1. Dangers to the pure heart - 3

2.  It is imperative that we maintain a pure heart (Prov. 4:23, 3:5-6)  BUT, there are dangers to keeping the heart pure.  In this lesson we will discuss some of these dangers

3. Dangers Lust - Sensuality Lust – Covetousness and Pride Ignorance & Unbelief Business & clutter Double mindedness (compromise) Bitterness and Anger The tongue

4. Ignorance Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me;…”

5. Ignorance Ignorance – ἄ γνοια, (agnoia) not to know, not to recognize, disregard, not to understand (BDAG). Often it has a deliberate connotation to it.

6. Ignorance Ignorance IS destructive “Ignorance is bliss” NO, it is not! Ignorance can kill you, ruin trust. Yet many thrive on ignorance

7. Ignorance Ignorance a spiritual danger It leaves the heart vulnerable to dilution and pollution Many not interested in truth Ignorance sometimes is encouraged! Willful ignorance

8. Ignorance Ignorance can lead to error False teachers prey on the ignorant – Rom. 16:18, 2 Pet. 2:1-3 Whether sincere or willful – it is STILL ignorance. Leads to error – 1 Tim. 1:5-7

9. Ignorance Paul WAS ignorant 1 Tim. 1:13, Ac. 26:9 When he learned the truth he changed (difference between willful and sincere) His work – Acts 26:18, “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light…”

10. Ignorance To say that one’s heart is good even though he is ignorant is like a blind man saying he has good eyesight. Eph. 4:18, “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.” ( cf. Matt. 15:14 )

11. Ignorance Prov. 19:2, “Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.”

12. Ignorance James 1:26, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

13. Ignorance 2 Cor. 2:11, “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Tim. 2:23 “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”

14. Ignorance 1 Pet. 1:14, “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;”

15. Ignorance Acts 17:30-31, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained...”

16. Ignorance Ignorance will not save We must believe! John 3:16, Mk 16:16 What must we believe? The TRUTH! How do we learn what to believe? Rom. 10:17, Jn. 8:32 Knowledge is the key to overcoming ignorance 2 Tim. 2:15, Ac. 17:10-11 Psa. 1:1-2, 119:97

17. Unbelief Heb. 3:12, Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;”

18. Unbelief Many today believe in God, even strongly. They might even profess to love Him. BUT many do NOT believe God! They willfully reject His commands! Question His severity – Rom. 11:22, 2:1-11

19. Unbelief King Saul did not believe God 1 Sam. 15:22-23 “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

20. Unbelief Mark 16:14, Jesus rebuked His disciples because of their unbelief and hardness of hearts because they did not believe He had arisen from the dead.

21. Unbelief Rev. 21:8, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

22. Unbelief Unbelief MUST be dealt with! IF you don’t believe what God says, your heart will explain it away! Almost always in YOUR favor! Cf. 1 John 5:10 Uncompromising faith is the key to overcoming unbelief! Matt. 7:21-23, Matt. 28:19-20 1 John 2:3-6

23. “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26 Do you believe God with all your heart? Will you obey Him?