7. Pure in Heart

Sessions 6 & 7 Notes Download “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” THEY SHALL SEE GOD God replied to Moses’ request to see Him with: “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:20). The Gospel of John concurs with the impossibility of humans seeing God – “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18). Pure in Heart: This phrase refers to those who have a sincere, undivided devotion to God. It emphasizes inner purity and integrity rather than just outward religious observance. The pure in heart will see God. The promise of seeing God has two aspects. The first aspect means experiencing a closer, more intimate relationship with God. It suggests that those who are pure in heart will have a clearer understanding of God’s will and presence in their lives. The second aspect of the promise will be fulfilled when Christ comes back Revelation 21:1-4 The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. HEART – The word “heart” is often used metaphorically to represent the control center of a person’s being which influences their actions and decisions. Proverbs 4:23 ESV – Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. REV – More than anything else you protect, guard your heart, because from it flow the issues of life. KJV – Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. NASB – Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. NET – Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. NIV – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Hebrews 4:12 – Intentions are housed in the heart. Romans 10:9 and 10 – Believing is an issue of the heart. Mark 12:30 – Love is housed in the heart. Matthew 12:34-35 – Good and evil are in the heart. Matthew 5:27-28 – Sin is another matter of the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10; Luke 16:15 God looks on the heart and deals with people accordingly. That which is in our hearts is in our lives. Tomato seeds produce tomatoes; cucumbers seeds produce cucumbers. In like manner, the issues of life are determined by the “seeds” planted in the heart. We would not consider cutting off the tomatoes to glue on cucumbers. The deception we face is thinking that by changing circumstances, situations, or associations, we can change our lives. The truth is the heart is that which must be altered to have genuine lasting change. We change from the inside out, not the outside in. Jeremiah 17:9 Based on God’s standard, not humans, the heart is deceitful and is desperately sick; who can understand it? No one is born with a “good heart.” Christians, when born again, receive the gift of holy spirit which is “Christ in you”. Galatians 4:6 states: “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts….” However, even a Christian must contend with his own heart, which by nature is wicked. A grave deception is thinking that others are the cause of our own issues. Circumstances, such as where we live or where we work, are not the root cause of our problems. Situations or the way in which we are placed in relationship to our surroundings are not the cause of who we are. What dwells in your heart determines what is in your life. Mark 7:6-8 “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’” Matthew 23:25-26 The Pharisees and Scribes were obsessively concerned with their religious appearance and actions with the intent of impressing people. Jesus Christ saw through the outside into the inside, the heart. Proverbs 23:7, 26 The thoughts of the heart are what a person really is, even if the actions of his life reflect something different. Romans 2:13-16, 28, and 29 The Jews believed they were acceptable to God because of their heritage and simply because they heard the law. At the same time, they judged the Gentiles unacceptable because they were not of the right blood line and did not outwardly observe the law. How to Change the Heart James 3:6-8; Matthew 15:18-20 We do not have control over the outer without controlling the heart. Psalm 119:11 When God’s Word is housed in our hearts, then godliness will be in our lives. The truth is that any of us who have tried to change our hearts on our own by reading, studying, memorizing, etc. have failed miserably. We cannot change our hearts without God’s help. Psalm 10:17 Humility is the realization we cannot do it on our own, but He can! Humility is “I can’t; You can. Lord, help me.” Psalm 27:14 Wait for Yahweh; be strong and let your heart take courage. Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 51:10 David had no illusions about his heart and knew full well only God could clean it and give him a new heart. Psalm 86:10-12 An undivided heart is one with wholehearted devotion, singular focus on God, without divided loyalties or distractions. Psalm 119:32-36; 141:3 and 4 As we hide the Word in our hearts and trust in Him, He will guard our hearts. Friends may tell us “Read your Bible” or “Control your thoughts” or “Pray about it” or “Talk with a counselor or a minister.” These suggestions are all good advice. However, no matter what we do or how many outside sources we seek, we will not really change until we, by ourselves, in our own minds, acknowledge our inability and ask for God’s help. Isaiah 57:15 God will revive the heart of the contrite. Ephesians 3:14-21 God can and will change the heart if He is sought. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 When we pray for God to direct our hearts, we can be fully persuaded He will respond because His Word says so. Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8 God is holy. For mankind to have any kind of relationship with God, we must live holy lives. The grace and mercy of God have been made available through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for those of faith to live holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Be ye holy; for I am holy. Romans 12:1-3 Jesus told us to pray daily for the forgiveness of our sins because sin is a constant issue with all of us. The post 7. Pure in Heart first appeared on Living Hope.