Purity

This is a sermon I prepared for my sermon Preparation and Delivery class. I hope you enjoy it and I pray it can help in our lives.

Purity

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phil 4:8 (KJV)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Cor 5:21 (KJV)

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 1:19 (KJV)

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psalms 51:7 (KJV)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matt 5:8 (KJV)

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Luke 6:45 (KJV)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:2-3

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Tim 4:12 (KJV)

What is purity?

When we hear the word what does it mean to us?

What do we think of?

Most would think of being pure physically, morally.

But I would like for us to look at being pure spiritually.

I. We need to be pure in our actions.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phil 4:8 (KJV)

Our actions are what the sinner sees before he hears the gospel… Do they make him want to hear it?

Matthew 5:16.

Peter wrote, "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" 1 Peter 2:15

If we consider ourselves to be good folks, then let us do good.

Jesus said, "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." Luke 6:35

Heb 13:16 "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

We must seek to overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21 "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

1 Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."

There is a big world out there that needs Christians to step up to the plate and teach the gospel, for that is def a good deed.

Our life needs to reflect Christ.

We must strive to be Christ-like in all things!

Look at Daniel…

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Dan 6:3

Daniel was set over the rest of the satraps or presidents, because there was an excellent spirit was found in him.

Do we have an excellent spirit in us?

Daniel was a man of character.

He was set over all the satraps in the kingdom.

What about us?

Is there anything about us that sets us apart from the world today?

Has being baptized made us any different?

Do our actions suggest to the world that we are a Christian?

Does how we conduct ourselves around people tell them that we are a Christian?

Are we kind and caring and helpful, or are we rude and uncaring and indifferent to the people that we are around?

Do we look down on others like we are better than them?

Do we show and reflect the love of Christ to them or are we trying to hide it?

There is no way to hide the love of Christ within us. If we have it, it will show.

But if His love is not coming through then it is not there.

II. We need to be pure in our speech.

Do we still talk the same that we did before we were baptized?

When we tell a joke, is it one that a Christian should tell or is it inappropriate for a Christian to be telling?

Is our speech appropriate?

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14.

The words of our mouths are determined by one thing- our hearts.

So in order for our words to be right, we have to by necessity have our hearts right.

The words that we speak are just mirrors, revealing what is really inside us.

Those thoughts may be hidden to man for a time, but they are not hidden from God.

We must be careful about what we say.

The tongue is a small member yet it boasts great things.

It has had millions of people put to death.

It has torn down walls and built bridges.

It has destroyed many things, and restored and created many things.

It is POWERFUL.

It can do so much damage and it can do so much good.

We need to speak the words that are good for man.

Not breaking down, building up.

Not discouraging, but encouraging.

In 1 Peter 4, Peter gives us an example of how we should walk(live) Verses 7-11

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We need to be an example of purity in our speech.

1 Timothy 4:12- Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

III. We need to be pure in our Thoughts.

Because really it is our thoughts that control our actions.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Luke 6:45 (KJV)

We need to have our thoughts under control.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phil 4:8 (KJV)

In the days of Noah, the reason God wanted o destroy the earth was because of the thoughts of mankind.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Gen 6:5 (KJV)

We must have our minds transformed to prove God’s will in our lives.

Romans 12:1-2- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

All of the Christian life and duties start with our minds.

Our minds must be pure so we can fulfill these.

We need the helmet of salvation on at all times!

1 Thessalonians 5:5-9- Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 6:17- And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

This helmet protects our minds.

Keeping the knowledge of our salvation on our minds at all times is important for us to keep our minds pure.

It protects us from the blows to our intellect that Satan attacks with.

We must keep the source of our thoughts pure.

That is the heart.

How?

Store up the Word there.

Psalms 119: 9-16- Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Our thoughts must be pure.

They determine our actions.

IV. We must be pure in our dress.

Not just talking about the woman here either.

Yes they must dress in modest apparel.

1 Timothy 2:9- In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

We are talking of Christians in general.

What does our clothing say?

How do we wear it?

We need to be wearing things that are becoming to Christians.

Things we need to think about when we think about our clothing…

1. Jeans and pants.

2. Baggy clothing.

3. Modest fit.

4. T-Shirts (Watch what is said on them) (What all cutesy catchy phrases are used) (coke, Facebook)

What light does it put God in? The church?

We need to ask ourselves:

1. Would God be please with this?

2. What light does it put Him in?

a. Does it bring Him down to a “buddy buddy” level, or does it exalt Him as He should be?

3. If it has to do with the Church:

a. Same question!

Remember, we are not talking about some earthly institution; we are talking about the bride of Christ, the church bought with His blood! How dare we bring Him or her down to a level less than revered as holy and as sovereign in mans eyes.

When we attend services:

1. Does it look good?

2. Would I wear this in the presence an earthly king or queen, political meeting?

Even more so to God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need to bring God up, not bring Him down in the eyes of the world.

This phase that we see now where youth groups have cutesy slogans based off of phrases being used in the world is not right!

The bumper stickers that we see where “W the president”. I have seen “G the creator” J the savior” and others!

How dare we think to bring God to such a level!

He deserves to be lifted high not brought down to a buddy buddy level as we have Him placed today.

What problems we have because of this.

“God wants us to have fun, He wants you to enjoy yourself.”

What so we can do what we want and expect the blood of Jesus to continually cleanse us?!?!?

1 John 1:7- But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Look at Romans 6, first 6 verses:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Shall we continue that grace may about- GOD FORBID! MAY IT NOT BE SO!!!!

We need to break away from this!

It is not changing something to make it better as they would argue.

It is bringing God into the forefront as they would say but not in a good way!

It is giving the world a picture of a complacent wishy washy happy go lucky buddy buddy God that cares nothing about what we do.

That is not at all right!

Everything we do should be for His Glory, to bring Him praise as a Sovereign creator, as king of kings and Lord of Lords, as the one and only blessed potentate as 1 Timothy 6:15 says.

Matthew 5:16.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Col 3:17 (KJV)

We need to bring back bow the knee reverence for God!

One day we will approach God in such away, not like we would a close friend here on earth, with a handshake or high five.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Romans 14:11 (KJV)

Look at what is going on around the throne of God.

Revelation chapter 4...

It’s a stark contrast to how God is revered on earth!

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever,
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Rev 4:8-11 (KJV)

God deserves to be revered in this life.

CONCLUSION:

We must strive to be pure in our lives today!

There is a hymn that is not in our book but I wish it were for it puts our point across plainly!

How shall the young secure their hearts by Isaac Watts.

It comes from the BETH section of Psalms 119:9-16 which we read earlier.

How shall the young secure their hearts
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy Word the choicest rules imparts
To keep the conscience clean.

When once it enters to the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest soul’s instruction find,
And raises their thoughts to God.

’Tis, like the sun, a heav’nly light
That guides us all the day,
And through the dangers of the night
A lamp to lead our way.

The men that keep Thy law with care,
And meditate Thy Word,
Grow wiser than their teachers are,
And better know the Lord.

Thy precepts make me truly wise:
I hate the sinner’s road;
I hate my own vain thoughts that rise,
But love Thy law, my God.

The starry heav’ns Thy rule obey,
The earth maintains her place;
And these Thy servants, night and day,
Thy skill and power express.

But still Thy law and Gospel, Lord,
Have lessons more divine;
Not earth stands firmer than Thy Word,
Nor stars so nobly shine.

Thy Word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!
That holy Book shall guide our youth
And well support our age.

I wish this song were in our songbook!

We need to make our hearts pure.