Luke 6:43-45

Introduction:

1. We begin our spiritual spring cleaning with the most crucial area.

2. These are the most crucial because, until we clean up our hearts and minds, it is impossible to clean up the other areas.

Discussion:

I. The Heart and the Mind

A. Heart: Heb. labe= inner man, mind, will, thinking” (BDB); Gr. kardia= “seat of feeling, impulse, affection, desire, intellect” (Mounce)

B. Mind: Gr. nous= “the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving, understanding, and those of feeling, judging, determining” (Thayer); “the intellect, in thought, feeling, or will” (Strong).

C. Both terms are also linked to the spirit of a person (1 Corinthians 2:11).

II. The Imperative of Purification

A. Since our deeds flow out of the heart/mind/spirit (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 12:34-35; Luke 6:43-45), our deeds will only be as pure as our hearts.

B. Since we will be judged on the basis of the deeds which are the reflection of our hearts/minds/spirits, it is imperative that we go about this work of purification (John 5:27-29; Romans 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

III. The Means of Purification

A. Knowing how to do so is as imperative as knowing that we must.

B. Thankfully, He gave us all that is necessary for us to do so.

1. We must renew our minds by His revealed knowledge (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:17; Psalms 51:10; Isaiah 53:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:2-4).

2. This renewed mind results in an altogether new life (Matthew 3:7-10; Romans 6:1-7; Ephesians 4:20-6:9; Colossians 3:1-4:6; 1 Peter 1:22-23).

Conclusion:

1. Much the way there is a proper order for cleaning our earthly houses, so there is a proper order for cleaning our spiritual houses.

2. We must begin by cleaning out our hearts and minds.

3. Then and only then can we successfully clean out our deeds.