WEBVTT 00:00:08.029 --> 00:00:11.089 Guard your heart, don't follow it. Our first 00:00:11.089 --> 00:00:13.750 scripture today is Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23 00:00:13.750 --> 00:00:17.250 in the CSB version. It says, guard your heart 00:00:17.250 --> 00:00:20.690 above all else, for it is the source of life. 00:00:21.670 --> 00:00:23.730 The heart doesn't need to be followed, it needs 00:00:23.730 --> 00:00:27.070 to be guided by God's truth. I can always remember 00:00:27.070 --> 00:00:28.929 this quote because it really stuck out to me. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:31.699 The phrase follow your heart means to follow 00:00:31.699 --> 00:00:34.079 how you feel which is not a good message because 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:36.340 when we follow our feelings, We don't get anywhere 00:00:36.340 --> 00:00:38.780 in life our feelings change like the weather 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:40.780 one minute we can feel up and the next we can 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:44.299 feel down Feelings aren't a bad thing It's just 00:00:44.299 --> 00:00:46.479 when we start following our feelings instead 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:49.420 of God. That's when it becomes a problem, because 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:52.219 then our feelings become an idol. The Holy Spirit 00:00:52.219 --> 00:00:55.100 is our guide, not our feelings. And another name 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:57.179 for the Holy Spirit in the Bible is the Spirit 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:00.380 of Truth. So then, when we live by the Spirit 00:01:00.380 --> 00:01:03.119 of Truth and not our feelings, we will be able 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:07.260 to go much farther. In Luke chapter 6 verse 45 00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:14.099 in the ERV version, it says, they say good things. 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:17.659 But those who are evil have hearts full of evil. 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:20.719 And that's why they say things that are evil. 00:01:21.299 --> 00:01:24.400 What people say with their mouths comes from 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:28.420 what fills their hearts. What's in our head is 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:30.719 going to show on our face and in what we say. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:33.900 Whatever is in us is what's going to come out 00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:36.579 of us. Another reason we shouldn't follow our 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:39.840 hearts is because it's flesh and it has fleshly 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:43.640 interests. The heart is also very easily influenced 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:46.379 by whatever we let get into our subconsciousness. 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:48.900 Following our feelings can lead us into depression 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:51.799 and other negative habits. We don't do something 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:55.219 just because we don't feel like doing it. Our 00:01:55.219 --> 00:01:58.359 last scripture is Proverbs chapter 8 verse 33 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:05.569 in the CSB version which says, Don't ignore it. 00:02:05.769 --> 00:02:09.110 Also, in Proverbs 5 verses 7 through 8, it says, 00:02:09.689 --> 00:02:13.629 do not be wise in your own eyes. Humanly wisdom 00:02:13.629 --> 00:02:17.030 is not the same as godly wisdom. And it's dangerous, 00:02:17.189 --> 00:02:19.930 especially when we're taking our quote unquote 00:02:19.930 --> 00:02:23.729 wisdom from the way that we feel. And sometimes 00:02:23.729 --> 00:02:26.310 we're the opposite. Sometimes we know what is 00:02:26.310 --> 00:02:28.689 right, but we ignore it and that's not being 00:02:28.689 --> 00:02:31.689 wise. This scripture is like a reminder especially 00:02:31.689 --> 00:02:34.210 for when we are tempted to live by our feelings 00:02:34.210 --> 00:02:37.229 or not to do something even though it's our responsibility 00:02:37.229 --> 00:02:40.479 just because we don't feel like it. God has the 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:43.580 very best in store for us. And even though we 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:46.139 know it sometimes, our feelings tell us to do 00:02:46.139 --> 00:02:48.539 the opposite just because we feel so comfortable 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:51.539 right now. But because of sin, us humans like 00:02:51.539 --> 00:02:54.439 to gravitate to things that are bad for us instead 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:56.919 of the things that are good for us. Remember, 00:02:57.139 --> 00:02:59.840 feelings change like the weather, but Jesus is 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:03.620 always constant. Constantly good and consistently 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:07.449 good. We can either be weak and continue doing 00:03:07.449 --> 00:03:10.830 wrong because it feels pleasurable Comfortable 00:03:10.830 --> 00:03:14.530 or we can be strong and do right Because that 00:03:14.530 --> 00:03:17.870 is what the Holy Spirit the spirit of truth tells 00:03:17.870 --> 00:03:22.330 us to do our points for today are one The Holy 00:03:22.330 --> 00:03:26.150 Spirit should be our guide not our feelings when 00:03:26.150 --> 00:03:28.210 we allow our feelings to guide us and to lead 00:03:28.210 --> 00:03:31.409 us they become an idol and That's when they need 00:03:31.409 --> 00:03:35.599 to be guided by the spirit of truth 2. Whatever 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.319 is in us is going to come out of us. However 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.240 we feel, if we don't put a hold on our feelings, 00:03:41.740 --> 00:03:44.120 it's going to come out of us. If we feel angry, 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:46.639 we're going to stay and do anything in that moment 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.400 of anger just because we feel angry or we feel 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.319 wronged. If we feel happy, yeah, we'll be happy 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:54.659 for a little bit. But then if we feel sad, we 00:03:54.659 --> 00:03:56.840 want to be depressed. Is that a life we want 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:02.530 to live? No. And lastly, 3. When we guard our 00:04:02.530 --> 00:04:05.310 heart, it's less likely to be influenced by the 00:04:05.310 --> 00:04:08.590 world because we have our eyes fixed on Christ. 00:04:08.949 --> 00:04:12.250 Not how we feel or not what we want to do, but 00:04:12.250 --> 00:04:15.189 just on Christ and what He wants for us, His 00:04:15.189 --> 00:04:20.209 perfect and complete will. So, if you have a 00:04:20.209 --> 00:04:23.189 personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then 00:04:23.189 --> 00:04:25.670 this message will help you. But if you don't 00:04:25.670 --> 00:04:28.089 have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, 00:04:28.310 --> 00:04:30.370 then I invite you to give your heart to the Lord 00:04:30.370 --> 00:04:33.750 today. To receive him into your heart go to Romans 00:04:33.750 --> 00:04:37.310 10 9 through 10 It says that if you confess with 00:04:37.310 --> 00:04:39.949 your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your 00:04:39.949 --> 00:04:42.769 heart that God has raised him from the dead You 00:04:42.769 --> 00:04:45.529 will be saved for with the heart one believes 00:04:45.529 --> 00:04:47.829 unto righteousness and with the mouth confession 00:04:47.829 --> 00:04:52.389 is made unto salvation If you said this prayer 00:04:52.389 --> 00:04:55.509 with sincerity, you are saved and now have eternal 00:04:55.509 --> 00:04:59.350 life with Jesus. You are saved from all your 00:04:59.350 --> 00:05:02.810 sins, past, present, and future sins you may 00:05:02.810 --> 00:05:06.029 commit. Now this truth is not a free pastis in 00:05:06.029 --> 00:05:09.269 any time. Instead, Jesus gives you power over 00:05:09.269 --> 00:05:12.170 all wrong choices and empowers you to spread 00:05:12.170 --> 00:05:16.310 the gospel to others. You are saved forever and 00:05:16.310 --> 00:05:21.740 your name is written in the book of life!