Guarding Your Heart: The Value of Your Soul

 

Summary

In our series on "Soul Care: How to Guard Your Most Valuable Possession," we have been exploring the profound truth that each of us possesses a soul of immense value, more precious than the entire world. Jesus teaches that our souls can either be lost or saved, and the worst tragedy is a lost soul. However, the good news is that no matter how far we have strayed, our souls can be saved by returning to Jesus as our Savior and Shepherd. This involves not only believing in His sacrificial death but also submitting to His guidance in our lives.

Today, we focus on the practical aspect of caring for our souls, especially for those who have already returned to Christ. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to "keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." The heart, representing our inner life, requires diligent care. Just as a farmer actively participates in the growth of his crops, we must actively guard our hearts. This involves understanding that our hearts, like a Stradivarius violin, are of great value but constantly fall out of tune. We must regularly tune our hearts to ensure that the music of our lives is harmonious and pleasing to God.

The springs of life—joy, peace, contentment, and strength—flow from a heart in tune with God. We often mistakenly believe that external circumstances will bring us happiness, but true life springs from within. Wherever we go, we carry our hearts with us, and if we do not guard them, the springs of life will be blocked. Therefore, we must keep our hearts with vigilance, watching for changes and trends, investigating the causes of spiritual decline, confessing our sins, committing to positive growth, and ultimately trusting in God.

Key Takeaways:

- The Value of the Soul: Our souls are of immense value, more precious than the entire world. Jesus emphasizes the importance of saving our souls by returning to Him as our Savior and Shepherd. This involves not only belief in His death but also submission to His guidance in our lives. [00:55]

- Guarding the Heart: Proverbs 4:23 calls us to guard our hearts with vigilance. Our hearts, like a Stradivarius violin, are valuable but constantly fall out of tune. We must actively participate in keeping our hearts in tune with God to ensure that the music of our lives is harmonious and pleasing to Him. [12:32]

- The Source of Life: The springs of life—joy, peace, contentment, and strength—flow from a heart in tune with God. True life does not come from external circumstances but from within. Wherever we go, we carry our hearts with us, and if we do not guard them, the springs of life will be blocked. [16:00]

- Practical Steps for Heart Care: Guarding our hearts involves watching for changes, investigating the causes of spiritual decline, confessing our sins, and committing to positive growth. This process requires vigilance and honesty with ourselves and God. [17:18]

- Trust in God: While examining our hearts can be discouraging, we must remember to trust in God. For every look at our own hearts, we should take ten looks at Jesus Christ. He provides continual cleansing and empowerment, enabling us to grow in His likeness. [41:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - The Value of the Soul
- [00:29] - The Possibility of a Lost Soul
- [00:55] - Salvation and Return to Jesus
- [02:06] - Caring for Your Soul
- [02:40] - Proverbs 4:23: Guarding the Heart
- [03:15] - The Command to Keep Your Heart
- [04:17] - The Role of Personal Responsibility
- [05:08] - The Challenge of Keeping the Heart
- [06:06] - The Focus of God's Eye
- [07:00] - The Tendency to Depart from God
- [09:22] - The Heart as a Walled City
- [11:15] - The Heart as a Stradivarius Violin
- [13:00] - The Source of Life's Springs
- [17:18] - How to Keep Your Heart
- [41:26] - Trust in God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Proverbs 4:23: "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Proverbs 4:23 mean when it instructs us to "keep your heart with all vigilance"? How does this relate to the concept of soul care discussed in the sermon? [02:40]
2. How does the sermon describe the value of the soul in comparison to worldly possessions? [00:12]
3. What analogy is used in the sermon to describe the heart, and what does this analogy teach us about the nature of our inner life? [12:32]
4. According to the sermon, what are the "springs of life" that flow from a heart in tune with God? [13:44]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the analogy of the Stradivarius violin help us understand the importance of regularly tuning our hearts to God? [12:32]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that external circumstances are not the true source of life and happiness? [16:00]
3. What practical steps are outlined in the sermon for guarding our hearts, and how do these steps contribute to spiritual growth? [17:18]
4. How does the sermon emphasize the importance of trusting in God while examining our hearts, and what role does Jesus play in this process? [41:26]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual state. Are there any "red lights" on your personal dashboard that indicate a need for heart tuning? How can you address these areas this week? [21:04]
2. The sermon mentions the tendency of our hearts to secretly and perpetually depart from God. What specific actions can you take to counteract this tendency in your daily life? [07:57]
3. Consider the analogy of the heart as a walled city. What are some external influences or internal "traitors" that you need to guard against to protect your heart? [09:22]
4. Identify one aspect of the "springs of life" (joy, peace, contentment, strength) that you feel is lacking in your life. What steps can you take to cultivate this aspect more intentionally? [13:44]
5. The sermon encourages us to trust in God and take multiple looks at Jesus for every look at our own hearts. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine to maintain a healthy spiritual focus? [41:26]
6. Think of a recent situation where you felt spiritually out of tune. What was the cause, and how can you prevent similar situations in the future by applying the sermon’s teachings? [12:32]
7. How can you use the concept of a spiritual dashboard to regularly assess and improve your relationship with God? What specific metrics or indicators would you include on your dashboard? [21:04]

Devotional

Day 1: The Incomparable Worth of the Soul
Our souls are of immense value, more precious than the entire world. Jesus emphasizes the importance of saving our souls by returning to Him as our Savior and Shepherd. This involves not only belief in His death but also submission to His guidance in our lives. The soul's worth is not determined by worldly standards but by its eternal significance. Jesus teaches that the greatest tragedy is a lost soul, yet He offers hope and redemption through His sacrifice. By aligning our lives with His teachings and accepting His guidance, we can ensure the salvation of our souls. [00:55]

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV)

Reflection: Consider the current priorities in your life. Are there areas where you are valuing worldly gains over the health of your soul? How can you realign your priorities to reflect the true worth of your soul?


Day 2: Vigilant Heart-Keeping
Proverbs 4:23 calls us to guard our hearts with vigilance. Our hearts, like a Stradivarius violin, are valuable but constantly fall out of tune. We must actively participate in keeping our hearts in tune with God to ensure that the music of our lives is harmonious and pleasing to Him. This requires intentional effort and awareness of the influences that can lead our hearts astray. By regularly examining our inner lives and making necessary adjustments, we can maintain a heart that reflects God's love and truth. [12:32]

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

Reflection: What are some influences or habits in your life that may be causing your heart to fall out of tune with God? What steps can you take today to guard your heart more diligently?


Day 3: The Inner Source of True Life
The springs of life—joy, peace, contentment, and strength—flow from a heart in tune with God. True life does not come from external circumstances but from within. Wherever we go, we carry our hearts with us, and if we do not guard them, the springs of life will be blocked. Understanding that our inner life is the source of true fulfillment can transform how we approach daily challenges and relationships. By nurturing a heart aligned with God's will, we can experience the abundant life He promises. [16:00]

"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you sought happiness from external circumstances. How can you shift your focus to nurturing the inner springs of life that God provides?


Day 4: Steps to Heart Care
Guarding our hearts involves watching for changes, investigating the causes of spiritual decline, confessing our sins, and committing to positive growth. This process requires vigilance and honesty with ourselves and God. By being proactive in our spiritual journey, we can prevent the blockages that hinder the flow of life-giving springs. Regular self-examination and confession are crucial in maintaining a healthy heart. Trusting in God's grace and strength, we can commit to a path of continual growth and transformation. [17:18]

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life that you feel has declined recently? How can you take a practical step today to address this and commit to positive growth?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Cleansing Power
While examining our hearts can be discouraging, we must remember to trust in God. For every look at our own hearts, we should take ten looks at Jesus Christ. He provides continual cleansing and empowerment, enabling us to grow in His likeness. Trusting in His grace allows us to face our shortcomings with hope and confidence. By focusing on Christ's redemptive work, we can experience the freedom and joy that come from a heart aligned with His purposes. [41:26]

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been focusing more on your own shortcomings rather than on Christ's redemptive work? How can you shift your perspective to trust more fully in His cleansing power today?

Quotes

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Now the word heart here is obviously referring to your inner life. You're to keep it, and so we're talking here about the life of the soul. And the message today is a very practical one. [00:02:40]

Now here we have quite clearly a command from God that is given to every believer, an active duty that God calls you to, and that God calls me to. And we might naturally say, well surely only God can keep my heart. That's rather like a farmer saying, well only God can make things grow. [00:04:17]

The primary focus of the eye of God is on your heart, and if the primary focus of the eye of God is on your heart, then the primary focus of your attention as a Christian believer needs to be on your heart too. [00:06:06]

The heart of a Christian is like a city that needs to be guarded. It needs constant defending because you have enemies trying to get in from the outside, and you have traitors that are lurking hidden within your own heart on the inside. [00:09:22]

Your heart is like the Stradivarius violin. It is of great value. It's of more value than the Stradivarius. In fact, it's of more value, Jesus says, than the whole world. But by nature, it is constantly falling out of tune. That's the reality of your heart and of mine. [00:11:15]

The springs of life flow from the heart. That's what this verse says. It's right there in front of you. And here's the thing: wherever you go in life, you carry your own heart with you, and if you do not guard your heart, if you do not keep your heart, then the springs of life will always be blocked for you. [00:16:00]

Keep your heart with all vigilance. Vigilance means watching. So here's the first thing I want to put before you: keep your heart with all the vigilance. Watch. You've got to be a student of your own heart. You have to become the world expert on your own heart. [00:17:18]

The momentum of sin that always begins in the heart is like a stone rolling down a hill. If you catch the stone when it's just beginning to move, it's not difficult to deal with it. But if that rock gets moving and it's gone half a mile down the hill, it's going to be extremely difficult to stop it. [00:25:58]

If we confess our sins, he is faithful, Christ is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now that is a marvelous promise, and most of you know it very well, but we must take the condition that is here seriously. [00:31:56]

For every look that you take at your own heart, take ten looks at Jesus Christ. Isn't that beautiful? I was googling the quote to find it, and I was quite sure he said, for every look in your own heart, take two at Jesus. [00:41:26]

Christians can never trust their hearts too little and can never trust their God too much. Christians can never trust their heart too little. Guard your heart, keep it, watch it, investigate it, confess, commit. But as you do, remember this: you can never trust your God too much. [00:43:10]

May the springs flow for your glory, for these things we ask in Jesus' name, amen. [00:44:00]

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Transcript
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