THE HEART MATTERS

1. Our Heart is Dark.

 “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out.

But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” Jeremiah 17

For though once your heart was full of darkness, now it is full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! Ephesians 5:8

The God who saw that our hearts were full of darkness and still loved us.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. II Cor 4:6

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. Matthew 15

1. God compares the darkness of our heart to a road.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7

Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.John 12

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. Proverbs 4:19

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1

There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it’s a road to death. Proverbs 14:12

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 1:7

III. Only Jesus can change your direction and lead you out of darkness.

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all…I John 1:5

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. Proverbs 4

1. Only Jesus Can Forgive Our Sins and Reconcile us to God.

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:5

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Then the Lord told me, 3 ‘You’ve walked around this mountain long enough. Turn northward. Deuteronomy 2