WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GUARD YOUR HEART

Proverbs chapter 4













Today we are walking in: What Does It Mean To Guard Your Heart










Today we look to the word- HEART- H3824 lebab--inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding






The Torah Testifies.............................








Exodus 14:5




And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart H3824 of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?




Leviticus 19:17




Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: H3824 thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.





Deuteronomy 11:16




Take heed to yourselves, that your heart H3824 be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;





The prophets proclaim..................








1Samuel 6:6




Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, H3824 as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?




1Samuel 7:3




And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, H3824 then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts H3824 unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.



Isaiah 10:7




Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart H3824 think so; but it is in his heart H3824 to destroy and cut off nations not a few.





The writings bear witness.............








Joshua 2:11




And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts H3824 did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.





Job 22:22




Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart . H3824





Job 34:10




Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: H3824 far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.







WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GUARD YOUR HEART




Proverbs 4:23–26 instructs Hebrews to, “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” When Solomon refers to guarding the heart, he really means the inner core of a person—the thoughts, feelings, desires, will, and choices that make that person who he/she is. The Bible tells us that our thoughts often dictate who we become (Proverbs 23:7; 27:19). The mind of a man reflects who he really is, not simply his actions or words. That is why Yah examines the heart of a man, not simply his outward appearance and what he appears to be (1 Samuel 16:7).




Just as there are many diseases and disorders that can affect the physical heart, there are many ailments of the spiritual heart that can impair growth and development as a Hebrew. Atherosclerosis is a hardening of the arteries due to accumulated cholesterol plaques and scarring in the artery walls. Hardening of the spiritual heart can also occur. Hardening of the heart occurs when we are presented with Yah’s truth, and we refuse to acknowledge or accept it.




Although Egypt was stricken with one calamity after another when the pharaoh refused to release the Israelites from their bondage, he hardened his heart against the truth that Yah Almighty intended to deliver His people from Egypt (Exodus 7:22; 8:32; 9:34). In Psalm 95:7–8, King David pleaded with his people not to harden their hearts in rebellion against Yah as they did in the wilderness. There are many things that can harden the heart and lead a person to deny Yah, and just like cholesterol blocks blood flow, they keep a Hebrew from having a free flow of Yah’s peace and blessings derived from obedience. Guarding against a rebellious spirit and cultivating a spirit of submissive obedience to Yah’s Word, therefore, is the first step in guarding the heart.




Heart murmurs are abnormal flow patterns due to faulty heart valves. Heart valves act as doors to prevent the backward flow of blood into the heart. Spiritual heart murmurs occur when Hebrews engage in complaining, gossip, disputes, and contention. Hebrews are instructed many times to avoid grumbling, murmuring, and complaining (Exodus 16:3; John 6:43; Philippians 2:14). By engaging in these activities, Hebrews shift their focus away from the plans, purposes, and past blessings of Yah to the things of the world. Yah sees this as a lack of faith, and without faith, it is impossible to please Yah (Hebrews 11:6). Instead, Hebrews are instructed to strive for contentment in all things, trusting in Yah to provide what is needed in His good time (Hebrews 13:5). Guarding against a complaining spirit and cultivating a spirit of gratitude and trust is the second step toward guarding the heart.




Congestive heart failure is an inability of the heart to successfully pump blood through the body due to weaknesses within its walls. Congestive heart failure can result from hypertension (high blood pressure), myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), and abnormal enlargement of the heart. The spiritual equivalents are anger, giving in to temptation, and pride. Anger acts like a poison on the body, both physically and spiritually, and makes Hebrews more vulnerable to the temptation to hurt others with their actions and words. Ephesians 4:31–32 instructs, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Hamachiach Yah forgave you.”




Every Hebrew is locked in a constant, intense war with demonic forces. Many of us become so intent on fighting the external spiritual war that we forget that much of our battle is not with external forces, but with our own mind and thoughts. James 1:14–16 tells us, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.” Sin always begins in the mind. A sinner must first conceive and dwell on the sinful action before he actually carries it out. The first line of defense, therefore, must be to refuse to even contemplate a wrongful action. The apostle Paul tells us to take every thought captive, so that it conforms to the will of Yah (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).




Proverbs 16:18 tells us that pride leads to destruction. Proverbs 16:5, says, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.” Pride was the first great sin of HaSatan, when he thought that he could be like Yah and incited one third of the angels to attempt a coup in heaven (Ezekiel 28:17). For this reason, HaSatan was cast from heaven. HaSatan also tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden by appealing to her ego. He said, “For Yah knows that when you eat from [the forbidden tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Yah, knowing good and evil.” Eve desired to be as wise as Yah, so she capitulated to HaSatan’s advice to eat of the fruit of the tree. Pride was, therefore, the downfall of man, as well. HaSatan did not want man to obey Yah but to become his own Yah—determining for himself reality, meaning, and ethics. This Satanic philosophy is the foundational philosophy of sorcery, secular humanism, and New Age mysticism.




Avoiding anger, pride, and temptation are also critical elements of guarding the heart. The apostle Paul instructs us, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). Dwelling on these things will help to build a guard fence around our hearts.