1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,860 You’re listening to a sermon from pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:06,860 –> 00:00:12,220 To contact us call us at 1-877-Open-365 3 00:00:12,220 –> 00:00:14,280 or visit our website 4 00:00:14,280 –> 00:00:16,280 www.openthebible.org 5 00:00:16,280 –> 00:00:19,959 Let’s get to the message. Here is Pastor Colin. 6 00:00:19,959 –> 00:00:25,799 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 7 00:00:26,760 –> 00:00:29,160 We look last time at what these words mean 8 00:00:29,160 –> 00:00:33,660 We saw that purity of heart does not mean sinlessness of life. 9 00:00:33,660 –> 00:00:37,560 Several folks have said in the last week they found that really helpful. 10 00:00:37,560 –> 00:00:41,320 Purity of heart does not mean sinlessness of life. 11 00:00:41,320 –> 00:00:46,919 That’s good news, because of course Christians in this world are sinners in the process of recovery 12 00:00:46,919 –> 00:00:49,919 until we are translated into the nearer presence of Jesus. 13 00:00:49,959 –> 00:00:54,360 Of course there is growth, of course there is progress, but there is never perfection in this life 14 00:00:54,360 –> 00:00:56,759 if we say that we are without sin 15 00:00:56,759 –> 00:01:01,020 we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 16 00:01:01,020 –> 00:01:03,560 What does purity of heart mean? 17 00:01:03,560 –> 00:01:05,120 We saw that it means two things. 18 00:01:05,120 –> 00:01:08,019 A pure heart, first of all, is an undivided heart. 19 00:01:08,019 –> 00:01:12,180 Purity of heart is to will one thing. 20 00:01:12,180 –> 00:01:15,980 A pure heart is a single heart, it is the opposite of a divided heart. 21 00:01:16,440 –> 00:01:18,339 It is reflected in the Apostle Paul saying 22 00:01:18,339 –> 00:01:20,379 it’s not that I’m already perfect 23 00:01:20,379 –> 00:01:23,320 but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind 24 00:01:23,320 –> 00:01:25,160 I press forward to lay hold of that 25 00:01:25,160 –> 00:01:28,480 for which Jesus Christ has laid hold of me. 26 00:01:28,480 –> 00:01:31,120 So a pure heart is an undivided heart 27 00:01:31,120 –> 00:01:34,720 and then we saw secondly that a pure heart is a clean heart. 28 00:01:34,720 –> 00:01:37,739 We saw that when Jesus Christ becomes yours 29 00:01:37,739 –> 00:01:39,099 and when you become his 30 00:01:39,099 –> 00:01:43,279 through this bond of Holy union that is sealed with faith 31 00:01:43,279 –> 00:01:45,599 three wonderful gifts become yours. 32 00:01:45,699 –> 00:01:48,160 In fact, there are many more, but we looked at just three. 33 00:01:48,160 –> 00:01:52,199 Justification, which is a legal matter 34 00:01:52,199 –> 00:01:56,559 in which in Christ, God drops all charges against you. 35 00:01:56,559 –> 00:01:58,839 That’s the security of your salvation. 36 00:01:58,839 –> 00:02:00,699 Forgiveness, which is relational. 37 00:02:00,699 –> 00:02:03,919 In Christ, God reconciles you to himself 38 00:02:03,919 –> 00:02:05,320 so that you’re not his enemy now. 39 00:02:05,320 –> 00:02:08,080 You are his friend in Jesus Christ. 40 00:02:08,080 –> 00:02:12,160 And then cleansing which is personal in Christ 41 00:02:12,160 –> 00:02:15,440 God washes your heart and he washes your life. 42 00:02:15,460 –> 00:02:17,679 And we saw that this sixth beatitude 43 00:02:17,679 –> 00:02:20,800 is obviously about this matter of cleansing. 44 00:02:20,800 –> 00:02:23,059 Blessed are the pure in heart! 45 00:02:23,059 –> 00:02:25,199 We’re talking about something being washed 46 00:02:25,199 –> 00:02:27,039 and what will come of it? 47 00:02:27,039 –> 00:02:29,320 They will see God. 48 00:02:30,520 –> 00:02:33,679 So we ended last time by seeing that this beatitude 49 00:02:33,679 –> 00:02:37,479 very wonderfully relates to God 50 00:02:37,479 –> 00:02:40,919 taking the baggage of your life. 51 00:02:40,919 –> 00:02:42,800 The effects on your soul 52 00:02:42,800 –> 00:02:44,220 of stuff that you’ve seen 53 00:02:44,279 –> 00:02:46,419 and you wish you hadn’t seen it now. 54 00:02:46,419 –> 00:02:48,600 Stuff that you’ve done and you wish you hadn’t done it now. 55 00:02:48,600 –> 00:02:49,940 Stuff that you have loved 56 00:02:49,940 –> 00:02:51,619 and it’s had an effect in your heart 57 00:02:51,619 –> 00:02:54,339 and it’s had an effect in your soul. 58 00:02:54,339 –> 00:02:55,660 And Christ taking that 59 00:02:55,660 –> 00:02:57,360 and he’s washing you. 60 00:02:57,360 –> 00:02:59,160 He’s cleansing you. 61 00:02:59,160 –> 00:03:02,699 He is straightening out what has become twisted 62 00:03:02,699 –> 00:03:04,639 in the mind and in the heart. 63 00:03:04,639 –> 00:03:07,000 So we saw that this is a very wonderful thing, 64 00:03:07,000 –> 00:03:09,500 we’re looking at how Christ dealt 65 00:03:09,500 –> 00:03:12,979 with the twisted patterns of your thinking. 66 00:03:12,979 –> 00:03:17,240 How he deals with the misdirected patterns of our loving. 67 00:03:17,240 –> 00:03:20,039 How he deals with the compulsive patterns 68 00:03:20,039 –> 00:03:23,179 sometimes of our behaving. 69 00:03:24,179 –> 00:03:27,179 And so today we now come in the second part 70 00:03:27,179 –> 00:03:29,380 to the all important question. 71 00:03:30,679 –> 00:03:32,720 We’ve seen what purity is. 72 00:03:32,720 –> 00:03:34,740 Blessed are the pure in heart. 73 00:03:34,740 –> 00:03:37,399 What a wonderful thing it is. 74 00:03:37,399 –> 00:03:40,059 And the question that’s before us today is 75 00:03:40,059 –> 00:03:41,259 how do I get more of it? 76 00:03:41,940 –> 00:03:44,259 How do I go after it? 77 00:03:44,259 –> 00:03:48,759 How do I pursue purity of heart? 78 00:03:49,899 –> 00:03:51,199 Well it’s hard to imagine anything 79 00:03:51,199 –> 00:03:53,639 that could be more important, or relevant, 80 00:03:53,639 –> 00:03:54,600 or more practical. 81 00:03:54,600 –> 00:03:56,139 I want simply today to offer 82 00:03:56,139 –> 00:04:00,320 two observations and then seven strategies. 83 00:04:00,320 –> 00:04:01,979 First of all a couple of observations. 84 00:04:01,979 –> 00:04:03,860 The first is just to remind you 85 00:04:03,860 –> 00:04:06,960 that purity arises from the pursuit 86 00:04:06,960 –> 00:04:09,940 of the first four beatitudes. 87 00:04:09,940 –> 00:04:13,199 Remember we’ve seen that there is a roots-life-fruit 88 00:04:13,199 –> 00:04:15,619 pattern to the beatitudes. 89 00:04:15,619 –> 00:04:17,140 The roots and the life we saw 90 00:04:17,140 –> 00:04:19,299 are in the first four beatitudes. 91 00:04:19,299 –> 00:04:20,140 What are they? 92 00:04:20,140 –> 00:04:21,179 To be poor in spirit, 93 00:04:21,179 –> 00:04:22,899 to recognize your own need before God, 94 00:04:22,899 –> 00:04:24,299 to mourn your sins, 95 00:04:24,299 –> 00:04:25,440 meekness which we saw 96 00:04:25,440 –> 00:04:27,320 is all about submissiveness to God, 97 00:04:27,320 –> 00:04:29,980 and a hunger and a thirst for righteousness 98 00:04:29,980 –> 00:04:31,700 that comes out of the first three. 99 00:04:31,700 –> 00:04:33,380 These first four beatitudes 100 00:04:33,380 –> 00:04:37,480 are the roots and the life of godliness, 101 00:04:37,480 –> 00:04:39,380 and then out of them come the next three, 102 00:04:39,420 –> 00:04:41,920 which we’ve described as the wonderful fruit. 103 00:04:41,920 –> 00:04:42,760 What is it? 104 00:04:42,760 –> 00:04:44,880 It’s mercy, blessed are the merciful. 105 00:04:44,880 –> 00:04:47,880 Purity, blessed are the pure in heart, 106 00:04:47,880 –> 00:04:49,000 and then we’re going to go on, 107 00:04:49,000 –> 00:04:50,640 God willing, to see peace, 108 00:04:50,640 –> 00:04:52,320 blessed are the peacemakers. 109 00:04:52,320 –> 00:04:54,559 So the first four beatitudes 110 00:04:54,559 –> 00:04:58,260 are the means by which we pursue the last three 111 00:04:58,260 –> 00:05:00,799 and we’ve consistently made the point in this series. 112 00:05:00,799 –> 00:05:03,299 You can’t just start from the middle of the beatitude. 113 00:05:03,299 –> 00:05:05,079 You cannot simply start by saying, 114 00:05:05,079 –> 00:05:07,320 oh, well, now I want to go after purity. 115 00:05:07,339 –> 00:05:09,600 How can I get that? 116 00:05:09,600 –> 00:05:11,100 So someone asked me candidly, 117 00:05:11,100 –> 00:05:13,399 I really appreciated the honesty of the question 118 00:05:13,399 –> 00:05:15,059 after last week’s message, 119 00:05:15,059 –> 00:05:19,420 what if you’re not motivated to pursue purity? 120 00:05:19,420 –> 00:05:21,399 What if you know there’s stuff in your life 121 00:05:21,399 –> 00:05:22,619 but you love it too much 122 00:05:22,619 –> 00:05:24,480 and you just don’t want to let it go? 123 00:05:25,619 –> 00:05:28,320 Well, that’s a great question, isn’t it? 124 00:05:28,320 –> 00:05:30,420 But you see, one answer to that is, 125 00:05:30,420 –> 00:05:32,980 well, go back to the second beatitude then 126 00:05:32,980 –> 00:05:35,619 that’s about mourning over your sins. 127 00:05:35,619 –> 00:05:37,940 Seeing what it’s costing you, 128 00:05:37,940 –> 00:05:39,739 seeing what it’s costing others, 129 00:05:39,739 –> 00:05:42,519 see what it costs Christ. 130 00:05:42,519 –> 00:05:44,320 And so how do I get to the second beatitude? 131 00:05:44,320 –> 00:05:46,600 You get there from the first, 132 00:05:46,600 –> 00:05:49,480 which is to realize your own need and your own situation 133 00:05:49,480 –> 00:05:52,040 and in fact, the problem of the heart 134 00:05:52,040 –> 00:05:55,640 that is not motivated in the presence of God. 135 00:05:56,600 –> 00:05:59,399 And another answer lies in the in the fourth beatitude. 136 00:05:59,399 –> 00:06:01,760 What do I do when I find myself in a position 137 00:06:01,760 –> 00:06:04,440 that I’m loving something that I know shouldn’t be there 138 00:06:04,459 –> 00:06:06,019 and are not ready to let it go? 139 00:06:06,019 –> 00:06:07,779 Well blessed are those who hunger 140 00:06:07,779 –> 00:06:09,779 and thirst after righteousness, 141 00:06:09,779 –> 00:06:11,880 how do I get there to the fourth beatitude 142 00:06:11,880 –> 00:06:13,440 from the third one of course. 143 00:06:14,320 –> 00:06:15,160 What is that? 144 00:06:15,160 –> 00:06:17,019 To submit myself to God. 145 00:06:18,799 –> 00:06:20,799 Blessed are the meek. 146 00:06:20,799 –> 00:06:23,059 Now my point is a very simple one 147 00:06:23,059 –> 00:06:26,119 and it’s cumulative across this entire series. 148 00:06:26,119 –> 00:06:29,600 You cannot go after one virtue in isolation. 149 00:06:29,600 –> 00:06:31,200 The Christian life is a life 150 00:06:32,200 –> 00:06:35,459 and each of these beatitudes comes out of 151 00:06:35,459 –> 00:06:37,700 all that has gone before, 152 00:06:37,700 –> 00:06:40,579 the character of each pursues, 153 00:06:40,579 –> 00:06:44,579 comes out of the pursuit of those that went before 154 00:06:44,579 –> 00:06:47,459 and that’s why we’ve called this series Momentum, 155 00:06:47,459 –> 00:06:52,179 how to make progress in your Christian life 156 00:06:52,179 –> 00:06:54,679 and we’ve seen that often when one falls off 157 00:06:54,679 –> 00:06:56,279 and you say well now why was I thinking that? 158 00:06:56,279 –> 00:06:57,920 You’re just cast back to the beginning 159 00:06:57,920 –> 00:07:00,980 and you begin to swing again and you move forward. 160 00:07:01,239 –> 00:07:03,899 And that’s what the Christian life looks like. 161 00:07:03,899 –> 00:07:06,720 Second observation is simply this, 162 00:07:06,720 –> 00:07:08,559 it’s a very important one. 163 00:07:09,420 –> 00:07:14,420 God calls us as Christians to be proactive 164 00:07:15,600 –> 00:07:18,779 in the pursuit of purity. 165 00:07:18,779 –> 00:07:21,920 Now it’s very important to get this clear in your mind 166 00:07:21,920 –> 00:07:24,320 and so let me just briefly draw your attention 167 00:07:24,320 –> 00:07:29,320 to the language of the Bible in relation to purity of heart. 168 00:07:29,380 –> 00:07:33,820 It is consistently proactive in the call 169 00:07:33,820 –> 00:07:35,940 that God makes to us as believers. 170 00:07:35,940 –> 00:07:37,079 Let me give you some examples. 171 00:07:37,079 –> 00:07:39,500 James chapter 4 in verse 8, 172 00:07:39,500 –> 00:07:42,440 draw near to God and he will draw near to you. 173 00:07:42,440 –> 00:07:45,279 Cleanse your hands, you sinners, 174 00:07:45,279 –> 00:07:50,040 and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 175 00:07:50,959 –> 00:07:53,079 Now who’s acting here? 176 00:07:53,079 –> 00:07:54,859 Who’s the active agent? 177 00:07:54,859 –> 00:07:57,720 Purify your hearts, God says. 178 00:07:57,720 –> 00:07:59,239 He’s calling you to do something. 179 00:08:00,000 –> 00:08:01,140 He’s calling me to do something 180 00:08:01,140 –> 00:08:03,920 He’s calling us to be proactively engaged. 181 00:08:03,920 –> 00:08:06,660 There’s something for you to do. 182 00:08:06,660 –> 00:08:08,260 Active. 183 00:08:08,260 –> 00:08:11,220 For example, 2 Corinthians chapter 7 in verse 1, 184 00:08:11,220 –> 00:08:12,519 you find the same thing. 185 00:08:12,519 –> 00:08:14,619 Since we have these promises, beloved, 186 00:08:14,619 –> 00:08:16,500 so he’s talking again to believers, 187 00:08:16,500 –> 00:08:20,299 let us cleanse ourselves 188 00:08:20,299 –> 00:08:22,440 from every defilement of body and spirit, 189 00:08:22,440 –> 00:08:25,859 bringing holiness to completion in the fear of the Lord. 190 00:08:25,859 –> 00:08:27,679 Again, notice who is acting? 191 00:08:27,720 –> 00:08:29,940 We are, we are to do something. 192 00:08:29,940 –> 00:08:32,479 Let us cleanse ourselves. 193 00:08:32,479 –> 00:08:34,200 That’s the language of Scripture 194 00:08:34,200 –> 00:08:37,919 when it comes to the pursuit of purity of heart. 195 00:08:37,919 –> 00:08:40,859 And it’s consistent, 1 Peter, chapter 1, in verse 22. 196 00:08:40,859 –> 00:08:42,419 Maybe you’ve not noticed this before 197 00:08:42,419 –> 00:08:43,900 and it’s just slipped by you. 198 00:08:43,900 –> 00:08:47,039 It’s very important for the pursuit of the Christian life. 199 00:08:47,039 –> 00:08:52,039 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth. 200 00:08:54,400 –> 00:08:55,960 If you think about this, 201 00:08:56,260 –> 00:08:58,719 the Bible never speaks about Christians 202 00:08:58,719 –> 00:09:00,359 justifying themselves. 203 00:09:00,359 –> 00:09:02,359 How could we possibly do that? 204 00:09:02,359 –> 00:09:03,919 The only time you ever have anything like that 205 00:09:03,919 –> 00:09:06,239 is the rich young ruler who tried to justify himself 206 00:09:06,239 –> 00:09:07,619 and of course found that he couldn’t. 207 00:09:07,619 –> 00:09:09,400 You can never do that. 208 00:09:09,400 –> 00:09:12,200 But the Bible does speak about purifying ourselves 209 00:09:12,200 –> 00:09:15,919 consistently, again and again, cleansing yourself, it says, 210 00:09:15,919 –> 00:09:17,299 something for you to do. 211 00:09:17,299 –> 00:09:20,280 So something is different here, something is distinct, 212 00:09:20,280 –> 00:09:23,080 it’s very important, 1 John chapter three in verse three, 213 00:09:23,080 –> 00:09:24,919 here’s the last of the ones I’ll give you, 214 00:09:24,940 –> 00:09:26,400 I could give you many more. 215 00:09:26,400 –> 00:09:31,400 Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, 216 00:09:31,719 –> 00:09:35,239 purifies himself as Jesus Christ is pure. 217 00:09:35,239 –> 00:09:37,359 Now notice again, this is something in which 218 00:09:37,359 –> 00:09:40,760 the Christian is actively engaged. 219 00:09:41,979 –> 00:09:44,159 I wonder if that’s something you would have been thinking, 220 00:09:44,159 –> 00:09:46,119 is that in your mind? 221 00:09:46,119 –> 00:09:47,960 That the pursuit of purity is something 222 00:09:47,960 –> 00:09:51,400 in which God calls you to be actively engaged. 223 00:09:52,400 –> 00:09:54,919 So this is of huge importance 224 00:09:54,919 –> 00:09:58,000 and it’s a vital distinction to get clear. 225 00:09:58,000 –> 00:10:03,000 The language of the Bible is always passive to us 226 00:10:05,039 –> 00:10:07,320 in regards to our justification, 227 00:10:08,280 –> 00:10:12,479 but it is consistently active for us 228 00:10:12,479 –> 00:10:14,780 in regards to our sanctification. 229 00:10:15,719 –> 00:10:18,840 When it comes to my being made right with God, 230 00:10:18,880 –> 00:10:22,280 and we looked at all that this means just last week, 231 00:10:22,280 –> 00:10:26,500 we can only look to Jesus Christ to do it. 232 00:10:26,500 –> 00:10:31,200 We have to say nothing in my hands I bring 233 00:10:31,200 –> 00:10:35,340 simply to your cross I cling. 234 00:10:35,340 –> 00:10:40,340 That’s justification, but sanctification is different. 235 00:10:41,599 –> 00:10:44,400 Of course we look to Jesus Christ to make us holy, 236 00:10:44,400 –> 00:10:47,000 and I could quote you many Scriptures in regards to that. 237 00:10:47,020 –> 00:10:51,840 But the pursuit of holiness is one 238 00:10:51,840 –> 00:10:54,619 in which from all of these scriptures and many more, 239 00:10:54,619 –> 00:10:59,619 the Christian is always called actively to be engaged. 240 00:11:01,039 –> 00:11:05,000 So just to quote Bishop Ryle here to summarize this point, 241 00:11:05,000 –> 00:11:05,840 he says this, 242 00:11:05,840 –> 00:11:10,840 in justification, our own works have no place at all, 243 00:11:11,299 –> 00:11:13,179 and simple faith in Jesus Christ 244 00:11:13,179 –> 00:11:15,539 is the only thing that is needed. 245 00:11:15,559 –> 00:11:18,500 In sanctification, that is, the pursuit of holiness, 246 00:11:18,500 –> 00:11:19,880 the pursuit of purity, 247 00:11:20,719 –> 00:11:24,580 our own works, he says, are of vast importance. 248 00:11:24,580 –> 00:11:28,320 What you do makes a huge difference, a huge difference, 249 00:11:28,320 –> 00:11:30,580 and God gives us, notice the language, 250 00:11:30,580 –> 00:11:33,979 bids us to fight and to watch 251 00:11:33,979 –> 00:11:38,979 and to pray and to strive and to take pains and to labor. 252 00:11:39,179 –> 00:11:42,619 That’s all Biblical language about the pursuit of purity, 253 00:11:42,619 –> 00:11:46,020 the practical engagement of a Christian believer 254 00:11:46,020 –> 00:11:50,059 in regards to the pursuit of the Christian life. 255 00:11:50,059 –> 00:11:52,299 So when it comes to being reconciled to God, 256 00:11:52,299 –> 00:11:56,900 I cast myself upon Christ and Christ, by his grace, 257 00:11:56,900 –> 00:11:58,780 becomes mine and I become his. 258 00:11:58,780 –> 00:12:01,340 When I’m pursuing the Christian life, 259 00:12:01,340 –> 00:12:03,299 Christ has given me his spirit 260 00:12:03,299 –> 00:12:05,039 and because he has given me his spirit, 261 00:12:05,039 –> 00:12:09,159 he calls me as a believer to be actively engaged 262 00:12:09,159 –> 00:12:13,559 in the pursuit of purity and of wholeness. 263 00:12:13,559 –> 00:12:18,039 So understand this God puts a responsibility on you, 264 00:12:18,039 –> 00:12:21,960 on me, with regards to your growth, 265 00:12:21,960 –> 00:12:26,020 my growth in the Christian life. 266 00:12:27,080 –> 00:12:28,840 Now pause there for just a moment. 267 00:12:30,200 –> 00:12:34,559 I’m absolutely convinced that confusion 268 00:12:34,559 –> 00:12:39,559 on this single point is a major reason 269 00:12:39,679 –> 00:12:42,440 why so many Christians never really 270 00:12:42,440 –> 00:12:44,760 seem to make much progress. 271 00:12:46,000 –> 00:12:47,960 And it’s tragic that that is true, 272 00:12:49,159 –> 00:12:52,200 but I tell ya, I have been a pastor now over 30 years, 273 00:12:52,200 –> 00:12:54,039 as most of you know, 274 00:12:54,039 –> 00:12:57,419 and I have seen people wonderfully changed, 275 00:12:58,940 –> 00:13:02,280 and people who in large measure, 276 00:13:02,280 –> 00:13:06,159 have got free from baggage and stuff in their past, 277 00:13:07,179 –> 00:13:09,479 and they have mastered the sharp tongue 278 00:13:09,479 –> 00:13:13,440 and the fearful spirit and the self absorbed life, 279 00:13:13,440 –> 00:13:14,739 and it’s wonderful. 280 00:13:16,099 –> 00:13:18,440 And I’ve seen over a period of many years 281 00:13:18,440 –> 00:13:20,000 that there are others, 282 00:13:20,000 –> 00:13:22,679 who despite professing faith in Jesus, 283 00:13:22,679 –> 00:13:26,280 really seem to make very little progress at all. 284 00:13:27,799 –> 00:13:29,719 And they remain pretty much as they were. 285 00:13:29,780 –> 00:13:33,280 There, and what happens over time 286 00:13:33,280 –> 00:13:35,940 is that they simply become an older version 287 00:13:35,940 –> 00:13:37,380 of what they were before. 288 00:13:37,380 –> 00:13:39,820 Nothing really seems to change much. 289 00:13:41,179 –> 00:13:43,739 So I ask what makes the difference? 290 00:13:45,520 –> 00:13:47,559 What makes the difference between this person 291 00:13:47,559 –> 00:13:50,260 who’s life has changed and there’s a brightness 292 00:13:50,260 –> 00:13:53,000 and there’s a victory and there’s a triumph 293 00:13:53,000 –> 00:13:54,840 and there’s a progress. 294 00:13:55,820 –> 00:14:00,539 And this person who is simply an older version 295 00:14:01,659 –> 00:14:05,880 of what he or she was before. 296 00:14:05,880 –> 00:14:08,659 And I am absolutely convinced, my friends, 297 00:14:09,780 –> 00:14:11,900 that the practice of the seven things 298 00:14:11,900 –> 00:14:13,700 I want to lay before you today 299 00:14:14,979 –> 00:14:16,799 is at the heart of the difference. 300 00:14:18,000 –> 00:14:20,520 And you know which you wanna be 301 00:14:20,520 –> 00:14:23,479 and I know which I wanna be. 302 00:14:23,479 –> 00:14:25,299 And so what is before us right now 303 00:14:25,299 –> 00:14:28,500 in these moments and the practice off it 304 00:14:28,500 –> 00:14:29,840 is of huge importance. 305 00:14:29,840 –> 00:14:31,900 There are things for you to do 306 00:14:33,119 –> 00:14:35,799 and in as much as you do them, you will make progress 307 00:14:35,799 –> 00:14:37,659 and in as much as you do not do them, 308 00:14:37,659 –> 00:14:41,580 you’ll simply slide into being an older version 309 00:14:41,580 –> 00:14:44,380 of what you were before. 310 00:14:45,900 –> 00:14:48,500 So, seven practices, seven things you can do 311 00:14:48,500 –> 00:14:51,400 that promote purity of heart. 312 00:14:51,400 –> 00:14:53,219 Here we go, number one, 313 00:14:53,280 –> 00:14:56,619 belief, this is something for you to do. 314 00:14:56,619 –> 00:15:00,359 I’m thinking of James chapter one in verse six and seven. 315 00:15:00,359 –> 00:15:05,359 The practice of trusting Jesus Christ to change you. 316 00:15:06,520 –> 00:15:09,039 Many people who professed to be Christian 317 00:15:09,039 –> 00:15:11,340 simply do not believe that Jesus Christ 318 00:15:11,340 –> 00:15:14,320 is able to deal with the baggage of their lives, period. 319 00:15:15,719 –> 00:15:17,239 They feel and they often say 320 00:15:17,239 –> 00:15:19,859 that the temptations are too strong, 321 00:15:19,859 –> 00:15:21,559 that their failures are too many, 322 00:15:21,559 –> 00:15:22,919 that their wounds are too deep, 323 00:15:23,619 –> 00:15:26,719 that their own lack of change has persisted for too long. 324 00:15:26,719 –> 00:15:27,859 And they actually feel that all of this 325 00:15:27,859 –> 00:15:30,679 is beyond even Jesus Christ himself. 326 00:15:32,359 –> 00:15:35,719 And I’m saying to you, that if you in your heart of hearts 327 00:15:35,719 –> 00:15:39,719 do not believe that Jesus Christ is able to change, 328 00:15:39,719 –> 00:15:43,840 cleanse you, then at that point 329 00:15:43,840 –> 00:15:46,599 you are not exercising faith in him. 330 00:15:47,859 –> 00:15:51,200 I do not see by the way that you are not a Christian. 331 00:15:51,200 –> 00:15:53,080 Remember Jesus said to his own disciples, 332 00:15:53,080 –> 00:15:55,700 “‘Where is your faith?’ 333 00:15:55,700 –> 00:15:57,859 He was not saying that they were not his disciples. 334 00:15:57,859 –> 00:16:01,179 They were his disciples, but they were not exercising faith 335 00:16:01,179 –> 00:16:04,260 and that was why they were in such difficulties 336 00:16:04,260 –> 00:16:06,619 and why they were making such little progress. 337 00:16:07,619 –> 00:16:10,619 And it is possible to profess belief in Jesus Christ 338 00:16:10,619 –> 00:16:13,039 and yet not to exercise faith 339 00:16:13,039 –> 00:16:16,619 in the power of Jesus Christ to actually change you. 340 00:16:17,479 –> 00:16:20,460 And James makes this point that when we come to ask of God, 341 00:16:20,479 –> 00:16:22,219 we have to ask in faith 342 00:16:23,099 –> 00:16:25,979 and that if we do not come as those who have faith 343 00:16:25,979 –> 00:16:28,479 in his ability to change us, 344 00:16:28,479 –> 00:16:31,000 then, we are double-minded people 345 00:16:31,000 –> 00:16:34,340 and a double-minded person will not receive anything 346 00:16:34,340 –> 00:16:36,739 from the Lord is what James says. 347 00:16:36,739 –> 00:16:39,039 So that may be why there is a little progress 348 00:16:39,039 –> 00:16:41,159 because in your heart of hearts, 349 00:16:41,159 –> 00:16:43,820 you do not really feel that Christ can change you. 350 00:16:43,820 –> 00:16:47,380 You do not have a vision of what he can cause you to become 351 00:16:47,380 –> 00:16:49,719 and therefore there’s no active pursuit of it 352 00:16:49,780 –> 00:16:52,799 that’s going on in your life. 353 00:16:52,799 –> 00:16:54,799 So, I’m suggesting to you then first 354 00:16:54,799 –> 00:16:55,900 that here’s something to do 355 00:16:55,900 –> 00:16:57,859 because progress in the Christian life 356 00:16:57,859 –> 00:17:01,580 begins with believing that Jesus Christ 357 00:17:01,580 –> 00:17:03,320 is able to cleanse you, 358 00:17:04,160 –> 00:17:07,859 so to every person who’s languishing in some kind of despair 359 00:17:07,859 –> 00:17:09,660 and you feel that the habits of your mind 360 00:17:09,660 –> 00:17:13,140 are too ingrained and the inclinations of your heart, 361 00:17:13,140 –> 00:17:16,619 they’re just too deep and the pool of your desires, 362 00:17:16,619 –> 00:17:18,459 it’s all just too strong. 363 00:17:18,459 –> 00:17:19,300 I want to say to you, 364 00:17:19,300 –> 00:17:22,239 look to Jesus Christ, the Savior. 365 00:17:23,119 –> 00:17:24,800 He’s cleansed other people. 366 00:17:25,839 –> 00:17:27,780 He’s made extraordinary difference 367 00:17:27,780 –> 00:17:29,479 in the lives of other people. 368 00:17:29,479 –> 00:17:31,339 Why not you? 369 00:17:31,339 –> 00:17:33,119 Why don’t you exercise some faith? 370 00:17:33,119 –> 00:17:34,839 You say you believe in him. 371 00:17:34,839 –> 00:17:38,459 Why do you not have some faith in him to change you 372 00:17:38,459 –> 00:17:40,500 and begin to ask of him in that regard? 373 00:17:40,500 –> 00:17:42,180 So, here’s the first thing. 374 00:17:42,180 –> 00:17:45,239 Believe, that is the practice and it’s something to do. 375 00:17:45,319 –> 00:17:50,319 You actually do this of trusting Christ to change you. 376 00:17:50,780 –> 00:17:51,619 Number one is believe. 377 00:17:51,619 –> 00:17:54,819 Number two, confess. 378 00:17:54,819 –> 00:17:57,359 And this is not here are seven, take one. 379 00:17:57,359 –> 00:18:00,479 This is here are seven, pursue all, okay? 380 00:18:00,479 –> 00:18:01,660 Number two, confess. 381 00:18:01,660 –> 00:18:03,439 1 John 1 in verse nine, 382 00:18:03,439 –> 00:18:06,119 I’m thinking here about the practice 383 00:18:06,119 –> 00:18:11,119 of naming and opposing particular sins in your life. 384 00:18:13,420 –> 00:18:14,260 Do you realize this verse? 385 00:18:14,260 –> 00:18:15,099 Well, I’m sure. 386 00:18:15,099 –> 00:18:17,939 If we confess our sins, 387 00:18:17,939 –> 00:18:20,300 He’s faithful and just to forgive us our sins 388 00:18:20,300 –> 00:18:23,479 and cleanse us, so here’s the cleansing 389 00:18:23,479 –> 00:18:26,400 from all unrighteousness. 390 00:18:27,579 –> 00:18:31,239 Now, notice that the confessing and the cleansing 391 00:18:31,239 –> 00:18:35,719 are tied together in this very important verse 392 00:18:35,719 –> 00:18:37,699 of Scripture. 393 00:18:37,699 –> 00:18:40,819 When you set your mind to go after purity 394 00:18:40,819 –> 00:18:42,979 and you begin to exercise some faith 395 00:18:43,020 –> 00:18:46,640 in the Lord Jesus Christ, maybe He can change me too. 396 00:18:47,599 –> 00:18:49,140 The next question really is, 397 00:18:49,140 –> 00:18:52,219 in what do you want Him to change you? 398 00:18:52,219 –> 00:18:54,260 What sins in particular do you need 399 00:18:54,260 –> 00:18:56,979 to set your mind and your heart against 400 00:18:56,979 –> 00:18:59,359 and ask His power to overcome? 401 00:18:59,359 –> 00:19:01,660 What are the big sins that lurk in your heart 402 00:19:01,660 –> 00:19:04,780 that need to be hunted down consistently 403 00:19:04,780 –> 00:19:06,260 whenever they rear their ugly head? 404 00:19:06,260 –> 00:19:08,260 Is it pride, is it lust, is it greed, 405 00:19:08,260 –> 00:19:10,099 is it laziness, is it all of the above 406 00:19:10,099 –> 00:19:11,780 and what else besides? 407 00:19:13,099 –> 00:19:15,739 You remember in the fall in the early part of the series 408 00:19:15,739 –> 00:19:17,619 when we were talking about mourning your sins, 409 00:19:17,619 –> 00:19:19,380 I said to you, here’s the exercise 410 00:19:19,380 –> 00:19:21,760 for every married man in the Church. 411 00:19:21,760 –> 00:19:24,979 I want you to ask your wife for one sin 412 00:19:24,979 –> 00:19:27,420 that you should be fighting more proactively against. 413 00:19:27,420 –> 00:19:29,780 You remember that back in October? 414 00:19:29,780 –> 00:19:31,819 And I said to you, I already asked my wife that 415 00:19:31,819 –> 00:19:33,099 because of course you gotta do that, 416 00:19:33,099 –> 00:19:35,219 practice what you preach and I said, 417 00:19:35,219 –> 00:19:36,180 Can you name one sin. 418 00:19:36,180 –> 00:19:37,739 You remember what she said. 419 00:19:37,739 –> 00:19:39,939 Can I give you two she said. 420 00:19:39,979 –> 00:19:44,439 Well, you know and I’m still working on them. 421 00:19:44,439 –> 00:19:46,099 She was very perceptive. 422 00:19:47,319 –> 00:19:50,060 And I’ve noticed points where I’ve said 423 00:19:50,060 –> 00:19:51,180 even within the last month. 424 00:19:51,180 –> 00:19:53,619 Oh, that’s back to that old way of thinking again. 425 00:19:54,560 –> 00:19:56,020 I gotta fight that. 426 00:19:56,020 –> 00:19:56,979 I gotta fight that. 427 00:19:58,540 –> 00:20:01,800 If you cannot name or think off 428 00:20:01,800 –> 00:20:05,579 two or three specific sins that you’re actively engaged 429 00:20:05,579 –> 00:20:07,680 in fighting right now, 430 00:20:08,140 –> 00:20:10,199 it probably means you’re not making much progress 431 00:20:10,199 –> 00:20:11,339 in your Christian life. 432 00:20:12,800 –> 00:20:14,640 Whoever wins a battle without knowing 433 00:20:14,640 –> 00:20:16,040 what they’re fighting against 434 00:20:17,319 –> 00:20:19,199 is the power of confession. 435 00:20:20,439 –> 00:20:23,959 So build it into your life 436 00:20:23,959 –> 00:20:27,439 to bring specific sins as a regular part of your prayer 437 00:20:27,439 –> 00:20:31,079 to identify them and say, this I confess, 438 00:20:31,079 –> 00:20:33,140 this I seek your cleansing in 439 00:20:33,140 –> 00:20:37,160 and this oh Lord I’m asking for your help to overcome. 440 00:20:37,160 –> 00:20:39,219 I want to make progress against this, 441 00:20:39,219 –> 00:20:42,540 I don’t want to simply be an older version of myself 442 00:20:42,540 –> 00:20:44,180 in 10 years with this 443 00:20:44,180 –> 00:20:47,160 exactly as it is in my heart right now, 444 00:20:47,160 –> 00:20:50,140 I want to make progress and that’s all confession, 445 00:20:50,140 –> 00:20:52,800 and of course you’ll know that our primary calling 446 00:20:52,800 –> 00:20:54,420 is to confess to God. 447 00:20:54,420 –> 00:20:58,699 But the Bible also speaks of the value and power 448 00:20:58,699 –> 00:21:00,920 of confessing to one another, 449 00:21:00,920 –> 00:21:03,739 confess your sins to one another, the Bible says, 450 00:21:03,739 –> 00:21:06,400 and pray for one another that you may be healed 451 00:21:06,400 –> 00:21:08,699 in James chapter five and verse 16, 452 00:21:08,699 –> 00:21:12,219 and James is describing an environment of trust here, 453 00:21:12,219 –> 00:21:14,420 where you have a relationship with someone 454 00:21:14,420 –> 00:21:16,819 who you trust and respect, and someone who loves you 455 00:21:16,819 –> 00:21:20,579 and you’re really able to open up to them. 456 00:21:20,579 –> 00:21:23,939 What is the front line of the battle 457 00:21:23,939 –> 00:21:27,760 in your Christian life so that they can pray with you 458 00:21:27,760 –> 00:21:29,979 and they can help you and they can encourage you 459 00:21:29,979 –> 00:21:31,619 and you really can make progress 460 00:21:31,619 –> 00:21:35,800 and not simply stay the same year after year after year? 461 00:21:36,400 –> 00:21:40,760 So do this, especially if you are struggling 462 00:21:40,760 –> 00:21:43,079 to gain victory over a particular sin 463 00:21:43,079 –> 00:21:46,280 or temptation in your life. 464 00:21:46,280 –> 00:21:50,000 Number three, obey, believe, confess, 465 00:21:50,000 –> 00:21:51,939 number three is obey. 466 00:21:52,780 –> 00:21:55,000 Now, so many scriptures that we could quote here 467 00:21:55,000 –> 00:21:59,560 for the practice of immersing yourself in the word of God. 468 00:22:00,479 –> 00:22:05,060 And I chose the word immersing deliberately for this reason, 469 00:22:05,439 –> 00:22:10,439 that the scriptures have a purifying effect on the heart. 470 00:22:14,020 –> 00:22:16,000 And you find this in many places in the Bible. 471 00:22:16,000 –> 00:22:18,819 I wonder if you’ve noticed it in Ephesians 5, 26. 472 00:22:18,819 –> 00:22:22,420 For example, when we’re told that Christ loved the church 473 00:22:22,420 –> 00:22:24,140 and He gave Himself up for her, 474 00:22:24,140 –> 00:22:25,959 that He might sanctify her. 475 00:22:25,959 –> 00:22:28,619 So here’s this growth in purity and cleanse her 476 00:22:28,619 –> 00:22:30,180 and how does that happen? 477 00:22:30,180 –> 00:22:34,719 By the washing of water with the word, 478 00:22:34,800 –> 00:22:35,959 with the word. 479 00:22:36,839 –> 00:22:37,959 So what He’s saying here 480 00:22:37,959 –> 00:22:39,880 is that the entrance of the word of God 481 00:22:39,880 –> 00:22:42,000 into the mind and into the heart, 482 00:22:42,000 –> 00:22:43,880 where it is received by faith, 483 00:22:43,880 –> 00:22:47,119 applied and acted upon on a regular basis, 484 00:22:47,119 –> 00:22:51,280 that that has a cleansing and purifying effect in the life. 485 00:22:52,119 –> 00:22:54,260 It’s a wonderful thing. 486 00:22:54,260 –> 00:22:55,839 Which is why Jesus says, 487 00:22:55,839 –> 00:23:00,500 sanctify them by the truth. 488 00:23:00,500 –> 00:23:04,660 The word, He says to the Father, is truth. 489 00:23:06,699 –> 00:23:09,140 Now let me tell you candidly, 490 00:23:09,140 –> 00:23:12,619 as I’ve spoken about the experience 491 00:23:12,619 –> 00:23:15,979 of great encouragement 492 00:23:15,979 –> 00:23:18,219 in seeing folks wonderfully change 493 00:23:18,219 –> 00:23:21,599 and sometimes discouragement and disappointment 494 00:23:21,599 –> 00:23:23,739 in not seeing that happen, 495 00:23:25,459 –> 00:23:28,979 and I can promise you that without exception, 496 00:23:29,579 –> 00:23:32,160 where there has been real change 497 00:23:32,160 –> 00:23:34,699 in the stuff of a person’s life, 498 00:23:34,699 –> 00:23:37,199 one factor in my observation 499 00:23:37,199 –> 00:23:39,699 has always been present and never absent, 500 00:23:41,579 –> 00:23:43,239 and that factor is that there has been 501 00:23:43,239 –> 00:23:47,040 an abundance entrance of the word of God 502 00:23:48,140 –> 00:23:53,140 into the life and into the heart of a believer, 503 00:23:54,660 –> 00:23:57,660 and where there has been a failure to thrive, 504 00:23:59,500 –> 00:24:01,819 I have noticed without exception 505 00:24:03,099 –> 00:24:05,699 that one thing has been significantly absent, 506 00:24:05,699 –> 00:24:06,859 whatever else has happened, 507 00:24:06,859 –> 00:24:07,760 oh, there’s been fellowship, 508 00:24:07,760 –> 00:24:08,599 and there’s been this, 509 00:24:08,599 –> 00:24:09,439 and there’s been that, 510 00:24:09,439 –> 00:24:10,260 and all the rest of it, 511 00:24:10,260 –> 00:24:11,939 but one thing where there’s failure to thrive 512 00:24:11,939 –> 00:24:13,280 that is always absent 513 00:24:14,739 –> 00:24:19,739 is a significant entrance 514 00:24:20,060 –> 00:24:23,780 of the word of God into a person’s life. 515 00:24:24,780 –> 00:24:29,000 People who are changing and are growing in purity 516 00:24:29,000 –> 00:24:31,280 are like sponges for God’s truth, 517 00:24:31,280 –> 00:24:32,420 they’re like sponges in the way 518 00:24:32,420 –> 00:24:34,619 that they listen to the preaching of the word 519 00:24:35,739 –> 00:24:39,319 as opposed to passively letting it fly over. 520 00:24:40,540 –> 00:24:43,300 They’re sponges when it comes to the reading of the word, 521 00:24:43,300 –> 00:24:45,459 they’re asking questions about the word. 522 00:24:46,660 –> 00:24:48,780 The entrance of God’s word gives light, 523 00:24:48,780 –> 00:24:50,739 it’s pure, the word of the Lord, 524 00:24:50,739 –> 00:24:53,040 the Psalm says that time and time and time again 525 00:24:53,040 –> 00:24:58,040 and it is purifying in its effect in the soul. 526 00:25:00,680 –> 00:25:03,339 So if you’re really cracking a Bible open, 527 00:25:03,339 –> 00:25:05,640 you probably aren’t making much progress 528 00:25:05,640 –> 00:25:07,640 in the pursuit of this purity of heart, 529 00:25:07,640 –> 00:25:09,500 this singleness of purpose, 530 00:25:09,500 –> 00:25:12,780 this life that Jesus Christ is calling you to. 531 00:25:14,060 –> 00:25:17,859 And if you would do this, it would make a difference. 532 00:25:18,780 –> 00:25:19,739 It really would. 533 00:25:21,140 –> 00:25:22,839 Proactively engage. 534 00:25:22,859 –> 00:25:27,239 Number four, and perhaps this is the most often missed 535 00:25:27,239 –> 00:25:30,959 of all of these strategies that I’m laying before you today, 536 00:25:30,959 –> 00:25:33,260 number four is worship. 537 00:25:33,260 –> 00:25:38,099 The practice of gazing on the glory of God. 538 00:25:39,599 –> 00:25:43,520 The practice of gazing on the glory of God. 539 00:25:43,520 –> 00:25:47,640 And here I’m looking at 1 Corinthians 3 in verse 18. 540 00:25:47,640 –> 00:25:49,619 Look at this verse and try and take it in. 541 00:25:49,619 –> 00:25:50,859 It’s breathtaking. 54200:25:51,719 –> 00:25:56,719 We all, with unveiled face, 543 00:25:57,859 –> 00:26:00,780 beholding the glory of the Lord. 544 00:26:01,979 –> 00:26:03,660 We are being transformed. 545 00:26:03,660 –> 00:26:06,180 So here’s the change we’re looking for, the growth, 546 00:26:06,180 –> 00:26:09,140 the advancement, and holiness, and impurity. 547 00:26:09,140 –> 00:26:11,520 We’re being transformed into the same image, 548 00:26:11,520 –> 00:26:13,140 that’s the image of Christ, 549 00:26:13,140 –> 00:26:16,300 from one degree of glory to another. 550 00:26:16,300 –> 00:26:18,260 Now notice the two things in this verse. 551 00:26:18,260 –> 00:26:19,579 We are being transformed. 552 00:26:19,579 –> 00:26:20,579 That’s what we want. 553 00:26:20,579 –> 00:26:22,119 How is it happening? 554 00:26:23,420 –> 00:26:24,900 Look at the other thing in the verse. 555 00:26:24,900 –> 00:26:29,380 It’s happening as this person is beholding 556 00:26:29,380 –> 00:26:32,660 the glory of the Lord. 557 00:26:32,660 –> 00:26:35,859 And this verse ties these two things together. 558 00:26:35,859 –> 00:26:37,819 Because beholding the glory of the Lord 559 00:26:37,819 –> 00:26:39,959 becomes a means by which 560 00:26:39,959 –> 00:26:44,359 we are transformed into His likeness. 561 00:26:44,359 –> 00:26:47,099 And he’s not, by the way, talking about Heaven, 562 00:26:47,099 –> 00:26:48,859 we’ll behold the glory of the Lord there 563 00:26:48,900 –> 00:26:50,599 in the immediate presence of Jesus. 564 00:26:50,599 –> 00:26:53,140 But he’s talking present tense. 565 00:26:53,140 –> 00:26:54,880 He’s talking about something that happens 566 00:26:54,880 –> 00:26:58,099 in the experience of a Christian believer now. 567 00:26:59,760 –> 00:27:01,219 So this is of huge importance. 568 00:27:01,219 –> 00:27:04,199 He’s talking about worship. 569 00:27:04,199 –> 00:27:06,780 And he’s talking about the power of beholding 570 00:27:06,780 –> 00:27:09,280 something of the glory and the greatness of the Lord 571 00:27:09,280 –> 00:27:10,400 as I read the Bible, 572 00:27:10,400 –> 00:27:13,920 as I gather for a worship service like this. 573 00:27:13,920 –> 00:27:17,380 As I lay down my life in service for Jesus Christ. 574 00:27:18,239 –> 00:27:22,560 Beholding his glory. 575 00:27:22,560 –> 00:27:23,900 And the principle here 576 00:27:23,900 –> 00:27:27,939 is that we become through what we behold. 577 00:27:27,939 –> 00:27:30,300 The more I see of Jesus the glory, 578 00:27:30,300 –> 00:27:32,140 the more I’m going to become like him. 579 00:27:32,140 –> 00:27:34,859 The less I see of Jesus’ glory. 580 00:27:34,859 –> 00:27:36,099 Less I see in the word, 581 00:27:36,099 –> 00:27:39,160 the less I see in worship. 582 00:27:39,160 –> 00:27:40,859 Like someone who knows nothing about art 583 00:27:40,859 –> 00:27:42,560 is just walking by a whole man 584 00:27:42,560 –> 00:27:43,900 as if it was of no value 585 00:27:43,900 –> 00:27:45,680 and someone who knows its value says, 586 00:27:45,680 –> 00:27:47,260 how could you walk past that? 587 00:27:48,319 –> 00:27:51,520 The more I see of Christ’s glory, 588 00:27:51,520 –> 00:27:55,079 the more I’m going to be changed 589 00:27:55,079 –> 00:27:56,319 on an ongoing basis 590 00:27:56,319 –> 00:27:58,479 from one degree of glory to another 591 00:27:58,479 –> 00:28:00,040 into his likeness. 592 00:28:00,040 –> 00:28:02,400 Now, let me try and break this down for you 593 00:28:02,400 –> 00:28:05,640 and make it really practical. 594 00:28:05,640 –> 00:28:07,079 Let’s think of someone 595 00:28:07,079 –> 00:28:12,959 who says they are a sex addict. 596 00:28:12,959 –> 00:28:13,959 And you think about this person. 597 00:28:13,959 –> 00:28:15,479 We’ll have a conversation with them 598 00:28:15,479 –> 00:28:18,579 for a moment together, shall we? 599 00:28:18,579 –> 00:28:22,640 Compulsive habits, behaviors, 600 00:28:22,640 –> 00:28:24,040 built up as a pattern in 601 00:28:24,040 –> 00:28:25,239 this person’s life, 602 00:28:25,239 –> 00:28:28,400 over many many years. 603 00:28:28,400 –> 00:28:30,859 And now this person who is in church 604 00:28:30,859 –> 00:28:32,400 has come to a place of 605 00:28:32,400 –> 00:28:37,000 feeling that there is no escape. 606 00:28:37,000 –> 00:28:39,920 And you are going to try and help them. 607 00:28:39,920 –> 00:28:42,560 And you ask the question, 608 00:28:42,560 –> 00:28:45,079 how did you get here? 609 00:28:45,119 –> 00:28:48,500 How did you become what you say you are today? 610 00:28:49,520 –> 00:28:51,540 How did this thing come to gain 611 00:28:51,540 –> 00:28:56,219 such a power within your own life? 612 00:28:56,219 –> 00:28:57,280 And as you listen 613 00:28:57,280 –> 00:28:58,979 you are able to discern what has happened 614 00:28:58,979 –> 00:29:00,400 and you say something like this. 615 00:29:00,400 –> 00:29:02,359 You say, you know what? 616 00:29:02,359 –> 00:29:07,000 You have made an idol of this thing. 617 00:29:07,000 –> 00:29:10,760 You have set your affection on this idol. 618 00:29:10,760 –> 00:29:14,319 You went to the idol for comfort. 619 00:29:14,339 –> 00:29:16,359 You went to it for happiness. 620 00:29:17,780 –> 00:29:22,780 You worshiped your way into this addiction. 621 00:29:24,219 –> 00:29:25,219 That’s what you did. 622 00:29:26,560 –> 00:29:29,560 You worshiped your way into this addiction. 623 00:29:29,560 –> 00:29:32,780 Now, how are you gonna get out of it? 624 00:29:34,300 –> 00:29:38,280 Answer, you worshipped your way in. 625 00:29:39,199 –> 00:29:42,739 You must now worship your way out. 626 00:29:44,420 –> 00:29:45,420 What does that mean? 627 00:29:47,260 –> 00:29:49,199 You cannot simply take down the idol, 628 00:29:49,199 –> 00:29:51,319 you are made to be a worshiper. 629 00:29:52,380 –> 00:29:54,439 Thomas Chalmers used that wonderful phrase, 630 00:29:54,439 –> 00:29:57,819 the expulsive power of a new affection. 631 00:29:59,359 –> 00:30:02,520 You become a worshipper of Jesus Christ 632 00:30:02,520 –> 00:30:06,079 in a whole new way. 633 00:30:06,079 –> 00:30:09,760 And you begin to practise gazing 634 00:30:09,760 –> 00:30:11,560 on the glory of God. 635 00:30:11,560 –> 00:30:14,280 Now, some of you know exactly what this change is like. 636 00:30:15,199 –> 00:30:18,420 Because you can remember a time 637 00:30:18,420 –> 00:30:22,280 when for many, many years you just stood, 638 00:30:22,280 –> 00:30:25,300 passive, as so many folks do, 639 00:30:25,300 –> 00:30:27,260 when others around you were worshipping. 640 00:30:28,719 –> 00:30:31,260 And you sat with your mind wandering 641 00:30:31,260 –> 00:30:33,060 while other people like sponges 642 00:30:33,060 –> 00:30:34,800 were soaking in the word of God. 643 00:30:34,800 –> 00:30:39,079 But you weren’t, you weren’t receiving anything, really. 644 00:30:40,920 –> 00:30:42,760 But then you came to a place 645 00:30:42,760 –> 00:30:45,040 and things changed 646 00:30:45,040 –> 00:30:47,219 and now in the mercy of God 647 00:30:47,219 –> 00:30:49,319 you have become a worshipper 648 00:30:49,319 –> 00:30:53,300 and you are worshiping as you are changing 649 00:30:53,300 –> 00:30:55,900 and you are changing as you are worshipping. 650 00:30:55,900 –> 00:30:56,739 It’s beautiful. 651 00:30:58,119 –> 00:30:59,880 And if it hasn’t happened yet for you, 652 00:30:59,880 –> 00:31:01,719 then this is what God is calling you to do. 653 00:31:01,719 –> 00:31:04,500 You believe in that the Lord Jesus Christ 654 00:31:04,500 –> 00:31:05,640 is able to change you. 655 00:31:05,640 –> 00:31:06,540 It’s gonna start there. 656 00:31:06,540 –> 00:31:07,800 You’ve gotta confess, 657 00:31:08,800 –> 00:31:10,439 you’ve gotta start getting yourself immersed 658 00:31:10,439 –> 00:31:11,260 in the word of God. 659 00:31:11,260 –> 00:31:12,099 Week on week, 660 00:31:12,099 –> 00:31:13,579 you’ve gotta become a pattern in your life 661 00:31:13,579 –> 00:31:15,560 if you’re really gonna break this kind of a power. 662 00:31:15,560 –> 00:31:17,920 You’re gonna have to become a worshipper, 663 00:31:17,920 –> 00:31:19,819 not simply an attender, a worshipper, 664 00:31:20,959 –> 00:31:24,520 in the word and among the people of God 665 00:31:25,939 –> 00:31:27,000 and all over the church. 666 00:31:27,000 –> 00:31:29,640 There are folks who have seen the power 667 00:31:29,640 –> 00:31:32,619 of lethal habits broken 668 00:31:33,560 –> 00:31:35,800 by the power of Jesus Christ 669 00:31:35,800 –> 00:31:36,839 and this is the pattern. 670 00:31:36,839 –> 00:31:38,540 This is what it looks like. 671 00:31:38,540 –> 00:31:40,380 This is how it happens. 672 00:31:42,160 –> 00:31:43,459 Worship. 673 00:31:43,459 –> 00:31:47,839 Practice, gazing, on the glory of God. 674 00:31:47,839 –> 00:31:51,479 Now Jesus says, in the sixth beatitude, 675 00:31:51,479 –> 00:31:54,780 “‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’” 676 00:31:55,739 –> 00:31:58,300 And what 2 Corinthians in chapter three in verse 18 677 00:31:58,300 –> 00:32:01,579 tells us is that the reflex is also true, 678 00:32:02,900 –> 00:32:06,640 that those who see God become pure in heart, 679 00:32:06,640 –> 00:32:08,660 that the more that you see of God, 680 00:32:08,660 –> 00:32:10,780 the more we behold Him with unveiled face, 681 00:32:11,160 –> 00:32:12,479 the more are you going to be transformed 682 00:32:12,479 –> 00:32:15,199 increasingly into his likeness. 683 00:32:15,199 –> 00:32:17,319 Remember how that happened for Isaiah? 684 00:32:18,239 –> 00:32:19,420 I mean, here’s a man who you’d think, 685 00:32:19,420 –> 00:32:23,359 well, he’s in the ministry, he’s a prophet, 686 00:32:23,359 –> 00:32:26,180 so he’s full-time in work for the Lord, 687 00:32:26,180 –> 00:32:28,500 and yet there comes a moment in his life 688 00:32:28,500 –> 00:32:31,699 when he sees more of the glory of God than ever before. 689 00:32:31,699 –> 00:32:33,939 You can read about it in Isaiah in chapter six. 690 00:32:33,939 –> 00:32:36,819 And what happens then, suddenly he says, 691 00:32:36,819 –> 00:32:38,560 I’m a man of unclean lips. 692 00:32:38,599 –> 00:32:40,640 This man in the ministry is saying that. 693 00:32:41,800 –> 00:32:44,180 And, he hadn’t felt that before, 694 00:32:44,180 –> 00:32:45,380 he hadn’t seen that before, 695 00:32:45,380 –> 00:32:46,920 but seeing the glory of the Lord 696 00:32:46,920 –> 00:32:50,199 now has a further purifying effect in his life. 697 00:32:51,719 –> 00:32:55,420 And this new glimpse of the glory of God 698 00:32:55,420 –> 00:32:57,380 moves him to begin to live 699 00:32:57,380 –> 00:33:00,500 in a whole different and new kind of a way. 700 00:33:02,199 –> 00:33:03,920 And he says, here am I, send me, 701 00:33:03,920 –> 00:33:06,880 and he’s ready to serve as he wasn’t before, 702 00:33:07,599 –> 00:33:10,400 and yet his agenda as to what he wanted to do, perhaps. 703 00:33:11,680 –> 00:33:13,680 God gives them the toughest assignment of all, 704 00:33:13,680 –> 00:33:17,040 you can read about that in the end of Isaiah, chapter six, 705 00:33:17,040 –> 00:33:19,000 and it’s his vision of the glory of God 706 00:33:19,000 –> 00:33:23,920 that sustains him in this extremely difficult task. 707 00:33:25,859 –> 00:33:27,119 Now you say, well that’s Isaiah, 708 00:33:27,119 –> 00:33:29,099 he actually got to see the glory of the Lord, 709 00:33:29,099 –> 00:33:33,319 but you see the point here in 2 Corinthians 3, 18, 710 00:33:33,319 –> 00:33:35,880 the Apostle Paul’s saying that’s what happens 711 00:33:35,880 –> 00:33:38,439 by the Holy Spirit through faith when you worship 712 00:33:38,439 –> 00:33:40,119 if you’re actively engaged in it, 713 00:33:40,119 –> 00:33:42,680 we behold the glory of the Lord, 714 00:33:42,680 –> 00:33:46,099 and that’s why we get transformed, that’s what it is. 715 00:33:47,880 –> 00:33:49,560 So I think that worship may be 716 00:33:49,560 –> 00:33:53,439 the most underappreciated means of God’s grace 717 00:33:54,339 –> 00:33:55,719 in all of the Christian Church. 718 00:33:55,719 –> 00:33:56,719 Are you using this? 719 00:33:56,719 –> 00:33:59,560 When you come to worship, pray Moses’ Prayer, 720 00:33:59,560 –> 00:34:02,160 oh God, show me your glory, help me in these hymns 721 00:34:02,160 –> 00:34:03,540 and in the preaching of the word 722 00:34:03,540 –> 00:34:05,900 to see more of you than I’ve ever seen before, 723 00:34:05,900 –> 00:34:08,040 help me to be like a sponge taking this in 724 00:34:08,040 –> 00:34:12,860 because that’s gonna be transforming in my life over time. 725 00:34:14,500 –> 00:34:19,179 Number five, ask, ask. 726 00:34:21,139 –> 00:34:25,800 The practice of praying for purity. 727 00:34:25,800 –> 00:34:29,040 And you know this text, Psalm 51 in verse 10. 728 00:34:30,699 –> 00:34:33,219 Create in me a clean heart. 729 00:34:33,719 –> 00:34:36,580 O God and renew a right spirit within me. 730 00:34:36,580 –> 00:34:39,100 That is a believer’s prayer, 731 00:34:39,100 –> 00:34:40,459 a believer’s prayer. 732 00:34:40,459 –> 00:34:42,020 And it is one that we ought to use often. 733 00:34:42,020 –> 00:34:44,439 Remember we said that cleansing in its nature 734 00:34:44,439 –> 00:34:46,760 like my car that needs going through the wash 735 00:34:46,760 –> 00:34:49,959 again this weekend, just like it did last weekend. 736 00:34:49,959 –> 00:34:51,899 Washing we need on a continual basis. 737 00:34:51,899 –> 00:34:53,860 So you can’t pray this prayer too often, 738 00:34:53,860 –> 00:34:56,419 it’s not a one time prayer it’s a believer’s prayer. 739 00:34:57,860 –> 00:34:59,679 And we need to be asking it and using it 740 00:34:59,679 –> 00:35:02,020 on a regular basis. 741 00:35:03,219 –> 00:35:05,219 One quote from Thomas Watson today, 742 00:35:06,540 –> 00:35:10,080 Most men pray more often 743 00:35:11,060 –> 00:35:12,739 for full purses 744 00:35:13,639 –> 00:35:14,879 than pure heart. 745 00:35:16,500 –> 00:35:18,020 Is that true of you? 746 00:35:18,020 –> 00:35:20,120 Have you prayed about God supplying your financial need 747 00:35:20,120 –> 00:35:22,260 more often than your purity of heart 748 00:35:22,260 –> 00:35:24,379 or your purity of heart more often 749 00:35:24,379 –> 00:35:28,479 than your concerns about your material circumstances. 750 00:35:28,479 –> 00:35:32,060 Most men pray more for full purses 751 00:35:33,639 –> 00:35:34,600 than for pure hearts. 752 00:35:34,600 –> 00:35:39,600 Let’s set it together and individually 753 00:35:40,959 –> 00:35:45,000 to ask God and to go on asking God from a full heart 754 00:35:45,000 –> 00:35:46,800 that this heart will be purified. 755 00:35:46,800 –> 00:35:49,540 I want to make progress in this Christian life, O God. 756 00:35:50,520 –> 00:35:51,919 I want to stay where I am. 757 00:35:52,979 –> 00:35:55,120 Number six, persevere. 758 00:35:56,040 –> 00:35:57,679 Micah 7 and verse eight, 759 00:35:57,679 –> 00:36:00,439 one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament. 760 00:36:00,439 –> 00:36:02,580 And this is simply the practice of getting up 761 00:36:02,639 –> 00:36:05,540 when you have fallen down and it’s very important. 762 00:36:05,540 –> 00:36:09,459 Rejoice not over me, O my enemies. 763 00:36:09,459 –> 00:36:13,219 When I fall, I shall rise. 764 00:36:13,219 –> 00:36:18,219 And when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. 765 00:36:19,179 –> 00:36:22,179 Understand this as we renew our resolve 766 00:36:22,179 –> 00:36:24,580 to grow in the Christian life today. 767 00:36:25,639 –> 00:36:29,060 Nobody makes uninterrupted progress 768 00:36:29,060 –> 00:36:31,600 on the path of purity, nobody. 769 00:36:31,620 –> 00:36:34,639 Nobody makes uninterrupted progress 770 00:36:34,639 –> 00:36:36,340 on the path of purity. 771 00:36:36,340 –> 00:36:39,280 So when you set yourself to do battle against sins 772 00:36:39,280 –> 00:36:41,040 that may have held sway in your heart 773 00:36:41,040 –> 00:36:44,159 for a long time, you can expect 774 00:36:44,159 –> 00:36:47,379 that in some ways you will stumble and fall. 775 00:36:47,379 –> 00:36:50,040 And don’t be surprised and don’t be overwhelmed 776 00:36:50,040 –> 00:36:51,399 by another failure. 777 00:36:51,399 –> 00:36:54,760 Discouragement blunts the cutting edge 778 00:36:54,760 –> 00:36:57,280 of many Christian believers. 779 00:36:57,280 –> 00:36:59,280 So when you get tired of the battle, 780 00:36:59,320 –> 00:37:00,919 don’t give up hope. 781 00:37:00,919 –> 00:37:04,260 When I fall, yet I will rise. 782 00:37:04,260 –> 00:37:06,500 And you say, oh, but you don’t know how many times 783 00:37:06,500 –> 00:37:07,860 I’ve failed over this thing. 784 00:37:07,860 –> 00:37:10,199 I’m saying to you never give up. 785 00:37:10,199 –> 00:37:12,439 Or you don’t know how strong the pull of temptation is. 786 00:37:12,439 –> 00:37:14,239 I’m saying to you never give up. 787 00:37:14,239 –> 00:37:16,540 You put your faith in Jesus Christ. 788 00:37:17,919 –> 00:37:21,679 Never never never never never give up, never. 789 00:37:21,679 –> 00:37:22,500 Never. 790 00:37:24,080 –> 00:37:25,919 And here is the last, 791 00:37:25,919 –> 00:37:29,360 and it’s simply this, anticipate, 792 00:37:29,360 –> 00:37:32,120 1 John chapter three and verses one through three, 793 00:37:32,120 –> 00:37:33,459 these marvelous words. 794 00:37:35,020 –> 00:37:38,479 When we see him, we will be like him. 795 00:37:38,479 –> 00:37:42,520 And here I’m thinking of the practice of knowing who you are 796 00:37:42,520 –> 00:37:46,719 and rejoicing in what you will be. 797 00:37:46,719 –> 00:37:47,560 Who are you? 798 00:37:47,560 –> 00:37:52,560 In Christ you are, dearly loved child of God. 799 00:37:53,679 –> 00:37:54,580 That’s who you are. 800 00:37:55,479 –> 00:37:59,459 Very hard to sin willfully 801 00:37:59,459 –> 00:38:02,360 against a full knowledge of a love like that. 802 00:38:03,679 –> 00:38:04,719 So taking who you are, 803 00:38:04,719 –> 00:38:08,020 it will really help you in pursuing purity. 804 00:38:08,020 –> 00:38:13,020 You are a dearly loved child of God in Jesus Christ. 805 00:38:14,879 –> 00:38:16,120 And what will you be? 806 00:38:17,419 –> 00:38:19,800 Well, what you will be has not yet been made known, 807 00:38:19,800 –> 00:38:23,979 but when Christ appears, we shall be like him 808 00:38:24,159 –> 00:38:26,639 because we will see him as he is. 809 00:38:26,639 –> 00:38:28,939 And notice the effect of this anticipation. 810 00:38:28,939 –> 00:38:32,780 John says, and everyone who thus hopes in Christ 811 00:38:32,780 –> 00:38:36,620 will purify himself even as Christ is pure. 812 00:38:36,620 –> 00:38:38,800 This has a purifying effect, 813 00:38:38,800 –> 00:38:41,840 the anticipation of what you’re going to be. 814 00:38:41,840 –> 00:38:43,820 There’s going to be no sin in you there. 815 00:38:45,179 –> 00:38:47,320 So move towards that. 816 00:38:47,320 –> 00:38:48,459 You look at this temptation, 817 00:38:48,459 –> 00:38:52,080 you say, that is not who I am. 818 00:38:53,020 –> 00:38:55,379 I’m a dearly-loved child of God, 819 00:38:56,260 –> 00:38:58,860 and look at what I one day will be, 820 00:38:58,860 –> 00:39:01,379 now I cannot be looking back there. 821 00:39:01,379 –> 00:39:04,179 I have by the grace of God to press forward 822 00:39:04,179 –> 00:39:06,959 in the pursuit of purity. 823 00:39:06,959 –> 00:39:09,459 So seven practices that promote purity of heart. 824 00:39:09,459 –> 00:39:11,719 Bless it, are the pure in heart, 825 00:39:11,719 –> 00:39:13,300 for they shall see God. 826 00:39:15,199 –> 00:39:16,939 Do you know, it struck me, and this is the very last thing, 827 00:39:16,939 –> 00:39:19,219 some folks have the idea that purity 828 00:39:20,139 –> 00:39:22,379 is something that you have when you’re young, 829 00:39:22,379 –> 00:39:24,260 and you lose it if you mess up. 830 00:39:25,479 –> 00:39:27,739 That’s how the word is normally used, I think. 831 00:39:29,479 –> 00:39:33,459 In the Bible, purity is something 832 00:39:33,459 –> 00:39:38,459 that you begin to go after when you are in Jesus Christ. 833 00:39:39,540 –> 00:39:42,280 That will be wonderfully freeing for some folks here, 834 00:39:42,280 –> 00:39:44,459 and I hope really helpful. 835 00:39:44,459 –> 00:39:46,320 So go after purity. 836 00:39:46,320 –> 00:39:47,659 Go after the clean heart. 837 00:39:47,659 –> 00:39:50,280 Go after the undivided heart. 838 00:39:50,280 –> 00:39:52,320 And the more you grow in purity of heart, 839 00:39:52,320 –> 00:39:53,600 the more you will see God. 840 00:39:53,600 –> 00:39:56,520 And the more you see him in worship and in the Word, 841 00:39:56,520 –> 00:39:59,520 the more you will see him in the trials of your life 842 00:39:59,520 –> 00:40:00,899 and the triumphs of your life, 843 00:40:00,899 –> 00:40:02,800 and in his people and in his church. 844 00:40:02,800 –> 00:40:04,320 And the more you see him, 845 00:40:04,320 –> 00:40:06,860 the more your heart will be purified, too. 846 00:40:08,659 –> 00:40:10,719 And all of this, you see with the eye of faith 847 00:40:10,719 –> 00:40:13,620 until the day when Jesus Christ comes. 848 00:40:13,620 –> 00:40:17,439 And then you will see him 849 00:40:17,560 –> 00:40:18,939 face to face. 850 00:40:19,979 –> 00:40:21,419 And when you see him, 851 00:40:22,540 –> 00:40:23,500 you’ll be like him. 852 00:40:24,580 –> 00:40:27,040 And everyone who has this hope, 853 00:40:27,040 –> 00:40:28,639 that is every true Christian, 854 00:40:28,639 –> 00:40:31,300 purifies himself, purifies herself, 855 00:40:31,300 –> 00:40:35,040 even as Christ is pure. 856 00:40:37,500 –> 00:40:41,199 Lord, seal this into our hearts and into our minds 857 00:40:41,199 –> 00:40:44,280 and make us not only hearers of your Word, 858 00:40:45,100 –> 00:40:47,219 but doers of it. 859 00:40:49,060 –> 00:40:51,899 And for all of us who may be given one more year in life 860 00:40:51,899 –> 00:40:53,360 or ten more years in life, 861 00:40:53,360 –> 00:40:56,820 let us not be, after that period of time, 862 00:40:56,820 –> 00:41:00,060 an older version, simply, of what we are now, 863 00:41:01,399 –> 00:41:02,620 but let us grow in grace, 864 00:41:03,840 –> 00:41:07,300 for the sake of Christ, in whose name we pray. 865 00:41:09,820 –> 00:41:11,020 You’ve been listening to a sermon 866 00:41:11,020 –> 00:41:13,459 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 867 00:41:13,820 –> 00:41:18,500 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 868 00:41:19,879 –> 00:41:21,580 or visit our website, openthebible.org.