2. Introduction In making important decisions, the world will tell you to just follow your heart. But God’s word warns us in Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Why is the heart wicked? It is not God’s fault- He has made us pure (Gen. 1:26-27; Eccl. 7:29). God’s word is truth and He tells us why we should not trust in our heart concerning matters of the soul.

3. Man Chooses to Follow His Heart into Sin The devil got Eve to focus on the forbidden fruit which she desired in her heart (Gen. 3:1-6). These same worldly desires are what we face today [lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life] (1 John 2:15-16) Sin was lying at the door of Cain’s heart and he chose to kill his brother (Gen. 4:7; 1 Jn. 3:12). The devil put it into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus and he gave in for 30 pieces of silver. (John 13:2, 26-27; Matt. 26:15, 45-50)

4. Man Chooses to Follow His Heart into Sin Even Peter followed his heart in denying Jesus. (Luke 22:31-34) Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie to God in his giving (Acts 5:3) Ananias and Sapphire chose to follow their heart into sin and they died (Acts 5:4-10). We have all given into Satan’s temptation to follow our heart into sin and have died spiritually. (James 1:13-16; Eph. 2:1-3) We can’t blame God, Satan, or anyone else.

5. From Our Hearts Come Evil Deeds Jesus warned that these things defile the man. (Matthew 15:18-19; Mark 7:21-23) If you lust after a woman, you have committed adultery in your heart (Mt. 5:28; 2 Pt. 2:14). If you gamble, you’re greedy (2 Pt. 2:14; Col. 3:5). If you steal, you are a thief (1 Pet. 4:15). If you tell lies, you are a liar (John 8:44). If you’re self righteous, you’re prideful (Lk. 18:9ff). Whoever hates his brother is a murderer (1 Jn. 3:15).

6. We Try to Justify Ourselves in Our Hearts “ Everybody sins or everybody else is doing it” (Genesis 6:5ff; Exodus 23:2) “God will not hold me accountable” (Psalm 10:3-4, 6, 11; Romans 1:18ff). “I was born to sin…my parents failed me…I couldn’t help it…I have a disease…etc.” (Ezekiel 18:20ff; Galatians 6:7-9; Mt. 18:3) What may seem right to us leads to death. (Prov. 14:12; 16:1-2, 25; 20:6, 9; Luke 16:15) “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Pr. 28:26)

7. Conclusion We cannot just follow our heart because it is wicked (we choose to sin, try to justify ourselves, and out of our heart comes evil deeds). God knows your heart and if you just follow what you think, it will lead you to be condemned in judgment God knows your heart and if you just follow what you think, it will lead you to be condemned in judgment (1 Ti. 5:24; He. 4:12-13; Mt. 7:21ff). But you can be saved from God’s wrath by trusting and obeying Jesus Christ from your heart. But you can be saved from God’s wrath by trusting and obeying Jesus Christ from your heart. (Prov. 3:5-7; Rom. 5:8-9; 6:3, 16-18; 10:9-10). Is your heart right with God? If not, be baptized or restored right now Is your heart right with God? If not, be baptized or restored right now (Acts 22:16; 8:20-22)!