Sermon Notes
Lessons On Blessings | Blessed Are The Pure In Heart For They Shall See God.
Pastor Marc Millan.
Matthew 5:3-10
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus challenges us to have a pure heart to be able to see God.
Jesus tells us that only when we put God first, above our rules and above our understanding then we may walk in the favor of God.
Jesus tells us that to always show compassion and empathy instead of judgment.
What is difference between those who are obedient to the law but not to God?
If loving God is not the reason for obedience then it becomes self serving and prideful… and removed from God.
Matthew 15:8 New International Version
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Matthew 23:25-28 New International Version
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Jesus is speaking of what is in our hearts.
Are we pretending or truly placing God first in our life?
James 4:8 New International Version
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Cleanse your heart to eliminate all except God.
The challenge is guarding our hearts so that we can remain true to God.
But everything changes when we know Jesus.
1 John 2:15-16 New International Version
On Not Loving the World
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
If we are not careful this world will pull us away from God.
How do we guard our hearts to be able to see God more clearly?
Try these three ways to guard your heart:
1. Return
Just turn back to God and come home. If you have been busy just stop and return to God.
If you’ve been running to fast just stop and rest. If you’ve been too distant you can come close.
Isaiah 30:15 New International Version
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
Number Two: Remove.
We need to take inventory of the things that are clouding our spiritual clarity. Ask the hard questions: what have I allowed my heart to be mixed with, what are the things crowding God’s place in my life?
Proverbs 4:23 New International Version
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Number Three: Receive.
We need to make room and allow God’s grace and His love to fill us and transform us. We need to allow God to fill us with hope and grace because with it we are empty and we will continue to live a dry and unsatisfied life.
God’s gift of grace will fill us each and every day.
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