Week 3: "Purity of Heart: Praying with Godly Motives"

Theme:

Praying with Purity of Heart and Godly Motives

Key Scripture References:

Psalm 51:10 - "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."Acts 8:18-24 - Simon the Sorcerer tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, revealing his impure motives.James 4:8 - "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Main Points and Examples:

1. Identifying Impure Motives in Prayer:

Explanation:Impure motives in prayer often arise from selfish ambitions, desires for power, or personal gain. These motives can hinder our relationship with God and prevent our prayers from being aligned with His will.

Examples:

Simon the Sorcerer’s Prayer for Power (Acts 8:18-24): Simon, a former magician, saw the power of the Holy Spirit and offered money to Peter and John to buy this power. His desire for influence and control over others revealed his impure motives. Peter rebuked him, highlighting that true spiritual gifts cannot be bought or manipulated. Preaching Point: Emphasize that genuine spiritual power comes from a heart aligned with God, not from selfish ambition or manipulation.

James and John’s Request for Fire from Heaven (Luke 9:51-56): When a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, James and John wanted to call down fire to destroy it. Their request was driven by anger and a desire for vengeance, not by love or mercy. Jesus rebuked them, teaching that His mission was to save, not to destroy. Application: Reflect on how our prayers might sometimes be influenced by emotions like anger or resentment, leading us away from God’s heart of compassion.

The Disciples’ Concern About Status in the Kingdom (Luke 22:24-27): The disciples argued about who among them was the greatest, revealing pride and a misunderstanding of true greatness in God’s kingdom. Jesus taught them that greatness comes through humility and servanthood. Contemporary Illustration: Compare this to how, even today, people might seek recognition or status within the church or community, rather than serving humbly as Jesus taught.

2. The Importance of a Pure Heart:

Explanation:A pure heart is essential in prayer because it reflects a sincere desire to align with God’s will. When our hearts are pure, our prayers seek God’s glory rather than personal gain.

Examples:

David’s Prayer for a Clean Heart (Psalm 51:10): After his sin with Bathsheba, David realized the gravity of his actions and sought God’s forgiveness. His prayer for a clean heart demonstrates the importance of a pure heart in restoring a right relationship with God. Teaching Example: Use David’s repentance as a model for how we should approach God when we recognize impurity in our own hearts.

Hannah’s Vow (1 Samuel 1:9-20): Hannah prayed earnestly for a son, not for her own satisfaction, but with the promise to dedicate him to God’s service. Her pure motives aligned her prayer with God’s purposes, resulting in the birth of Samuel, who would become a great prophet. Application: Encourage the congregation to reflect on how aligning their desires with God’s purposes can lead to answered prayers that bless others.

Jabez’s Prayer for Blessing (1 Chronicles 4:9-10): Jabez prayed for God’s blessing, not out of selfishness, but out of a sincere desire for God’s favor. Because his motives were pure and God-centered, God granted his request. Preaching Point: Teach that when our prayers are motivated by a desire for God’s will and His glory, they align with His heart and are powerful.

3. Purifying Our Hearts Before God:

Explanation:Purifying our hearts involves regular self-examination and repentance. It is a continual process of asking God to cleanse our motives and align them with His will, ensuring that our prayers are rooted in a sincere desire for His glory.

Examples:

Peter’s Rebuke of Simon (Acts 8:18-24): Peter rebuked Simon for his impure motives and called him to repentance, emphasizing that a right heart is necessary to approach God. Simon’s story serves as a reminder that repentance is essential when we recognize impurity in our motives. Application: Use this story to encourage regular self-reflection and repentance, seeking God’s help to purify our hearts.

Job’s Repentance (Job 42:1-6): After a long period of questioning and suffering, Job came to a place of repentance, recognizing God’s greatness and his own limitations. His repentance led to restoration, showing that humility and a pure heart before God are essential for a right relationship with Him. Teaching Example: Reflect on how repentance and a recognition of God’s sovereignty bring peace and restoration in our lives.

Jesus’ Teaching on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:8): Jesus taught that "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." This beatitude emphasizes the importance of purity in our inner being, which allows us to experience God’s presence and guidance in our lives. Preaching Point: Discuss how a pure heart is the key to deeper spiritual insight and a closer relationship with God.

Practical Application:

Heart Check Prayer:Lead the congregation in a "Heart Check Prayer," where they invite the Holy Spirit to reveal any impure motives. This prayer should include moments of confession, repentance, and a sincere request for God to create a pure heart within them, echoing the words of Psalm 51:10.

Motive Evaluation:Encourage the congregation to regularly evaluate the motives behind their prayers by asking reflective questions such as, "Is this for God’s glory or my own?" and "Does this align with God’s kingdom values?" Provide practical tips for maintaining pure motives, such as journaling prayers and reflecting on their alignment with Scripture.

Summary:

In this third week of our series, we've focused on the importance of purity of heart in our prayer lives. We’ve learned that impure motives can hinder our prayers and distance us from God’s will. Through biblical examples, we see the significance of a clean heart that seeks God’s glory above personal gain. Purifying our hearts requires regular self-examination, repentance, and a sincere desire to align our lives with God’s purposes. By maintaining a pure heart, we draw closer to God and experience the fullness of His presence and blessings.

Reflection and Commitment:

This week, take time to evaluate the motives behind your prayers. Ask God to reveal any areas where selfish ambition, pride, or other impure motives might be influencing your relationship with Him. Commit to regularly purifying your heart through confession, repentance, and seeking God’s will above all else. Let Psalm 51:10 be your prayer: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

By guiding your congregation through these principles, you’ll help them develop a more sincere and powerful prayer life, rooted in godly motives and a pure heart. Encourage them to continuously seek God’s guidance in maintaining purity in their prayers, leading to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.