September 30 – October 1, 2006, Selected

WHAT GOD APPLAUDS!
HEART HEALTH!

*** Proverbs 4:23 "Above all, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."
*** Prov. 6:16-19 "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." [NIV]

A PERSON WHO INTENTIONALLY PROGRAMS THEMSELVES TO DO WRONG!

*** Acts 5:1-6 "Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. [2] With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. [3] Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? [4] Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." [5] When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. [6] Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him." [NIV]

HE FORGOT TO GUARD HIS HEART!

*** Luke 4:13 "When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time." [NIV]
*** 1 Peter 5:8 "Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack." [Contemporary English Version]

*** Acts 5:7-8 "About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8] Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." [NIV]
*** 1 John 1:8-9 "If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong." [New Living Translation]
*** Jeremiah 7:24 "They did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward & not forward."

*** Acts 5:9-10 "Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." [10] At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband." [NIV]
*** Romans 1:25, 32 "Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself.... [32] They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too." [NLT]

*** Acts 5:11 "Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events." [NIV]

THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ME!

***Genesis 4:7 "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." [NIV]

WE CAN HAVE A HEALTHY SPIRITUAL HEART:

1. BY RECOGNIZING THE RISK FACTOR!
*** 2 Tim. 4:10 "Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me...."
*** Hebrews 2:1 "So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth." [New Century Version]

2. BY CONTROLLING OUR DIET!
- AVOIDING STUBBORNNESS - Jeremiah 18:12
- AVOIDING DECEITFULNESS! - Matthew 15:8-9 & Proverbs 26:23
- AVOIDING HARDNESS! - Eph. 4:18

- THE SPIRITUAL NUTRITION OF THE WORD! - Psalm 119:103
- THE SPIRITUAL HYDRATION OF PRAYER! - John 4:10

3 MINUTES IN THE WORD + 2 MINUTES IN PRAYER = 5 MINUTES WITH GOD!

___ I Commit 5 Minutes to God and the 30 Day Challenge!

3. BY GETTING PLENTY OF EXERCISE!
*** Deut. 10:12 "...what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul...." [NIV]

4. BY HAVING REGULAR CHECK-UPS!
***Proverbs 27:9 "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." [New Living Translation]
*** Proverbs 19:20 "Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life." [NLT]
*** Proverbs 12:15 "Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others."

5. BY REDUCING STRESS!
*** 2 Tim. 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." [NIV]

"LORD, TEACH ME TO HOLD LOOSELY THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD!"

"I will give you one heart and a new spirit; I will take from you your hearts of stone and give you tender hearts of love for God!"
-- Ezekiel 11:19 (Living)

WE CHANGE OUR LIVES WHEN WE CHANGE OUR HEARTS