Sunday, December 8, 2013
am
PURER IN HEART (22)
Maintaining a Pure Heart – 5
Meditate on These Things
a.
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.”
b.
What is meditation?
When we hear the word today what
usually comes to mind is Eastern thought (associated with eastern
religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.) in which one seeks to train
the mind to achieve an altered state in which you clear your mind so as
to “get in touch with yourself “or “get in touch with reality.”
While there is something to be said about clearing the mind of
clutter, that is NOT the intended meaning of this word in our text.
Meditate is actually defined as, “To reflect on, contemplate” or to plan
in the mind, intend.
[1]
The New Testament word (λογίζομαι, logizomai) is defined as, “to think
about something in a detailed and logical manner – ‘To think about, to
reason about, to ponder, reasoning.’” (L&N, 30.9)
The KJV says, “Think on these things.”
NASU says, “Dwell on these things.”
c.
One of the key principles to a pure heart is what we think about.
As we introduced the heart, we
noted that Jesus taught our words and attitudes proceed from our heart
(Luke 6:45, Matt. 15:18-19). In
essence He was saying what we think about will govern our actions and be
reflected in the way we live our lives.
Therefore, a key to the pure heart is controlling the things we
think about.
d.
BUT can we control our
thoughts?
i.
According
to scripture the answer is YES.
Philippians 4:8 IS a command! (Verb, Present, Imperative – command)
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal
but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ,”
1 Cor. 13:5 describes love saying it “does
not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil…”
(NOTE: “thinks” is the same Greek word as in Phil. 4:8)
ii.
We understand that thoughts come, often involuntarily, but what we
must realize is that they are a reflection of our hearts.
In other words, the way you are going to think when confronted
with a set of circumstances is determined by the type of heart you have.
For example: A brother says
something to you that offends you (not doctrinally wrong, but poor word
choice, etc.). How do you
respond? Do you retaliate in
kind or do you bear and endure it in love (1 Cor. 13:7)?
We hear of people with bad tempers and others who control their anger.
It’s a matter of the heart!
A biblical example of this is found in 1 Peter 2:21-23 – Jesus, when
reviled, He did not revile in return.
iii.
So controlling our thoughts depends upon what we allow into our minds
(e.g. who we associate with, sanctifying God in our hearts, what we
watch and where we go, etc.)
e.
Paul’s point in Philippians 4:8 is that we meditate on “whatever things
are”:
i.
True – that
which is fact or not a lie.
Eph. 4:25
“Therefore, putting away lying,
“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members
of one another.”
Early in this study we discussed the need for BRUTAL honesty with
ourselves. WE need the same
type of honesty in dealing with God’s word (in a moment) and with
others. Be truthful in your
dealings and assessment of others (avoid prejudice, truthful judgment of
motives, benefit of the doubt, etc.)
“Since you have purified your
souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the
brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,” (1 Peter
1:22)
ii.
Noble
– that which is appropriate, dignified and respectful – It is the word
translated “reverent” of deacons, leader’s wives and older men (1 Tim.
3:8, 11; Titus 2:2). We need
to be courteous, honorable and honest in our dealings with others.
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in
the sight of all men.” (Romans 12:17)
iii.
Just
– that which is right and fair.
Jas. 5:16 speaks of the effective fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much.
iv.
Pure
– one of the words we have been discussing throughout this study.
It means to be without moral defect or blemish. Matt. 5:8.
1 John 3:3, “And everyone
who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
v.
Lovely
– that which is pleasant.
Used only here. We ought to
always strive to be pleasant before others.
vi.
Of Good report – that which deserves our approval
and/or has a good reputation.
Also found only in this text.
We need to think of things that will preserve our reputation and
render us above reproach. 1
Thess. 5:22 says, “Abstain from every form of evil.” – we avoid those
things that are the opposite of this word.
vii.
Virtuous
– the quality of being morally excellent.
I think again of integrity that we discussed early on in the
qualities of a pure heart (2 Pet. 1:5).
viii.
Praiseworthy – that which is deserving of praise.
There are many things worthy of praise – God, Jesus, His word, godly
brethren, godly conduct, etc.
ix.
These are all the things we are to “meditate” upon.
f.
It involves the direction of God’s word –
i.
Where do learn of things that are of the qualities we just discussed?
God’s word is the standard we are to follow.
ii.
There is nothing more TRUE and pure than God’s word.
John 17:17 – When Jesus prayed to the Father He said, “Sanctify
them by Your truth. Your
word is truth.”
iii.
John 15:3, “You are already clean
because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
iv.
Psa. 119:140, “Your word is very
pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.”
Psalm 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.”
v.
Psalm 119:15 “I will meditate on
Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.”
vi.
Col. 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
vii.
1 Pet. 2:2, “as newborn babes,
desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”
viii.
Psalm 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.”
ix.
FRIENDS, we need to be
thinking about these types of things.
g.
If you want a pure heart, you have to work on what you allow to enter
your mind! And this also
serves as an indicator of your purity.
Consider the things you ARE thinking about.
If it is worldliness and impurity, you know you have some work to
do on your heart.
a.
2 Cor. 13:5 tells us
“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.”
b.
David himself said, “Examine
me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.” (Psa. 26:2).
Why could he say this?
Read on, “For Your
loving-kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth. I
have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites.
I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the
wicked.” (2-5)
c.
A pure heart does not
fear examination - We dread audits, but it is a good way for a company
to ensure and to demonstrate it is doing what it ought to do.
And if it is, OR if a person is doing what he ought to do, he should NOT
fear scrutiny.
d.
Examination is no good
if you do not apply what you learn.
We need repentance.
a.
Never give up! Throughout
this study, it is my hope we have been motivated to seek purity of
heart. I will be the first
to tell you it is not going to be easy.
Especially as you deal with the problems of your past.
For most of us, we cannot simply flip a switch and our troubles,
ungodly tendencies, attitudes and actions go away.
We have to work at it!
b.
And we are GOING to fail as we try.
There is a reason we speak of “striving” to enter the narrow gate
Luke 13:24.
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs,
that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for
the faith of the gospel,” (Philippians 1:27)
Our life is a struggle – 1 Cor. 9:24-27 – as athletes we run to win.
We have to “contend” for the faith (Jude 3)
c.
Don’t ever give up – when you give up you are defeated.
1 Cor. 15:58 – be steadfast, immovable, always abounding.
Gal. 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in
due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
d.
Keep reaching forwrd –
Philippians 3:12-14
“Not
that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of
me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of
the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
And
there you have it. These
past few weeks we have discussed some things we can do to maintain a
pure heart. In our next
lesson we will conclude our study by answering the question, “Is it
worth it?” or the rewards of a pure heart.
Until then, may all that we do draw us closer to Him as we purify
our hearts by the lives we live.