"I Know In My Heart..."
This phrase is uttered by millions of people around the world.
Most of the time, those speaking it are aware they are not living according to the Bible, but choose to believe they are saved anyway.

Introduction
As we talk about the human organ that pumps the blood, there is no question it is vital to our lives.
Without the heart working properly, there is no good life.
The Scriptures also describe the word heart to mean the mind, soul, spirit, and even the entirety of ones thinking and emotional nature.
Sometimes the phrase "heart" means to get to the center or middle of a thing or concept.
In the early days of mankind, we see that sin was within the heart of the people.
God spoke in Genesis 6:5: "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually".

Seems like that is what is happening today in our world.
So true the preacher said: Ecclesiastes 1:9 “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done, so, there is nothing new under the sun”.
God promised blessings for everyone who would serve Him with their hearts.
Deuteronomy 11:13-14 “And it shall come about, if you listen obediently to My commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all you soul, that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil”
We learn that later the people did not serve God with their heart.
Isaiah 29:13 “Then the LORD said, ‘Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.”
Going through the motions without the heart being involved is foolishness.
The word is used hundreds of times in the scriptures.

The Scriptures refer to the heart as the seat or strength of life.
But there is a problem when we rely upon our feelings rather than the word of God.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.”
To rely upon feelings gives on a false sense of security.
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death”. (repeated in Proverbs 16:25)
Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives”.
Feelings just do not cut it when it comes to serving God faithfully.
Where we must be careful in uttering the phrase of our title is making sure it is not based on false information.
Most people who use this phrase are referring to their feelings that they are connected with God in some relationship.
Many claim to have such a relationship with God and Jesus, but their actions speak differently.
Titus 1:16 addresses this problem: “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.”
We must be aware that the heart directs the rest of us.

Proverbs speaks of the heart quite often (86 verses to be specific).
Proverbs 3:1 “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments”:
Proverbs 3:3 “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart”:
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”.
Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life”.
Proverbs 10:8 “The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be thrown down”.
Proverbs 12:23 “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly”.
Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the LORD, it will stand.

Jesus told us our every action is based upon what is in our hearts.
Matthew 15:18-19 we read: "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things that defile the man..."
Notice some examples of people who purposed in their heart to do what was right.
Ezra 7:10: For Ezra purposed in his heart to learn the law of the LORD, so that he could do it, and to teach His statutes in Israel".
Daniel 1:8 "For Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's food...“
We should be preparing ourselves in our hearts that we will serve the Lord faithfully and to the best of our ability.
We must acknowledge that God is not in the heart of most people.
The only way to change people is through the heart.
They have to want the change in their lives.

When Peter preached on Pentecost, the word says that "they were pricked in their heart" and they asked what they needed to do (Acts 2:37).
There is so much more we can say about the heart.
Do yourself a favor and go through the Bible and see all the passages with the word "heart".
Study them diligently, and your heart will be changed and motivated to do God's will.
That way, you will not have to constantly ask yourself “What’s wrong with me, why can’t I get into serving God as I should”?
Focus upon serving God and you will not ask that.

Conclusion
We all need to work on the people we know to fix the heart problem of our homes and our nation.
We may have to start with ourselves.
Until we do so, problems will continue.
When we put God in our hearts, things will be much better for us.
If we can get others to seek God with their whole heart, things will get better for them.

By Carey Scott

Return to the Sermon Outlines page

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /