Members Message September 2026
Members Message
What if seeing God has less to do with being perfect and more to do with the direction of your heart?
In this week’s Members Message, Bruce Billington unpacks the powerful words of Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Drawing on 45 years of walking with God, Bruce brings a refreshingly honest and practical perspective on what it really means to pursue a pure heart—not by adding another burden to our busy lives, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out.
From self-examination and Scripture to accountability, repentance and even the humble art of giving way for a parking space, Bruce shows how spiritual transformation happens in the ordinary moments of life. And the reminder that God completely removes confessed sin from His record is one we all need to hear.
Key Takeaways
- God eliminates confessed sins from His record — rather than viewing believers as perpetually flawed, God offers complete freedom and restoration through genuine repentance, making past mistakes truly erasable.
- "Seeing God" means experiencing His presence and guidance in daily life — not a distant mystical vision, its practical and an ongoing experience that helps believers understand God's work and make aligned choices in real time.
- Faith is fundamentally communal, not solitary — spiritual transformation requires active accountability through mentorship and trusted relationships, not passive self-improvement.
🎧 Listen now and discover how pursuing a pure heart can lead to freedom, transformation and the fullness of joy Jesus promised.
Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount not only explains what His work does but also tells us what the result will be. As always, there are wonderful things to explore as we journey with Him through this process. This teaching will focus on the need for a pure heart.
Matthew 5:8 - “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
David tells us in Psalm 24:4 that no one could enter God’s holy place unless they had ‘clean hands and a pure heart’. Knowing that he could not achieve this himself, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God." (Psalm 51:10).
It doesn’t matter who we are or what we do; because of the cross, resurrection and ascension of Christ, we can both receive and walk in this truth, allowing it to become deeply rooted in our lives.
Our great reward for this is seeing God. When we produce righteousness deeply rooted in our hearts, He will let us “see” Him, meaning we will truly enter His presence, enjoy His blessings, and engage in life-changing communication with Him.
This reward is the crown of all the rewards promised in the beatitudes, because seeing God in this way is the greatest reward of all. It is not about physically seeing Him but experiencing His presence.
It is this very presence that will calm our hearts, supply our needs, and bring us to a place of quiet power, serenity, and blessedness that we cannot experience in any other way. It makes everything in the world around us so different.
A Pure Heart
How do we embrace a pure heart?
1. Self-Examination and Reflection
We need to regularly take time to consider our thoughts, motivations, and actions. What are we doing, how are we doing it, and what are we hoping to gain?
Be honest about the areas where you struggle with sin or ungodly distractions. Bring them before God, then repent, seek His forgiveness, and eliminate them from your life.
2. Pray for Purity
Ask God to create a clean heart within you, as David did in Psalm 51:10. We must depend on the Holy Spirit, recognising that true transformation only comes when we bring His power into any situation.
3. Engage with Scripture
We must turn up for training. Part of this process is immersing ourselves in the Scriptures, allowing God’s truth to cleanse and transform our hearts.
Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
God’s Word is like a mirror, revealing areas of our lives that don’t align with His. It also brings healing.
Focus on verses that speak about purity and holiness, and meditate on key passages such as Matthew 5:8, Psalm 24:4, and Philippians 4:8. It is also helpful to memorise some of these verses.
4. Cultivate Healthy Habits
We need to identify and set boundaries around areas that may lead to impurity (e.g., media consumption, toxic relationships, movies, and ungodly reading material). It is not good to allow ourselves even an “occasional” foray into these areas. The Scripture tells us that we must never give the devil an opportunity (Ephesians 4:27). He is always waiting to pounce. Addictions start when bad habits are allowed to form in our lives. Then the damage really escalates.
5. Practice Honesty
Foster a culture of honesty in your relationships. Being transparent with trusted friends can help keep your heart accountable. These need to be people who are also seeking to walk in the ways of the Lord and are good company to be with. Don’t hang out with fools and ungodly friends.
6. Engage in Community
If you are not already part of one, join a Bible Study or Group that will help you learn and grow. At SRT, we have many opportunities for you. Reach out to Justine if you want to know more about this.
7. Be Accountable
Do you have a mentor - someone you meet regularly to discuss your journey, your strengths and weaknesses, and how you are progressing in your calling with God?
This is essential. A trusted person can see things about yourself that you might never notice and will both advise and help you in areas of vulnerability.
In these relationships, we must understand that it is our responsibility to open up to others and embrace change. Don’t rely on them “discovering” things. Their role is to strengthen your own self-government.
8. Practice Humility and Service
Engaging in acts of service is a great way to reflect God’s love. It shifts the focus from ourselves to others and helps cultivate a pure heart.
It is too easy, especially in the Western world, to think life is all about me. There is a good word about this in Philippians. It says,
Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
9. Practice Spiritual Disciplines
Incorporate prayer and fasting into your routine to draw closer to God and sharpen your focus on spiritual purity. There are many ways to fast – that is up to you - but choose practices that consistently take command of the desires of your flesh.
Engage in worship, both individually and corporately. Worship aligns your heart with God and can purify your motives.
Finally,
10. Be Patient
Understand that pursuing a pure heart is a lifelong journey. Allow yourself grace in setbacks and celebrate progress. It is far more helpful to focus on growth than on perfection. Embrace the process and recognise that God values your heart's direction and desire more than your perfection.
Conclusion
Embracing the journey towards a pure heart requires dedication, vulnerability, and deep reliance on God. It’s about continually aligning your heart with God’s will and remaining open to His transformative work.
Celebrate small victories along the way and remember that God is faithful to help you stay on this journey. Have fun – God gave us a sense of humour for a reason. Our time on this earth is very short – we are seeking an abundant life and a real understanding of joy.
John 15:11 - "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."
May God bless you.
Bruce Billington.