The Heart

Pro 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

More than any other generation, this generation is inundated with mass media culture. Everywhere we turn, we have access to some type of media, whether it is cable, the internet, radio, mp3 players, movies or cell phones with all that stuff on already on them. Cell phones when I was in high school were so big that they almost needed their own seat for the car.

Then - CD player w/ adapters in car, little to no internet

Now - mp3 players, phones, DVR, internet everywhere, MySpace,

Facebook, Xanga

Laughtrack

Soundtrack

The “Normal” View

In medieval times, kings and Lords would take great care to ensure that their castles would be protected from their enemies. I was able to visit one of these such fortresses this summer on a missions trip in Germany. We visited the Fortress at Konigstein. There were steel spikes at the very base of the fortress, there once was a moat and drawbridge at the only entrance. After that, there was a very steep entrance that was very slippery, so slippery that horses and wagons would be pulled up the ramp by a winch and on the way up the ramp there were holes in the ceiling where scalleding hot oil would be poured on the intruders. They did all they could to ensure that the enemy could not gain entrance into the fortress.

In the culture in which we live it is vital for our spiritual wellbeing that we guard the entrances to the castles of our hearts. So often we are very incautious in guarding our hearts. Such carelessness has lead to the destruction of many lives. This morning I would like to take a look at the need for each of use to defend the castles of our hearts.

I. The God Who Knows Our Hearts

- Psalm 44:21

- All-knowing God

- The Pharisees were called whited seplicures. They looked very spiritual, yet Christ new their true spiritual condition

- Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the

one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

II. The Actions That Show Our Hearts

-         Matt 12:34; 15:19; Mark 7:21; Luke 6:45

III. The Mandate to Guard Our Hearts

            - Proverb 4:23

We will one day give an account for all that we fill are minds with.

Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand befores the judgment seat of Christ.

Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.