OUTLINE:

Beware Where You Turn
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Cor 11:3

Only God's wisdom from God's Word can protect your heart from deception.

The hearts of men are in the middle of the spiritual battle.

Faith Changes Everything
Faith is the vehicle, or the avenue, by which Christ can dwell in our hearts. And the heart is cleansed by faith in Christ; Acts 15:8-9, Eph 3:17. This happens at salvation, by grace through faith, and after salvation we are to guard what we've been given.

A Spiritual Tug of War
In this world, there is a constant pull in the other direction; sometimes from individuals, or the media, or authorities, etc... there's a pull for you to turn towards them in some way... trying to sway your heart towards the world's ways.

A Spiritual Tug of War
There's a temptation for the good soldier to abandon ship... to seek an easier life that doesn't involve discipline (i.e. living for self)... yet it's end is the way of death, AND we miss out on the glory of serving our Lord and King.

A Spiritual Tug of War
But we choose to be used by the Spirit, and to ignore the temporary, fleeting temptations of the world that tell us to live for self. For we believers look forward to seeing Him very soon, with no regrets!

Straight Ahead
Keep your eyes on the Cross and the absolute truth of God's Word, and don't be swayed to turn to the right or the left.

Jer 15:19c
They for their part may turn to you, but as for you, you must not turn to them.

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, and stand firm. 
1Pe 3:15, Eph 6:10-17

"Turning" in the Spiritual Walk
Repentance and faith are the daily way to walk with God, to be delivered daily from sin and death, experientially.

Where we build up our treasure will influence where our heart looks to for security.

Persuading The Heart
The world will tell you that you "have to" save up money. Save up for this, save up for that, save up for your future....

Persuading The Heart
Another catch phrase in our society is: "you've got to pay yourself first", implying even before you pay your bills etc... you "have to" save for your future.

A Grateful Heart
We should be "paying" God first, out of immense gratitude for His grace provisions, even the ones we work hard for.

Heart Issues
Where is your heart regarding saving money? Is your heart hooked on it, for fear of not having enough one day??? The issue is what your heart is trusting in: in possessions or in the Lord!

Heart Issues
Wherever you store up your treasure, your heart will be preoccupied with.

Heart Issues
Who are you trusting in your heart; man or God?? (Jer 17)

Perspective Check
If Holy Scripture says we are pilgrims just passing through, and our prototype the Lord Jesus had nowhere to lay His head, why would we want to try and build up our own little kingdom down here??!

Treasure and The Heart
It's about bondage in the heart that's created by storing up treasure on earth. It's about relying on the things of this world instead of the Lord.

Jer 15:19c
They for their part may turn to you, but as for you, you must not turn to them.

Guard Your Hearts!
When you offer people the Gospel of Jesus Christ, be prepared to stand firm in the faith!

Guard Your Hearts!
You will allow them to turn to you (the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ), but you will be not be turned by them.

Swayed By Sentimentality?
Jeremiah truly had to be on guard for being swayed from the Truth by sentimentality, as do we.

Swayed By Sentimentality?
The Prophet Ezekial had a similar call to the stubborn children of Israel, and he likewise had to stand firm, not turning towards or joining his rebellious brethren. Eze 2:1-8

Walking By Faith...
Wherever the Spirit goes or leads, we go, without turning as we go! (i.e. Eze 1:12)

Walking By Faith...
...are we listening for the Spirit's direction for our day, and obeying Him without turning to our own ideas?...or are we so locked into our own agenda for the day, that we ignore the Spirit, or we hear Him but push Him aside???

Walking By Faith...
...is your heart open to the Spirit's leading each day?...and if so, do you obey when He directs you, without turning to the right or left??

Be On Guard
Our heart should not turn to the right or the left. Our heart should be set on His good news, and sharing the ideas of repentance and faith with others, without compromise.

Paul's Steadfast Example
Paul lived his life and his ministry like a strong, thick oak tree. He wasn't moving in his stand for truth. And that reliability, and that strength in the message of the Gospel, saved a lot of people's lives, and protected a lot of souls.

2 Thess 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.