Protect Your Heart

1 Timothy 1

Introduction:

1. The principle for tonight’s      lesson is found in verse 5, "But the end of the charge is   love out      of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned.”

a.      The theme is based upon 1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.”

b.     1 Timothy 4:16 says, "Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in    these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.”

c.      1 Timothy 5:22 says, "Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.”

2. The Bible underscores how sin results from a failure to protect the heart, thus emphasizing the need to protect it.

A. 2 Chronicles 25:2 says, "And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, but not with a perfect heart”

 B. Proverbs 15:28 says, "The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”

C. Matthew 12:34 says, "Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

 D. Matthew 15:18-19, "But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings.”

E. Zechariah 8:17, "And let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah.”

F. Proverbs 22:15, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; (But) the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

G. Matthew 18:35, "So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive no every one his brother from your hearts.

 H. Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.”

4. The Bible says much about need to diligently protect our hearts.

Discussion:

I will protect my heart by…

I. WATCHING THE GOAL (v. 5).

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

  II. AVOIDING THE DANGER (vv. 3-4).

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

 III. MARKING THE DEFECTORS (vv. 6-11, 18-20)

6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

 IV. PURSUING GRACE (vv. 12-17)

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.