Think on Things that are Pure

1. Read: Philippians 4:8

2. About the Text:

1) Who controls what you think?

a. There are many and strong influences on what we think.

b. The Bible teaches that we (individuals) control what we think.

c. We can direct our thoughts to specific notions/ideas.

d. “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

2) How we think affects our attitudes, decisions, and actions.

a. We want to have good thoughts so that our lives will be good lives.

b. We do not have to dwell on bad thoughts.

c. We can redirect our thoughts to good things.

d. This will bring joy to our lives.

3. Some definitions.

1) In the Bible, the heart is the center of a person’s being, His soul/spirit.

2) We need to know what the definition of “pure” is.

a. This is the Greek word hagnos. It is related to “holy.”

b. It is the idea of unspoiled, not mixed, elemental.

c. When we think of pure gold we think of gold that is uniform in composition.

3) A pure heart is the center of our being, our spirit, focused wholly upon God’s designs and purposes, and not our own – to love Him and to love our neighbor.

4. We sing: “Purer in heart, O’ God, help me to be!”

5. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. We can be sincere when…

1) Our heart isn’t mixed with impure thoughts – Consider Titus 2:7-8 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

2) Authentic – Consider 2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

3) Not deceitful with others — 2 Corinthians 2:17 “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”

2. Simple

1) This is not the same as being simpleton.

2) Rather, we reduce life to its basics.

3) 2 Corinthians 11:3 teaches that there is a simplicity in Christ.

4) Truth isn’t really that complicated; it is error that makes things complex.

5) For the pure in heart, life isn’t complex for them and it doesn’t need to be. Consider Titus 1:15 “To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”

3. They are serene / contentment with peace.

1) Philippians 4:9 “The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

2) Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”

1. Purity of life follows purity of heart.

1) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18).

2) We need the greatest source of purity, Christ Jesus.

3) Faith in Christ makes our hearts pure. Acts 15:9 – “Purifying their hearts by faith.”

4) Obedience makes our hearts pure. 1 Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”

5) We must let Christ live in us – Galatians 2:20.

6) Practice the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).

2. What happens if the heart is not pure?

1) We will be condemned like the Pharisees – Matthew 23:25.

2) We will become corrupt.

a. Consider 2 Timothy 3:8 “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”

b. Consider also Jude 1:10 “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”

1. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).

2. Psalm 18:26a “With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure….”

3. Consider Psalm 24:3-6 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.”

4. Hebrews 12:14 “Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord.”

5. 1 John 3:2-3 “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.”

6. 1 Peter 1:22 – “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

7. “Commend” yourself to one another … “by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love” (2 Corinthians 6:6).

1. When we think on things that are pure, we will be . . .

1) Clear in Our Thinking

2) Clean in Our Living

3) Close to God and One Another

2. Invitation