Pureness of Heart Prov. 22:11 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

This lesson is about pureness of heart.  When we think of living in a right relationship with the Lord so that we can be close to him and he will be close to us, we are usually more conscious of what we are DOING for him than what the condition of our HEART is – while we need to be concerned about what we are doing or what we are not doing, we also need to be keenly aware that God looketh on the heart while man looketh on the outward appearance – in other words it is very possible to DO many wonderful things for the Lord out of duty and concern without having a pure heart – but if you want to really enjoy What a Friend We Have in Jesus you are going to have to have a pure heart – and he will enjoy your friendship because of the grace of your lips (out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh).

Now when you get saved, God cleanses you from sin, but from then till you die or Jesus comes back, there will be a fight for your heart – the Lord wants it pure and stayed on him – in Col 3:1-2 our affections are to be on things above – the world wants your affection, Jas 4, 1 Jn 2:15-17 – the flesh wants your heart (lusts like Matt 5:28; Prov 6:25) – the devil wants your heart (Jn 13:2; Acts 5:3) – those three enemies know the real battleground – if they can get your heart they can get you!!

In the Old Testament, a pure heart was absolutely necessary for assurance that a saint would see God – Ps 24:3-5; Matt 5:8.

In the New Testament, we are assured of being with the Lord in heaven because of his salvation – however, for us to enjoy the friendship of King Jesus and for our lips to pour forth grace, we need to have pure hearts

Jesus will especially befriend the pure hearted because a pure heart:

Is one of the ends of the law – 1 Tim 1:5 – the object of the law was to get your heart – David was a man after God’s own heart – compare Matt 13 where Israel’s heart waxed gross – Jesus kept the law and knows the struggle of the temptations to sin against the law – so he really appreciates a man or woman who’s heart is like the law (love God, love your neighbor) – you don’t have to hold someone’s feet to the fire to make them do right if they love God like that.

Keeps you following the right things – 2 Tim 2:22 – a pure heart keeps you following:

• Righteousness (seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness)
• Faith (without faith it is impossible to please him, whatsoever is not of faith is sin)
• Charity (the greatest of these is charity)
• Peace (my peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you)

When your heart isn’t pure, these things are not delightful – when your heart is pure these things are the delights of your heart and they keep you from youthful lusts – you will be a great friend of the king and he will love you for the grace that comes from your lips – you won’t be speaking with this filth that comes out of Hollywood.

Causes you to love the brethren fervently – 1 Pet 1:22 – the new commandment of Jesus is to love them the way that Jesus loved them – that is greater than the old commandment of love they neighbor as thyself – we are to “love one another as I have loved you,” (Jn 15:12) – in Jn 15:14 Jesus said, “ye are my FRIENDS” – “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,” (Jn 13:35) – it really pleases God when this love comes from the heart – you and he will be great friends – don’t just play at this love like the world does – it has to come from the heart.