The Searcher of Hearts
Psa 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”
“How can God, the pure and holy one, with such intimate and unerring knowledge, tolerate wicked men?” Leslie G. Thomas
Prov 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee”
Faith is contrasted with doubt.
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”
1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law”
In what way are we to Search?
1. No one can thoroughly search himself. Heart
Jer 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”
He may be more good than he realizes.
He may be more evil than he expects.
Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
1 Cor 4:3-4 “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord”
Heb 4:12-13 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder…
Heb 4:12-13 …of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature…
Heb 4:12-13 …that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do”
John 3:19-21 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil…
John 3:19-21 …hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
2. Tests to which we are subject. Heart
Jer 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”
We are searched by the slow and steady passing of the years.
Matt 25:14-30 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents…
Matt 25:14-30 …to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents…
Matt 25:14-30 …went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one…
Matt 25:14-30 …went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five…
Matt 25:14-30 …talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord…
Matt 25:14-30 …said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy…
Matt 25:14-30 …lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord…
Matt 25:14-30 …said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy…
Matt 25:14-30 …lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where…
Matt 25:14-30 …thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and…
Matt 25:14-30 …slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers…
Matt 25:14-30 …and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every…
Matt 25:14-30 …one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath…
Matt 25:14-30 …And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”
Matt 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have…
Matt 7:21-23 …we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”
John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”
1 John 5:17 “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death”
3. What is the purpose. Heart
Jer 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”
Prov 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee”
Our own way is a way of emptiness.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”
Our own way is a way of pain.
Prov 13:15 “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard”
Our own way is a way of destruction.
Prov 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”
Matt 12:30 “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad”
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”
The Searcher of Hearts
Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”
Matt 10:32-33 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” OROR
Luke 8:21 “And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it”
Rom 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”
Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”
Hear Believe Repent Confess Baptized SALVATION Heart