Summary:

Motives, attitudes and thoughts originate in the heart. Many times, Christians focus on outward manifestations of their faith, but God is concerned with the purity of a person’s heart. The
condition of your heart determines the outcome of your life. Believers
must judge their hearts to make sure their motives are pure.

1. Contaminated hearts prevent Believers from receiving the blessings of God in their lives (Psalm 24:3-5).
   1. Many people do good things, but the Bible says that only the people with clean hands and pure hearts will succeed.
      1. People should judge their hearts to make sure their motives are pure.
      2. Good deeds do not necessarily indicate a pure heart.
         
         
2. Those who are pure at heart will see God in every area of their lives (Matthew 5:8).
   1. When we maintain a pure heart, God’s blessings manifest whenever we need them.
   2. Some people strive to please men, but phony Christians do not please God.
      1. Our actions may impress others, but God weighs our hearts.
   3. Believers must live lives of holiness and purity.
      1. Holiness is an inward agreement with God that manifests as an outward change.
      2. Believers should never cover their faults or pretend that they do not exist, but they should confess their faults to trustworthy people who will pray for
         their healing and restoration (James 5:16, AMP).
         
         
3. Jesus was displeased with people who lived pretentious lives (Matthew 23:27).
   1. Those who pretend to be something they are not are more concerned with their outward appearance than the condition of their hearts.
      1. Believers who misrepresent themselves end up leading ineffective lives.
   2. The Bible says that God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).
      
      
4. Satan desires to contaminate Believers’ hearts.
   1. If the enemy can pollute our hearts, he can control the course of our lives.
   2. Satan’s goal is to get Believers to compromise so that we will go against our convictions and enter into sin.
   3. The Word instructs us to guard our hearts from pollution (Proverbs 4:20-25).
      1. We can guard our hearts by reading, meditating and speaking scriptures daily.
      2. We can guard our hearts by being mindful of what we see, hear and say.
   4. People who are pure at heart try to see the good in everyone (Titus 1:15, AMP).

Scripture References:

• Psalm 24:3-5
• Matthew 5:8
• James 5:16, AMP
• Matthew 23:27
• Psalm 51:6
• Proverbs 4:20-25
• Titus 1:15, AMP