When he hid alone in the brakes he was safe from all except his deeper, better self; when he escaped from this into the haunts of men his force and will went to the preservation of his life.”
–Zane Grey (The Lone Star Ranger)
“Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”
–Romans 8:8 (NIV)
———————————
“God blesses these people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!” –Matthew 5:8 (CEV)
There is an inclination today within the church to think that there is no “law” to which they are bound and thus, they have complete liberty. No need in expounding on the idea of liberty. Liberty is not the absence of responsibility but in reality it is the acceptance of it. God called Israel to be a pure, separated nation. They were to be separated from the actions of other nations, nations polluted with idolatry. But, you say, that was the Old Testament. Rightly so, but the principles of God do not change. We are to be separated from the evil system of the world, avoiding all the idolatry that it holds.
When salvation occurs there is internal cleansing that both accompanies and follows the new birth. We are saved from sin, and now are working out our salvation. The penalty–justification–was taken care of on the cross, but now comes that dreaded word in our church society today–sanctification. We read in 1 Samuel 16:7, that God looks on the heart. That means He looks upon the whole inner being, including the understanding, the affections, and the will. Arthur Pink states, “It is not enough to be pure in words and outward deportment. Purity of desires, motives, and intents is what should characterize the child of God.”
Oh, that we had purity of heart. Oh, that we actually sought to have a pure heart. Once saved, does not mean not ever sinning or having the desire, but seeking the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to help us live a pure and acceptable life unto the Lord. This morningwe look at some signs of an impure heart. Check yourself out, see if there is anything lacking and then, with the Holy Spirit, begin to work on that area.
First sign is that of ignorance. Oh, Lord open our eyes and turn us from darkness to light (Acts 26:18) Paul, numerous times, writes “I would not have you ignorant.” Ignorant of what? Many things but among them living a life holy and acceptable to the Lord. We are warned by Thomas Watson that, “Ignorance is Satan’s stronghold.” Understand what God is telling you to do, study to show yourself approved–in other words don’t walk around in ignorance.
The second thing is that of being self-righteous. Revelation 3:17 states, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (NIV) Listen, “not to be sensible of a disease–is worse than the disease!” (Watson) Thirdly, and this is becoming more and more rampant and that is the acceptance of iniquity. Repentance and restoration, yes, but indulgence and approving sin can never be accepted. We see this among church members, but even more appalling is that we see it among church leadership. It is wrong to take delight in sin, it is wrong to make provision of sin, it is wrong to approve of those who do so. Paul writes that we are “not to think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Romans 13:14, NIV) Watson reminds us that, “The wicked are caterers for their lusts.”
Four more signs of an impure heart. It is when we entertain sin or the presence of sin. One thing an alcoholic must never do when he is on the way to recovering is to enter a bar. Stay away from the places, in reality or in the mind, that entertains sin. The gambling halls of Las Vegas say that once you enter, they’ve got you. Friend, the sinner bows before sin; the pure in heart is repulsed and grieved. God warns us and people do not believe or are ignorant (there it is again) of His warnings. Some people are simply fools–unbelieving of God’s Word. Then finally, there are those who are covetous. They are discontented with their lot in life, with their possessions, with their job, with their career, with their school, my mercy, they are just discontented about the way life is going for them. This person cannot have a pure heart for they do not recognize the working of the Holy Spirit, but are envious of the lives of others.
True, we cannot make a pure heart, but our motives can be pure, our lifestyle can be pure. God looks at the heart; He wants to see it in a pure form.
“Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”
–Romans 8:8 (NIV)
———————————
“God blesses these people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!” –Matthew 5:8 (CEV)
There is an inclination today within the church to think that there is no “law” to which they are bound and thus, they have complete liberty. No need in expounding on the idea of liberty. Liberty is not the absence of responsibility but in reality it is the acceptance of it. God called Israel to be a pure, separated nation. They were to be separated from the actions of other nations, nations polluted with idolatry. But, you say, that was the Old Testament. Rightly so, but the principles of God do not change. We are to be separated from the evil system of the world, avoiding all the idolatry that it holds.
When salvation occurs there is internal cleansing that both accompanies and follows the new birth. We are saved from sin, and now are working out our salvation. The penalty–justification–was taken care of on the cross, but now comes that dreaded word in our church society today–sanctification. We read in 1 Samuel 16:7, that God looks on the heart. That means He looks upon the whole inner being, including the understanding, the affections, and the will. Arthur Pink states, “It is not enough to be pure in words and outward deportment. Purity of desires, motives, and intents is what should characterize the child of God.”
Oh, that we had purity of heart. Oh, that we actually sought to have a pure heart. Once saved, does not mean not ever sinning or having the desire, but seeking the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to help us live a pure and acceptable life unto the Lord. This morningwe look at some signs of an impure heart. Check yourself out, see if there is anything lacking and then, with the Holy Spirit, begin to work on that area.
First sign is that of ignorance. Oh, Lord open our eyes and turn us from darkness to light (Acts 26:18) Paul, numerous times, writes “I would not have you ignorant.” Ignorant of what? Many things but among them living a life holy and acceptable to the Lord. We are warned by Thomas Watson that, “Ignorance is Satan’s stronghold.” Understand what God is telling you to do, study to show yourself approved–in other words don’t walk around in ignorance.
The second thing is that of being self-righteous. Revelation 3:17 states, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (NIV) Listen, “not to be sensible of a disease–is worse than the disease!” (Watson) Thirdly, and this is becoming more and more rampant and that is the acceptance of iniquity. Repentance and restoration, yes, but indulgence and approving sin can never be accepted. We see this among church members, but even more appalling is that we see it among church leadership. It is wrong to take delight in sin, it is wrong to make provision of sin, it is wrong to approve of those who do so. Paul writes that we are “not to think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Romans 13:14, NIV) Watson reminds us that, “The wicked are caterers for their lusts.”
Four more signs of an impure heart. It is when we entertain sin or the presence of sin. One thing an alcoholic must never do when he is on the way to recovering is to enter a bar. Stay away from the places, in reality or in the mind, that entertains sin. The gambling halls of Las Vegas say that once you enter, they’ve got you. Friend, the sinner bows before sin; the pure in heart is repulsed and grieved. God warns us and people do not believe or are ignorant (there it is again) of His warnings. Some people are simply fools–unbelieving of God’s Word. Then finally, there are those who are covetous. They are discontented with their lot in life, with their possessions, with their job, with their career, with their school, my mercy, they are just discontented about the way life is going for them. This person cannot have a pure heart for they do not recognize the working of the Holy Spirit, but are envious of the lives of others.
True, we cannot make a pure heart, but our motives can be pure, our lifestyle can be pure. God looks at the heart; He wants to see it in a pure form.