Maintaining a Pure Heart - 2

Previously Having discussed: What a pure heart is Qualities of a pure heart Dangers to the pure heart Today we continue to examine how to maintain a pure heart.

Last Week – Make up your mind Developing the qualities we need and avoiding the dangers of a pure heart begins with a resolve that cannot be shaken.

Sanctify the Lord 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (NKJV)

Sanctify the Lord 1 Peter 3:15, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” (NASB95)

Sanctify the Lord 1 Peter 3:15, There is some variants in manuscripts. Regardless of whether you apply this to God or Christ, the result is the SAME – we must sanctify them in our hearts.

Sanctify the Lord 1 Peter 3:15, Sanctify - ἁ γιάζω, hagiatso – “to feel reverence for or to honor as holy. To hallow, to regard as holy…” (L&N, 88.27) To separate from profane things and dedicate to God. (Strongs) Holy, saint, chaste ( 1 Pet. 3:2 )

Sanctify the Lord God is pure – 1 John 3:3, “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” We are in His presence – Heb. 12:28-29

Sanctify the Lord Consider His majesty! Rev. 4:8, “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” cf. Exodus 19:10-20

Sanctify the Lord The idea of sanctifying God (or Christ) is to set up His throne in our hearts. cf. Leviticus 10:3 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Let Him be “Lord of your life”

Sanctify the Lord James 4:8, Draw near to God Romans 8:9-11, does “the Spirit of Christ” dwell in you?

Deal with impurities Isaiah 66:1-2, “Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?...”

Deal with impurities Isaiah 66:1-2, “… For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.”

Deal with impurities Psalm 24:3-4, “Who may ascend into the hill of the L ORD ? 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.”

Deal with impurities 2 Cor. 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Deal with impurities Repent! PUT away your idols! Genesis 35:1-4 Joshua 24:14 1 Cor. 10:14, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Deal with impurities We have to deal with our idols! May be an inanimate statue But it may be anything that you serve more than God. Colossians 3:5 Wealth, arrogance, entertainment, etc.

Deal with impurities If ANYTHING is in the way of being pure – DEAL WITH IT! What are we doing with our time? 2 Corinthians 6: Corinthians 10: John 5:21, “Keep yourselves from idols.”

Deal with impurities Declare war on the devil! To the degree we reverence God, we need to despise the devil! He is responsible for the evil around us (NOT denying personal responsibility)

Deal with impurities Do you despise him enough to do something about it? Let us get indignant about his influence in our lives Ephesians 4:27 1 Peter 5:8 James 4:7, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Our God truly IS holy! HOW holy is He to you?