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PROVERBS 4:23

Intro: The Bible says much about the heart. The throne room of the spirit,
       the Holy of Holies of the body temple. It is the reservoir from which
       flows the  issues of life.

I. "KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE."
        A. Keep your heart pure.
                1. If the source is polluted, channels polluted, issue
                   polluted.
                        a. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
                           murderers, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
                           false witness, blasphemies."
                2. How can you keep your heart pure?
                        a. Bitter waters of Marah - tree.
                                1. Another tree, the cross.
                        b. It necessitates the cross..."but if we walk in
                           the light... the blood."
                        c. It necessitates the Word... "How ye are clean
                           through the Word."
        B. Keep your heart full.
                1. "If any man thirst...this spake He of the Spirit."
                2. The thirsty world about you is dying for a satisfying
                   drink.
                3. Let the Spirit fill your reservoir and His love will flow
                   forth.
        C. Keep your heart in peace and quietness.
                1. The answer here is prayer. "Thou wilt keep him..."
                2. The confidence of prayer is His Word.
                3. We go into the conflict, victors, the outcome has already
                   been decided.
        D. Keep your heart united. "Unite my heart to fear thy name."
                1. Beware of a divided heart (you cannot serve two masters).
                2. Beware of too many outlets.
                        a. Do not attempt more than God lays upon you.

II. WHY KEEP YOUR HEART? "FOR OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE."
        A. What you say, what you think, what you do, are all reflections of
           what you are.
                1. The folly of the social gospel.
                        a. God says you need a change of heart.
                        b. The social gospel ways you need a change of
                           environment.
                                1. Reservoir that is cesspool some sage says
                                   change the pipes that run out from
                                   reservoir, let it run through new pipes.
                        a. God say you need a change of heart.
                        b. Social gospel says you need education.
                                1. The mind is like a control valve that
                                   opens and closes to release the flow.
                                2. Hire a new man to operate the valve.
                        a. God says you need a change of heart.
                        b. The social gospel says new motivation.
                                1. Motivation the pump that pushes water
                                   through the lines.
                                2. The answer is to buy a new pump.  "Keep
                                   your heart will all diligence."  Some
                                   of your hearts are not worth keeping:
       
               1. The wisest thing you could do would be to get rid of them
                  immediately.
               2. Give your heart to Jesus Christ.
               3. "Create in me a clean heart O God."