1. Grace Community Church
The Pure In Heart
Matthew 5:8
February 27, 2005
Grace Community Church

2. Matthew 5:8 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Pharisees on purity – Externally Clean…
Jesus on purity – Internally Clean

3. “Purity of heart is to will one thing.” – Kierkegaard
Matthew 22:36-37
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
“Purity of heart is to will one thing.” – Kierkegaard

4. Purity of Heart Psalm 24:3-4 3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.

5. Jeremiah 3:6
6During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there.

6. What divides our hearts?
What do you worry about most?
What, if you lost it, would cause you to feel as if you would not want to live?
What comforts you when things get difficult?
What do you think most easily about?

7. What divides our hearts?
What unanswered prayer would cause you to consider turning away from God?
What are you proudest of?
What would really make you happy?
Idols are not sinful things, but good and basic things elevated into being ultimate things.
Tim Keller

8. How do we become pure? Self cleansing never works…
Path to purity starts at the cross…
Matthew 5:3-4
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

9. How do we become pure? Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
1 John 1:8-9
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

10. Wedding Dress – Derek Webb
Verse 1
If you could love me as a wife
And for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I’ll ever need
Or is there more I’m looking for?
And should I read between the lines
And look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome rich and wise
Is that really all you want

11. Wedding Dress – Derek Webb
Verse 2
So could you love this bastard child?
Though I don’t trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
And the other in your side
‘Cause I’m so easily satisfied
By the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

12. Wedding Dress – Derek Webb
Chorus
Cause I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
And run down the aisle, I run down the aisle
I’m I prodigal with no way home
But I put you on just like a ring of gold
And I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle to you…