Above all else guard your heart! Week 6, Above all else guard your heart!

I may be sittin’ on the outside, but I’m standin’ on the inside!

23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ~Proverbs 4

…so the moment constraining forces release their grip on us, we returned to the same behaviors.

23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. ~Matthew 23

23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. ~Matthew 23

23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. ~Matthew 23

25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. ~Matthew 23

25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. ~Matthew 23

25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. ~Matthew 23

The Internalization Process: I HAVE TO CHANGE: (or consequences are coming my way)

The Internalization Process: I HAVE TO CHANGE: (or consequences are coming my way) I NEED TO CHANGE:

The Internalization Process: I HAVE TO CHANGE: (or consequences are coming my way) I NEED TO CHANGE: (because life is so much better God’s way)

The Internalization Process: I HAVE TO CHANGE: (or consequences are coming my way) I NEED TO CHANGE: (because life is so much better God’s way) I WANT TO CHANGE:

The Internalization Process: I HAVE TO CHANGE: (or consequences are coming my way) I NEED TO CHANGE: (because life is so much better God’s way) I WANT TO CHANGE: (“wanting it” is a powerful force)

The Internalization Process: I HAVE TO CHANGE: (or consequences are coming my way) I NEED TO CHANGE: (because life is so much better God’s way) I WANT TO CHANGE: (“wanting it” is a powerful force) GOD BEGINS TO CHANGE YOUR HEART!

23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. ~Matthew 23

25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites 25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. ~Matthew 23

Becoming a Heavyweight at “Lightweight Christianity” isn’t a gift to anyone.

Becoming a Heavyweight at “Lightweight Christianity” isn’t a gift to anyone. Obviously this feels like “mastery,” but what value is there in mastering the wrong things?

If you don’t set aside some time to clean the inside of the cup and dish… it’s not going to happen.

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.” ~A.W. Tozer

Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my Soul, “Rise up my love, my fair one and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name. Amen. ~A.W. Tozer