 00:32:44,260 –> 00:32:47,079 of the Word of God, not only hearers of the Word of God. 595 00:32:47,079 –> 00:32:50,180 You might like to arrange under every red light 596 00:32:50,180 –> 00:32:53,420 that you identify that could be flashing 597 00:32:53,420 –> 00:32:57,199 a green light that would be its corresponding opposite. 598 00:32:57,199 –> 00:32:59,459 And it’s very easy to pull together that list. 599 00:32:59,459 –> 00:33:02,800 You just go to Galatians chapter 5 and verse 22, 600 00:33:02,800 –> 00:33:05,040 which of course is the fruit of the Spirit. 601 00:33:05,040 –> 00:33:07,599 And that will give you some great starters. 602 00:33:07,640 –> 00:33:10,920 Love, and peace, and joy, and patience, 603 00:33:10,920 –> 00:33:14,140 and kindness, and goodness, and faithfulness, 604 00:33:14,140 –> 00:33:16,959 and gentleness, and self-control. 605 00:33:16,959 –> 00:33:19,280 Green lights on the dashboard. 606 00:33:19,280 –> 00:33:21,880 What we want to be flashing much. 607 00:33:23,359 –> 00:33:25,079 And that’s not an exhaustive list. 608 00:33:25,079 –> 00:33:26,579 I mean, there’s others that you could add. 609 00:33:26,579 –> 00:33:28,319 Forgiveness would be one. 610 00:33:29,280 –> 00:33:30,959 Courage would be another. 611 00:33:31,959 –> 00:33:34,219 But even looking at the fruit of the Spirit 612 00:33:34,219 –> 00:33:37,280 will help you to identify other things 613 00:33:37,339 –> 00:33:38,979 that are the opposite that should be 614 00:33:38,979 –> 00:33:41,619 on the red light side of the dashboard. 615 00:33:42,780 –> 00:33:46,780 And thinking about the red light side of the dashboard 616 00:33:46,780 –> 00:33:48,880 will help you to see the opposites 617 00:33:48,880 –> 00:33:53,880 that should be on the green light side of the dashboard. 618 00:33:55,520 –> 00:33:57,859 All of you who’re bringing up younger children know this. 619 00:33:57,859 –> 00:34:01,040 And those who remember it know it, too. 620 00:34:01,040 –> 00:34:03,479 That whenever a child is moving 621 00:34:03,479 –> 00:34:05,459 in the direction of something that’s gonna be harmful, 622 00:34:05,459 –> 00:34:06,579 you know, the little fingers are going 623 00:34:06,619 –> 00:34:08,979 in the direction of electric socket or something, 624 00:34:08,979 –> 00:34:10,179 the most helpful thing to do is 625 00:34:10,179 –> 00:34:11,600 to move the child’s attention 626 00:34:11,600 –> 00:34:13,939 onto something else that’s going to be better. 627 00:34:14,919 –> 00:34:17,820 And DW Pink, using that picture, says this, 628 00:34:17,820 –> 00:34:20,300 the best security for the soul 629 00:34:20,300 –> 00:34:22,459 against the allurements of Satan 630 00:34:22,459 –> 00:34:26,020 is to have it engaged with a lovelier 631 00:34:26,020 –> 00:34:29,020 and a more satisfying object. 632 00:34:29,020 –> 00:34:32,020 The heart that is filled and engaged with the good 633 00:34:32,020 –> 00:34:35,699 is the one that is best protected against the evil. 634 00:34:35,699 –> 00:34:37,340 So identify the green lights 635 00:34:38,260 –> 00:34:41,020 and commit to pursuing them. 636 00:34:42,540 –> 00:34:47,300 Lord, by your grace, 637 00:34:47,300 –> 00:34:50,959 I renounce this impatience, 638 00:34:50,959 –> 00:34:52,540 or whatever else is the red light 639 00:34:52,540 –> 00:34:53,899 or the red lights, 640 00:34:53,899 –> 00:34:56,659 that you’re needing to address at any particular time. 641 00:34:57,699 –> 00:35:00,020 I want nothing more to do with it. 642 00:35:01,219 –> 00:35:03,219 Lord, by your grace, 643 00:35:03,260 –> 00:35:08,239 help me now to grow in the patience that I need. 644 00:35:10,500 –> 00:35:13,360 Guard this heart from the enemy within, 645 00:35:14,699 –> 00:35:15,959 so that, dear Lord, 646 00:35:15,959 –> 00:35:18,179 the very circumstances 647 00:35:18,179 –> 00:35:20,840 that caused the red light to flash 648 00:35:22,320 –> 00:35:24,060 would be the circumstances 649 00:35:24,060 –> 00:35:29,300 in which the green light will become fully lit. 650 00:35:29,300 –> 00:35:31,760 See, that’s the triumph of the Gospel, 651 00:35:31,760 –> 00:35:33,560 that the very circumstances 652 00:35:33,560 –> 00:35:34,879 that promoted the impatience, 653 00:35:34,879 –> 00:35:36,000 or whatever it is, 654 00:35:37,080 –> 00:35:38,600 should become, by God’s grace, 655 00:35:38,600 –> 00:35:39,760 the circumstances 656 00:35:39,760 –> 00:35:41,360 that light the green light 657 00:35:41,360 –> 00:35:42,699 of the fruit of the spirit, 658 00:35:42,699 –> 00:35:46,439 patience in the soul. 659 00:35:47,520 –> 00:35:48,979 Lord, that’s what I want, 660 00:35:50,040 –> 00:35:51,520 and that doesn’t come by the change 661 00:35:51,520 –> 00:35:52,540 of circumstances. 662 00:35:52,540 –> 00:35:54,479 That comes by the change in the heart. 663 00:35:55,939 –> 00:35:59,159 I gotta keep my heart with all vigilance, 664 00:35:59,159 –> 00:36:00,199 because from it, 665 00:36:00,199 –> 00:36:03,639 flow the springs of life. 666 00:36:05,120 –> 00:36:07,239 And that takes me to the last one, 667 00:36:07,239 –> 00:36:08,800 which is simply trust. 668 00:36:09,679 –> 00:36:11,100 Which is trust. 669 00:36:12,080 –> 00:36:13,120 Now, we’ve talked, here, 670 00:36:13,120 –> 00:36:16,080 about this very important 671 00:36:16,080 –> 00:36:17,800 spiritual exercise 672 00:36:17,800 –> 00:36:20,780 of looking at your own heart. 673 00:36:20,780 –> 00:36:24,120 Bible says that a man examine himself, 674 00:36:24,120 –> 00:36:27,260 and a woman examine herself. 675 00:36:28,360 –> 00:36:29,840 Keep your heart 676 00:36:29,840 –> 00:36:32,159 with all vigilance, watch, investigate, 677 00:36:32,159 –> 00:36:33,620 confess, commit. 678 00:36:35,159 –> 00:36:36,479 But here’s the reality. 679 00:36:37,979 –> 00:36:39,500 When godly people 680 00:36:40,560 –> 00:36:42,699 look at their own hearts, 681 00:36:44,159 –> 00:36:46,459 we find it very, very discouraging. 682 00:36:47,879 –> 00:36:49,520 Because what we find 683 00:36:49,520 –> 00:36:52,639 is what Octavius Lee Winslow said. 684 00:36:52,639 –> 00:36:54,679 That after all of the goodness of God, 685 00:36:54,679 –> 00:36:56,679 and all our Christian experience, 686 00:36:56,679 –> 00:36:59,000 and all these years of serving him, 687 00:36:59,000 –> 00:37:01,659 it is astonishing to look into one’s own heart 688 00:37:01,659 –> 00:37:04,060 and still to find their a principle 689 00:37:04,060 –> 00:37:07,100 the tendency of which is to secret, perpetual, 690 00:37:07,100 –> 00:37:09,459 and alarming departure from God. 691 00:37:11,360 –> 00:37:13,399 And you say, how in the world 692 00:37:14,320 –> 00:37:16,800 after all of God’s abundant goodness 693 00:37:16,800 –> 00:37:18,260 can that still be? 694 00:37:20,340 –> 00:37:21,820 And I think that that’s one reason 695 00:37:21,820 –> 00:37:22,699 why a lot of Christians 696 00:37:22,699 –> 00:37:24,280 don’t actually ever look at their own heart 697 00:37:24,280 –> 00:37:26,360 because they think that’s just gonna be so discouraged. 698 00:37:26,360 –> 00:37:28,080 It’s a mess, it’s like a room 699 00:37:28,080 –> 00:37:29,280 that’s completely chaotic, 700 00:37:29,280 –> 00:37:30,439 just close the door on it. 701 00:37:30,439 –> 00:37:31,780 I don’t even wanna look. 702 00:37:33,560 –> 00:37:35,040 But God says you have to look 703 00:37:35,040 –> 00:37:37,040 because you have to guard your own heart. 704 00:37:38,360 –> 00:37:39,280 So what are you gonna do 705 00:37:39,280 –> 00:37:40,639 and how are you gonna be protected 706 00:37:40,639 –> 00:37:42,800 against the overwhelming sense of discouragement 707 00:37:42,800 –> 00:37:44,419 that will be Satan’s tactic 708 00:37:44,419 –> 00:37:47,020 when you begin to look seriously at your own heart, 709 00:37:48,360 –> 00:37:50,399 and one of my great heroes Robert Mary McShane 710 00:37:50,399 –> 00:37:51,699 has the answer to that 711 00:37:51,699 –> 00:37:53,899 and he says it so beautifully. 712 00:37:53,899 –> 00:37:57,399 For every look at self he says, 713 00:37:58,300 –> 00:38:01,939 take 10 looks at Christ. 714 00:38:01,939 –> 00:38:03,100 You love that? 715 00:38:03,100 –> 00:38:04,280 I have this in my memory, 716 00:38:04,280 –> 00:38:06,179 but I misremembered it, I’m googling it 717 00:38:06,179 –> 00:38:07,500 and I thought he said 718 00:38:07,500 –> 00:38:11,060 for every look at yourself take two looks at Jesus Christ. 719 00:38:11,060 –> 00:38:12,520 So I’m googling this now I find, 720 00:38:12,520 –> 00:38:13,860 oh, I can’t find it 721 00:38:13,860 –> 00:38:15,659 because what he really said is 722 00:38:15,659 –> 00:38:17,340 for every look at yourself 723 00:38:17,340 –> 00:38:18,780 take, say it with me, 724 00:38:18,780 –> 00:38:20,780 10 looks at Jesus Christ. 725 00:38:20,780 –> 00:38:22,500 That’s about the right proportion. 726 00:38:23,379 –> 00:38:26,199 I look at my own heart and I say this is so alarming. 727 00:38:27,580 –> 00:38:29,739 And I look up to Jesus Christ and I say 728 00:38:29,739 –> 00:38:31,939 this is precisely why 729 00:38:31,939 –> 00:38:35,600 the Fountain for Cleansing was opened. 730 00:38:35,600 –> 00:38:39,040 And the power of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ 731 00:38:39,040 –> 00:38:42,139 is greater than all of the impulses 732 00:38:42,139 –> 00:38:44,760 that exist within the human heart 733 00:38:44,760 –> 00:38:45,979 throughout this life. 734 00:38:45,979 –> 00:38:48,179 I will depend upon the cleansing of Jesus 735 00:38:48,179 –> 00:38:51,260 until the moment that I enter into heaven. 736 00:38:53,100 –> 00:38:55,520 And as I look up to Christ I’m reminded 737 00:38:55,520 –> 00:38:58,399 not only of the power of His cleansing blood, 738 00:38:59,239 –> 00:39:03,060 but as we saw last time, the power of His risen life 739 00:39:04,300 –> 00:39:09,300 so that faith and love and all the green lights 740 00:39:09,840 –> 00:39:11,340 that are the fruit of the Spirit 741 00:39:11,340 –> 00:39:12,699 how are they sustained? 742 00:39:12,699 –> 00:39:17,139 Not by their own power, but by a communication of life 743 00:39:17,139 –> 00:39:20,620 and of nourishment and of refreshment and of strength 744 00:39:20,659 –> 00:39:22,780 that comes right from the throne of God 745 00:39:22,780 –> 00:39:25,820 that comes from Jesus Christ, himself. 746 00:39:27,560 –> 00:39:29,199 So I’m able to say, Lord, Jesus, 747 00:39:29,199 –> 00:39:32,040 as I see what’s in this heart, I see the need, 748 00:39:33,860 –> 00:39:36,100 Lord, by your mercy apply the cleansing 749 00:39:36,100 –> 00:39:40,159 of the blood of Christ in this area, at this time. 750 00:39:41,780 –> 00:39:45,139 And now by the power of your gracious Holy Spirit, 751 00:39:45,139 –> 00:39:48,379 give to me in this area in which the front of the battle 752 00:39:48,379 –> 00:39:50,540 in my heart is now being waged. 753 00:39:51,520 –> 00:39:53,439 Give to me that renewal of strength, 754 00:39:53,439 –> 00:39:55,560 that renewal of nourishment, 755 00:39:55,560 –> 00:39:58,620 that renewal of all that flows from you 756 00:39:58,620 –> 00:40:01,399 so that coming from you the springs of life 757 00:40:01,399 –> 00:40:04,800 may not only come to my heart, 758 00:40:04,800 –> 00:40:09,100 but spring from that heart by your grace. 759 00:40:11,199 –> 00:40:13,040 Man by the name of Andrew Grey 760 00:40:14,219 –> 00:40:16,580 got the whole message today in one sentence. 761 00:40:16,580 –> 00:40:18,360 Now I realize in the last sentence, 762 00:40:18,360 –> 00:40:19,820 you’re gonna say, well, why didn’t you say that 763 00:40:19,820 –> 00:40:22,540 40 minutes ago, and just give us the one sentence? 764 00:40:22,540 –> 00:40:24,139 But here it is. 765 00:40:24,139 –> 00:40:28,179 Christians can never trust their hearts too little 766 00:40:29,479 –> 00:40:34,159 and can never trust their God too much. 767 00:40:35,139 –> 00:40:36,060 You got to keep your heart. 768 00:40:36,060 –> 00:40:37,560 You can never trust your heart too little. 769 00:40:37,560 –> 00:40:38,939 Don’t trust your heart. 770 00:40:40,360 –> 00:40:42,120 Can never trust your heart too little, 771 00:40:43,139 –> 00:40:47,060 but you can never trust your God too much. 772 00:40:47,060 –> 00:40:51,659 So guard your heart with all vigilance, 773 00:40:51,659 –> 00:40:56,659 for from it flow the springs of life. 774 00:40:56,840 –> 00:41:01,760 Father, in your mercy and in your grace, 775 00:41:03,620 –> 00:41:07,040 grant to us not only to be hearers of the word of God 776 00:41:08,219 –> 00:41:13,219 but doers, through your grace and for your glory, 777 00:41:13,739 –> 00:41:14,959 and for your glory. 778 00:41:15,899 –> 00:41:18,060 For it is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray 779 00:41:18,060 –> 00:41:20,620 and everyone said together, Amen. 780 00:41:24,260 –> 00:41:25,500 You’ve been listening to a sermon 781 00:41:25,500 –> 00:41:27,899 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 782 00:41:27,899 –> 00:41:32,899 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 783 00:41:33,179 –> 00:41:37,260 or visit our website, openthebible.org. 784 00:41:37,260 –> 00:41:37,780 ‘)