Sunday, December 15, 2013
am
PURER IN HEART (23)
Conclusion - The Rewards of a Pure Heart
I.
Purer in Heart – Help Me
To Be
a.
There are many passages
that address purity of heart.
Two key passages that we have frequently appealed to are:
Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the
pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
Psalm 24:3-5, “Who
may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy
place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up
his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing
from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
b.
What is a pure heart?
As we began this study earlier this year we defined the heart as just as
vital to our spiritual life as our physical heart is to our physical
survival. But the heart we
are discussing is where our will, emotions, thoughts, understanding and
attitudes are developed.
Prov. 4:23 says, “Out of it spring the issues of life.”
Purity means both unpolluted and undiluted.
In other words a pure heart is 100% directed toward God.
c.
Purity begins with God. We have also
noted that purity of heart actually begins with God.
Because of the guilt of sin, we need the blood of Jesus to
cleanse us of our sins. As
our sins are washed away (through baptism – Acts 22:16, 2:38, Rom.
6:3-4, etc.) we are made “as white as snow.”
God cleanses us so that we can be in His presence.
BUT, this is only the beginning.
It is up to us to maintain our pure hearts which is what much of
our study has been about.
d.
This includes Qualities
of a pure heart.
The pure heart is demonstrated in various qualities that we read
about in scripture. Some of
the qualities we discussed include: It is undivided, resolved and
prioritized. It will
manifest integrity, honesty, self-control, patience, humility,
contentment, kindness, dignity, confidence and love.
As the qualities are developed in accord with God’s word, so will
purity of heart. A good
passage to consider in this is 2 Pet. 1:5-7 and the results described.
e.
Dangers to the pure
heart.
There are dangers all around us that we need to avoid if we are
to live with purity of heart.
We need to avoid lust in its various forms – sensual lust,
covetousness and pride (1 John 2:15-16).
We also need to overcome ignorance, unbelief, busyness & clutter,
bitterness and other similar poisonous attitudes and control our
tongues.
f.
Maintaining a pure heart. In the final
portion of our study we have examined some things we need to do to
maintain a pure heart. IT
begins with making up our mind that we are going to serve God (cf.
Joshua 24:15). We then need
to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts (1 Pet. 3:15) – that means that
we give place for Him in our lives (and He accepts nothing but total
submission). We need to
choose our associates carefully (cf. 1 Cor. 15:33).
Then we need to get to work with a sense of zeal.
Finally, we need to “meditate on these things”, that is things
that promote godliness (Phil. 4:8).
From time to time we need to reexamine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5).
And when all is said and done, we cannot give up, even when we
face setbacks. ! (1 Cor.
15:58, Gal. 6:9)
a.
One might note that what we have discussed is a great challenge – and it
is!
i.
We sometimes hear people
say that being a Christian is easy.
I struggle greatly with that statement.
It is NOT easy to live the Christian life.
In fact, if you do it right it will be the most
challenging thing you do as it will involve every relationship, decision
and action you are involved with.
We will face difficult decisions, temptations, disappointments,
setbacks and sacrifices. At
times it might become very discouraging and frustrating. The physical
cost in friends, possessions, emotions, and activities can be
overwhelming. WE do a
disservice to the cause of Christ when we tell people that serving God
is easy. But we can overcome
all of these challenges IF we have the resolve AND OUR HEART IS RIGHT
WITH GOD. Jesus said the
way to heaven is narrow and difficult (Matt. 7:13-14)
ii.
In Matt. 11:28-30 we
read the words of Jesus, “Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and
learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. For My yoke
is easy and My burden is light.”
1.
When Jesus said, “For
My yoke is easy and My burden is light,”
His point was not that becoming
His disciple would cause all our troubles to disappear.
We read in Matthew 10:34 that He said, “Do not think that I
came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”
This was a description of how following Him would come with a cost.
On another occasion He called for us to “forsake all that he has”
(Luke 14:33) if we are to be His disciples.
So what did Jesus mean by saying, “My yoke is easy”?
2.
IF you study the word,
“easy” you will find it is not the way we use the word in our English
language. The word is
actually found some 7 times in the NT.
The ONLY time it is translated “easy” is in this text.
In other texts, it is translated “better” (Luke 5:39); “kind”
(Luke 6:35, Eph. 4:32 – “be kind to one another”); “goodness” of God
(Rom. 2:4); “good” habits (1 Cor. 15:33 – see our lesson from 2 weeks
ago); and “gracious” (1 Pet. 2:3).
From these we find the word actually means that His burden is not harsh,
but is a good thing.
3.
Thus the “yoke” that
Jesus offered was pleasant, especially in its reward and when you
consider WHO you are yoked with (Jesus).
Contrast His yoke with the alternative – the burden of sin and
what it produces (and you might add to this the burden of the Law which
could not ultimately bring forgiveness).
Following Jesus brings its rewards and hope.
Rather than “easy” as we use the word in our language, His yoke
is BETTER! Romans 8:18 says, ““For I consider that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us.”
b.
So is striving for a pure heart worth it?
Let us consider some of its rewards.
i.
Fellowship with God – the pure in heart will see God.
This has been the goal we have discussed throughout this study (Matt.
5:8, cf. Psalm 15).
If we are to get life “alive” it hinges on our relationship with God and
Jesus and the Spirit.
1 John 1:3 says, ““that which we have seen and heard we declare to
you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and
truly our fellowship is with the
Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” In this text John is
introducing a letter dealing with who Jesus is AND how we can serve Him.
It teaches much on keeping His commandments and the “fellowship”
that exists with us NOW as a result of that.
1.
WE have fellowship with
Him in this life.
Simply stated that mean we have a relationship with Him.
There is a “sharing” or “having things in common” between Him and
us that governs the way we live.
It hinges upon us walking in Him.
1 John 1:5-7
“This is the
message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is
light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have
fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice
the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin.”
2.
A part of this means
that we strive to imitate His good character. In the qualities
we have discussed throughout this study we find qualities that are
perfected in Him. God IS
love (1 John 4:7-8); God is patient (2 Pet. 3:9); God is light (1 John
1:5); God is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16), God is good (cf. Matt. 19:17, Rom.
2:4, 11:22), etc.
As we study the character of God we find HOW we are to live in this
life.
Eph. 5:1 says, “Therefore, be
imitators of God as dear children.”
2 Peter 1:4 “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and
precious promises, that through these you may be
partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
3.
We will live with Him
when this life is over.
1 Thess. 4:17, Psa. 23:6, etc.
More on this in a few moments.
ii.
A Good conscience –
1.
This world is filled
with disappointments. In our
ungodly society man is continually trying to take away our liberties in
Christ. And in many ways
they are succeeding in removing our religious freedoms in this country.
BUT, one thing they cannot take
from us is our conscience.
Why could Paul and Silas sing in a prison in Philippi?
(Ac 16:25)
Because they rejoiced in their standing with the Lord.
They knew that man could take away their freedoms in this life,
but they could NOT touch their soul (cf. Matt. 10:28).
2.
When we live with purity
of heart, our conscience is clear.
We can have peace of mind knowing that we are pleasing to Him.
3.
In this study we have
discussed many things that will make our associations with others in
this world better and make our own lives better.
We sometimes use the expression, “quality of life” and that is
what we are talking about.
No the difficulties to do NOT always go away, but our manner of life
helps us deal with them with a good attitude.
Think about it – no envy or bitterness toward others, living with
contentment and simplicity in our lives, have a purpose greater than
this world, etc. When we
apply these things – it can ONLY lead to a better quality of life
inside!
4.
WE have no need to fear
man. Heb. 13:6 says that we my
boldly say, “The Lord is my
helper; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
5.
In 2 Tim. 1:3 Paul was
thankful to God, “whom I serve with a pure conscience…”
Heb. 10:22 says,
“let us draw near with
a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
iii.
Hope of heaven after this life –
1.
One of the reasons we
are here is because we are concerned about our eternal destiny.
Not only should we desire to avoid eternal torments in hell
(Matt. 25:46, 2 Thess. 1:8-9, etc.), we ought to live with a desire to
spend eternity in heaven with God, our Lord and the faithful who have
gone before.
John 14:1-3 speaks of a place with many mansions that has been prepared
by the Lord.
2 Cor. 5:1-5 speaks of the building from God eternal in the heavens
awaiting us.
Heb. 11:13-16 speaks of the hope of those who died in faith anticipating
the fulfillment of promises.
It applies to us as well.
2.
We continually read in
the New Testament of the eternal life that awaits us.
Eternal life is the reward for those “who
by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and
immortality.” (Rom. 2:7)
Titus 3:7 says, “that having been justified by His grace we should
become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Paul as he was
about to conclude his life on earth expressed this hope saying, “I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and
not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2
Tim. 4:7-8)
iv.
God’s blessings – we do not know exactly how God works today, but we do know that when we
obey Him, we are blessed by Him.
This does not mean a life of ease (as we have already seen) or
even that He is going to shower us with material advantage.
But we know that He is there and He knows what we need (Mat.
6:32-33). Much of our
blessings are spiritual, but when we are faithful we will enjoy them.
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable
for all things, having promise of
the life that now is and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy
4:8)
1 Pet. 3:12, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.”
“For
the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are
open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do
evil.”
Ephesians 1:3,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in
Christ,”
Again 2 Pet. 1:3-4 speaks of Him giving us all things that pertain to
life and godliness.
Our God will help us deal with temptations, give us peace, give us the
tools to achieve unity with our brethren, confidence and so many other
things.
v.
Answered prayers – Finally, with purity of hearts we can have the confidence of our
prayers being heard. In 1
Pet. 3:12 we read, “And His ears
are open to their prayers.”
Prayer is the privilege of the godly to approach God.
While He does not always answer the way that we want it, He does
answer our prayers in the way that is best!
Sometimes that might mean “No” or “Wait” or “Not that, but this”,
etc.
1 John 5:14–15 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we
know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we have asked of Him.”
Phil. 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
James 5:16 tells us the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
avails much.
These are just a few of the blessings we have to look forward
to if we will strive for a pure heart.
It is my hope that this study has been a blessing to each of us.
In Conclusion:
Heaven is a pure place for a pure people.
Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see
God.” It is a place for the
pure of heart (Psalm 24:2-3).
If we miss heaven, what have we really gained?
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
May we resolve
to develop and maintain pure hearts.
And that means developing the qualities that promote purity and
avoiding all things that are impure.
Rev. 21:27 says, “But
there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an
abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book
of Life.” What about
you? Is your heart pure?
I humbly commend this study to you.