Guarding the Heart: Cultivating Joy Through Faith

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound importance of guarding our hearts, as emphasized in Proverbs 4:23, which states, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Our hearts are the seat of our affections and the source of our actions, and thus, they must be protected and nurtured. We delved into Paul's letter to the Philippians, where he writes from a prison cell, yet speaks of joy and encouragement. Despite his dire circumstances, Paul exemplifies a heart full of joy, urging us to pursue a joyful heart amidst life's challenges.

We identified several heart problems that can steal our joy, such as fear, a bad attitude, guilt, pain, and selfishness. Each of these issues has a remedy: faith, love, grace, perseverance, and sacrificial living, respectively. These remedies help us maintain a healthy spiritual heart, much like physical exercises keep our bodies fit. Paul encourages us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling," which means to live with reverence and awe before God, exercising what He has already worked within us.

To cultivate a joyful heart, we must engage in five spiritual exercises: reminding ourselves of God's presence and support, maintaining a grateful and compliant heart, keeping a clean conscience, holding firmly to the gospel, and living for the ultimate affirmation from God. These practices help us navigate life's trials with joy and purpose, knowing that our ultimate reward is not in worldly success but in faithfulness to God.

As we approach communion, we are reminded of the finished work of Christ on the cross, which empowers us to live in joy and freedom. Let us allow Jesus, the great physician, to examine our hearts, not to condemn, but to guide us toward true joy and spiritual health.

Key Takeaways:

1. Guarding the Heart: Our hearts are the wellspring of life, and what holds our hearts determines the course of our lives. We must protect our hearts from distractions and negative influences, focusing on nurturing a joyful and God-centered heart. [02:32]

2. Joy Amidst Trials: Like Paul, who wrote about joy from a prison cell, we can find joy in the midst of trials by focusing on God's promises and presence. Joy is a choice and a pursuit, not dependent on circumstances. [06:06]

3. Remedies for Heart Problems: Fear, bad attitudes, guilt, pain, and selfishness can steal our joy. The remedies—faith, love, grace, perseverance, and sacrificial living—help us maintain a healthy spiritual heart. [09:29]

4. Spiritual Exercises for Joy: To cultivate joy, we must remind ourselves of God's presence, maintain gratitude, keep a clean conscience, hold firmly to the gospel, and live for God's affirmation. These practices align our hearts with God's will. [14:23]

5. Communion and Heart Examination: As we partake in communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and allow Him to examine our hearts. This reflection leads to repentance and a renewed commitment to live in joy and obedience. [34:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [02:32] - Guarding Our Valuables
- [04:20] - The Philippian Church
- [06:06] - Joy in Trials
- [07:48] - Heart Problems and Remedies
- [09:29] - Fear and Faith
- [12:56] - God's Presence and Support
- [14:23] - Gratitude and Compliance
- [16:03] - Avoiding Complaints and Arguments
- [19:03] - Keeping a Clean Conscience
- [22:17] - Confession and Repentance
- [25:33] - Gripping the Gospel
- [28:49] - Applying Scripture
- [30:35] - Living for God's Affirmation
- [34:00] - Communion and Heart Examination

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
2. Philippians 2:12-13 - "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
3. 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Proverbs 4:23 suggest about the importance of the heart in our spiritual lives? How does this relate to the idea of guarding our hearts? [02:32]

2. In Philippians 2:12-13, what does Paul mean by "work out your salvation with fear and trembling"? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual exercises mentioned in the sermon? [06:06]

3. According to the sermon, what are some common heart problems that can steal our joy, and what are their remedies? [07:48]

4. How does 1 John 1:9 relate to the idea of keeping a clean conscience as discussed in the sermon? [22:17]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the metaphor of guarding the heart, as described in Proverbs 4:23, apply to modern-day distractions and influences? What practical steps can be taken to protect our hearts? [02:32]

2. In what ways does Paul's situation in prison, as described in Philippians, challenge our understanding of joy amidst trials? How can this perspective be applied to our own lives? [06:06]

3. The sermon mentions several remedies for heart problems, such as faith, love, and grace. How do these remedies align with biblical teachings, and how can they be practically applied in daily life? [09:29]

4. How does the practice of confession, as mentioned in 1 John 1:9, contribute to maintaining a joyful heart? What role does repentance play in this process? [22:17]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt your joy was being stolen. What heart problem might have been at play, and how can you apply the corresponding remedy to address it? [07:48]

2. Consider the spiritual exercises mentioned in the sermon. Which one do you find most challenging, and how can you incorporate it into your daily routine to cultivate a joyful heart? [14:23]

3. How can you remind yourself of God's presence and support in your life, especially during difficult times? Share a specific strategy you plan to use this week. [12:56]

4. Think about a time when you struggled with guilt or shame. How can the practice of confession and the assurance of God's forgiveness help you move forward with a clean conscience? [22:17]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you seek affirmation from others. How can you shift your focus to seek God's ultimate affirmation instead? What steps will you take to make this change? [30:35]

6. As you approach communion, what aspect of your heart do you feel needs examination by Jesus, the great physician? How will you allow this reflection to lead to repentance and renewed joy? [34:00]

7. How can you apply the principle of living sacrificially to combat selfishness in your life? Share a practical example of how you plan to do this in the coming week. [09:29]

Devotional

Day 1: Guarding the Wellspring of Life
Our hearts are the wellspring of life, and what holds our hearts determines the course of our lives. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us of the importance of guarding our hearts, as everything we do flows from them. Our hearts are the seat of our affections and the source of our actions, and thus, they must be protected and nurtured. This means being vigilant about what we allow to influence us, whether it be media, relationships, or our own thoughts. By focusing on nurturing a joyful and God-centered heart, we can ensure that our actions align with God's will and purpose for our lives. [02:32]

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: What are some influences in your life that may be distracting you from nurturing a God-centered heart? How can you begin to guard your heart against these distractions today?

Day 2: Choosing Joy in Trials
Like Paul, who wrote about joy from a prison cell, we can find joy in the midst of trials by focusing on God's promises and presence. Joy is not dependent on our circumstances but is a choice and a pursuit. Paul exemplifies a heart full of joy despite his dire circumstances, urging us to pursue a joyful heart amidst life's challenges. By anchoring ourselves in God's promises, we can experience a deep-seated joy that transcends our external situations. This joy becomes a testimony to others of God's faithfulness and goodness. [06:06]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current trial you are facing. How can you choose to focus on God's promises and presence to find joy in this situation today?

Day 3: Remedies for Heart Problems
Fear, bad attitudes, guilt, pain, and selfishness can steal our joy. Each of these issues has a remedy: faith, love, grace, perseverance, and sacrificial living, respectively. These remedies help us maintain a healthy spiritual heart, much like physical exercises keep our bodies fit. By applying these remedies, we can overcome the heart problems that threaten to rob us of our joy. This requires intentionality and a willingness to allow God to work in our hearts, transforming us from the inside out. [09:29]

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one heart problem you struggle with. What specific remedy can you apply today to begin addressing this issue?

Day 4: Spiritual Exercises for Joy
To cultivate joy, we must engage in spiritual exercises such as reminding ourselves of God's presence, maintaining gratitude, keeping a clean conscience, holding firmly to the gospel, and living for God's affirmation. These practices align our hearts with God's will and help us navigate life's trials with joy and purpose. By consistently practicing these exercises, we can develop a joyful heart that reflects God's love and grace to those around us. [14:23]

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand." (Philippians 4:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Which spiritual exercise do you find most challenging to practice consistently? How can you incorporate this exercise into your daily routine starting today?

Day 5: Communion and Heart Examination
As we partake in communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and allow Him to examine our hearts. This reflection leads to repentance and a renewed commitment to live in joy and obedience. Communion is a time to reflect on the finished work of Christ on the cross, which empowers us to live in joy and freedom. By allowing Jesus, the great physician, to examine our hearts, we can identify areas that need healing and growth, leading us toward true joy and spiritual health. [34:00]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: As you prepare for communion, what is one area of your heart that you sense God wants to examine and heal? How can you invite Him into this process today?

Quotes

1. "I think Proverbs 4.23 is saying that who or what holds my heart determines the course of my life, determines the course of my life. We're in Paul's letter to the Philippian church. Paul planted this church in Philippi, which is still in modern-day Greece. And you go to Acts 16, Paul had quite the experience there. But he stayed with them, and he moved on to plant another church. The unique thing about the Philippian church is it is the first church that was planted in Europe. It made it into Europe. And Paul is writing to encourage people who are discouraged. They were under great persecution from the Roman Empire for being believers in Jesus." [04:20] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The Apostle Paul did that. And he has a word of encouragement for us this morning on how to pursue a joyful heart. Because there are things daily that are trying to steal your joy. And God wants us to have true, lasting joy. Let me read from Philippians 2, beginning in verse 12. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling. For it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for his good pleasure." [06:06] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Fear is a joy stealer. You ever notice how when you're worried, you actually become very selfish and you get closed off to other people? And fear makes us selfish. It's a waste of time, but we all suffer from it, right? The antidote or the remedy is faith. And faith is believing in who God says He is and what He's promised. So that's how we remedy that heart problem. Second is a bad attitude. We talked about this last week about having, pursuing joy in our attitude. And the remedy to a bad attitude is love because love is not a feeling. Love is, it's a choice. It's something that we do." [07:48] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The Heart Association has five exercises that they recommend for your physical heart. Circuit training, swimming, lifting weights, running, and yoga. I don't know if I'm going to be able to stretch on that last one there, but the other ones, right? Well, think about what Paul says in verse 12. He says, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. There are five exercises that I think we can do to give us joyful hearts, to pursue joy. When he says, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, we work out what God has already worked in." [09:29] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The first exercise we find in verse 13 is I need to keep reminding myself that God is with me and that he's for me. There's power in repetition, like repeating, Lord, thank you that you're for me. Thank you that you're with me. We don't ask God to be with us. We ask him to remind us that he is with us and to acknowledge his presence and to remember he's always with us. He said, for it is God who is at work in you both to desire and work for his good pleasure. God takes responsibility. You see in that verse, he's working in you." [12:56] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Second exercise for a joyful heart is keep a grateful and compliant heart. Keep a grateful and compliant heart. Do all things, all things without complaining or arguing, all things. I don't know if you guys know this, but there's this election happening in 30 days. Did you guys hear about that? Okay. Here's an important thing. And hear me on this. You are a Christ follower, a Christian before you are whatever political party you're with, whatever ideology. You are a Christ follower. Work backwards from there. Don't get into silly arguments with people." [14:23] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The third exercise for a joyful heart is keep a clean conscience. Keep a clean conscience. There is power in a clean conscience when we don't have something hidden in our life. I've seen this before in, in like big famous preachers who like one guy was, he was having an affair on his wife, but on Sundays was preaching about integrity. I got, I didn't have a joyful heart. I can guarantee you that he's faking his way through that. And thank God he repented. And there was some restoration there, but when you have a clean conscience, there's not something you're hiding because obviously God knows everything, but you're not hiding it from others." [19:03] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Fourth, exercise in keeping a joyful heart or pursuing a joyful heart is keep your grip on the gospel. Keep your grip on the gospel. He says, holding firmly to the word of life. I want you to do this with me. Make a fist. Everybody, make a fist, please. Now, if you're going to grip a baseball bat, or you're going to grip a golf club, or a shovel, or whatever, right? Like, you grip it like you're gripping it. Now, take your pinky and do that. How much, did you lose on what you would be holding and keeping a grip on? You need to have a firm grip, all five fingers, and your palm to grip a club, to grip a bat, or whatever, a shovel." [25:33] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The last exercise, keep living for the ultimate affirmation. Keep living for the most important affirmation. We can get so caught up into the approval of people that we forget the approval of the Lord is so much more important of an affirmation. Paul's in prison and he says, I'm being poured out like a drink offering. He knew what was coming. He's in prison awaiting a trial. We know church history says ultimately Paul was beheaded in Rome. He never made it out of that prison. But he's talking about joy and the joy of hearing that ultimate affirmation, well done, good and faithful." [30:35] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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