Maintaining a Pure Heart - 5

Maintaining a Pure Heart

Make up your mind! Sanctify the Lord God in your

heart Choose your company

carefully Be zealous for good works “Meditate on these things”

Meditate…• Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren,

whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Meditate…

•NOT the meditation of Eastern religions where one trains the mind to achieve an altered state so as to clear one’s mind.

•“To reflect on, contemplate.”www.thefreedictionary.com/meditate

Meditate…• In the New Testament, (λογίζομαι,

logizomai), “to think about something in a detailed and logical manner…” (L&N, 30.9)

•“Think on these things” (KJV) “Dwell on these things” (NASU)

Meditate…

•On of the key principles of the pure heart is what we think about.

•Luke 6:45, Matt. 15:18-19,•What we think will govern our

actions and be reflected in the way we live our lives.

Meditate…•But can we control our thoughts?•Phil. 4:8, a command•2 Cor. 10:4-5, “bringing every

thought into captivity.”•1 Cor. 13:5, Love… “is not

provoked, thinks no evil.”

Meditate…•While our thoughts are often

involuntary, they ARE a reflection of what is in our hearts.

•How do you react when confronted by another or offended? Cf. 1 Pet. 2:21-23 – consider Jesus

•WHAT do we allow into our minds?

Meditate…•Phil. 4:8, Whatever things are…• True – honest – Eph. 4:25• Noble – dignified, respectful – Rom. 12:17

• Just – right and fair – Jas. 5:16• Pure – without moral defect or blemish

– Matt. 5:8

Meditate…•Phil. 4:8, Whatever things are…• Lovely – pleasant.• Of good report – that which deserves

approval – cf. 1 Thess. 5:22• Virtuous – integrity – 2 Pet. 1:5• Praiseworthy – deserving praise•Do we meditate on these types

of things?

Meditate…

•Involves God’s word

•John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.”

•John 15:3, clean because of the word spoken

Meditate…

•Involves God’s word

•Psa. 119:140, “Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.”

Meditate…• Involves God’s word•Psa. 119:97-99, “Oh, how I love

Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.”

Meditate…

•Involves God’s word

•Psa. 119:15, “I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.”

Meditate…

• Involves God’s word

•Col. 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”

•1 Pet. 2:2, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”

Meditate…• Involves God’s word•Psa. 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”

IF you want a pure heart, work on what you allow to

enter your mind!

Examine yourself

•2 Cor. 13:5 “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”

Examine yourself•“Blessed are the pure in heart…”•Psalm 26:2, “Examine me, O

LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.” See vs. 3-5. David did not fear examination from God.

•Do we need a spiritual audit?•Examination no good if not applied

Keep going

•NEVER give up!

•Luke 13:24, “strive”

•Phil. 1:27, “striving together”

•1 Cor. 9:24-27, striving, like that of an athlete, with certainty.

Keep going

•NEVER give up!

•1 Cor. 15:58, “steadfast, immovable, always abounding…”

•Gal. 6:9, “in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”

Keep going

•Reaching forward!

•Phil. 3:12-14, forgetting the past, reaching forward, we press toward the goal.

We CAN maintain our pure hearts.

Will you put forth the needed effort?