A PURE HEART

Psalms 24

1. The earth is Jehovah's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.

2. For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.

3. Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place?

4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And hath not sworn deceitfully.

5. He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

THINGS THAT CORRUPT

A HEART

Ecclesiastes 7:27-29 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account; 28. which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29. Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye

shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven Matthew 18:1-4

Avenues of Temptation

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The lust of the flesh

• Ephesians 2:1-5

• Galatians 5:16-17

• 1 Peter 2:11

• 1 Peter 4:1-2

• Romans 13:14 • Galatians 5:24

The lust of the eyes

• Proverbs 6:24-29

• Matthew 5:27-29

• 2 Peter 2:12-15

• Psalm 101:1-4

The pride / vain glory of life

• Proverbs 16:5

• Proverbs 16:17-19

• Proverbs 29:23

• Mark 7:21-23

• Psalms 101:1-8

• Malachi 4:1 • 1 Peter 5:5-6

PURITY OF HEART Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God

Purity through forgiveness

and...

Can You Do It Alone?

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Have you been forgiven of your sins?

Obedience to the Truth1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:

Baptism

• the transformation is just beginning

• one must put off the old man of sin – and put on the NEW man which has been created to bear the image of God

• thus begins the process of restructuring the heart – to be pure (obedient)

Romans 6:17-18

But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; 18. and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

Romans 12:12

And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God

Psalm 51:6-10 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom. 7. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9. Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

A pure heart = a renewed mind • renewal comes through

reprogramming the brain to think different thoughts

• it is a matter of “learning” – or rather, re-learning

• it will be facilitated through the “doctrine of Christ” – when we learn Christ

• Ephesians 4:17-24 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18. being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; 19. who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20. But ye did not so learn Christ; 21. if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 22. that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23. and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24. and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Maintaining purity of heart

• being forgiven – being transformed (a lifelong process) are the keys to having a pure heart.

• it is a work of God – by His grace (forgiveness) we become pure as HE molds us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus

• but, we must submit to His working in us

Philippians 2:12-13

So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13. for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

We have to do our part

• it will take a tremendous sacrifice of self to keep our hearts pure

• are you willing to “give up” – on self... and all the things that appeal to your flesh, attract your eyes and puff you up?

• can we recognize that it will be through these avenues that Satan will seek to infuse every evil thing into your heart?

• Television

• Computer / internet

• Video / downloaded

• Radio (music)

• Games, entertainment

• Magazines, books

• Turn away

• Turn it off

• Give it up

• Run away

• Don’t look back

Do you think these are good strategies?

1 Timothy 1:5 But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:

2 Timothy 2:20-22

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work. 22. after righteousness, faith, love, pace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Psalms 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, Even to such as are pure in heart.