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

August 25 2013 Trusting God When You Need Guidance

TRUSTING GOD WHEN YOU NEED GUIDANCE

I.  Five Unreliable Sources Of Guidance

1.  Don’t rely on culture.
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Exodus 23:2 - Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.

2.  Don’t rely on circumstances.

Jonah 1:1-3 -The Word of the Lord came to Jonah…go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.  But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.

Acts 27

3.  Don’t always rely on counsel.

Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the wicked or stands in the way of sinner or sits in the seat of mockers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord.

4.  Don’t rely on the counterfeit.

II Cor. 11:14 - For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
I John 4:1 - Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

5.  Don’t always rely on conscience.

Prov. 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Psalm 119:105 - Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.

II.  The Completely Reliable Source
·  God’s will is found in God’s Word.
·   God’s will never contradicts God’s Word.
·   God expects me to obey His Word before He shows me His specific will.

This Is God’s Will For Me

1.  That I have eternal life.

John 6:40 - My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life.

2.  That I be filled with the Spirit.

Eph. 5:17-18 - Understand what the Lord’s will is:  Do not get drunk with wine, instead be filled with the Spirit.

3.  That I live a pure, disciplined life.

I Thes. 4:3-4 - It is God’s will that you should be holy, that you should avoid sexual immorality, and learn to control your own body in a way that is holy.

4.  That I maintain an attitude of gratitude.

I Thes. 5:16-18 - Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.

5.  That I be a law abiding citizen.

I Peter 2:13-16 - Submit your selves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men, for it is God’s will that by doing good, you silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

6.  That I bring others to Christ.

II Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that everyone comes to repentance.

7.  That I commit myself to God and others.

II Cor. 8:5 - They gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

February 10 2013 Maintaining Moral Integrity

MAINTAINING MORAL INTEGRITY IN 2013

Exodus 20:14 - You shall not commit adultery.

How To Stay Pure In A Polluted World

1. Make a commitment to God’s standard.
Proverbs 119:9 - How can anyone keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word.

2. Never consider yourself above temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:12 - So be careful if you are thinking, oh I would never behave like that. Let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin.
Proverbs 16:19 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

3. Keep a close watch on your Spiritual temperature.
Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
1 Corinthians 9:22 - I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

4. Maintain your marriage.
Solomon 1:6 - They made me take care of other’s vineyards while my own vineyard I have neglected.
Proverbs 5:15-21 - Drink water from your own cistern.

7 Suggestions
• Involve mate in life, work
• Keep reminders of family around
• Keep lines of communication open
• When attracted, redirect it towards your mate
• Date your mate
• Make much of your marriage in public
• Don’t discuss your marriage problems with someone of the opposite sex

5. Develop healthy outlets for emotional energy.
Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

6. Guard your mind.
James 1:14-15 - Sin begins with the desire and then when it’s conceived it brings forth sin and then when it is finished, brings forth death.
2 Timothy 4:5 1 Corinthians 10:5 Psalm 101:3
1 Peter 1:13 Ephesians 6:17 Romans 16:19

7. Remind yourself of damaging consequences.
James 1:15 - Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.

8. Take necessary precautions.
Matthew 26:41 - (Jesus says) watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

1 Peter 5:8 - Be careful, watch out for attacks from satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion looking for some victim to tear apart.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who perseveres under temptation, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the victor’s crown, the life God promised to those who love Him.

November 4 2012 The Choice Of Purity

THE CHOICE OF PURITY

Matthew 5:8 - Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Pure in Heart:

Matthew 6:1 - Be careful not to parade your good deeds before others to attract their notice, or you will lose all reward for your Father in heaven.

How to Develop a Pure Heart (Matthew 6)

1. Remember God sees everything.
Vs. 4, 6, 18 - Your Father sees what is done in secret.

Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

2. Review my motives.
Proverbs 24:21 - God knows and judges your motives. He keeps watch over you. He knows, and He will reward you according to what you do!

• Giving (vs. 2-4)
• Praying (vs. 5-15)
• Fasting (vs. 16-18)

1 Thessalonians 2:4 - We do not aim to please others, but to please God who knows us through and through.

3. Realign your priorities.
Exodus 20:3 - You shall have no other gods before Me.

Three Tests

• Look at my activities.
Matthew 6:19 - Don’t pile up treasures on earth, but keep your treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.

• Look at my anxieties.
Matthew 6:25 - Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life.

• Look at my ambitions.
Matthew 6:31-33 - Don’t worry about (these things), this is what pagans are always looking for, your heavenly Father knows you need them. Instead, set your heart first on His Kingdom, and His goodness and all those things will come to you as a matter of course.

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.