Psalm 24:3-4 says “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Being in the Lord’s presence is something that we should all desire. It is the “one thing” of which David speaks. It behooves us to see what it takes to stand in God’s presence. Four things characterize the person who can ascend into the Creator’s hill:

1. Clean hands
2. Pure heart
3. Soul not lifted up to an idol
4. No deceitful swearing

Each of these requirements can get a full message. I’m going to look at #2, the pure heart. Jeremiah 17:9,10 says that the heart is desperately wicked, and that God searches the heart and tests the mind. We don’t have the capacity to read our heart accurately. So how can we determine if we have a pure heart? How will we know if we can ascend into the hill of the Lord? Should we just try to ascend, and hope that our heart is pure? I contend that while we may not be able to see the wind of our heart’s motives, we can put up a weather vane and see the direction of the wind.

In Matthew 15, Jesus is confronted by the scribes & Pharisees. They are complaining that the disciples of Jesus are not following the proper rituals to cleanse themselves before they eat. Jesus lays the smack down on them as it were, and explains how they do not defile themselves by what they eat, but they defile themselves by what they speak (Matt 15:11). The disciples ask him in private to explain, and Jesus expounds: “those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” The words we say are a weather vane for our heart. You can know if you have a pure heart by listening to your words.

The entire book of James discusses very practical things relating to this issue. James 1:6-8 says “…let him ask in faith… for he who doubts … is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 3:9,10 says that with our tongue we bless God and curse men. The same mouth produces both blessing and cursing. This is not good. James 4:5 says that the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously. He desires that we would be single-minded towards him. This means that our mouth would produce only blessing. That’s right. Blessings would be the only thing that proceeds from our heart, to both God and men. James 4:8 - “…Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

A pure heart will be one that blesses those around it. The mouth attached to a pure heart will overflow with life-giving blessings. So what does this mean? Let’s look at Ezekiel 16. God speaks the simplest blessing possible. He does it twice. It is the best thing we can say. God saw Israel, and said, “Live!” When in doubt, speak life. As a single-minded follower of Christ, we should be speaking life everywhere we go. In Ezekiel 37:1-14 God tells Ezekiel to command the dry bones to live, even though the bones themselves (the house of Israel) said “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” How should we respond to despair? How should we combat a culture of death? We prophecy life! We must speak blessings of life to a dying people.

Jesus gave us an example of an intercessory prayer in John 17. He is praying to the Father on our behalf, right before He went to the cross. In verse 14 He says, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them”… now Jesus could have taken this opportunity to say “so smite the haters with a plague!” or “throw down the wicked by your mighty hand!” These requests would be for justice. Micah 6:8 says to do justly and love mercy. So Jesus, rather than demanding justice, rather than speaking curses, speaks life. He says in verse 15, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” Jesus spoke life. He asked God to protect His people. He asked for God to provide for His people. This has two effects: it brings a blessing to the persecuted and brings an opportunity for mercy to the persecutor. By not calling for judgment on the wicked, Jesus is giving them a chance to repent, to receive mercy.

We should all be speaking life. Sure, it can be hard to say to God, “Yes, these dry bones can live again.” But we can ask God to enlighten the eyes of our heart. We can ask Him to give us a heart of flesh, so that we will be moved with compassion on people. It’s hard to bring down curses on a person you love. God will grant your request. James 4:6-8. “He gives more grace.” More grace. More grace. More grace.

Psalm 19 is one of my favorite Psalms, comparing the speech of nature with the speech (testimony) of God’s law. In verse 14, David says “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” Our words and our heart are tied together inextricably. This request, for our heart and words to be acceptable to God, is impossible in our own strength. But David says that God is our strength. He can do this work in us. He is also our Redeemer, bringing us back when we fail.

Go out, and speak life. Bills piling up? Ask God to show Himself mighty and break in to your life with provision. Your health is poor? Ask God to rise with healing in His wings. Do you see someone hurting? Comfort them with words of life. Allow yourself to be moved with compassion, and ask God to purify your heart, that your words may be acceptable and full of life.

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