The Holy Spirit and the Pure Heart

The greatest misunderstanding when considering the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer in Jesus Christ is that of a pure heart. What does this mean for you and your church? We will not have a perfectly pure heart until we are standing before the Father in heaven. But, until then, the Holy Spirit has been given to us for help us in the journey set before us. We will strive all of our lives for the perfect relationship with Jesus Christ, but it is not until we yield to the small still voice of the Holy Spirit that we can grow toward a pure heart.  The Marthas and the Marys in your churches are the examples of those who are the pace setters. Are you among them or are you merely a pew person and warms a seat on Sunday Morning?

The Holy Spirit and The Pure Heart

Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

(Matthew 5:8 NKJV)

The most misunderstood aspect of the Christian life is that of the pure in heart. The question is raised can any person with a sinful nature be pure in heart? A pure heart does not mean that we will be perfect and without sin. There are none without sin. The only one ever to be without sin was Jesus Christ Himself. We should not presume to think that we are so righteous that we are pure before a Holy God. The purity of the heart rest in the attitude and focus of the heart. This does not mean that you are sinless but that you are seeking the face of God in everything. You are Blessed by God if you are pure in your intentions toward God and His Son Jesus. We must allow the Holy Spirit to help us work through our sinful tendencies and show us the right path to follow. Our task is to believe and follow the guidance and path given by the Holy Spirit, then we will be blessed.

The reward for the faithfulness of the believer to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit is that they will see God. As I said earlier, the person who is seeking a pure heart is seeking the Face of God. We want to include God in every part of our life. Likewise, we seek to truly do the Will of God the Father in the Son through the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. You must look for God to see Him. If we do not look for God, then He cannot be found. The tendency for most Christians is to only search for God when we need Him. If we are constantly seeking for God and our heart is focused on Him and Him alone, then we will not only find but we will see God. This is something that we cannot do apart from the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Are you seeking Him with all your heart or just when you need Him? We need Him always! Amen!

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

(Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV)

As we look and rejoice at Jesus Christ rising from the dead to be our salvation. We must believe these things and meditate on them. The tendency is for most Christians to find their Christianity in the church building. The percentage shrinks as the number requirements rises for attendance. Most faithful people go to one service and believe that will be all they need. It is true. Jesus did not tell the disciples that they were required to be in church every time the doors were opened. He did say to Satan at His temptation, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, that “It is written, man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” We get our most absorption from Sunday School, Group Bible Studies, Sermons, etc. All these are designed for our growth and strengthening in the word and life of the Lord Jesus Christ. The person with a pure heart is seeking after the Will of God in every way possible. A good Holy Spirit driven and Bible teaching church is where one who sets their minds on things above find strength and power.

The last verse of this passage from Colossians speaks of the reward for the steadfastness of this individual. When Christ appears again, then we will be with Him in glory. Wow! There is our hope. Those who cannot believe this, though they call themselves Christian, do not have hope and their heart cannot be pure before God. It is sad to note that there are people who are non-committal in their relationship with Jesus Christ. A person with a pure heart toward God, believes and is fully focused on Jesus Christ and is relying on the Holy Spirit for everything. It is truly a rarity today where church and world are coexisting. We are to be overcomers of the world not conformers to it (Romans 12:1-3). Do you truly believe that a person who only warms the pew to put in their time on Sunday morning would be considered pure in heart? Are there church goers who go to church every time the doors open yet are not solely focused on Him in their hearts? Let us look at the following story from Luke and consider whether you fit as one of these individuals.

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?

Therefore, tell her to help me.”

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

(Luke 10:38-42 NKJV)

Looking at this story, it always amuses me when I read this passage from the gospel of Luke. This is a true reflection of the church at their heart. There are those who are as Martha. They believe that the more they do the closer they get to God. The Marthas are busy with everything in the church. They are concerned with appearances but are not as much concerned with slowing down and listening to the Holy Spirit guide and speak the things of God to them. Don’t get me wrong! The Marthas in your church are a crucial strength and they are the physical backbone that supports all ministries and functions. I have sat in church business and Board meetings where everything except the ministry of the Lord to the lost was addressed. We need to get away from the church’s business and focus on God’s mission and vision for the church. We need to listen and heed to the direction of the Holy Spirit more in churches and not focus on functionality. God will bring the fruit and the workers who are willing to hear His voice and do His Will.

The Marys in the church are those who focus clearly on the Lord and His direction in everything they do concerning not only the church but their own lives. A person who is pure in heart is still and waits on the direction of the Lord. They act out of obedience. You cannot obey something you do not hear. Jesus said that one thing is needed and this will not be taken away from her. One thing is needed in the churches today. We need enter our relationship with Jesus Christ as a person and a church with pure hearts and focused minds. There is nothing wrong with the Marthas, they are needed. But, they need to also rely first on what God wants for their lives and the church. The direction might be a different one or even a better one. As for the Marys, many times, they are truly the spiritual backbone of the church. But, they can become the less functional in the various ministries of the church. This can cause resentment among the members. They need to be obedient to do what they hear God telling them to do. Listen to the Holy Spirit and thee will be balance and strength in your life and your church. Are you striving to be a Christian pure in heart or just going through the motions? Are you being obedient to the direction God has given you and your church or are you in the habit of asking for forgiveness and not permission? Pray and seek the Lord in everything!

Let us Pray:

Heavenly Father, help me be more focused on what direction that You are guiding me and the church. Help me, Lord, be more balanced and be more conformed to a pure heart that is focus solely on You and Your ways and Will. Lord cleanse me and strengthen me so that I may be pure at heart and have a transformed mind before You and all those that You lead into my path. Empower me, Lord, with Your Holy Spirit so that I will hear that small still voice telling me the things I need to hear. In Jesus’ name, Amen.