WEBVTT 00:00:00.682 --> 00:00:01.564 for Father's Day. 00:00:01.564 --> 00:00:10.605 It's got a little message for all of our fathers, and if you'd like a sermon outline or like to borrow one of our Bibles to follow along, just raise your hand. 00:00:10.605 --> 00:00:12.210 Our ushers would be happy to help you. 00:00:12.210 --> 00:00:28.091 By the way, at the end we have a special gift for all of our fathers who are here today, so you'll be receiving one of these at the cost of the church. 00:00:28.091 --> 00:00:35.246 Well, how well do you know your father? 00:00:36.441 --> 00:00:48.633 A teacher once posed this math question to her first grade class If you had one dollar and you asked your father for another dollar, how many dollars would you have? 00:00:48.633 --> 00:00:52.871 The little boy raises his hand and says I'd have one dollar. 00:00:52.871 --> 00:00:55.587 The teacher said that's wrong. 00:00:55.587 --> 00:00:56.810 You don't know your math. 00:00:56.810 --> 00:00:59.067 He said you don't know my father. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:15.468 Well, today I'd like to focus on the one thing that determines not only the kind of father we are, but the kind of person we've become. 00:01:15.468 --> 00:01:19.248 That one thing is the condition of our heart. 00:01:19.248 --> 00:01:27.332 While my message today is directed to fathers, it really does apply to anyone who has a heart. 00:01:27.332 --> 00:01:32.000 So hopefully we'll all gain something from this. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:36.891 I'm not referring to our physical heart, although that sometimes needs attention. 00:01:36.891 --> 00:01:40.980 I know some of you have had situations with your physical heart. 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:45.772 But in the Bible our heart refers to who we are as a person. 00:01:45.772 --> 00:01:50.959 Proverbs 23.7 says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:59.573 Or Proverbs 27.19, as in water, face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 00:01:59.573 --> 00:02:07.933 The Scripture goes on to urge all of us to guard our hearts because from our heart flow all the issues of life. 00:02:07.933 --> 00:02:12.268 Proverbs 4.23, above all else, says everything else. 00:02:12.268 --> 00:02:21.853 guard your heart, your inner person, your desires, values, convictions, guarded, for from it flow the springs of life. 00:02:21.853 --> 00:02:23.723 Proverbs 4.23,. 00:02:23.723 --> 00:02:25.727 That verse really does tell us. 00:02:25.727 --> 00:02:37.628 The condition of our inner heart affects everything How we respond to people and our circumstances, what we truly value in life and why we do the things we do. 00:02:37.628 --> 00:02:39.846 All functions of our heart. 00:02:39.846 --> 00:02:51.741 While anyone can make external behavioral changes to their life, unless our heart is involved nothing really changes Really. 00:02:51.741 --> 00:02:54.909 You're still the same person you always were. 00:02:54.909 --> 00:03:03.000 So if you want to become a better person, a better father, we must begin at the core, with our hearts. 00:03:03.381 --> 00:03:08.472 To help us with that, i'm going to go back and look at the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10. 00:03:08.472 --> 00:03:27.407 Mark, chapter 10, we see Jesus teaching on three relationships in our life that are affected by the condition of our heart, our marriage, our children and our relationship to Jesus himself All three very important relationships in our life. 00:03:27.407 --> 00:03:30.933 we see Jesus address in Mark, chapter 10. 00:03:30.933 --> 00:03:33.086 Let me deal with them one at a time. 00:03:33.086 --> 00:03:36.828 The first condition of our heart will affect our marriage. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:50.348 The seeds of divorce are sown long before the certificate is ever written, while the Pharisees were looking for a loophole to get out of their marriage. 00:03:50.348 --> 00:03:52.752 Jesus pinpoints the problem. 00:03:52.752 --> 00:03:57.907 It has nothing to do with externals or personalities. 00:03:57.907 --> 00:04:00.872 It has everything to do with our heart. 00:04:00.872 --> 00:04:03.241 Mark 10, 1-9,. 00:04:04.003 --> 00:04:07.831 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea across the Jordan. 00:04:07.831 --> 00:04:09.099 Again. 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:11.447 Crowds of people came to him, as was his custom. 00:04:11.447 --> 00:04:12.229 He taught them. 00:04:12.229 --> 00:04:17.449 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 00:04:17.449 --> 00:04:20.826 And Jesus said what did Moses command you? 00:04:20.826 --> 00:04:25.949 Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away. 00:04:25.949 --> 00:04:33.632 Well, it was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you that law. 00:04:33.632 --> 00:04:38.000 But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:43.980 For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife And the two will become one flesh. 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:47.000 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.750 Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:59.512 Divorce begins when our hearts specifically here referring to husbands start to grow cold and hard. 00:04:59.512 --> 00:05:13.314 Secular studies have shown that one of the primary indicators of marriage failure is when one spouse starts treating the other with contempt. 00:05:13.314 --> 00:05:16.487 It's a sign of a hard heart. 00:05:16.487 --> 00:05:23.627 You see, instead of working on our problems like the Pharisees, we just want to send them away. 00:05:23.627 --> 00:05:37.531 A hard heart does a whole lot of damage to not only our spiritual life and our marriage, but our entire life. 00:05:37.531 --> 00:05:39.276 That's what we're going to talk about today. 00:05:39.697 --> 00:05:40.959 Proverbs 28, 14,. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.072 How blessed is the man who fears the Lord. 00:05:43.072 --> 00:05:46.237 Fears the Lord always. 00:05:46.237 --> 00:05:50.925 But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 00:05:50.925 --> 00:05:56.678 What are the signs that we may have a hard heart? 00:05:56.678 --> 00:06:01.185 I want you to take this spiritual EKG. 00:06:01.185 --> 00:06:07.416 I took it basically failed it, but I want you to take it. 00:06:07.416 --> 00:06:12.771 Okay, here it is Hardness of heart, ekg, spiritual EKG. 00:06:12.771 --> 00:06:18.019 Hardness of heart has many manifestations, but usually it all begins with pride. 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:23.593 That's where our hardness starts, our pride. 00:06:23.593 --> 00:06:26.576 Proverbs 18, 12,. 00:06:26.576 --> 00:06:35.793 Before destruction, the heart of man is proud, but humility goes before honor. 00:06:35.793 --> 00:06:44.303 So pride, arrogance, stubbornness, all signs of a hard heart. 00:06:44.303 --> 00:06:46.211 You know what else is. 00:06:46.692 --> 00:06:53.644 Hurtful words are a sign of a hard heart, from the words of Jesus in Luke 6.45,. 00:06:53.644 --> 00:07:06.742 He says the good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what's good, and the evil man, out of the evil treasure, brings forth what is evil, for his mouth speaks what is in his heart. 00:07:06.742 --> 00:07:11.314 Hurtful words, pride, hurtful words. 00:07:11.314 --> 00:07:26.271 Another sign on the EKG is unbelief, which means we are trusting in ourselves, our own wisdom, and not spending really any time with the Lord in consulting his wisdom, his word. 00:07:26.271 --> 00:07:28.295 Jeremiah 17.5,. 00:07:28.295 --> 00:07:39.059 Thus says the Lord cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes his flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 00:07:39.059 --> 00:07:42.204 Hebrews 3.12,. 00:07:42.204 --> 00:07:43.711 Take care, brethren. 00:07:43.711 --> 00:07:57.444 He's telling the believers there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God, and we're all in danger of that, based on what's going on inside. 00:07:59.470 --> 00:08:06.343 Well, that leads to the next one on the EKG bitterness, sign of a very hard heart. 00:08:06.343 --> 00:08:11.999 Bitterness, jealousy, selfish ambition all related indicate a hard heart. 00:08:11.999 --> 00:08:13.360 James 3.14,. 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:23.074 If you have bitter jealousy, selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant There's our word pride again and lie against the truth. 00:08:23.074 --> 00:08:33.034 You can't stay in these modes and have any kind of meaningful relationship with anybody. 00:08:36.880 --> 00:08:44.955 Next, on our EKG spiritual EKG, biblical EKG is any unconfessed sin is a sign of a hardened heart. 00:08:44.955 --> 00:08:49.591 You're just holding on to it, not making it right, not confessing it to the Lord. 00:08:49.591 --> 00:08:57.465 You believe you're right, you know it's sin, but you're not going to admit that. 00:08:57.465 --> 00:09:09.442 Psalm 66.18 says if I hold wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear. 00:09:09.442 --> 00:09:20.660 It affects my relationships with the Lord first and with everybody else Finally. 00:09:20.660 --> 00:09:27.917 I'll stop here because it's getting too convicting, at least it was for me. 00:09:29.239 --> 00:09:35.511 The final dial on our hardened heart EKG is a lack of generosity. 00:09:35.511 --> 00:09:46.029 It's a sign of a hardened heart Hording, staying, protecting, and Deuteronomy 15.7. 00:09:46.029 --> 00:10:05.355 Listen to this If there's a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns and your land, which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand from helping your brother. 00:10:05.355 --> 00:10:08.480 So how does your spiritual EKG look so far? 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:15.071 Well, we started with our marriages. 00:10:15.071 --> 00:10:24.304 Heart-heart effects all of our relationships, but we start with our marriage. 00:10:25.870 --> 00:10:32.511 The second thing we see in Mark, chapter 10, is that the condition of our heart will affect also our relationship to children. 00:10:32.511 --> 00:10:38.764 Mark 10 goes right from the marriage relationship to relating to children. 00:10:38.764 --> 00:10:46.083 It's interesting how it just flows through this chapter Marriage, children, jesus, heart. 00:10:46.083 --> 00:10:51.756 Mark 10, 13 to 16,. 00:10:51.756 --> 00:10:57.075 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 00:10:57.075 --> 00:11:02.727 When Jesus saw this he was indignant. 00:11:02.727 --> 00:11:06.575 There weren't too many times in the gospels when Jesus saw this emotion. 00:11:06.575 --> 00:11:17.302 But he said to them Let the children come to me, don't hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 00:11:17.302 --> 00:11:23.063 Truly, i tell you, anyone who doesn't receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. 00:11:23.063 --> 00:11:27.495 He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. 00:11:28.778 --> 00:11:40.033 While the heart is not specifically mentioned in this passage, it can be assumed here from the context, because the heart is the source of all that happens in our relationships. 00:11:40.033 --> 00:11:47.690 Jesus was very upset that he saw his own disciples being treated this way a hindrance, a bother, an obstacle. 00:11:47.690 --> 00:11:54.087 Actions of pushing children away indicate a fundamental heart problem. 00:11:54.087 --> 00:11:59.923 Actions that draw children in reflect a good heart. 00:11:59.923 --> 00:12:02.149 Where God's spirit is leading. 00:12:02.269 --> 00:12:13.895 In fact, the last book of the Old Testament, god is concerned about the hearts of fathers and children, how that relationship is going. 00:12:13.895 --> 00:12:28.485 In Malachi 4, verse 6, when Elijah comes, says he will restore the hearts of fathers to their children so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse. 00:12:28.485 --> 00:12:30.313 God takes this very seriously. 00:12:30.313 --> 00:12:36.960 But notice our relationships, even with our children, are a function of our heart. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:44.590 In hard hearts are no place in any relationship There's. 00:12:44.590 --> 00:12:50.879 Your kids need to know in verbal and demonstrable ways that you love them unconditionally. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:13:12.895 I know that's hard sometimes because they're going to do stuff that's going to really shake you, but they need to know that even if they fail miserably, you will always be there to help pick up the pieces afterwards. 00:13:12.895 --> 00:13:15.875 That's unconditional love. 00:13:15.875 --> 00:13:21.796 You don't have to prove what they do, you have to love them to the very end. 00:13:21.796 --> 00:13:31.857 Third relationship affected by the condition of our heart we see in Mark 10 is next our relationship to Christ as his disciple. 00:13:31.857 --> 00:13:35.177 Mark 10, 17-31. 00:13:35.929 --> 00:13:40.461 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 00:13:40.461 --> 00:13:44.539 Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:46.572 Why do you call me good? 00:13:46.572 --> 00:13:50.957 No one is good except God alone. 00:13:50.957 --> 00:13:58.162 You know the commandments You shall not murder, shall not commit adultery, not steal or give false testimony. 00:13:58.162 --> 00:14:03.232 You shall not defraud and honor your father or mother, teacher. 00:14:03.232 --> 00:14:05.418 All these I've kept since I was a boy. 00:14:05.418 --> 00:14:09.514 Just looked at him and loved him. 00:14:09.514 --> 00:14:21.197 One thing you lack Go, sell everything you have, give it to the poor and you'll have treasure in heaven, and then come and follow me. 00:14:21.197 --> 00:14:26.900 At this the man's face fell. 00:14:26.900 --> 00:14:30.576 He went away sad because he was very rich. 00:14:30.576 --> 00:14:36.034 Am I rich or Jesus? 00:14:38.429 --> 00:14:46.998 While trying to project an image of a commitment to God in his life by following the letter of the law, jesus quickly exposed the true condition of his heart. 00:14:46.998 --> 00:14:52.552 Very quickly And really. 00:14:52.552 --> 00:15:06.115 The true nature of a person's heart is exposed when confronted with a simple choice Which love in your life trumps all others, jesus or blank? 00:15:06.115 --> 00:15:08.852 That's what this man is facing. 00:15:08.852 --> 00:15:13.131 What's really in your heart, your true heart? 00:15:13.131 --> 00:15:17.215 What would you give everything else for? 00:15:20.029 --> 00:15:32.821 Jesus said in Matthew 6, 24, no one can serve two masters or love two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he'll be devoted to the one and despise the other. 00:15:32.821 --> 00:15:34.677 He can only serve God and wealth. 00:15:34.677 --> 00:15:37.775 He can only serve one God. 00:15:37.775 --> 00:15:51.993 A heart for God that is partial and not whole reflects a serious heart problem when it comes to a relationship with God, because he's an all or nothing God. 00:15:51.993 --> 00:16:02.830 He tolerates no rivals, never did. 00:16:02.830 --> 00:16:05.255 You shall have no other God before him. 00:16:05.255 --> 00:16:16.596 Jesus made that clear too in the great commandment, the first and greatest Matthew 22, 36, 38. 00:16:16.596 --> 00:16:24.111 He said to him you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind. 00:16:24.111 --> 00:16:31.835 So what do you love more, jesus or blank? 00:16:31.835 --> 00:16:36.596 What is your heart telling you? 00:16:36.596 --> 00:16:48.392 The truth is, when our heart for God is healthy, pretty much all other relationships are going to be healthy. 00:16:48.392 --> 00:16:52.498 That's where it really has to start a relationship with God. 00:16:53.070 --> 00:17:02.993 In fact, there was a point in the Old Testament Moses' ministry to the children of Israel came out of Egypt Before they go into the Promised Land. 00:17:02.993 --> 00:17:07.122 The people are all excited. 00:17:07.122 --> 00:17:11.141 The generation that didn't believe God passed away. 00:17:11.141 --> 00:17:17.375 Now their children, grandchildren, are ready to go into the Promised Land and they make commitment to the Lord. 00:17:17.375 --> 00:17:19.375 We're going to follow you just like we did today. 00:17:19.375 --> 00:17:22.913 You are holy. 00:17:22.913 --> 00:17:27.019 No other God, as for me in my house, will serve the Lord. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:35.156 That's what they're doing right before they go in, and God's listening to them, and you know what he says doing it with me, 529. 00:17:35.156 --> 00:17:45.537 Oh, that they had such a heart in them always that they would fear me and keep all my commandments, that it would be well with them and their sons forever. 00:17:45.537 --> 00:17:49.135 Nothing else would be all right. 00:17:54.087 --> 00:18:00.275 Well, how can we cultivate a healthy heart? 00:18:00.275 --> 00:18:03.638 So I want to go to next. 00:18:03.638 --> 00:18:11.115 We need to understand, first of all, that only God can purify, cleanse and transform hearts. 00:18:11.115 --> 00:18:18.393 We can't change anybody's heart We can't even change our own really But he can. 00:18:18.393 --> 00:18:21.837 We see it in the Scripture. 00:18:21.837 --> 00:18:22.960 He turns hearts. 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:33.787 But the Scriptures really do say that there are things we can do that will cultivate a healthy heart in our lives. 00:18:33.787 --> 00:18:41.117 A healthy heart starts with our primary relationship to God. 00:18:41.117 --> 00:18:44.648 If that's right, like I said, everything else is going to be okay. 00:18:44.648 --> 00:18:54.894 So here are four important healthy heart choices we must make regularly to watch over and guard our heart with all diligence. 00:18:55.955 --> 00:19:01.832 First, we've got to keep our heart clean through confession of our sin to God. 00:19:01.832 --> 00:19:02.634 Don't wait. 00:19:02.634 --> 00:19:11.256 If you know you've sinned, you need to come before God and confess it, because the promise is 1 John 1.9,. 00:19:11.256 --> 00:19:17.535 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:19:17.535 --> 00:19:29.740 If you remember, that's a very important verse, because God says if you confess your sins, i am faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.924 What's interesting? 00:19:30.924 --> 00:19:31.586 he doesn't say. 00:19:31.586 --> 00:19:36.455 It doesn't say God is faithful and merciful to forgive your sins. 00:19:36.455 --> 00:19:39.768 He's faithful and just Why? 00:19:39.768 --> 00:19:44.374 Why does it say because Jesus already died for your sins and just. 00:19:44.374 --> 00:19:50.307 It'd be unjust to punish both of you. 00:19:50.307 --> 00:19:55.896 Anyway, keep your heart clean through confession of sin. 00:19:55.997 --> 00:20:01.131 Second, we must keep our heart strong through prayer to God. 00:20:01.131 --> 00:20:06.559 A vital prayer life is essential for a healthy heart. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.747 Luke 18.1,. 00:20:07.747 --> 00:20:10.673 This is something Jesus was concerned about with his disciples. 00:20:10.673 --> 00:20:15.106 Here's how he says it Luke 18.1,. 00:20:15.106 --> 00:20:23.605 He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not lose heart. 00:20:23.605 --> 00:20:25.988 Lose, their heart becomes weak. 00:20:25.988 --> 00:20:38.063 Don't sacrifice your prayer life to God. 00:20:38.063 --> 00:20:40.726 Third, want a healthy heart. 00:20:40.726 --> 00:20:44.912 We must keep our heart tender and soft through humility. 00:20:44.912 --> 00:20:52.967 I'm telling you generosity and serving others. 00:20:52.967 --> 00:20:55.210 A tender heart. 00:21:00.276 --> 00:21:03.440 I'm going to read a passage Luke 11.39 to 41. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:06.488 I've always found very interesting. 00:21:06.488 --> 00:21:17.528 He's talking to very hard-hearted religious people, religious leaders, the Pharisees. 00:21:17.528 --> 00:21:28.211 He's trying to get them to see all your externals are fantastic, but you're not dealing with your heart. 00:21:28.211 --> 00:21:32.097 This is just amazing. 00:21:32.097 --> 00:21:33.079 He gives them. 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:35.826 You want to really change your heart? 00:21:35.826 --> 00:21:37.388 Let me show you how you do it. 00:21:37.388 --> 00:21:40.315 Here's what he says Luke 11.39 to 41. 00:21:40.315 --> 00:21:46.598 The Lord said to him Now you, pharisees, clean the outside of the cup and platter. 00:21:46.598 --> 00:21:56.438 I mean, they're all religious and external, their image is great, they're very holy and religious, but you know what? 00:21:56.438 --> 00:22:01.148 Inside you, you're full of robbery, wickedness. 00:22:01.148 --> 00:22:04.013 You foolish ones. 00:22:04.013 --> 00:22:08.445 Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 00:22:08.445 --> 00:22:18.597 Then he gives them the how to clean the inside. 00:22:18.597 --> 00:22:21.240 I've always found this fascinating. 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:33.540 He says but give that which is within as charity, and then all things will be clean for you inside. 00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:34.425 Outside. 00:22:34.987 --> 00:22:45.465 What he's saying is don't underestimate the power of generosity to do a deep cleansing in your heart. 00:22:45.465 --> 00:22:53.678 Give till it hurts, don't hold back. 00:22:53.678 --> 00:22:57.782 It does something to our heart. 00:22:57.782 --> 00:23:04.434 It's the one place where Jesus actually says you want to know how to really help your heart be healthy. 00:23:04.434 --> 00:23:13.740 Give, give it with charity means I expect nothing in return from God or anybody outside. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.701 Nothing. 00:23:14.701 --> 00:23:21.851 Charity I'm giving it away Has a powerful effect in a person's heart. 00:23:21.851 --> 00:23:42.881 It's a main line See kind of hinted at before in heart problems deep inside, selfishness, pride, lack of generosity, all right. 00:23:42.961 --> 00:23:51.229 Finally, for health, here we must keep our heart pure and genuine through two things I think the scriptures are clear. 00:23:51.229 --> 00:23:57.646 First of all, make sure our hearts are totally surrendered to our devotion to Jesus Christ. 00:23:57.646 --> 00:24:02.195 Matthew 1129,. 00:24:02.195 --> 00:24:05.863 Jesus said take my yoke upon you and learn from me. 00:24:05.863 --> 00:24:14.064 Now when he says take my yoke, he says when you get in my yoke, picture an oxen with this harnessing thing on. 00:24:14.064 --> 00:24:16.651 That's a yoke, he's tied into that. 00:24:16.651 --> 00:24:22.065 Well, the oxen is not directing things anymore, he's under the submission. 00:24:22.065 --> 00:24:25.675 He's in submission to the one who's driving the cart. 00:24:25.675 --> 00:24:27.520 That's what he means. 00:24:27.520 --> 00:24:28.805 Take my yoke on you. 00:24:28.805 --> 00:24:42.267 Listen to me, obey me, give me permission to rule your life, because you know why. 00:24:42.267 --> 00:24:51.960 I'm gentle, i'm not going to demean and roughshod over where I lead you and direct you. 00:24:51.960 --> 00:25:00.834 I'm humble in heart And you're going to find rest for your souls. 00:25:00.834 --> 00:25:10.839 So, surrendering to Christ absolutely primary in beginning to have a healthy relationship, starting with the Lord. 00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:21.117 And second, to keep that going, we must keep our heart pure and genuine through a total commitment to know and internalize God's Word in our life. 00:25:21.117 --> 00:25:25.048 Psalm 3731,. 00:25:25.048 --> 00:25:26.592 The law of his God is in his heart. 00:25:26.592 --> 00:25:28.496 His steps don't slip. 00:25:28.496 --> 00:25:31.308 Psalm 119, 9 and 11. 00:25:31.308 --> 00:25:34.256 I mean this is cover to cover. 00:25:35.325 --> 00:25:44.440 The word of God has a powerful, powerful effect in keeping our hearts healthy, especially in our relationship to the Lord. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:49.833 How can a young man keep his way pure By keeping it according to your word? 00:25:49.833 --> 00:25:52.477 with all my heart I've sought you. 00:25:52.477 --> 00:25:59.211 Don't let me wander from your commandments, your word, your word. 00:25:59.211 --> 00:26:08.913 I've treasured in my heart that I might not sin against you And I love what Jesus said in the parable of the seed and sowers. 00:26:08.913 --> 00:26:13.450 Where the seed is the Word of God, he says Luke 8.15,. 00:26:13.450 --> 00:26:15.335 But the seed in the good soil. 00:26:15.335 --> 00:26:24.156 These are the ones who've heard the word of God in an honest and good, healthy heart. 00:26:24.156 --> 00:26:38.767 When they hear it, or they read it or they study it, they hold it fast, they're internalizing it And guess what? 00:26:38.767 --> 00:26:42.336 They bear fruit with perseverance. 00:26:42.336 --> 00:26:45.429 What comes out of their life is wonderful. 00:26:45.429 --> 00:26:52.376 But if you have a hard heart, i'm telling you what comes out of your life isn't so wonderful. 00:26:52.376 --> 00:26:57.087 It's very crucial. 00:26:57.087 --> 00:27:14.615 The condition of our heart, of hearts, our inner person, determines the kind of person we are, And the condition of our heart affects everything, especially relationships in our life Our spouse, our children, our God Again, proverbs 4.23,. 00:27:14.615 --> 00:27:22.635 Above all else, above everything else, watch over your heart, for from it flow the springs of life. 00:27:22.635 --> 00:27:34.372 How's your heart When I did this study and I did my own spiritual EKG. 00:27:34.951 --> 00:27:35.814 I had some work to do. 00:27:35.814 --> 00:27:48.211 I had to remind myself okay, i see that and I need to make some healthy heart choices. 00:27:48.211 --> 00:27:50.712 I want you to do that too. 00:27:50.712 --> 00:27:55.116 I urge you to do two things, especially dads. 00:27:55.116 --> 00:27:57.558 First, check your heart. 00:27:57.558 --> 00:28:04.050 Don't assume everything's okay on the outside. 00:28:04.050 --> 00:28:05.973 Everything's okay because it's not. 00:28:05.973 --> 00:28:09.746 Look at the heart. 00:28:09.746 --> 00:28:12.170 He evaluates based on your heart. 00:28:12.170 --> 00:28:14.054 He listens to your heart. 00:28:14.054 --> 00:28:18.425 Check your heart. 00:28:18.425 --> 00:28:21.009 Let God do a divine EKG. 00:28:21.009 --> 00:28:33.892 I mean you just go to the Lord in a humble, broken listening posture And you pray what David did in Psalm 139, 23, and 24. 00:28:33.892 --> 00:28:44.173 Search me, oh God, and know my heart, try me, know my anxious thoughts, see if there's any hurtful way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. 00:28:44.173 --> 00:28:44.976 What do I need to do? 00:28:44.976 --> 00:28:49.009 Do I need to ask somebody for forgiveness? 00:28:49.009 --> 00:28:51.093 Do I need to forgive somebody? 00:28:51.093 --> 00:28:55.380 Do I need to surrender something to you completely? 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:56.787 I may need to hold it in my heart. 00:28:56.787 --> 00:29:05.298 What do you want me to do To have a healthy heart that beats with yours? 00:29:05.298 --> 00:29:13.692 Second thing based on some of these suggestions, begin to cultivate healthy heart choices and habits. 00:29:13.692 --> 00:29:17.756 Confession of sin We sin every day. 00:29:17.756 --> 00:29:28.355 Prayer I'll have more to say about prayer in a few weeks, but I'm not going to take time today. 00:29:29.265 --> 00:29:34.751 Humility and generosity I used to think early on in my ministry. 00:29:34.751 --> 00:29:45.409 I confess I was one proud dude, made a lot of mistakes And I thought I got to be strong. 00:29:45.409 --> 00:30:05.333 Because strength, i don't want to be weak, and God taught me the joy of just Lord. 00:30:05.333 --> 00:30:08.476 I got nothing I don't have. 00:30:08.476 --> 00:30:10.881 There's nothing good in me except you. 00:30:10.881 --> 00:30:28.549 I never want to assume or think that my pride, just making me feel strong, is better than what I can have with you And the joy you give me when I humble myself. 00:30:28.549 --> 00:30:40.011 Because the scripture says those who humble themselves he gives grace and the proud he casts down. 00:30:40.011 --> 00:30:51.833 It's a repeated refrain in the scripture Surrender to Jesus, immerse yourself in the word of God. 00:30:51.833 --> 00:30:56.747 All healthy heart habits Okay, in the best place to begin. 00:30:56.747 --> 00:31:01.603 Like I said, it all is going to focus on our relationship with God First and foremost. 00:31:01.603 --> 00:31:05.432 If that's right, more than likely all other relationships are going to be okay. 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:24.232 A healthy heart choice in our relationship with God for everyone begins by believing in Jesus, god's son, who died for our sins, then rose again to give life to everyone who believes. 00:31:24.232 --> 00:31:30.667 He comes then and inhabits our hearts by faith in the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:30.667 --> 00:31:33.252 You can read about it in Galatians 4. 00:31:33.252 --> 00:31:37.103 But let me read Ephesians 3. 00:31:37.103 --> 00:31:41.090 This is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. 00:31:41.090 --> 00:32:19.748 He says for this reason, i bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with the power through his spirit in the inner man, your heart, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, maybe able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 00:32:20.569 --> 00:32:40.016 That's my prayer, for not only me but for you, for our entire church be filled up with the fullness of God, christ dwelling in our hearts and the fruit of that coming out of our mouths, out of our lives Healthy hearts. 00:32:40.016 --> 00:32:41.301 Let's pray, father. 00:32:41.301 --> 00:32:42.425 Thank you today. 00:32:42.425 --> 00:32:58.628 For all the fathers who are here today, and even those who may be watching online, i ask you to watch over them, watch over us, ask for your blessing in their marriages and families, your protection over them. 00:32:58.628 --> 00:33:02.599 I know the enemy, the devil wants to destroy it. 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:11.031 All Enemy loves hard hearts and contempt. 00:33:11.031 --> 00:33:24.974 But I thank you most of all that through faith in Jesus, we can call you our Father And we appeal to you today, as Abba Father, to examine our hearts. 00:33:24.974 --> 00:33:29.587 Show us what we need, show us where we miss the mark, please. 00:33:29.587 --> 00:33:30.449 We ask you. 00:33:30.449 --> 00:33:32.513 You can do anything. 00:33:32.513 --> 00:33:36.330 You can give us a right heart and lead us in the way everlasting. 00:33:36.330 --> 00:33:40.049 I pray for this in Jesus' name, amen.