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Pure Lives Matter I am deeply burdened! We need to get more radical, more bold, more courageous! We need a holy, radical, God-honoring agenda. Our intensity needs to trade up! I can’t get away from this - I wake up in the middle of the night with this burden! Our intensity needs to trade up! John Maisel
The Day is Near Urgency requires a holy detachment from this present world: What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. I would like you to be free from concern. I Corinthians 7:29-32a
The Day is Near Urgency requires a holy detachment from temptation and sin: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:8-14
Why is Purity Important? • Purity is important to God: • And they were calling to one another: • “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; • the whole earth is full of his glory.” • Isaiah 6:3 • Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8
Why is Purity Important? Holiness is a gift we receive when we first trust Jesus: For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:10 NLT
Why is Purity Important? • Holiness is an essential part of our calling: • To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be • his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our • Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours. • I Corinthians 1:2
Why is Purity Important? Holiness is an ongoing work of God the Holy Spirit in our lives: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. II Corinthians 3:17-18
Why is Purity Important? Holiness is a command to obey: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” I Peter 1:15-16
Why is Purity Important? Holiness is a command to obey: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:16-26
Why is Purity Important? Holiness is an integrated, Spirit-filled life: Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27
Why is Purity Important? Holiness is an integrated, Spirit-filled life: It has been said that everyone has three lives – a public life, a private life and a secret life. Holiness is about living an integrated life, rather than a dis-integrated one. Holiness is where there is no difference between our public, private and secret lives and no difference between what we profess and what we practice. Holiness is linked to wholeness. When God calls you to be holy, he is saying “be an integrated whole and be wholly mine.” Nicky Gumbel
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity pleases the Lord and enables us to see and know Him: • So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. • II Corinthians 5:9-10 • Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. • Hebrews 12:14
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity brings us intimacy with and blessing from the Lord: • Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? • And who may stand in His holy place? • He who has clean hands and a pure heart, • Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood. • And has not sworn deceitfully. • He shall receive a blessing from the LORD. • And righteousness from the God of his salvation. • Psalm 24:3-5
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity brings us strong support from God: • For the eyes of the Lord move to and • fro throughout the earth that He • may strongly support those whose • heart is completely His. • II Chronicles 16:9
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity releases God to grant us every good resource: • No good thing does he withhold from those • who walk uprightly. • Psalm 84:11
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity makes the Gospel and Christ followers appealing to the world: • You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. • Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to…
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity makes the Gospel and Christ followers appealing to the world: • ...them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. • Titus 2:1-14
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity makes “especially useful” to God and “prepared to do any good work:” • Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. II Timothy 2:19-26
Purity and Fruitfulness • Purity brings prosperity, success and the presence of God to our mission: • Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. • Joshua 1:6-7
Purity and Fruitfulness Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Purity and Fruitfulness Matthew 5: Christ’s message in the beatitudes – You have heard that it was said…but I tell you… 5:21-22: Murder => angry, idiot, you fool 5:27-28: Adultery=> look lustfully 5:33-34: Break your oath => swearing 5:38-39: Revenge=> turn the other cheek 5:43-45: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy => love your enemies, pray for your persecutors
Consecrate Yourselves Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5 Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, “Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.” Joshua 7:13
Confess If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19
Repent Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Acts 3:19-20
Repudiate Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
Repudiate Three definitions of repudiate (sin is an enticement to evil by Satan): 1. To refuse to accept something or someone as true, good or reasonable. 2. Legal: To decide that an agreement is no longer effective and that you will not do what it says you must do. 3. Finance: To decide that you will not pay back money that you owe.
Pure Lives Matter • Consecrate yourselves • Confess • Repent • Repudiate
