November 30 2014 The Christmas Tradition Of Purification
/THE TRADITION OF PURIFICATION
““Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. law of the Lord says, ‘If a woman's first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.’’ they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord – ‘either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.‘” – Luke 2:21-24
“Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.” – Psalm 24:3-4
Memory Verse: “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8
FOUR STEPS TO A PURE HEART THIS CHRISTMAS
1. EXAMINE MY HEART FOR IMPURITIES
““Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin?’” – Proverbs 20:9
“A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.” – Matthew 12:35
“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.” – Proverbs 16:2
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” – Psalm 139:23-24
2. PROTECT MY MIND FROM IMPURE THOUGHTS
“Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness.” – Luke 11:34
“I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.” – Psalm 101:3
3. FILL MY LIFE WITH GOD’S PRESENCE
“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and clean. the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.” – Matthew 12:43-45
“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.” – Psalm 119:9
4. RECEIVE COMPLETE FORGIVENESS FROM JESUS
“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” – Psalm 51:7
“We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” – Romans 3:22
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.”” – Psalm 51:10
