Developing a Clean Thought Life

Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Matthew 5:27-28

The great pollution problem is not in the air—it is in our own hearts and minds. To be happy and useful in the kingdom of God, we must be clean and pure in heart, and that comes from developing a clean thought life.

In Matthew 5:28, Jesus says, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” There is a battle for the mind; isolation and insulation can only keep us from the enemy’s pollution for so long. Purity comes from Jesus Christ alone.

Psalm 119:9 asks and answers, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”

There are three steps to developing a clean thought life.

Admit your problem and get clean.

We can’t fix a problem we don’t acknowledge. We must examine our hearts and own up to what unconfessed sins we’ve accumulated.

Adrian Rogers says, “God will never cleanse an excuse or an alibi, but God will always cleanse a sin.” Through Jesus Christ, we can be totally and perfectly clean. If we confess our sins, He will forgive us. (See 1 John 1:9.)

Affirm your purpose to stay clean.

This is too important to be half-hearted about it. We have to prioritize purity and commit to cleanliness; no one else can make the decision for us.

Apply your protection to keep clean.

Our protection is the Word of God. It is the antidote against lust, because Jesus sanctifies us through it. We must commit Scripture to memory and personalize it, realizing He wants to teach us something through it. We must also verbalize it and use it in our praise and testimony. As we give it away, we’ll find that it sticks to us and comes to life.

A pure mind is one that is satisfied in the Word of God; it belongs to someone who has found joy and fulfillment in the Lord. When we internalize Scripture—meditate on it and ruminate over it with time, quiet, and concentration—it takes us over from the inside out.

Apply it to your life

Do you struggle with your thought life? Do you want the joy and fulfillment of a clean and pure mind? Admit your problem and get clean, affirm your purpose to stay clean, and apply your protection to keep clean.