Session 6: Pure Heart

our lives are full of things we pursue
we only have so much time and energy to give
* we make a choice of what we commit to
as Christ followers we have new opportunities
that make us useful and fruitful
open eyes to see that not every pursuit leads to good outcomes

have you started so the blessing of some choices and the futility of others?

flee the evil desires of youth
- don’t be naive (easily fooled)
- don’t fall back into youthful desires

instead
pursue righteousness faith love and peace

instead of Righteousness you may pursue conformity, ease, anonymity, impulse, sin

instead of Faith you may pursue anger, worry, fear, frustration, autonomy (fine I’ll handle it myself)

instead of Love you may pursue selfishness, apathy, self-preservation, comfort, isolation

instead of Peace you may pursue discontentment, jealousy, chaos, drama, indignation (annoyance that you’ve been treated unfairly), self-righteousness (they owe me an apology)

won’t be obvious unless you are careful
so busy we don’t stop to consider and pray

the Lord has given us new things to fill our lives with, Special things that help us to
Honor Him and
put us on a path that leads to Freedom and Joy and Frees us from traps that harm us and
Gives us a framework and a foundation to deal with confusing, hard situations

One more encouragement from Paul

do it together

finding connection is great
we are relational beings because we are created in the image of God - He is relationship because God is 3 persons

we connect with people over shared interests
Love of music, culture, sports, activities, shared experiences

we connect with family;
shared provision and blessing

opportunity to be a blessing

and in the future connect with a spouse who Loves the Lord and will love you and represent the love of Christ to the world

we connect with other believers
shared salvation > shared purpose > shared pursuits

we should have this in common - a desire to pursue the Lord and his heart for us

* anytime I use the word “should” I want to be careful and I have considered this carefully and invite you to examine this

we should have this pursuit in common
the love the Lord and the things He cares about

Along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart

begins in the heart

The content and Purpose of our lives are products of the pursuits of the heart

it begins in the heart - Prov 4:23
“Guard your hearts with all diligence”

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬

everything you do flows from your heart

“Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].”
‭‭James‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

this is heavy but this is good
I need this, perhaps you need this
we must take time to be honest about our hearts / our desires and clean house

what has accumulated in your house
what is taking up your space

Don’t miss the analogy

Clean house, examine your hearts:
what is godly, what is holy? make some changes

ASSESS the habits associated with being young

will you, with me and with each other pursue the Lord

who else needs to be invited in?

can you think of any moments when you thought “I am really glad I made this decision”?

what is an example of a new thing you do as a believer that you wouldn’t do if you weren’t?

what kind of people do you want to be around?

what has the Lord purified your heart from? (formerly you wanted this….)

who else needs to be invited in?