TEXT:  Matt. 15:8-9

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OUR HEART SHOULD BE IN OUR RELIGION.

B.      EVERYONE CLAIMS HEART-FELT RELIGION.

C.      IN A BIBLICAL SENSE, WHAT IS HEART-FELT RELIGION?

I.      WHAT IS THE HEART OF THE BIBLE? WHAT DOES IT DO?

A.      INTELLECTUAL PROCESSES( Heb.4:12;  Mar.2:8;  Mat.13:15; Rom.10:10 ).

B.      EMOTIONAL PROCESSES( Matt. 22:37;  2 Sam. 6:16 ).

C.      PROCESSES OF THE WILL( 2 Cor. 9:7 ).

D.      THE HEART IS THE ENTIRE MIND!

II.     THE HEART MUST CHANGE TO PLEASE GOD.      WHAT IS INVOLVED?

A.      ALL AGREE THAT OUR HEART MUST CHANGE.

          1.       Our thinking, reasoning, understanding, belief.  We go from the state of  ignorant unbelief to enlightened belief( Mark 16:16;  Rom. 10:10 ).

          2.       Emotions - Loves and hatreds transferred( Matt. 6:24;  Rom. 12:9 ).

          3.       This will must be changed - we purpose to serve God( Rom. 6:12-13 ).

B.      SOME ACCUSE US OF SAYING THAT THERE IS NO CHANGE, BECAUSE WE DENY THE CHANGE IS MIRACULOUS.

C.      HOW IS THIS CHANGE TO BE WROUGHT?

          1.       Intellect( John 20:30-31;  Rom. 10:17 ).

          2.       Emotions.  Constrained by love( 2 Cor. 5:14;  John 3:16;  1 John 4:19 ).

          3.       Will - Our intellect and emotions govern the will.  One ought not act without the other.

III.    IS A CHANGE OF HEART THE ONLY CHANGE IN CONVERSION?

A.      WHAT WE DO IS A PRODUCT OF THE HEART( Luke 6:43-45 ).

B.      WE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN AND HIS DOINGS( Col. 3:9-10 ).

C.      A MAN MUST DO WHAT HIS INTELLECT TELLS HIM IS RIGHT AND REASONABLE, WHAT HIS EMOTIONS COMPEL, AND WHAT HE HAS          WILLED TO DO( James 1:22-25 ).

D.      THERE WILL FOLLOW A CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIP( 2 Cor. 5:18-20 ).

E.      AND A CHANGE IN DISPOSITION( Phil. 4:4-7 ).

CONCLUSION:  CONSIDER IN YOUR HEART THESE FACTS.

A.      Rom. 3:23;  6:23.

B.      2 Pet. 3:9;  John 3:16

C.      Heb. 5:8-9;  Acts 2:38