Is thy heart right with God?

3. The Heart of the Matter!
Pr 23:7 For as he thinks
in his heart, so is he.
"Eat and drink!" he says
to you, But his heart is
not with you.

4. In the physical realm of things our
hearts are of vital importance!
▪ The heart is said to be “our life pump” and
truly it is indeed!
▪ It is the heart that pumps blood to our
bodies!
▪ As the heart is important physically, it is
even more important spiritually!
▪ We will study tonight about “the heart of
the matter!”

5. How many of us have heard
someone say, “let’s just get to the
heart of the matter!”
▪ What do they mean when they say this?
▸Let’s get down to business!
▸Let’s get down to the nitty gritty!
▸Let’s get down to where the rubber meets
the road!
▪ What is meant by this, is that it is time to
deal with the source and not just the
symptoms!

6. In both the physical & spiritual realm,
many spend all their time trying to
treat the symptom rather than the
source of the problem!
▪ A child is acting up in school & getting into
fights & trouble, so the parents get angry
and they beat & ground the child, but never
take the time to find out “why” his behavior
has changed!
▸ There is a even greater need to find out
“why” he is acting up and getting into trouble!

8. When the heart is
right, everything
else will follow!

9. I. The External!
(Mt. 7:15-20)
▪ One of the most common words used
by Jesus describing the religious
leaders of His day was “hypocrites!”
▸In Mt. 23 we find Jesus pronouncing 8
woes against the scribes, Pharisees!
▸Jesus calls then “hypocrites” because
they were teaching and preaching one
thing and then living another! (Mt. 23:3)

10. They would make a big show
outwardly, but only to be seen of men!
(Rom. 2:17-21; Mt. 6:1-18)
▪ We should understand that the external
reviles the symptoms, but not the source!
▪ The reason hypocrites were acting, is
because they loved the praise of men more
than the praise of God!(Jn.12:42,43)
▪ We should understand that the external is
important, but it can be deceiving! (Mt. 7:15
many are wolves in sheep’s clothing!)

11. II. The Internal!
(Mt. 22:34-40)
▪ I have chosen this passage for good
reason! Notice (Mt. 22:37) where are
these found?
▸Mark and Luke add another element!
“Strength!” (Mk. 12:20 & Lk. 10:27)
▪ When we get the inside right, the outside
will follow!

12. Working from the source to the
symptoms/results!
(Mk. 12:28-31)
▪ What is of interest here is that Mark adds
the “result!”
▪ The Lord begins with the “internal” heart,
soul, mind and ends with the “external”
strength!
▪ One might what to sum this up by saying,
“we are to love God from the inside out!”

13. III. The Eternal!
(Mt. 25:31-46)
▪ We must always keep in mind that God judges
our intentions & motives, but He is also looking at
our actions or inactions!
▪ We maybe able to fool others, we may even be
able to fool ourselves, but none of us are fooling
God!
▸Eccl. 12:14 For God will bring every work into
judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether
good or evil.

14. Getting to the heart of the matter!
▪ There is a song we often sing “Is thy heart right
with God?”
▸This is indeed an important question that each
of us most answer for ourselves!
– I cannot answer for you, you cannot answer
for me, but we will all answer to God!
▪ May we never forget that our eternal destiny is on
the line!
▸Who here desires a home in heaven?
▸May we never forget the warning of Ezekiel 18 &
33!

15. Conclusion:
▪ It is not the things that enter a man that defiles
him, but what comes out of the man! (Mt. 15:1-
20)
▪ I hope that this lesson has reminded us of the
importance of the “inward man!”
▪ Have we gotten to the heart of the matter or
are we still trying to treat the symptoms rather
than the source?
▪ Are you a child of God tonight? Have you had
your sins forgiving? Is your heart right with God?