How Does A Christian Maintain A Pure Heart?

How Does A Christian Maintain A Pure Heart?

A. There is preventative maintenance. (Things we do to continue pure)

1. Keep our minds focused on following God.

a. Never forget who we are. We are children of the King.

b. Matthew 6:33

c. Daniel 1:8 - “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

1. Daniel made up his mind to continue focused on serving God and continued focusing on pleasing God, even in Babylon.

d. This is the key. We must not have a divided heart. A divided heart (with divided allegiance) will never be able to be pure before God. We must give all of our hear (mind) to God. There is not a single part of our mind that we can keep back from God to use for sinning or longing to sin.

1. Matthew 6:24

2. Keep our minds on good, right, wholesome things.

a. Philippians 4:8 - “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

b. This requires effort on our part. It is not for those who simply “take their minds out of gear.” We have to work at it.

c. Proverbs 4:23-27 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”

3. Draw close to God through prayer, study, and meditation.

a. James 4:8 - “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

b. Psalm 119:104 - “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”

4. Always seek to avoid sin as much as we can.

a. 2 Timothy 2:22 - “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

b. Proverbs 4:14, 15 - “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”

c. Romans 6:11-13

5. And remember, we keep our hearts clean by a continued repentant attitude and confession of sins before our God.

a. 1 John 1:7-9

B. Corrective measures (when we realize that our hearts are not pure before God) are sometimes necessary to regain that pure heart.

1. We have to come to grips with our sinful condition.

a. 2 Samuel 12:13 - “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”

b. Psalm 51:10 - “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

2. We have to confess our sins to our God.

a. Psalm 32:5 - “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”

b. James 4:8 - “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

CONCLUSION: 

What a great blessing! We are going to see God! Who then will be the happiest and most content in this world - those who know their lives are pure and free from sins domination and that they will dwell with God forever. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).

Copyright 1999 by Grady Scott may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.