Loyal, OK

 
Pastor Leon Seaton

Second in a Series on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew

A Pure Heart!

 Blessed are the pure in heart.
So often we are told
Of saints whose names and daily deeds
Inscribed in books of gold
Are certain to be seeing God
In well-rewarding joy -
But when I see the pure in heart
I see a little boy.

He shins up trees and barks his knees,
Has lizards in a box;
He loves to read of dinosaurs,
Collects bright-colored rocks.
His grubby hands are gentle
On the coats of dogs and birds,
And he has a quiet wisdom in naiveté of words.

I listen to his little prayers
At night with quiet joy -
And when I hear the pure in heart
I hear a little boy.
He hasn't reached the age as yet
To question and to doubt;
He gravely takes his mother's words,
And that's what life's about.

Each day is gold, a shining thing
Without a wrong alloy -
And when I hold the pure in heart
I hold a little boy.

- By Gwen Belson Taylor

One Sunday morning a man was leaving the church after the worship service. When he shook the pastor’s hand he said, “Pastor, you made me think this morning! Don’t ever do that again!”

That pretty much sums up my feelings while preparing this message. All week long the Lord has made me think and examine my heart and motives! It caused me to look into the depth of my being to see what God wants to tell us.

The Sermon on the Mount is all about attitude. 

My wife observed that they are called the BE ATTITUDES, not the try attitudes! She is right… a successful Christians must get and keep the right attitude. We have to walk and talk just like Jesus would if He were in our situation and circumstances.

When people meet a member of our church – or its pastor – they have no choice except to think that everyone in the church is just like us. We are the church!

If you are the only Christian someone knows, then they assume that we are all alike. Since we call ourselves evangelical then much of what the news says about conservatives reflects on us.

Also, our attitudes and actions have more to do with the outcome of our prayers than the words we use or our needs. God responds to faith, and our attitude reflects our faith.

1 Peter 3:7  “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

         1 Corinthians 2:10b–16  "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ."

         Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

         Luke 6:46, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

Integrity

A godly person will always walk in integrity. Integrity is defined as:

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

Zeal

Zeal is “Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal; tireless diligence in its furtherance.”

        We need zeal for the work of the Lord, but we have to be sure that we are in tune with the Lord. Romans 10:2 states, “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.”

         A right attitude is wonderful, but we must also walk in the knowledge of God. I have been saved 58 years. I have been preaching 38 years. I am constantly amazed about how little I still know!

         We must be students of the Word – every day in every way!

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
When will we see Him?  Every day and in every situation if we are always in tune with Him!

So what knowledge do we need?

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (verse 3) To be poor in spirit means that we are not self-reliant, but God-reliant.
2. Blessed are those that mourn for their sins – to the point that they repent and walk away from the sin – for they will be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek – those that obey – for they will inherit the earth. (This is not reserved for the after-life, in the sweet by and by, because God wants to meet all of your needs now!)
4. Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness – for they shall be filled.
5. Blessed are the merciful – for they shall be shown mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart – today’s theme.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers – for they will be called sons of God.
8. Blessed are you when people get upset when you do God’s work – you are in the same boat with the prophets!

Will we all be rich and famous if we do these things? Probably not, but God will be pleased and will amply reward you!

We cannot all be famous
or be listed in "Who's Who",
But every person, great or small,
has important work to do.

For seldom do we realize
the importance of small deeds,
Or to what degree of greatness
unnoticed kindness leads.

For it's not the big celebrity
in a world of fame and praise,
But it's doing unpretentiously
in an undistinguished way.

The work that God assigned to us,
unimportant as it seems,
That makes our task outstanding,
and brings reality to dreams.

So do not sit and idly wish
for wider, new dimensions
where you can put into practice,
your many good intentions.

But at the spot God placed you
begin at once to do,
Little things to brighten up
the lives surrounding you.

If everybody brightened up
the spot where their standing,
By being more considerate,
and a little less demanding.

This dark old world would very soon
eclipse the evening star,
If everybody brightened up
the corner where they are!

- Title and Author Unknown

  Click here for an old song, Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Sunday, October 21, 2007