Clean Hands – Clean Heart

Clean Hands – Clean Heart

June 28, 2009 Evening Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: We must have clean hands and pure hearts to come before God.

Focus Passage: Psalm 24:1-6

Supplemental Passage: Jas 4:8b “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Introduction: The death rate of babies born at Vienna General Hospital was five times higher that that of woman who had their babies at home. In 1846 that began to change when Dr. Phillip Semmelweis became the assistant obstetrician at Vienna General. When the baby died they called it “The Childbed Fever.” Vienna General called it “bad luck.” Blame went everywhere, especially onto the foreign doctors until Dr. Phillip began to observe that doctors went from autopsies of cadavers in the morgue to birthing babies-without washing their hands. He began a crusade for washing the hands between procedures but whether you can believe it or not…it fell on deaf ears. The hospital and doctors raised a stink and did the only thing they knew to do…they fired Dr. Phillip. He continued to debate his case until finally the medical field listened.

I. Inward Purity "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

a. God desires the truth in the inward parts Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. (Psalms 51:6 NASB)

II. Outward Beauty “Society today is more focused on the outward appearance than the condition of their hearts. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27)

a. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NASB)

III. Guard Your Hearts: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” (Ps 119:11)

a. My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. (Proverbs 4:20-25 NASB)

b. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NASB)

Invitation: We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; (Lamentations 3:41)