O GOD, CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART

Ps 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy
presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with
thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Ps 19:7-14 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making
wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is
pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are
true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also
than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great
reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from
presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy
sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

I. CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART. [Ps 51:10]

A. The Lord considers the heart much more important than external appearances.
1. 1 Sam 16:6-7 (the anointing of David) And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on
Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not
on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not
as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

2. Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell
in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit
of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

3. 1 Peter 3:1-4 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the
word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your
chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting
the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in
that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of
God of great price.

B. Error begins in the heart.

1. Isa 59:13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking
oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

2. Matt 12:34-37 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart
bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But
I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

C. Correcting error must begin in the heart

1. Matt 22:35-38 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and
saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment.
 2

2. Rom 10:8-10 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is,
the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

3. Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart
that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

4. Heb 4:11-12 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example
of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.

5. Deut 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek
him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

D. Staying on course depends on the heart.

1. Prov 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

2. Acts 8:20-23 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that
the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart
is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and
in the bond of iniquity.

II. CAST ME NOT AWAY. [Ps 51:11]

A. Being cast away is a result of our choices.
1. Luke 9:23-25 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose
his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world,
and lose himself, or be cast away?

2. Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid
his face from you, that he will not hear.

B. We, having been saved, can be cast away if we do not gain mastery of ourselves.
1. 1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I
have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

C. God does not desire to cast anyone away.

1. 2 Peter 3:9-12 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a
great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,
wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
 3

III. I WILL TEACH TRANSGRESSORS THY WAYS. [Ps 51:13]

A. Christ’s command to us today.
1. Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

B. The ones we teach are to teach others.

1. 2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou
to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2. 1 Thess 1:5-8 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy
of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from
you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your
faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

IV. I WILL CONVERT SINNERS UNTO THEE. [Ps 51:13]

A. Salvation requires total change, ie. conversion
1. Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren.

2. James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that
he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a
multitude of sins.

B. Unfortunately, some fight conversion.

1. Matt 13:13-15 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they
hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By
hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this
people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at
any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.