Creekside Church || Wasilla, AK
04.21.24 || HAPPY ARE THE PURE IN HEART || HAPPINESS IS...
Weekly Sermon Notes
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Creekside Church || Wasilla, AK
2201 S Knik-Goose Bay Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
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MATTHEW 5:8
KEY THOUGHT:
Pure in Heart...Seeing God
Pure in Heart...Seeing God
Main Passage:
Matthew 5:1-11: “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
Matthew 5:1-11: “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
There is a natural build up in the beatitudes that we have seen so far. Jesus said/did everything he did on purpose.
The beatitudes open up with the need for God in a sinful life. While we were in spiritual bankruptcy, God offered up the perfect sacrifice.
John 3:16-18:“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
When we recognize our need for a Savior, our life can truly begin. And in the build up of the beatitudes, we see our life with Christ building up.
Let’s break this one passage down and look at it in two parts.
The beatitudes open up with the need for God in a sinful life. While we were in spiritual bankruptcy, God offered up the perfect sacrifice.
John 3:16-18:“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
When we recognize our need for a Savior, our life can truly begin. And in the build up of the beatitudes, we see our life with Christ building up.
Let’s break this one passage down and look at it in two parts.
1. Pure of Heart
There are a lot of differing opinions from many people way smarter than me on what purity is and what Jesus is mentioning here.
In Greek, the word here being used is Katharos. This means “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.”
This word also references back to a purification by fire, or pruning.
I think that John explains this purification process the best in 1 John.
There are a lot of differing opinions from many people way smarter than me on what purity is and what Jesus is mentioning here.
In Greek, the word here being used is Katharos. This means “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.”
This word also references back to a purification by fire, or pruning.
I think that John explains this purification process the best in 1 John.
1 John 1:7-10: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
This “purity” comes from Christ alone. These 3 words have been used a lot in this series, and will continue to be used: Justification, Sanctification, Glorification.
Justification is being absolved of our sins. We have been redeemed by the blood of our Savior and His sacrifice.
Sanctification is a continuous process. A present action of Christ before the Father where Jesus is our Redeemer, our Advocate and our Intercessor.
Jesus does want us to practice purity as a Christian. While our hearts cannot be pure without His cleansing, we now need to practice a continual process of Purity. According to 1 John, we need to walk in the light and confess our sins.
To be “pure in heart” is to recognize our NEED for forgiveness.
Justification is being absolved of our sins. We have been redeemed by the blood of our Savior and His sacrifice.
Sanctification is a continuous process. A present action of Christ before the Father where Jesus is our Redeemer, our Advocate and our Intercessor.
Jesus does want us to practice purity as a Christian. While our hearts cannot be pure without His cleansing, we now need to practice a continual process of Purity. According to 1 John, we need to walk in the light and confess our sins.
To be “pure in heart” is to recognize our NEED for forgiveness.
Psalm 32: 1-2, 5: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Billy Graham once said “From our hearts come our motives, our desires, our goals, and our emotions.”
Do you ever recognize that something is wrong in your life? Something just isn’t right? Then ask “When was the last time you humbled yourself before the Father?”
Kneel before God according to desires. Outward appearances may say one thing, but our hearts another.
When we run to our Savior, especially in these times of defeat/need, there is a purification process that happens. He is pruning us to make us pure. This pruning process helps us to see God.
Do you ever recognize that something is wrong in your life? Something just isn’t right? Then ask “When was the last time you humbled yourself before the Father?”
Kneel before God according to desires. Outward appearances may say one thing, but our hearts another.
When we run to our Savior, especially in these times of defeat/need, there is a purification process that happens. He is pruning us to make us pure. This pruning process helps us to see God.
2. See God
I listened to a reading of one of Spurgeon’s sermons on this passage. Here are some ways he listed as how to see God:
A. See God in Nature
Everywhere we go we can see God in Nature.
We live in a beautiful place where we get to see the majestic creation.
Have you ever just walked in God’s presence? Not long ago I took His word and my prayer journal out on a hike. I would pray while walking and stop to read/write when I felt I needed to.
His presence is everywhere. When people ask How can I believe something I can’t see? How can they not see?
B. See God In Scriptures
We read Scripture different than non-believers. Through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we are given a different insight and precious understanding to this amazing book.
C. See God In the Church
The world may see destruction, but we see the good in the church.
We continue to see God working in amazing ways. We see the church building up others and their community. We see the church feeding the widows and the orphans. We see the church making disciples.
D. Discern God’s True Character
The reasons for non-believing (OT/NT God, crime, disease, etc.) are not valid. We see the true character of who God is. We see His grace, His love, His compassion.
I listened to a reading of one of Spurgeon’s sermons on this passage. Here are some ways he listed as how to see God:
A. See God in Nature
Everywhere we go we can see God in Nature.
We live in a beautiful place where we get to see the majestic creation.
Have you ever just walked in God’s presence? Not long ago I took His word and my prayer journal out on a hike. I would pray while walking and stop to read/write when I felt I needed to.
His presence is everywhere. When people ask How can I believe something I can’t see? How can they not see?
B. See God In Scriptures
We read Scripture different than non-believers. Through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we are given a different insight and precious understanding to this amazing book.
C. See God In the Church
The world may see destruction, but we see the good in the church.
We continue to see God working in amazing ways. We see the church building up others and their community. We see the church feeding the widows and the orphans. We see the church making disciples.
D. Discern God’s True Character
The reasons for non-believing (OT/NT God, crime, disease, etc.) are not valid. We see the true character of who God is. We see His grace, His love, His compassion.
It is important for us to continue looking for God in our lives.
If you are in a season of your life where you don’t see God, continue to seek His presence.
Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Did you see the verb in this passage? This is an action. SEEK His face. SEEK how He is working in your life. SEEK Him out in your church and in your community.
If you are in a season of your life where you don’t see God, continue to seek His presence.
Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Did you see the verb in this passage? This is an action. SEEK His face. SEEK how He is working in your life. SEEK Him out in your church and in your community.