Sunday Sermon notes

The Heart
Proverbs 16:1-9

Much is made about the heart within the pages of scripture. In fact, the Bible reveals not only the heart of man but the heart of God and how he cares and loves for his creation. But it is in the study and examination of the heart that we often find ourselves confused, disturbed, upset, or at a loss. Scripture does not paint a very pretty picture of the heart of man does it? I believe this is why we tend to skim over much of scripture. This is why we don’t hold Scripture in as high a regard as we ought to. This is why our affections and devotion not just to scripture, but to God are lacking. I believe this, because in order to have a high view of scripture, to hold the LORD God uppermost in our affections we must not just understand but truly know, feel, live out, and be convicted almost daily of the state of our heart and humble ourselves and be low before the glory of God because of the realization of sin that is within us.

I want to point at the major themes of the heart this morning. You see, it is from studying the heart from a Biblical viewpoint that we find how truly merciful and gracious God’s heart is. We discover the ultimate plan and will of God. In order to understand much of what Proverbs is teaching us, because of the frequent mentioning of the heart, we must understand this or be lost in vague obscurity.


1. The heart is evil.
Genesis 6:5, 8:21 Jeremiah 17:9

The heart desires to be God. The first sin was committed by eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but the root of that sin was the lie Satan told that “you will be like God.” Expound on the fruit and sin.

2. We are commanded to love God with all our heart.
6 passages in Deuteronomy tell us to love God with all our heart
Great Commandment

What does it mean to love God?
- We love our brother 1 John 4:19-21
- We keep God’s command 1 John 5:3 2 John 1:6
This poses a problem or hurdle for us to cross. How can an evil deceitful heart love God? Our heart needs to change doesn’t it.

3. God changes our heart.
Ezekiel 36:26

On my own, I can not change my heart. I can change behaviors and appearances but the core is still rotten.

Apple Tree and Orange Tree wounds=religious self righteousness
How does God change our heart? The Gospel of Jesus Christ!

- Because of His great love for us he sent His one and only Son to die for your sin.

- By being the sinless sacrifice, he took our place on the cross.

- He became not only sin in general, but your sin specifically.

- He took the judgment and penalty (death) in order that you might have life and have life abundantly in fellowship with God the Father.

- We teach and preach this message of the Gospel in order that hearts be changed and continue to be changed.

- We preach the Gospel to promote holiness, Godly living, Biblically solid/grounded families and churches.

- We preach because we once used to walk according to the sinful lusts and desires of this world.

- We preach, teach and warn others because we realize the last truth of the heart.

4. God knows, looks at, and judges the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 – looks
Acts 15:8 – knows
Matthew 5:8 – pure in heart see God


As we go back to the passage this morning, we must acknowledge verse 4 (Prov 16:4). The Lord has made everything according to it’s purpose…
This verse makes many of us uneasy. We like to think about our freedoms don’t we. After all we are American and freedom is important to us. But remember, God knows all things and upholds all things. This includes us.
But here’s what we find. That within this purpose and plan of God, he does give freedom but he also gives boundaries. And praise God for that. How many of us with out the divine hand of God know how completely unchecked our sin would have been. But don’t be upset of sad if your boundaries seem wider than others because we all have a divine call and duty to use our past to instruct and warn others about where that road leads and how to get off that path and on the narrow path.

1. Proverbs 16:1 The answer to our searches and question is not only from the Lord, that answer is the Lord.
2. Prov 16:2 How many of us thought we made good plans and it turned out completely wrong? It seemed right in our eyes right?

3. Here is where we are weighed, stopped, broken. We are impressed upon by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We are told that our work is not for the Lord and since His purpose will be carried out then

a. The wicked and arrogant are an abomination and will be punished.
b. God atoned for your iniquity by sacrificing his own Son. Because of Jesus,
i. Instead of wrath – propitiation
ii. Instead of punishment – justification
All because of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

4. Because of that work, we turn from evil and turn to God.

5. This pleases God

a. There is peace in the midst of our enemies and we find true treasure an righteousness.
6. Even as a believer, we still make our plans, but God establishes our steps

Here’s another hurdle. As believers, we still sin and fall short. We always will. What do we do about it? Can we do anything about it?

Stop making excuses, take responsibility, be accountable, help others not make the same mistakes.

Examples Paul Jacob