12/24/2004 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of YAHWEH is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Tonight we are going to examine some scriptures about the heart of man

This is a very serious topic.. the condition of our heart determines our salvation

Oftentimes, a person uses the condition of their heart as an excuse to continue in error

For instance, when I share the truth that the Father's name really isn't "The LORD", I will often get the reply, "Well, He knows my heart"

Or when I share the truth that Christmas has its roots in Idolatry.. I will hear, "Well, He knows in my heart that I'm not worshiping an idol"

Well, they are right about one thing.. Yahweh does know our heart!

He knows whether we are seeking to please Him, or please man

The word 'heart' is found in scripture 1028 times. The sheer number of times that the heart is mentioned shows its importance.

How important is the state of our heart?

Consider that an evil heart caused Yahweh to destroy the entire world with the flood:

Genesis 6:5 - And Elohim saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

So yes the entire human race was destroyed because the thoughts of men's hearts were evil. This grieved Yahweh in His 'heart'

Genesis 6:6 - And it repented YAHWEH that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

After destroying the flood, Yahweh spoke in His heart:

Genesis 8:20 - And Noah builded an altar unto YAHWEH; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 8:21 - And YAHWEH smelled a sweet savour; and YAHWEH said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

So even from the very beginning Yahweh knew that the imagination of man's heart is evil even from his youth.

Psalms 58:3 - The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

The heart might be best described as the 'inner man'. From it flow the issues of life:

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

What does it mean to keep one's heart?

We are told to keep it with all diligence

This same Hebrew word that is translated "Keep" in the above verse is translated "Watchmen" and "Guard" in other places.

It means to guard, observe and watch over it.

As Yahweh has said, the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. We know that doing sin/evil is transgressing the law of Yahweh. How can we guard against transgression and an evil heart?

Psalms 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Yes, we must be sure that His word is in our heart, that we might avoid going against it.

When His word is in us, we receive the wisdom necessary to make righteous decisions on the issues of life.

People today like to say that the law of Yahweh is in their heart

And they use this as an excuse to disobey Yahweh's law

To this I say, "If the law of Yahweh is in your heart, should it not reflect on the outer layer an obedience to His Torah/Law?"

Indeed it should

From the heart can come all sorts of excuses.. and all sorts of wickedness:

Matthew 15:17 - Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

Matthew 15:18 - But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Matthew 15:19 - For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Matthew 15:20 - These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

And where our treasures are, there our heart will be

Though there are exceptions to this, to this I might add... "Where our heart is, there our time will also be".

Where do you willingly spend your time? There is where your heart likely is

Yahushua said

Luke 12:32 - Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:33 - Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

What about a sinful tongue? Where is the source of it?

A sinful heart

Matthew 12:34 - O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:35 - A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 12:36 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Brethren, lets be sure to guard our hearts against the things that are evil and let good things flow out of our lips, from a pure heart. If we guard our heart, the words we speak can then be right and pure.

If we let all sorts of evil be sown into our hearts and minds, our words will be difficult to control in a righteous way.

As Yahushua said, our words manifest what is in our heart

Brethren, let's not allow any enemy enter in our hearts and minds

Surround your heart with a wall.. forbidding any evil from entering in

Any influence that might destroy.. take it captive and cast it out.

This is where the battleground is!

2Corinthians 10:3 - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

2Corinthians 10:4 - for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

2Corinthians 10:5 - Destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of YAHWEH, taking every thought captive to the obedience of the Messiah,

2Corinthians 10:6 - and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

We realize that there is a battle brethren

We see that the lines are drawn

But it is not a battle of the flesh

It is a battle that occurs within each one of us.

On which side will be be?

The adversary and his servants have chosen their side..to advance the kingdom of darkness

We have a choice daily to let our decisions advance the kingdom of Yahweh, or the kingdom of darkness

Whenever we choose to sin, we choose to advance the kingdom of darkness

But when we choose to overcome and conquer sin, we choose to advance the kingdom of light.. and we show Yahweh that we are choosing His side

So again, on which side will we be?

Will we destroy the enemy before he even gets a chance to cross the line?

Or will we let the enemy into our camps/homes/minds and then try to fight?

Let's take captive every thought and bring it into subjection to Messiah

A lot of times it is difficult to recognize which thoughts are not good

We need His word in our hearts to expose the evil

We cannot always see whatever wickedness there is in the heart of man, from Yahweh it is laid bare, open and is seen by Him

Psalms 44:20 - If we have forgotten the name of our Elohim, or stretched out our hands to a strange el;

Psalms 44:21 - Shall not Elohim search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

and again..

Proverbs 24:12 - If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

and again..

Proverbs 5:21 - For the ways of man are before the eyes of YAHWEH, and he pondereth all his goings.

and again..

Proverbs 21:2 - Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but YAHWEH pondereth the hearts.

and yet again..

1Samuel 16:7 - But YAHWEH said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for YAHWEH seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but YAHWEH looketh on the heart.

So yes, Yahweh does know the heart!

What is He doing with what He sees and knows?

He is testing it, brethren

Jeremiah 20:12 - But, O YAHWEH of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

He is testing it also.. to see in whom we will trust

Jeremiah 17:5 - Thus saith YAHWEH; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from YAHWEH.

Jeremiah 17:6 - For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

Jeremiah 17:7 - Blessed is the man that trusteth in YAHWEH, and whose hope YAHWEH is.

Jeremiah 17:8 - For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:10 - I YAHWEH search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Many are following and trusting in man to give them the truth they need for salvation. They attend "services" where people read the scriptures for them and tell them what it means.. and they are paid quite well

But we ought to look to Yahweh.. and trust in Him

Man will fail you.. but Yahweh will never fail you

Yahweh wants to know who is #1?

Is there any elohim before Him?

Yahweh tests the heart of the righteous. Yahweh knows AND searches our heart. He knows our every thought...and why we think them.

Psalms 139:1 - O YAHWEH, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Psalms 139:2 - Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Is there any sin in your life that only you know about?

The answer is no

Because Yahweh knows about it

Therefore confess to Him what He already knows and ask Him to help!

To confess means to agree with

Psalms 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto YAHWEH; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

1John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He is very willing, but we must be humble in heart... and not make excuses for our wrongs

Therefore, let's especially guard our heart against pride. Yahweh can't endure it!

Proverbs 16:5 - Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to YAHWEH: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Psalms 101:5 - Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

Pride keeps us from accepting Yahweh... and Yahweh from accepting us.

James 4:6 - But He gives more favour. Therefore He says: "YAHWEH resists the proud, but gives favour to the humble."

The last thing we need is for Yahweh to resist us, yes?

We won't win

Humility is one important thing that seperated Moshe, David and the disciples from all others.

A proud heart is one of the things that kept the spiritual leaders in Yahshua's day from accepting Him. Let's guard our hearts against pride!

Let's also guard our hearts against wrongful lusts

2Timothy 2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on YAHWEH out of a pure heart.

The internet is a dangerous place for a lustful heart

For any regular internet user, spam with pornography inevitably ends up in the email box

Neilsen ratings show that 1 out of 4 internet users visit adult web sites

Years ago, adult book shops were in some raunchy corner of town and people would go in with their faces covered

Now with the internet, the world's largest porn shop is accessible in your own home!

I believe the internet will probably be (if it isn't already) the single biggest tool of the adversary to draw men into fornication and adultery

Brethren, be on guard against such temptations. Many a brother has fallen into the traps

Don't even open the door. Set up or buy a filter. Change email addresses if need be. Do whatever it takes to be clean.

Matthew 5:27 - Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Matthew 5:28 - But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In saying this, Yahushua declared that sinning in our hearts is just like sinning in the flesh

We should do anything in our hearts that we would know is wrong to do in the physical

Correction: We should NOT do anything in our hearts that we would know is wrong to do in the physical

Nearly all sin begins in the heart. We must guard our hearts against lust! Lust for ANY sin.

Video games are a source of this also

Games where you go around murdering/killing others is not of Yahweh

But the world eats up the violence and cannot get enough of it

2Peter 2:14 - having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and [are] accursed children.

2Peter 2:15 - They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2Peter 2:16 - but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

2Peter 2:17 - These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Ephesians 4:17 - This I say, therefore, and testify in YAHWEH, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

Ephesians 4:18 - having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of Elohim, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

We also must guard our hearts against blindness. This is what sin leads to!

If we have a blind heart, then our heart can surely deceive us.

Many say in this day and age, "I'll just follow my heart"

but Yahweh says

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Unless our heart is full of faith and the words of Yahweh our Elohim, it surely can deceive us!

We need the light of Messiah, the light of Yahweh's word to shine in our hearts.. that we might walk in the light and not be blinded

But there are so many who are listening to their hearts but are not listening to Yahweh's word through His Spirit!

Yahweh's Spirit leads us to obedience to His words, and His words ARE Spirit

John 6:63 - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Beware ye who excuse away sin by saying "Oh He knows my heart!"

YES

He does!

And because of that, some people ought to be shaking in their shoes!!!

Isaiah 66:5 - Hear the word of YAHWEH, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let YAHWEH be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

Proverbs 13:13 - Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Let's invite His word (All of it, not just OT or not just NT) into our hearts to expose any evil way in us

And let's have the right attitude when it is exposed

Isaiah 66:1 - Thus saith YAHWEH, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Isaiah 66:2 - For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith YAHWEH: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Why do we have trials?

Deuteronomy 8:2 - And thou shalt remember all the way which YAHWEH thy Elohim led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

We, like the children of Israel are in the wilderness, a time of testing and Yahweh wants to know the answer to this question

Will we love Him, believe Him and keep His commandments?

His word asks certain things of us

Yahweh doesn't want us to look at His word and then decide whether or not it matters depending on our heart. He wrote these words so that we would learn how to love HIM!

David was a man after Yahweh's own heart. What was His attitude toward Yahweh's testings?

This was a man who so desired to obey the will of Yahweh that He ASKED Yahweh to try and test his heart

Psalms 26:2 - Examine me, O YAHWEH, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

Psalms 139:23 - Search me, O El, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Psalms 139:24 - And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

There isn't anything in this world hanging onto brethren.. let's just open our heart to Yahweh and let Him reveal to us our own sin.

And when it is exposed.. let's confess and forsake it.. then Yahweh will do what David asked Him to do

Psalms 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim; and renew a right spirit within me.

Do we desire a clean heart?

As David knew, only Yahweh can truly cleanse the heart.

Proverbs 20:9 - Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Yahweh can cleanse our hearts of its wickedness and give us a new heart! HalleluYah!!

Ezekiel 36:25 - Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Ezekiel 36:26 - A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Once all transgression and sin is exposed and a new heart is given, His Spirit is given..

Will this Spirit lead us to disobedience again?

Will this Spirit guide us away from observing the Torah?

Will this Spirit cause us to think we have a license to disobey Yahweh's laws and statutes which He commanded?

Let's read the next verse

Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Will we? Let His Spirit freely guide you to do so

If we are in Yahushua, our hearts are full of light

2Corinthians 4:6 - For YAHWEH, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of YAHWEH in the face of Yahushua the Messiah.

Through Yahushua of course, for only then can we see Yahweh:

Matthew 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see YAHWEH.

We must give Yahweh our hearts! We must perfect our hearts!

Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH is our Elohim, YAHWEH is one:

Deuteronomy 6:5 - And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Love Him.. with ALL THINE HEART

1Kings 8:61 - Let your heart therefore be perfect with YAHWEH our Elohim, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

We can ask Yahweh to perfect our hearts. We just need to apply our hearts to wisdom

Psalms 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

We must also have a tender heart toward others when they sin.. knowing that we have been forgiven much

Ephesians 4:32 - And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as YAHWEH in the Messiah forgave you.

We're all in this same walk, are we not? We are all seeking to overcome sin. Some sin I might see in another, they may not see. Some sin one might see in me, I might not see. The goal is a clean heart.. and the prize is the high calling in the Master Yahushua!

The important thing is that we are all seeking to overcome sin and we are all seeking Yahweh's word to find other ways we might be walking less than perfectly

Let's do so.. let's incline our heart unto His testimonies:

Psalms 119:36 - Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

..praying that our hearts are directed into the love of Yahweh and patience..

2Thessalonians 3:5 - And the Master direct your hearts into the love of YAHWEH, and into the patient waiting for the Messiah.

..that our hearts may not be hardened..

Psalms 95:8 - Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

and not even regarding any sins in our heart!

Psalms 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, YAHWEH will not hear me:

Psalms 66:19 - But verily Elohim hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

Also being wary of our hearts being deceived..

Deuteronomy 11:16 - Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other elohim, and worship them;

Knowing that we should not trust in it

Proverbs 28:26 - He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

But as we read earlier, most of all we must love Yahweh with all that is in our heart:

Matthew 22:36 - Rabbi, which is the great commandment in the law?

Matthew 22:37 - Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Yahushua is quoting from the Torah scripture we read earlier:

Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH is our Elohim, YAHWEH is one:

Deuteronomy 6:5 - And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 6:6 - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

His word is to be in our heart. Let's also place them in the hearts of our children...

Deuteronomy 6:7 - And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

For we know that they will need the word of Yahweh in their heart to overcome sin.. and the evil tendencies of the heart they were born with

Deuteronomy 6:8 - And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:9 - And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

The Word of Yahweh brings us faith, and if we believe with all our heart, we will be saved:

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Master Yahushua, and shalt believe in thine heart that Elohim hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Therefore, let's love Him, receive Yahushua, keep His law and serve Him with all our heart!

Deuteronomy 11:13 - And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love YAHWEH your Elohim, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

...then the blessings will come

Let's walk before Him in TRUTH with all our heart...and trust Him with all our heart, not our own understanding

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in YAHWEH with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Is it yet clear that Yahweh wants ALL OUR HEART?? HalleluYah! Let's give it all to Him! Let's lay it all out before Him.. He sees it all anyway, yes?

If we have failed, Yahweh will forgive if we return to Him with 'all our heart!'

2Chronicles 6:38 - If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

(For Yahweh will not despise a heart that is broken and contrite)

2Chronicles 6:39 - Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

Psalms 51:17 - The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise.

Yahweh says He will have mercy on us. We can believe Him

Therefore, we must as servants of Yahweh have mercy on others, forgiving our brother from our heart:

Matthew 18:34 - And his master was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Matthew 18:35 - So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

We must forgive from our hearts!

And so let us love one another and forgive one another with a pure heart

And let's guard our hearts against any failures in these areas

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

Proverbs 4:24 - Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Proverbs 4:25 - Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Proverbs 4:27 - Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Let's ponder the path set before us and let our eyes look straight ahead on the narrow path. For in doing so we guard and keep our hearts from the broad path of the wicked.

Let's keep our eyes focused on that narrow path!

Turn not to the right or to the left!

Matthew 7:13 - Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Matthew 7:14 - Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Let's keep our eyes on the things which profit, and let not our eyes ponder the things which profit not.

Many a heart has been defiled through what he has seen through the eyes

Proverbs 27:20 - Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Let not that which will never satisfy be your guide.. nor a breach in the wall that protects your heart

Let's continually guard and keep our hearts purified..sanctified

clean

full of love

full of light

and full of truth

trusting in Yahweh with all our heart

and keeping our eyes focused on Yahweh....our Redeemer

our Rock

May Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!