1. “Follow your heart!”
Proverbs 16:1-6

2. The Heart Created in the image of God, Gen. 1:26-27; 2:25
Born innocent, Matt. 18:3; Rom. 7:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
What happened? Eccl. 7:29

3. Temptation and Sin
Lusts from within and enticements from without, Jas. 1:12-16
“They have sought out many schemes” Eccl. 7:29
Sin takes opportunity, Rom. 7:8, 11
“Sin lies at the door” – Must rule over it, Genesis 4:7

4. Temptation and Sin
Foolish to trust your heart as your standard and guide, Prov. 28:26; 16:25
Our ways are pure to us, but God judges, Prov. 16:1-3
Contrast man’s heart and God’s counsel, Prov. 19:21
Cain & Abel: Do not “follow your heart”

5. “Follow your heart!” In personal faith, Gen. 4:3-5; Heb. 11:4
Cain: Followed his heart; Not righteous
Abel: Acted by faith; Righteous
Saul, Acts 26:9; 1 Tim. 1:13
Heart may convince us we have personal faith, but what does the Bible say?!

6. “Follow your heart!”
In religious service, Gen. 4:3-5; Heb. 11:4 (Jas. 1:26)
Cain: Gave what he knew & valued: It was what he wanted to give – Rejected
Abel: Gave what he knew & valued: It was what God wanted him to give – Accepted

7. “Follow your heart!”
Service offered without God’s word of approval is rejected, Matthew 7:21-23
Worship (Jno. 4:24)
The church (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23)
Doctrine (Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 3:10)
-Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 17:9-

8. “Follow your heart!” In personal morality, Gen. 4:8 (Mk. 7:21)
Cain: Anger, hate and murder
Works were evil, 1 Jno. 3:12, 10
Anger, Gen. 4:5-6
Premeditation, Gen. 4:8
Liar, Gen. 4:9
Abel: Works were righteous, 1 Jno. 3:12

9. “Follow your heart!” In personal morality
Evil language, Eph. 4:29; 5:4
Heart that is not converted to purity
Worldly values & conduct, 1 Pet. 4:1-3
Mind that is controlled by the flesh
Dishonesty, Eph. 4:25; 1 Pet. 2:12
Heart that is deceiving itself
-Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 17:9-

10. “Follow your heart!” In family values, Gen. 4:9 (1 Jno. 3: 11-12)
Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
No love in his heart
Family love and brotherly love, Col. 3:19; Titus 2:4; 1 John 3:13-15

11. “Follow your heart!”
Many unloving things while “following my heart,” Gen. 4:9 (1 Jno. 3:11-12)
Divorce, Matthew 19:6
Demanding and selfish, Eph. 5:21, 33
Disobey parents, Ephesians 6:1-3
Disrespectful of each other, Matt. 7:12
-Prov. 16:25; Jer. 17:9-

12. The heart is deceitful Not because God created it that way
Because we yield to temptation
Sin distorts, damages and destroys the heart’s purity and innocence
Cain: Following heart led to vain worship, anger, hatred, murder, lying and curse (Jude 11)
Abel: Lived by faith in God & His word