Purity of Purpose Produces Clarity

Purity of Purpose Produces Clarity
from “Jesus’ Attitudes of Happiness” Series

Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

A nationwide survey by Psychology Today asked,
“What would it take to make you happy?”

Most attempts to find happiness are through situations rather than . This is the result of  and  thinking.

1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly–my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well – the delights of a man’s heart.

9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

The Dead Ends:

1. Accumulating  (v. 7-8)
2. Experiencing  (v. 3, 10)
3. Achieving  (v. 4-6, 10)

Because he lacked focus…sadly he attempted to solve an problem with an solution.

-John Maxwell

Heart purity is about . “Pure” means , without alloy, uncontaminated.

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8 (NLB)

Matthew 6:24     |     Matthew 7:13     |     Matthew 7:21

Purity of heart is to will one thing.”

–Søren Kierkegaard

The pure in heart are the single-minded who are free of the tyranny of a .

This does not happen without our  and the power of the Holy Spirit.

You can count on .

(v1)
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creations revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

(v2)
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

(chorus)
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Indescribable, by Chris Tomlin

So What Can We Do?

1.  examination. – Jeremiah 17:9
2.  examination. – Proverbs 27:17
   (note the difference between David and Solomon)
3. examination. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Personal Notes: