Guard Your Heart

Hello Jeremiah 17:9, my old friend...

Social media has given everyone a megaphone.

Instagram —> That popular chick, Jenny, who thinks people care more than they do.

Facebook —> Slightly crazy Uncle Jed who thinks everyone needs to know what the government is doing.

LinkedIn —> For Brad at work who doesn’t have any hobbies but desperately wants the validation of others.

SnapChat—> For “people” who want to lie to themselves about what people really use the app for.

Tinder —> For “people” who are on a fast-track to end up in counseling with me.

TikTok —> For anyone people who don’t know what the Dunning-Kruger effect is.

HOBBY: I’ve started to get into watching breakdowns of bad-takes folks have on TikTok and it reinforces what we read in Jeremiah 17:9.

Jeremiah 17:9 CSB

9 The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?

Types of False “Teachers”

Humanists — Those who interpret their beliefs through the lens of their reason and their ability to understand what God intends. Colossians 2:8–10 “8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”

Gatekeepers — Individuals who have endured great hardship (voluntarily or involuntary) and now insist all must endure the same to be “real” believers. Colossians 2:18–19 “18 Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind. 19 They don’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.”

Ignorant — Well-meaning deceivers. Also from 1 Timothy 1:7 “7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.”

Argumentative — Pedantic beyond usefulness. 1 Timothy 6:4–5 “4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.”

Sixth Sense: “Some don’t even know they’re dead.” —> Some may not know they are deceiving.

THEREFORE —> Don’t rely on others’ being right.

Guard your own heart… Proverbs 4:20-23

Proverbs 4:20–23 CSB

20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. 21 Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

Think about some of the different types of “false talkers” on faith you may encounter and discuss if you’ve seen examples of these people. What are some of the things you tend to see these types of teachers say? - Humanists (Colossians 2:8-10) - Gatekeepers (Colossians 2:18-19) - The Ignorant (1 Timothy 1:7) - The Argumentative (1 Timothy 6:4-5)

Following The Master

How do we avoid the traps of these false teachers?

Not all are obvious “bad guys” and some may make sense.

I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU TWO HINTS (I gave you 4 bullets last time, so I’m buying one back now and giving you two.)...

Monkey See - Monkey Do

Look for mimicry, not innovation!

John 13:12–17 CSB

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. 16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

It may seem obvious… Reflecting Christ’s humility and compassion is a good indicator

Humble Service, Not Status

Matthew 23:8–12 CSB

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Christ’s words to PHARISEES!

Those seeking power and authority are compromised —> Service to God is the willful surrender of your authority!

Even Paul displayed great humility (how much more humble should servants today be!) … 2 Corinthians 10:1 “1 Now I, Paul, myself, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent.”

Question those who seek to influence you and ask yourself this: does their desire to influence come with benefits of popularity? Enrichment? Status? This does not condemn a teacher, but it should always give you pause to carefully guard your heart of whom you let instruct it.

Read through Christ’s call for His disciples to imitate Him in John 13:12-17 and consider how many spiritual teachers and influencers position themselves today. How does applying the standard of “attempt to be like Christ” start making many of the major religious influences in our world problematic to follow? Read Christ’s harsh words for those who called themselves “religious authorities” in Matthew 23:8-12. How has the aura of celebrity corrupted some church organizations and how does it lead to many being disillusioned with Christianity in general?

Guarding Your Heart is Guarding Others

Guarding your heart is critical to guarding others: how can you serve the needs of others if you aren’t keeping corrupted, selfish, or compromised truths out of your own heart?

Compromised truth allows all kinds of caveats and exceptions to what Christ fully offered. It can cause us to accept things we should not accept and condemn things we have no right to condemn.

A RARE MOMENT THIS SAYING IS TRUE: Help others by helping yourself.

TAGLINE: We are called to two fundamental things: love God and love people. When we guard our hearts and use discernment to remain in truth, we both honor God and show love for others by equipping ourselves to be more like Christ.