A Pure heart, and how do we get one ?

Good question, think for a minute.

A PURE HEART, IS A HEART THAT HAS NO IMPURITIES,

NO NOT ONE ! PURE IS PURE ! A PURE HEART, IS A

HEART FULL OF THE ABUDANCE, THOUGHTS, AND

DESIRES OF EVERY PURE WORD OF GOD, FOR EVERY

WORD OF GOD IS PURE ! THY WORD O LORD, HAVE I

HID IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST

THEE ! AMEN !

A good place to start is to look around.

What do you see that you know brings you

closer to God ?

Your car, house, boat, garden, your position in

the office, your pc, your pets ? No ! ! !

But your relationship with these and all else

does. I think you see what I'm getting at here.

If you had none of the things that invade your

space and make you 'think' about going

to fellowship, rather than just going without

thinking it, do you believe your heart would be

renewed as you sit, stand, sing or Praise the

Name Of Christ ?

Would you begin to see a Pure Heart grow

within you ? My bet is a strong "Yes."

Think about this.....

You are late for work, the freeway is moving

ok, not great, but ok. You have your thing

together, and you are feeling good about

today. 'Listening to Praise and Worship,' or

Hosanna music in the car........suddenly someone

pulls right in front of you and cuts you

off. Do you become enraged? Do you spit a few

words off that you wouldn't use in public, and

then calm down and start singing with the

radio again? Do you begin to ask for

forgiveness, do you feel weird going back to

singing Praise after poison just came from your

mouth, or maybe ran through your thoughts ?

A right heart ? I don't think so.

Maybe that person on the freeway just lost a

mother to cancer, and is leaving the hospital

in tears and just barely is keeping it together.

How would you act in the same situation ?

Would you follow your heart? Is your heart

right enough to feel for that person? Maybe

they lost a child, or found out their husband

or wife is cheating and has just filed for

divorce after 2o years of marriage. Maybe they

were just reunited with a sister or brother

after 30 years and are so happy they can't

contain their joy.

No matter what, driving in this condition is not

safe, but a kind heart can make it safer, and

easier to forgive and understand.

Take a look around this week......

Begin to let God change your heart......let Him

show you how to let your children and wife

into that changing heart. How to look at the

person in the pew next to you as a valuable

friend, someone you have never hugged or

shaken hands with till now.

Help someone put groceries in the car at the

Supermarket. With God in your heart, no one

will fear you.

Purify the gifts that God has given you,

strengthen the talents that He has shown and

taught you to use.

I tell you these things from experience. I do

these things, and I am elated when I hear a

'Thank you so much,' or I see a smile that out

shines the noon sun. It is such a pleasure to

help others, and to know that God has given

me the heart that lets me push the flesh aside

and help a brother or a sister whom I have

never met, but still I also have a long walk

down this path, but what a joy to be on this

path

Seek and desire a pure heart. Seek and desire a

heart that does not care to be a part of that

which is of the flesh, unless the drive to

become pure requires that knowledge. A heart

that continually seeks the spiritual well

being and needs of others, and strives to help

meet those needs and minister to that well

being.

Think of this.....if every saved and spirit filled

heart on earth were combined as one, it would

still not attain the Pure Heart Christ had for

33 years of life, but He gave us the right to

obtain that purity. Grab it, let it be yours.

Seek God and His Son, for there are no other

riches worthy of ours or God's time beside His

Son and His compassion.

Then we become like Jesus, and we are the ones

who preach the Word-God's Son, Whom God sent

unto His children, even as Jesus, the Son of man

was. Acts 10:36 & 37.

Seek a Pure Heart.

FOR BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART,

fOR THEY SHALL SEE gOD ( MATTHEW 5; 8 ) !

(JOHN 1; 1) AND THE WORD IS GOD !

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART ( IN DESIRE )

THEY WHO DESIRE TO KNOW AND OBEY THE WORD OF GOD,

FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD WHO IS THE WORD, FOR THEIR

UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD ( OF GOD ) SHALL BE

OPENED ( LUKE 24; 45 ) ! AND THE WORD, IS THE LIFE

THAT IS THE LIGHT WITHIN EVERY MAN ( JOHN 1; 1, 4, 9 ),

THE INWARD MAN OR CHRIST WITHIN, WITHIN US ALL !

THE PURE IN HEART SHALL SEE THE INWARD MAN FROM

ABOVE, WHO IS THE LIFE THAT IS THE LIGHT IN THEM, AND

ASLO FIND AND SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD ( OF THE WORD,

OF THE INWARD MAN ) THAT IS ALSO WITHIN THEM

( LUKE 17; 21 ) THAT WE ARE TO SEEK FIRST ABOVE AND

BEFORE ALL THINGS, KNOWING THAT HE WHO SEEKS,

WILL FIND ! AMEN AND AMEN !

No God ? No Peace !

Know God ! Know Peace !

i_amgodschild

Cross Roads

Cross Roads:You have arrived at a very important juncture. You and I
have traveled a long roads journey which often times been put in
place and a form of "Denial" when this has been so wide and so deep
that we couldn't face it own truths deep with in self. We have to
take a very long deep pentrating truths to open up that kind of door
and be looking within one self at that very moment in time. When we
see that truth whats in front of ones own heart at that very moment
to accept as it stands at the door of our heart and step into it
right away. If we don't our own life will continue to slip away
further into that deep dark hole and going on down to where we can't
even see No light of God it just fades away till it's right there
staring at us once again then what it does is to see where we self
will do at that moment once again. If self will surrender to it and
come unto Jesus Christ and be totally honest with "Self" and go
through it by confessing and sharing with Him of our own wrong
doings as being humbled enough to allow to make those very strong
needed changes that often time are huge in us for we ourselves will
be able to make admends to those whom have hurt us and have caused
harm to someone else and that means to self as well. WOW! What a
journey we have taken which at times seemed to be very impossible
for us to take nor could we have grown without this taking place
with in our own heart. Don't let it decieve us at any time ! If you
think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall
into the same sin. (1Cor.10:12 N.L.T) We then reserve a daily time
with God for self -examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order
to know God and His will for My life and to be gaining His power to
be absolutely follow His will in our lives today. And by doing that
we would be right and on the right paths in ones life or otherwise
we would never have made it without Jesus Christ much less having
His own power to carry us through in reaching more aggressively in
Him than without Him. When we first of had come unto Jesus Christ
and have had made it thus far only because we HAVE given "Self" to
Jesus Christ in ones life.And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I
plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and
holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he
has done for you, is this too much to ask? (Rom.12:1N.L.T). This is
a "Decision that each of us has made unto Him at that very moment.
Because without it we would be in full throttle of ones own sanity!
So we know right then that his verse is standing at that very moment
of which we want to do inside of self and which way will determine
our lives. Here is a verse that would guide us all. For God is
working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to
do what pleases him.(Phi.2:13 N.L.T) RIGHT THEN WE find self at
a "Crossroad" ! Which one will self take is a question that we must
ask self at those very moments in time. I would think that a person
would want to fordge ahead and looking back of which we had and then
sense those things that had taken us down forasmuch to be wanting to
move ahead in ones own life and not repeat those things of what we
know to be very true about self. Think about all of those actions we
had done and go beyond it slowly as we may want to move on ahead of
what we've had been doing in those things in us being in control of
what we will No longer do as we move forward in Jesus Christ. This
is the fractions that cripples us in trying to accomplish certain
things in him.We know that "Ignorance, power, pride had become a
very deadly mixture to one self, it totally creats a false pride
that runs rampant in self and we fall within those destruction the
scriptures shares this vital information as we will see Pride ends
in humiliation, while humility brings honor. (Prov.29:23N.L.T.)
Pride, Only If's, Escape, Resentment, Loneliness, Emptyness,
Selfishness, Serparation is what we have seen if we look at it with
an honest heart. We worry about all or certain things that just
don't do any good whatsoever. Or we worry about issues that never
happens ! All this is unto us is "Fears" when we do them then we are
not ever trusting Jesus Christ at all! When that happens then begin
to repeat this:"God, grant me the serenityto accept the things I
cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,and the wisdom to know the
difference.
Living one day at a time,enjoying one moment at a time;accepting
hardship as a pathway to peace;taking, as Jesus did, this sinful
world as it is;not as I would have it;trusting that You will make
all things righti f I surrender to your will;so that I may be
reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever
in the next" AMEN.- Reinhold Niebuhr -For God has expressed this
scripture unto us about being "Anxious" "So don't worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble
is enough for today.(Matt.6:34 N.L.T.) We know to only follow Him
just on a daily basis by living one day at a time! Because He will
take care of us all. By us as God's children we don't have to hide
from our hurts, hang-ups, or getting back with very unhealthy people
in those kinds of relationship, by abusing self in drugs, alcohol,
or abusive people at all. By those ways of escapng it really totally
drains our very lives and it's never a true escape plan or route for
us to follow at all. God's only light is this: "For the light is
capable of showing up everything for what it really is. It is
possible for the light to turn the thing it shines upon into light
also"(Eph.5:13,14 -Phillips). We don't want to repeat this in us or
it will contiue to grow and fester in us and that's not Jesus Christ
way that He (Himself) wants for us at all!Being at a place in our
very own lives which don't ever gives anyone permision to stop and
be resting on all of those past issues in our lives and those past
accomplishments either. We ought to be praising Him in worship for
many victories that has been won in our battles in ones true
devotions. And continue in a brand new way of living. First of just
as a great reminder to self is : 1. The What( Continue to look at
self) 2. Where we wrong? 3. The what again ( Promptly admit) all of
those things. TAKE that very necessary steps do daily inventory
self, Evaluate ( good & bad), Need to admit them all (promptly).
Another thing is this: 1. What did I do today? 2. In what areas di I
just blow it today? 3. Did I do or say anything that hurt anyone
today? 4. Do I owe anyone amends? 5. What did I learn from my
actions today? When I do this on a daily basis I then reflect on my
day to see if I harmed someone, acted or reacted out in fear or
selfishness, or have went out of my way to show someone some
kindness. It's being "Balanced" in someones way in living those ways
that God has for us all to follow daily. Then we will know that what
we had done is those right things of living in God. "WARNING" If we
don't and are not careful, we can slowly slip back to those ole'
dark habits, hurts, hang-ups, and that very grinding dysfunctional
issues in our life. We need to be doing this on a daily basis,
regular, on-going inventories of self. This is called: "Evalute"
Often times we just don't want to do it at all, but when we do it
then we find self to admit and make mistakes. ' Would you rather be
right or well" If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling
ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our
sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us
from every wrong.If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God
a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
(1John1:8-10 N.L.T.) For God just has said that we all have sinned
in that verse but the great thing is that He's already
have "Forgiven" us of them. If we don't then what we have done is
this" called" him a liar. For he has washed them all away in the
first place that had been cleansed away and out of us in our lives.
This is when that light bulb moment has come to light inside of
self. Once we see it then we have now come to a [Choice] and then we
just cannot ignore it ! For a time I had been just like that I was
at that very same "Crossroads" Either I followed Jesus Christ in my
life or for Me to completely turn and head straight back in that
ugly life of what I didn't want No More. I had to make that choice
of what I wanted for me or for Me to simply turn it back to where I
had come from which really wasn't a life of what I had just heard of
Jesus Christ and all of those promises that can only be attained by
him in me. I didn't want to miss my own mark in my own life at all
nor did I want to be continue in that awful ways of life that I can
see right then laying in front of me at that very moment. I handn't
known what steps to take in growing in the Lord at all but I had
been desperate enough to continue on in him. Jesus Christ shares
with me in this verse" This is how I want You to conduct yourself in
these matters. If You enter your place of worship and, about to make
an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against
You, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and
make things right. Then, and only then, come back and work things
out with God". I had then to keep track of all of my good behaviors
and bad ones in my own journal. So I could see all of those good and
bad behaviors in being an overcomer and then being very "Thankful"
for it and seeing progress in my day so that I wouldn't be
constantly making admends to my fellow human beings. That was the
greatest news to me and I do this in my life in the Lord Jesus
Christ from time to time today. It's not so much an overbearing
thing as it once was to me as it was when I had first started. I say
to Jesus Christ.... Thank You ever so much! My own life is very
valuable to me and to other human beings of which I'm around in my
daily life which down right makes it easier to attain through Jesus
Christ which is living inside of me today and a worth living that's
the best it has ever been. It's been a freedom deep inside of me!
Close1in1956






ACCOUNTABILITY: God will judge our work: (2 Ch.19:5-10). Sin has Consequences (Ezek.18:20). God will hold us accountable for our sins (Ezek.18:30). We are accountable for every word we speak (Matt.12:36). Confronting others with their sins should be done in private (Matt.18:15). We should hold each other accountable (Lk.17:3). We are accountable for what we believe (Jhn.3:18). God holds Christians accountable (Ro.14:11,12). God will reward Christians for their good deeds ( 1 Cor.3:8). God will examine our actions (2 Cor.5:10). The Bible: Jesus Christ is the Highest Authority (Matt.28:18). The Bible is our Authority (2 Tim. 3:16). Attitudes: Bad Attitudes hurts our relationship with God (Gen.4:6,7). Bad Attitudes leads to poor decisions (Num.14:1-4). Always Trust God for Your Life (Prov.29:25). Choose A Postive Attitude ( Hab.3:17-19). God will Reward the Meek (Matt.5:5). God gives Christians a New Attitude ( Phil.1:20-25). We should imitate Jesus Christ'Attitude (Phil.2:5). Christians should Always Rejoice (Phil.4:4). Never be anxious (Phil.4:6,7). The Blood: Jesus Christ's Blood seals God's Relationship with His people (Matt.26:28). Jesus Christ's Blood allows us to have access to God (Ro.5:8,9). Christians are Redeemed by Jesus Christ' Blood (Eph.1:5-7). The Blood is Required for forgivness (Heb.9:22).

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Lesson Four: How to Interpret the Bible
The study of the 'rules' of Bible interpretation is called hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is the science of Bible interpretation. This strange theological term comes from the Greek word hermeneuo which means TO INTERPRET OR EXPLAIN. The reason for studying the Bible is to properly interpret what God is saying to us.
Two other technical terms are important here. Bible scholars often refer to the 'exegesis' of Scripture, which means allowing the truth to come out of the text without the filter of our own ideas. The word "exegesis" is also derived from a Greek word, which means "explanation " or "to lead OUT of." This means we approach to the Scriptures to learn what they say and mean, not to prove our own point.
The opposite term is "eisogesis" which is from a Greek word meaning "to read INTO". This is probably the most common (and dangerous) error of casual Bible students. It is even the error of many well-known television evangelists. This means that a person approaches the Scripture with a pre-conceived idea and uses the Scripture to prove their point, even if the Scriptures have to be "bent" to make them fit.
What we mean by Bible interpretation is the correct meaning of the passage as it was intended by the original author. In other words, we must allow the Bible to speak for itself. While this sounds simple, we must realize that we all have some pre-conceived ideas and that we must work carefully to see that we arrive at the Truth instead of seeking to prove that we are right. We must seek to understand what the original author had in mind--in his context of life and history.
The eighteenth century scholar J. A. Ernesti set the stage for what we call today "rules of Bible interpretation." For Ernesti, a correct understanding of the Bible mean discovering (1) the use of words, (2) the historical circumstances controlling their usage, and (3) the intention of the author strictly governed by his own words. (See Toward an Exegetical Theology, by Walter C. Kaiser.)
Rules of Bible interpretation:
(1) We must interpret the Bible in the light of its LANGUAGE AND HISTORY.
Language, or 'literary setting,' means that language has different meanings in different social, historical, and cultural settings. We must know what Bible words meant to the writers of the Bible. Understanding something of the meaning of the original languages is necessary for correct Bible interpretation, although you should also know that no new or novel doctrines are hidden in the Greek and Hebrew.
Second, "historical setting" means the time and place when a passage of the Bible was written.
This first rule brings up the need for Bible dictionaries and commentaries. They are helpful in obtaining background material as to the culture, setting and the history of the passage in question.
Some examples of how to apply this rule.
(a) Read carefully 2 Corinthians 12:2. What is the third heaven? The Mormons build a whole doctrine of levels of eternal reward based on this verse. But if you just understood something of ancient astronomy, you would know that the first heaven was the sky and clouds, the second heaven was the realm of the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars), and the "third" heaven, beyond the sun, moon and stars, was the realm of God. The third heaven is paradise, which Paul indicates in verse 4.
(b) Mark 1:1-21. Why did the disciples so quickly and readily leave everything and follow Jesus? Because they were so committed to him? No. Israel was under the iron yoke of Roman domination and occupation and everyone was expecting the Messiah who would liberate Palestine and rule the world. The disciples probably followed Jesus for very selfish reasons. Even later they were arguing over who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom, and who would sit at the right hand of the throne of the Messiah!
(2) We must interpret Scripture by Scripture
In other words, the whole Bible must speak for itself. We cannot build doctrines on isolated portions of Scriptures. It’s easy to quote individual Bible verses to prove your point. It is a much greater challenge to see how individual verses fit into the whole picture.
Examples:
(a) Does Acts 2:38 teach that baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins? Yes, by itself. But many other passages about water baptism in the Bible make it clear that baptism is necessary for discipleship and Christian growth, but it is not necessary to get into heaven.
(b) Does James 2:24 teach that works are necessary for salvation? Yes, by itself. But James 2:24 must be understood in the larger context of New Testament grace.
(3) Individual verses of the Bible must be understood in the context of OTHER VERSES IN THAT PASSAGE.
Two examples which will probably ruffle your feathers are;
(a) Matthew 24:40-41 says, "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." Does this sound like the rapture? It has been used that way for years. But look again at the verses ahead of these famous words. See verses 36 - 39, especially 39. In 39, who is taken away, the righteous or the unrighteous? And who is left? Read carefully. The rules of language apply to Scripture and dare not be bent or ignored. Just because it does not fit with what we want it to say, we must take it for what it does say.
(b) Romans 10:17 is not about building your faith by hearing the word, even though it is used by many preachers to "prove" just that. This verse is about salvation. In other words, faith in Christ unto salvation comes by hearing the Word. Just look at the context!
(An old proverb used in Bible School - "Text, without context, is pretext.")
(4) Each passage of scripture has one INTERPRETATION, many APPLICATIONS.
Interpretation is WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS. The "literal" meaning of each passage of the Bible understood on the basis of the rule of interpretation, must be our starting point for applying the Bible to our daily lives.
Application is WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS TO ME. One of the great Bible scholars of this century, F. F Bruce, wrote, "The place of the Bible in the life of the church has constantly added to it a wealth of fresh and practical meaning which the interpreter cannot ignore."
(5) We cannot build major Doctrines on isolated or unclear verses of the Bible.
Passages of Scripture in which a doctrine is merely touched on must be interpreted by those passages where a doctrine is expressly taught. An example is 1Corinthians 11:6. Another example is the idea that the gifts of the Spirit "died out" with the Apostles. There is no Bible verse in the New Testament that teaches this very popular idea, even though some preach it as a fact.
(6) In most cases, like the rest of the Bible, parables have ONE BASIC MEANING.
A more contemporary example is Aesop's fable of the fox and the grapes. You know the story. Is the lesson, or the moral of the story, that foxes actually eat grapes? No. That's just part of the story to illustrate a single moral principle. If you focus on whether or not foxes actually eat grapes you miss the whole point of the story.
Just so with the parables in the Bible. The parable of the ten virgins is a Biblical example. The parable is full of unique symbolism: the number ten, virgins, lamps, oil. But the whole point of the story is that we should "watch" or "be spiritual alert." Whatever else all the symbols mean is not clear, and to start building doctrines on this parable (like a doctrine of a partial rapture) is theological thin ice.
(7) Two guard rails along the highway of correct Bible interpretation: THE HOLY SPIRIT and THE CHRlSTIAN COMMUNITY.
We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, but this does not mean we don't need other Christians, especially well equipped and informed Bible teachers. And we have the established, historical teachings of the Church, but this does not mean we don't need the Holy Spirit!
Lesson One Lesson Two Lesson Three Lesson Five Lesson Six Lesson