Guarding the Heart: Overcoming Spiritual Blockages

1. "And where the hope is, is that every single one of them, and I speak this over you guys as a blessing, that every single one of you are going to be placed somewhere in God's kingdom and going to make a significant difference in God's world. And in fact, the most exciting part of Highlands College to me is the placement process. I love all of this, but I look forward to the day that you guys go do something somewhere that God has already specifically picked out for you where you're going to make a difference in this world. And we speak that blessing over you in Jesus' name." [01:15] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "So you need education, but you also need experience. So you don't, you don't just need the step-by-step, but you need this encounter with the presence of God. And the freedom curriculum is designed to give you both. So for 12 weeks, we do the layer by layer, peeling the onion back one thing at a time, not going too fast so that every one of us can kind of take it all in. And you guys need to lead this way. The people you lead students that you lead one by one. Just kind of take them on a one step at a time process at the same time, providing them experiences, services, camps, retreats, any place where they can get into the power of God. And then moments can change people too. So, so let me say it this way. We value both." [02:34] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "Of all else, guard your heart. Now guard doesn't mean protect it and leave, leave everybody out, like build a wall around it. So nothing can touch it. No, it just means you need to be careful what's going in, what's coming out. You need to really give, pay close attention to your heart for it is the wellspring. In other words, in other words, it is the well, it is, it is the place that everything else is flowing out of it. In fact, one translation says for out of it flow all of the issues of life. Like all of the issues you're dealing with are coming out of your heart." [04:56] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "It's a matter of the heart. Maybe all those things are true and those things actually did happen. But what really happened were not those circumstances. Listen closely. It wasn't those circumstances. Don't point back at those. The real issue is, is those circumstances got into your heart and now it is entrenched in there. And out of that, the condition of your current heart is flowing all of the issues of life." [06:17] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "And some of you guys came to the small group today, and you're allowing God into certain areas of your life. And you're giving permission to play in parts of your world, but you haven't given him all of your world. And you're never going to be free until you allow him into all the areas. And by the way, that's true for you students as well. You have to come to a place where you don't have selfish ambition in your, in your hearts. And then I love this next line. And don't boast about it. Don't say, well, I've got my own life. I can do this myself. I can handle me. Men in particular do this more than I think ladies, my experience has been. And don't deny the truth. What's the truth? The truth that you have heart issues and you do need to deal with them and you can't fix them by yourself." [15:51] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "But the secret to the whole process is, is that we have to have control of our lives. And I think it's similar. People don't all along the way. Listen to me. You've got to give God, I would like to say to you, give God all control of your life. Most people do it in stages. Fine. But you've got to get to the place where you have given God full control of your life. And I've been in so many experiences. When I first got called to the ministry, I mean, I really was excited about ministry, fired up about ministry, wanted to serve God. But I told God, I said, God, I said, here's what I want to do. You know, here's what I want to do. But Lord, I really don't want to be, you know, in a mud hut in Africa kind of thing. You know, just like, I mean, I have a limit to where I'll serve you. I can do this, but not that. And I'm just going to say to you, God doesn't honor that at all." [18:20] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "And that's why all of us have to learn. And this is coming in two weeks. All right. This is week number seven of your group lesson. And that is we've, we're going to have a whole discussion about forgiveness. And I just want to give you a word about forgiveness before we even get there. You ready for it? And that is don't follow your feelings. Let, let, let, don't follow your feelings guys. Don't because you're probably not going to feel the desire to forgive this person first. You're going to want to hate on them a little bit more first and tell why, by the way, they should not be forgiven. And so choices lead, feelings follow. And that's why all of us have to learn to forgive. You've got to make the choice to forgive. Choices lead, feelings follow. You've got to make the choice to forgive." [23:15] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "And that's why in this, this curriculum process, we're going to make sure we get some words of life spoken over you. Say, Chris, where are those words of life in God's words? We're God's word. The Bible says God's word washes your mind. It's the, we're cleansed through the washing of the water of the word of God. And in Jesus name, if you'll let us, if you'll let us. Okay. This is in week number eight. It's in three weeks from today. We're going to have a whole lesson on the words, the God words. We're going to speak over you. Don't miss that session of your small group." [29:30] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "And Jesus said, here's how big of an issue it is. For from within, so I'm talking about, on the inside of you, out of men's hearts, there's our word, come evil thoughts. So you've got this hard drive full of pollution, guys. All of us do, by the way. Anything you've allowed in there is on the hard drive. Sexual immorality, now it gives the list. Theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. And the Bible goes on to say, Jesus said, all these evils come from, not your issue with your wife or your boss. No, no, these are inside issues. These are heart issues, and they make that man unclean." [32:14] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


10. "So in other words, now you're going to have a life that's the life, by the way, you've always wanted. Now you're a life that's following decrees and it's like an order and it's living right. And you know why? Because you dealt with your heart issues. I'm going to do three things. This is today's assignment. This is what you need to do before you show up to week six next week. And that is number one, write it down. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to show me, show me, show me, show me. You know why? Because you can't change what you cannot see. So I'm asking God, and I want to pray it over you right now. I'm asking God to put his finger on areas that you, that are the real issue." [33:32] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)