Thank you for tuning in tonight with our men's Bible study at Bethel Crossroads Baptist Church in our series the steps of a good man in our lesson tonight We'll be talking about having a genuine heart for God out of Joshua chapter 22 Verses 1 through 6, but our key verse will be verse 5 here January the 7th 20,025 the 18th of today and 5786 of the Hebrew calendar. This is our Wednesday night men's Bible study. Amen. Thank you for joining us as we get in to the wonderful word of God. Amen. Here tonight, as the steps of a good man, as we meet in a fellowship hall, and as we have a great time with each and every one of our men of God, As everything our main scripture is based out of Psalms chapter 37 verse 23, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way. And so a good man's not sinless or perfect, but God-directed, heart-centered, and daily dependent on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And so I'm glad that as we look at the wonderful word of God tonight, we see that God orders the steps of a man whose heart is surrendered, disciplined, and spirit controlled. Spiritual maturity is not accidental. It is built through daily obedience and godly priorities and thankful relationships. And so our first lesson will be having a genuine heart for God. Amen. And so, you know, As we look tonight, sometimes we confuse religious activity with a real heart for God. And so, in Joshua chapter 22, verses 1 through 6, and our key verse being verse 5, a good man begins with a love-driven obedience, not outward duty. God desires a heart that clings to him and not empty service, amen. And so, here tonight, amen, as we get into the wonderful word of God, amen. Let's get ready and open up with a time of prayer and ask the Lord to bless us tonight because he knows exactly what we need before we ask. And so what a blessing to be with you men tonight as we get into the wonderful word of God. Let's ask the Lord, Father, intervene tonight. Lord, as these men gather around and Lord, as you speak to their hearts, many of us Lord tonight, as we come before you, knowing that Lord, that we lack a lot, but Lord, I pray for your overshadowing. Overshadow these men, let them be the spiritual leaders that they need to be. Father, I pray that you'll use these men as they go in and out before the church, Lord, and for their families. And may your hedge of protection be about them. Lord, may you oversee them as they try to, Lord, let their light shine and reflect the image of Christ. But Lord, the greatest thing tonight is that genuine heart. Lord, I pray tonight that you'll begin with me. and that it will flow from breast to breast tonight as you begin to revive our hearts and Lord do a spiritual surgery on each and every one of us and look into the needs that are lacking and Lord where we have drifted and let our heart fade into areas that it shouldn't and bring us back on track Lord on the straight and narrow path as we get into the wonderful word of God tonight out of the book of Joshua and may it be that deliverance of a spiritual leader as Joshua was, to touch us, to step out on faith, and to trust and take you at your word. Bless these men for their efforts tonight coming this way, and for all that they do and say, for our fellowship, for the food, and all that we're having a great time tonight. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen. Well, I'm glad that when we look tonight, is always good to have a little time of worship, amen. And so let's have just a little bit of time of that worship tonight as we get into the wonderful word of God. God knows exactly what we need before we ask. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pound? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you walking daily by the Savior's side? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Do you rest each moment in the crucified? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin. and be washed in the blood of the Lamb. There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean, oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Amen. Praise God. Let me try another one here that I've got that you pray for us as we try this. I wear the belt of truth each day. It helps me walk the righteous way. The breastplate guards my heart so strong. God keeps me safe all day long. My feet are ready with peace to go. The shield of faith will stop the foe. The helmet saves, the sword is near. God's mighty word I hold so dear. God's mighty word I hold so dear. I wear the mail of truth each day. It helps me walk the righteous way. The breastplate guards my heart so strong. God keeps me safe all day long. My feet are ready with peace to go. The shield of faith will stop the fall. The helmet saves, the sword is near. God's mighty word I hold so dear. My feet are ready with peace to go. The shield of faith will stop the fall. The helmet says the sword is near. God's mighty word I hold so dear. God's mighty word I hold so dear. God's mighty word I hold dear. Amen. Praise his mighty name. Boy, ain't the Lord good. Amen. And so, as we look tonight, on the first and third Wednesdays in our men's Bible study, Our layout this year will be Lesson 1, Having a Genuine Heart for God, in Joshua 22, verses 1-6, verse 5. Our second lesson will deal with God in our hearts for continual revival in John 7, verses 37-38, in Ephesians 5, verse 18. Then, Lesson 3, Developing a Consistent Prayer Life, Daniel 6, verses 7-10, and James 1, verses 5-6. Then in lesson four, we'll be talking about living in the control of the Holy Spirit. Galatians chapter 5. verses 7 through 23 and In the book of Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18. Oh, so Will in lesson 5 study in God's Word daily 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 15 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verses 16 and 17 and we'll see in lesson 6 supporting my local church faithfully 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 15 and Hebrews chapter 10 as we get into it and Lesson 7 strengthen my relationship with my wife and Ephesians chapter 5 verse 25 Proverbs chapter 18 verse 22 Lesson 8 growing my children for God's glory and Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4 and lesson 9 Pursuing purity and separation from the world in Romans chapter 12 verse 2 in 2nd Corinthians chapter 6 verse 14 and lesson 10 our last reaching others for the master in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 20 here the steps of a good man as God orders the steps of a man whose heart is surrendered discipline and spirit controlled again our main uh scripture is the steps of a good man are ordered by the lord and he delighteth in his way and so as we look at the steps of a good man that are not random they're ordered by the lord when a man as we see here talks and tells us about that he walks with a sincere heart. Amen. I'm glad each and every one of us as we walk with that sincere heart that we should have. Amen. That God begins to bless us. And so I'm glad that we submit to daily to the spirit. Amen. We build godly disciplines. We lead our family faithfully. We live separated from the world and we serve and we reach others for Christ. And so there are two well-known animals in the world that have free hearts. When I was in First Baptist Land a while back at the conference, These thoughts begin to come to my heart because the two animals with three hearts are two well-known animals in the world that have three hearts, the octopus and the squid. They both belong to the cephaloid family and they share a unique circulatory design. How their three hearts work, each of these animals have two branch or hearts that pump blood to the gills and for oxygen but one systematic heart pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. And why they need three hearts? Their blood uses hominine, a copper-based, which carries oxygen, less deficiency than human hemoglobin, and their active jet-propelled movements demands high oxygen deliberately. And so when they swim, The systematic heart actually slows, which is why octopuses prefer crawling to conserve energy. Even with these three hearts, their system is under a strain. But God has given man just one heart that is sufficient. Because when we look and we realize that the human blood flow One heart that's greater than efficiency because humans operate with one heart and yet it performs remarkably well. Because as we look and we realize that the octopus and the squid and how that we look and we realize that it's here that is these three hearts that are right here. and how that as they come together that we see uh that these hearts this is turned uh where it is facing over this way uh as you see uh the three hearts eight men that are there and so when we look at the human heart it performs so well because it has one powerful heart four chambers two Archer is two verticals of the hemoglobin-based blood, iron-based, extremely efficient oxygen that transports continuously circulation to the brain, to the muscles, to the organs, to the skin. And what one human heart accomplishes, it beats 100,000 times per day, pumps 2,000 gallons of blood daily, supplies oxygen efficiently, even during intense exertion, works continuously for decades, one heart yet greater endurance, and sustainability than animals with three hearts. And so, when we look and realize that one of the greatest dangers for men is confusing activity for authenticity. A man can be busy with religious works and still lack a genuine heart for God. Jesus warned of this reality when he said, Man will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, and then what I'll profess unto him, I never knew you. In Matthew chapter 7, verses 22 and 23. And so, When we look at the comparison of these hearts and knowing that humans have one heart and the octopus and the squid have three. The hemoglobin, that's efficient for man, but the hemokinion, that's less efficient, where it has a copper based in the blood. Well, the endurance of one heart is a long term stamina, where it's short burst for the octopus and the squid. It's strong and continuous that God knew what he was doing when he gave man a heart, one heart that can go and be sustainable for decades, where the squid and octopus have a short life cycle. So the spiritual parallel of one heart fully devoted that men God designed us to operate with one heart not divided loyalties not three Competiting hearts not a heart that split between God's self in the world But one unified heart that scripture never calls for multiple heart. It calls for a whole heart a Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and keep thy heart with all diligence, seeking with all thy heart. And I'm glad that each and every one of us, three hearts do not guarantee strength, but one heart fully committed and accomplishes more than just as a human body thrives with one focused heart. A man's life strives with his heart. with which is undivided before God. And so we see that for men, animals with three hearts still are weak, but men with one surrendered heart can lead families that can endure trials that can remain faithful that can leave godly legacies behind it's the not the number of the hearts that matters it's the condition of the one heart that you have that it would be a genuine heart for god praise god and so i'm glad that we look and see the steps of that good man praise god that each and every one of us goes through that we're not perfect but we're god-directed heart-centered and dependent on the lord amen and so We see that God orders the step of a man whose heart is surrendered and spirit controlled and spiritually mature is built through daily obedience and godly priorities as we see the steps of a good man. And so don't confuse religious activity with a real heart for God. Amen. Salvation and fellowship with God are not based on works, but on a real relationship with him as rusty Lanier says it's based on that relationship that us men have with our Heavenly Father I praise God for that a man is our men come together Tonight and having a great time in the Word of God. Amen. I Each and every one of us we are all saved by receiving Christ not Performing for him as John chapter 1 verse 12 tells us we're saved by mercy not righteousness according to Titus chapter 3 verse 5 and a genuine Relationship begins with repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ according to Acts chapter 20 verse 21 that ongoing fellowship the brother rusty Lanier is talking to us about tonight and A man that begins with repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ a man But it also it is an ongoing fellowship that requires a clean and an honest heart according to first John 1 9 And God has always been concerned with the heart of man Not merely outward obedience and I'm glad at first Samuel chapter 16 verse 7 man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart praise God and so God desires love-driven obedience and not empty sermons. So, we look tonight and realize that religious activity does not equal spiritual authenticity. Salvation is based on relationship, not performance. Saved by receiving Christ, as I said a while ago. And, oh so, saved by mercy in Titus 3, 5. Fellowship requires a clean heart in 1 John 1, 9. And so, tonight in Joshua chapter 22, verses 1 through 4, we look at the wonderful word of God. Israel had rest in victory. And I'm glad that Joshua warned the tribes that success is a dangerous time for the heart. So we see oh so That they were praised for obedience and faithfulness and loyalty because when we look tonight and realize what God is wanting to do We see that that here tonight that all of us as men of God when we look when Israel entered the promised land and God fulfilled every promise that he made according to Joshua chapter 21, verses 43, 44, and 45. But only then did Joshua challenge the tribes with a final command, not about land, but about the heart. And I'm glad that in Joshua chapter 22, verses one through four, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manassas had fulfilled their duty. though their inheritance was on the other side of Jordan they stayed and they fought for their brethren and Joshua commended them for it for their obedience a man and so I'm glad uh for their faithfulness a man and for their loyalty uh as well that we look and we realize that as they did this, praise God, but before sending him home, he issued a very serious warning, success and rest are dangerous times for the heart. And so we look and we realize what he's telling us here He says then joshua called the rubites and the gaddites and they have tribal menaces And he said to them ye have kept all that moses the servant of the lord commanded you and have obeyed My voice and all that i have commanded you you have not left your brethren these many days unto this day But have kept the charge of the commandment of the lord your god Verse three and now the Lord your God has given rest unto your brethren as he promised them Therefore now return ye and get you into your tents and under the land of your possession Which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side Jordan? Well, I'm glad a tested heart is in a time of success because Joshua chapter 22 opens at a moment of victory, a moment of completion and rest. And the major military campaigns in Canaan had ended and the land had been subdued. And Israel was transforming from warfare to settlement. At this point, Joshua calls together the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad and a half tribe of Manasseh, men who had made a costly commitment years earlier, and that commitment was made before the battle. Before Israel ever crossed the Jordan River, these tribes had already received their inheritance on the east side of Jordan. If you go over into the book of Numbers chapter 32 and read about it, but Moses required something of them. They were allowed to settle early only if they would leave their homes on themselves for battle and fight alongside their brethren under every tribe received its inheritance. Well, this was not a short assignment. It was not convenient. It required years of sacrifice. And yet they agreed and they placed unity above comfort and obedience above preference. And so a commitment was made before the battle. I have a genuine heart for God. But secondly, we see a duty that is faithfully fulfilled because Joshua now testifies that they kept their word. He says in verse 2 you have kept all that moses the servant the lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice and all that i commanded you But notice what joshua praises He praises obedience a man and so Uh, i'm glad that that is one of the things they obeyed god's command and god's appointed leaders and they did not Reinterpret the the command or shorten the commitment True obedience is proven over time and not in moments. And so Joshua praises their obedience, but also their faithfulness. Joshua says they kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord in verse three. Faithfulness means they stayed when it would have been easier to leave. Many men start well, but few remain faithful when the sacrifice is long. And so obedience was one that Joshua praises for. Faithfulness was one that Joshua praised for. Loyalty was one that Joshua praised for. They fought for the land that they would never personally possess. Their loyalty was not to geography, it was to God's people. And that reflects a mature heart. I will stand with my brothers even when I gain nothing personally. And so, I'm glad that they had endurance as well. They have not left your brethren these many days in verse three. This was years of battle, years of danger, years of separation from family and fatigue. And endurance reveals the depth of a man's heart. anyone can be faithful for a season but endurance provides sincerity and so a commitment was made before the battle a duty that faithfully was fulfilled and a danger of success and rest because in verse 4 it makes a turning point again look at verse 4 that he said and now the lord your god hath given rest unto your brethren as he promised them. Therefore, now return ye and get you into your tents and under the land of your possession, which Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you on the other side, Jordan. Well, he said, you know what? The battle's over. Hey, the pressure's gone. The mission is complete. And this is where Joshua grows concerned. Why? Because rest often reveals what battle conceals. You see, in hardship, men depend on God. In success, men drift from God. In war, men pray. In peace, men grow careless. Joshua understood the critical spiritual truth that victory does not guarantee faithfulness. A man's heart can move more vulnerable after success than during the struggle. And so we saw the commitment that was made before the battle, a duty that was faithfully fulfilled, and a danger of success and rest. But why Joshua issues a warning before sending them home, because Joshua could have simply praised them and just dismissed them, but he doesn't. Before blessing them, he prepares to challenge their hearts in verses 5 and 6 that we see. He says, but take diligence Take but take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which moses the servant of the lord charged you To love the lord your god to walk in all his ways to keep his commandments and to cleave unto him And to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul He goes on in verse six. So joshua blessed them and sent them away and they went under their tents Well, you know what? Why? Because they're returning to a land that is separated by Jordan. Distance can weaken devotion, comfort can dull conviction, and blessing can produce spiritual negligence. Joshua knows that the external obedience must be guarded by an internal devotion. What does that mean? Joshua knows that that external obedience must be guarded by an internal devotion, meaning that true and that lasting obedience must be guarded by uh uh means uh that true and lasting obedience or doing what is expected from the outside comes from a deep inner commitment or belief in simpler terms to truly follow something men or someone, the actions, the external obedience must be supported by that genuine heartfelt dedication, that internal devotion. In other words, if you only follow rules or commands without truly believing in or valuing them internally, it might not be sustainable or meaningful in the long run. So true devotion comes from within. and endures that actions on the outside reflect that inner belief or commitment. And so this passage teaches us that you can fulfill your duty and still be spiritually at risk. You can win battles and still lose vigilance. You can serve God publicly and neglect him privately. Success and rest are dangerous times for the heart. and that is why the verse that uh calls them in verse five to love the lord to walk in his ways to keep his commandments and to serve him with all of their heart and soul in verse five now as we start out And I'm glad that when Israel entered the promised land, God fulfilled every promise that he made. Amen. Only then did Joshua challenge the tribes with a final command. Well, as you men are being challenged tonight to have a genuine heart for God. I hope and pray that tonight, that when we look at a tested heart in a time of success, that a commitment is made before the battle. And notice what Joshua praises, their obedience, their faithfulness, their loyalty, and their endurance. And then a duty that is faithfully fulfilled, praise God, that he talks about and that he tells them. Then we see, thirdly, the danger of success and rest, as he tells them. That because rest often reveals what battle conceals, that victory does not guarantee faithfulness. And that why does Joshua issue a warning before sending them home? because Joshua could have simply praised them and to miss them, but he doesn't. But before blessing them, he prepares to challenge their hearts. And I'm glad why? Because they are returning to a land separated by the Jordan. Distance can weaken devotion. Comfort can dole conviction and blessings can produce spiritual negligence. And so Joshua knows that that external obedience must be guarded by an internal devotion. Praise God. And so, first of all, as we start out with the five marks of a genuine heart tonight that we speak on behalf of having a genuine heart for God. First of all, the first of the five marks of a genuine heart of the steps of a good man are this. Love the Lord. Love the Lord. And that is Because love not the world neither the things that are in the world in first john chapter 2 verse 15. You see a genuine heart Begins with proper affection and what a man loves will control his priorities and the world competes aggressively for a man's heart And christ is love must constrain us as paul said in second corinthians chapter 5 verse 14. Amen And so a genuine heart begins with proper affection True love for God produces a gratitude as the Hebrew writer says in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 15. A true heart for God produces not only gratitude, But it also produces praise and a true heart for god produces a willingness to let go of worldly Attachments and a divided heart will always produce divided living And so what a man loves controls his priorities and the world competes for the heart And christ is love constrains us as paul said in second corinthians chapter 5 verse 14 And so the steps of a good man as we look secondly not only do we look and see to love the lord as a mark of a genuine heart but secondly to walk in all his ways because in all of his ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths in proverbs chapter three verses five and six walking with god is not occasional It is daily, it is deliberate, and it is consistent. And so, Enoch walked with God in Genesis chapter 5 verse 22. God's word lights our path in Psalms 119 verse 105. Walking in God's ways brings liberty and not bondage in Psalms 119 verse 45. And men often walk God's direction without God's discipline. But direction follows submission, praise God. And so, I'm glad we look And we see that we're to walk in all his ways walking with God is daily and deliberate that we acknowledge him in all ways in Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 God's Word lights our path in Psalms 119 verse 105 and direction follows submission and when we see the steps of a good man We see for that third mark of a genuine heart because that first mark of a genuine heart was to love the Lord secondly to walk in all of his ways, but thirdly to It is to keep his commandments because for the good that I would, I do not. And Romans chapter seven, verse 19, Paul was so sophisticated, so educated. He could say things that we couldn't even understand way beyond our understanding. But he says, you know what? Every time I try to do good, I do bad. And when I try to do bad, I do good. He says, I can't even control it. He says, for the good that I would, I do not. Obedience is a struggle for every man, but victory is possible. through christ and so the flesh fights obedience but christ provides strength in philippians 4 13 and obedience flows from love not obligation in first john chapter 5 verses 2 and so obedience is a struggle but victory is possible the flesh resists christ supplies the strength in philippians 4 13 and obedience flows from love in first john 5 uh Verses verse 3 but also a man who truly loves God will desire to obey him even when it is difficult And so we see the steps of a good man Because here when we look at the five marks of that genuine heart of the steps of a good man We talked about to love the Lord We talked about secondly to walk in all of his ways thirdly to keep his commandments but fourthly to cleave and unto him, amen, to be able to cleave unto him. I'm glad that Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7, for we walk by faith and not by sight. And to cleave, it means to hold fast, to remain attached, to refuse separation. Faith is essential. You see, a lot of people think that faith is just automatic, but I never knew what faith was until I watched my mother go and feed us all wheat with a loaf of bread. She knew how to do things. She could take nothing and make something. But she had faith. And it takes faith for somebody else to have faith to show somebody else what faith is. And my mother showed me what faith was. Faith was the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And so, faith is essential. And without faith, it is impossible to please God, as the Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 11, verse 6. The just live by faith in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 38. A genuine heart stays close to God even when circumstances do not make sense. And so to cleave means to hold fast and to refuse that separation. Walk by faith and not by sight in 2 Corinthians 5 7. Faith pleases God in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6. And a genuine heart stays close to his trials. The steps of a good man we see fifthly of that fifth mark of a genuine heart. Because first of all, we talked about to love the Lord. Secondly, to walk in all of his ways. Thirdly, to keep his commandments. Fourthly, to cleave unto him. But fifthly, that fifth mark of a genuine heart. And that is to serve him wholeheartedly, praise God. I'm glad in Joshua chapter 22, verse 5, our key verse for this entire lesson for our men's Bible study. To serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, praise God. Because true service flows from devotion, not duty. And so Jesus set the example in Mark chapter 10, verse 45. He said, the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And so God is not impressed by our position. Hey, it's the same at the foot of the cross. Whoever you are a man, wherever you are, there's no one better than no one else. It's equal ground at the foot of the cross, praise God. It doesn't matter about your position. Hey, it doesn't matter about your title. It doesn't matter about your visibility. He's pleased by wholehearted service rooted in love, praise God. And so I'm glad that we serve him wholeheartedly. True service flows from devotion, not duty. And we see that Jesus came to serve, to serve him with all your heart, with all of your soul. And God values faithfulness over position. The Son of Man came not to be ministering to, but to minister. In Mark chapter 10, verse 45, the steps of a good man. As we close out, God is still searching for men whose hearts are fully his. A genuine heart. Boy, God seeks those men and through that genuine heart. We can love God and we can walk in his ways and we can obey his word. Amen Because this is exactly what joshua chapter 22 verse 5 was talking about all of this He said cleaves by faith here as we talk about our outline again of the five marks of a genuine heart To love the lord. Well, we love god to walk in all of his ways to walk in his ways to obey his word to cleave by faith and to serve wholeheartedly praise god men that's our challenge as joshua challenged those three tribes that they had done a good job but he gave them a warning that don't be too relaxed and too restful in your ways because uh that will trip you up David should have been out for battle But he was on the rooftop and it got him in trouble with Bathsheba and it called sin to come into his life Well, we look at the steps of a good man our final challenge God is still searching for men whose hearts are fully his and in that final challenge we look and we realize that Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23 keep thy heart with all diligence a man and so I I'm glad as second chronicles chapter 16 verse 9 for the eyes of the lord run to and fro to shoe himself strong in behalf of Of them whose heart is perfect toward him because i'm glad that a genuine heart loves the lord walks in his ways And i'm glad that here you've got to guard your heart diligently everything in your life everything in your family everything in leadership everything in faithfulness and legacy flows from the heart as proverbs writes keep thy heart with all diligence amen and so i'm glad as i close out everything in your life flows from the heart seek the lord with all your heart and soul But you know, one of the last things that I put in our outline that you can't see on here is Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29. I put it on the outline that will be in a downloadable PDF that goes with this Bible study that you can download. But in this scripture is very powerful. It's an old scripture that sounds like New Testament. The bible teaches us out of second peter that you're to understand the old testament before you understand the new testament because it's the foundation well Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29, but if from vince thou shalt seek the lord by god thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul That's deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29. It sounds like new testament, doesn't it? And he's telling us to guard the heart because it's the source of a man's life And so, as men, scripture reminds us that the heart is not merely emotional. It is directional. Everything that we become flows from it. Our leadership in the home, our integrity in private, our faithfulness to God, our legacy to the next generation. Because a guarded heart is not a hardened heart. It's a disciplined heart, one that refuses corruption, compromise, or divided loyalty. And I'm glad that the spiritual failure rarely begins publicly. It begins internally, when a man stops guarding what he allows into his heart, and when the heart drifts, the life soon follows. When I did, I was for the defense force and for, helped do some instructing in the chaplaincy for land navigation. And, you know, if you take a map and if you don't set it toward the true north and get it set up in the layout, you will always be 20 degrees to 30 degrees off of wherever your destination is. You've got to align your direction of your map with the layout of the lane. So we've got to guard the heart because it's the source of man's life, but deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29 But if from this thou shalt seek the lord by god thou shalt find him and if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29. It gives us both a promise and a condition It gives us that god promises to be found but only by men who seek him fully and not partially not casually Not conveniently, but with all the heart and with all the soul. When you seek God with all of your heart and with all of your soul, he says from Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29, you gonna find him. That's the steps of a good man. And I'm glad that whatever religious activity can never replace heart pursuit. A man may attend church, they may lead a family, they may teach scripture, and they may still not be seeking God with their whole heart. God is not impressed by a divided devotion. He responds to a surrendered pursuit. And so Joshua's charge was that obedience flows from the heart. That he says, take diligence to heed to do the commandments and the law and to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all of your soul. Joshua does not merely command obedience. He commands heart obedience. And so biblical faith is never intellectual alone. It is a covenant and relational. God desires men whose obedience is driven by love and not obligation. A genuine heart for God will show itself in consistent obedience, loyal service, spiritual endurance, unwavering devotion. Praise God. And so, men, here's the final challenge. Guard your heart diligently because what you allow in will eventually come out. Seek the Lord completely. Not when it's easy, but when it costs you something. Love and serve God wholeheartedly. Not out of duty, but I'm telling you, out of devotion. And so I'm glad that when you seek the Lord completely, Not when it's easy, but when it costs you something. But love and serve God wholeheartedly. Not out of duty, but out of devotion. Because your family does not need a perfect man. There's no perfect man that exists out there. No, there's not. And so each and every one of us, as we look and realize that there's no one that's perfect out there, none of us are perfect. None of us will ever be perfect, praise God. And so I'm glad that your family does not need a perfect man. Your church does not need a famous man, but God is calling for faithful men, men with genuine hearts. And so the steps of a good man always begins here, a heart fully given to God. And so, as I close out, I hope and pray. Lord, thank you for these men. I pray for those special needs tonight. Lord, on our prayer bulletin of Bethel Cross Road, Touch these men tonight. And Lord, I ask your blessings upon their lives and all they do, all they touch. They'll be protected under your watchful care and your love and their families. Let them be the leaders that you know they can be. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen. God bless.