What's In Your Heart?

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Eze 14:1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. 

Eze 14:2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Certain of the elders came inquiring of the prophet. Many want someone else to tell them good things about themselves and there are plenty of seers who will do just that. Ezekiel was not one of those who speak to please men, but the LORD spoke through him to the hearts of these people. These men had idols in their heart. Anything that is loved more than God, becomes an idol. The men also had evil intent in their hearts. We cannot come to God with sinful hearts except to seek to be forgiven.

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

The LORD seeks those who fear him and do His will.

Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Jer 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Jer 23:26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

Where is your heart?

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God's word gives discernment

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

If the prophets are speaking their own thoughts, the pastors and teachers full of sin, then the message will either be from personal conviction of sin or it will be to entertain the people, so that all feel good. The elders came to Ezekiel expecting to hear some good thing, but the LORD would not hear from them, for he pointed out that they were idolaters and full of sin. Affluence can lead to idolatry. Desiring things can get in the way of our prayers. We must empty ourselves of all hindrances and obey God. There is no greater treasure than to be the servant of the Most High God.