Living in the Father’s Favor: Clean on the Inside
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Intro: The machine that usually did the job was broken. And so they hired a man to paint lines on a newly resurfaced portion of a remote highway. The first day he painted 9 miles, and the supervisor, impressed by such an effort, told him he would hire him full time and give him a big raise if he kept up that pace for the next few days. But the next day he was able to paint only 5 miles. On the following day he did only one mile, then the next day a half a mile. The supervisor fired him but asked what had happened. "It isn’t my fault," the man muttered as he walked away shaking his head, "I just kept getting further and further away from the can."
-We’re talking about being pure in heart today. As we strive to be pure in heart before God, we need to remember that He is our source and that He will go with us everywhere we need to go. The supply of our purity can only be maintained by a living relationship with Jesus. Whenever we allow distance between ourselves and the Lord, we lose the ability to remain pure, and we might find ourselves shaking our heads and muttering how it isn’t our fault that we are so miserable.
-Just to show how we might get it right in some areas, but fall apart in others, Chuck Swindoll in "Growing Deep in the Christian Life," writes about a man who bought fried chicken dinners for himself and his date one afternoon. The attendant at the fast food outlet, however, unintentionally gave him the proceeds from the day’s business - a bag of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken.
-"After driving to their picnic site," Swindoll writes, "the two of them sat down to enjoy some chicken. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken - over $800! Now many people would have kept the money, and bought themselves a lunch much nicer than KFC!
-But this man did something unusual. He quickly put the money back into the sack, got into his car and drove all the way back to KFC. Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero.
-"By then, the manager was frantic. The guy with the bag of money looked the manager in the eye and said, ’I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money here.’
-"Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, ’Let me call the newspaper. I’m gonna have your picture put in the local newspaper. You’re one of the most honest men I’ve ever heard of.’
-"To which the man quickly responded, ’Oh, no. No, no - don’t do that!’ Then he leaned closer and whispered, ’You see, the woman I’m with is not my wife.’”
-Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. The main truth today is this:
Prop: As we learn to honor God through purity, our ability to see Him will increase.
Interrogative: What does it mean to be pure in heart and how do we get there?
TS: Let’s look at some of the basics of a pure heart so we can find out what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
I. The Reality of a Pure Heart
-The Greek word that is used in Mt. 5:8 is katharos. This is the same word where we get our English term catharsis, which is a psychology term that means to be free from guilt. This Greek term was often used in reference to describe metals that were refined. The metals were melted down & had the impurities removed to create nothing but pure metal.
-Katharos– Pure, clean or clear. Katharos was used to describe soiled clothes that had been washed clean. It was used to describe grain and flour that had been carefully sifted and cleansed of all impurities. And it was used when describing milk or wine that had not been mixed or adulterated with water or some other liquid.
Six Kinds of Purity – John F. MacArthur
1.) Divine Purity: Essential quality of God Himself and found only in God.
2.) Created Purity: When God originally created all things they were in a state of absolute purity. This was prior to the Fall of Adam and Eve
3.) Positional Purity: When we accept Christ as our Savior, we gain the purity of his position and are seen through His divine purity
4.) Actual Purity: This is granted in the new nature of the believer. We are made into a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come
5.) Practical Purity: This comes from God but it also requires our effort. It is our practice of the purity we have been shown. This affects the way that we live on a daily basis.
6.) Ultimate Purity: The promise of being glorified by Christ
-The kind of purity that God wants us to have is applied to a direct part of our being. Jesus said: Blessed are the pure in heart. Why did he use the location of the heart?
-A pure heart describes a person whose single minded loyalty to God has affected every area of life – Zondervan Illustrated Background Bible Commentary Vol. 1 p. 35
-The Greek word kardia is used for heart. We get our words cardiology, the study of the heart, and cardio, meaning an exercise for the heart from this word.
We generally look at the heart as a complex organ of the body without which we would die. It is also commonly known as the place of the emotions. We say someone has their heart broken when an emotional trauma occurs.
The Bible definition of heart encompassed a great deal more than we generally understand it to be today. The view of the heart in relation to the human body was similar but much more. The word heart in New Testament times was the seat of the will and conscience. It was the center of a person’s life. The heart was understood as the center for moral, spiritual, and intellectual part of a person.
-If Jesus knew this to be true, and he did, then listen to what He is saying: With the heart as the center of our moral character our character must be pure. With the heart as the center of our intellect our thoughts must be pure. With the heart as the center of our spiritual life no impurities must be allowed there. Our life from start to finish must be pure.
-The heart was seen as the center of a person’s entire being. It represents the whole person. The heart was seen as the center of many different aspects of the human being. The heart was the center of the physical, emotional and spiritual life. The heart was the center of the thoughts, passions, and desires. From the heart came the nature of the will and the essential traits of character.
-The reason Jesus used the heart as the place of purity was due in part to the mistaken idea that only a person’s visible actions really mattered. Only observable purity was important.
Story: A deacon and son were driving down a country road and saw a watermelon patch a little way off the highway. The deacon told his son to keep a lookout while he went to get a melon. He snuck into the patch, took a melon and called to the boy, "Is anyone coming? Look both ways." The boy wisely responded, "But Daddy, shouldn’t we look up too?" [Our Daily Bread, 6.18.99]
-Jesus told the people in His day the same thing He tells us today. The true test of purity is what we do when nobody else is looking. If nobody else would ever find out, would we compromise our purity? What we need to remember is that God always sees us. If we want to see God, it would help us to remember that He sees us.
-TS: Well, the biggest problem with this beatitude is that we’re all sinners. Let’s take a look at how we can become pure in heart.
II. The Reception of a Pure Heart
-How can we attain a pure heart? How can I be pure when Jeremiah 17:9 describes my heart as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked or beyond cure?
-The best place I know to start is by realizing how impure I am. Jer. 17:9 is a good place to start. See, God is even more concerned about our purity than we can possibly be. Why? Because He wants us close to Him so He can enjoy interaction and relationship with us. But that cannot happen unless we become pure like He is pure. So He is working in us through His HS to put us on the path to purity.
-The path to purity includes at least 3 essentials: conviction, confession, and repentance. The HS speaks to our hearts and convicts us of sin. Paul describes this as a godly sorrow that produces repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it-- I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while-- 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Many people waste a lot of time trying to have a better past. But we cannot change the past. We need to get on the path to purity in the present and prepare for a future of seeing God.
-When our heart or our spirit is in good working order, we should feel sorrow or regret when impurities are allowed into our lives. Just like our bodies protest when we put impurities in them. Some impurities might not be very noticeable, but others can lead to sickness or even death. So, what should we do when we become convicted about the impurities in our lives?
-1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
-It is possible for a person to confess their sin and never truly repent. A person can pray and confess their sins and go right back to those same sins when they walk out the door. Repentance means turning away from sin.
-When Jesus stood with the woman caught in adultery, what did He tell her? "I do not condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Jesus told her clearly that she was to turn away from the life of sin that she was living. Repentance includes a commitment to leave the sin behind and live in a way that honors God.
-That is the path to purity. That is how we begin to cultivate a pure heart before God.
-Now, how can we maintain a pure heart?
1. Heads Up- Remember that holy living is impossible without God. Look to Him for help. There is no way to be pure on our own. Purity flows from God.
2. Ears Open- Remember to fill your life with God’s Word. Listen to what He says.
You will never be able to stay in God’s will if you are not in his Word. Read your Manual.
3. Hands Off- Surrender control of your life to the Holy Spirit. Give up anything that is holding you back in your spiritual walk.
4. Knees Down- Develop a consistent habit of prayer. Prayer is our direct connection with God, and that will help keep us away from sin.
-Purity doesn’t just happen. You must desire it! Remember hunger & thirst from Mt. 5:6? How bad do you want it? If you really want a pure heart, then you will actively pursue living a pure life. You must want purity so badly that you are willing to change whatever needs changed in your life to get it. Until you do, you will never truly live a life of purity. A pure life is the pursuit of what is right and what is holy.
III. The Reward of a Pure Heart
A. Definition of See- orao- to perceive, catch sight of, notice(BDAG- BibleWorks)
B. 3 Ways to See God
1. God Sightings in daily life
-I’m not sure who coined the phrase “God Sightings,” but they are simply moments or occasions in our daily lives where we recognize God’s hand at work. If our hearts are pure, God sightings will become a regular part of our experience, as we recognize that He is indeed working in our lives. We can see God everywhere – if the eyes of our hearts are not clouded by impurities. Ephesians 1:18 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
-Part of the reward of a pure heart is that God will show up a lot more in your life. The pure in heart will see God at work in and through them.
2. Immediate Access into the King’s presence
-The Old Testament understanding of seeing a king face to face usually required having a close, personal relationship with them, or somehow deserving the honor of their presence. We can come to God in the sense that select people were able to see the King. Not everybody had access to the King – only those deemed worthy. No human is worthy of seeing God (or being invited into His presence to see His face), but Jesus made it possible for us to approach the throne of God with boldness – the kind of boldness that comes from being right with God, being pure. We can see the king with our spiritual eyes as we come into His presence and enjoy being close to Him. Yet we long for more don’t we?
-Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12).
3. Heaven-The pure in heart will see God when this life is over- then face to face, as Paul puts it. I don’t think Jesus was identifying a special class of Christians when He said the pure in heart would see God. I think He was describing what a Christian really is. Only those who are pure in heart will make it to heaven to see God face to face! Clearly none of us is perfect, but the point is this: We all must be on the path to purity (conviction, confession, and repentance) if we ever hope to see the God who is infinitely pure. What path are you on today?
Conclusion- In Max Lucado’s book The Applause of Heaven, he talks about the change of heart we all need. At one time Max and his family lived in Rio De Janeiro, working as missionaries. Once, when they were leaving on a week long trip, Max remembered he had forgotten to unplug his ham radio. He ran back in the house and pulled the plug, and dashed out. Unfortunately he pulled the wrong plug. The radio sat on their freezer, which had been newly stocked with meat, and was now unplugged. To make matters worse they were gone for 7 days, & it was summer in Brazil, which Max says redefines hot. When they got home, Max’s wife Denalyn decided to get some meat out of the freezer.. Max says “it was a `moving’ experience.” Since it was Max who unplugged the freezer it was Max who got to clean it. With tongue in cheek he writes the following:
"What is the best way to clean out a rotten interior? I knew exactly what to do. I got a rag and a bucket of soapy water and began cleaning the outside of the appliance. I was sure the odor would disappear as I buffed and wiped and polished. But when I opened the door, the smell was revolting. No problem, I thought. I knew what to do. This freezer needs some friends. I’d stink too if I had the social life of a machine in a utility room. So, I threw a party. I invited all the appliances from the neighborhood. Everyone played pin in the socket and had a few laughs about limited warranties.. I was sure the social interaction would cure the inside of the freezer but when I opened it up the stink was even worse. I had an idea. If the polish job and a social life wouldn’t help, I’d give the freezer some status! So I bought a Mercedes sticker and stuck it on the door. I installed a cell phone on the side and I opened the door.. still repulsive. I could think of only one other option- pleasure. So I bought copies of "Playfridge"- the publication that displays freezers with their doors open. I rented some foxy films, my favorite was "The Big Chill." After a few days of supercharged, after hours entertainment, I opened the door. I nearly got sick."
Lucado concludes: "I know what you’re thinking, the only thing worse than Max’s humor is his common sense. Who would concentrate on the outside when the problem is on the inside? Really want to know? A housewife battles with depression. What is the solution offered by a close friend? Buy a new dress, get a job. A husband is involved in an affair that brings him as much guilt as it does adventure. The solution? Change peer groups. Hang out with people who don’t make you feel guilty! A person is plagued by insecurity and restlessness. The answer? A hunting trip, or a vacation or maybe a change of style. A new look, a new car, flash some cash. That will give you the lift you need. Case after case of treating the outside while ignoring the inside. And the result? Oh, the depression, the guilt, the insecurity leaves for maybe a day, maybe a week. But it always returns, and usually it’s worse. The outside is altered the inside has faltered. The real and lasting answer? True happiness comes from the inside out.” Why? The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God.
[Portions of message adapted from David Dewitt, SC]
