Back to Basics : Life of Purity

1. Back to Basics : Life of Purity We are now in the Season of Lent. It is a time for fasting, prayer, as we focus on the life and ministry of Christ, especially His last days in Jerusalem. Lent began this year on Ash Wednesday, 9th March 2011. The Colour for Lent is Purple – symbolizing the royalty of Christ.

2. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

3. What happens after we have received the forgiveness and grace of our God ? Jesus’ story in John 8 tells us that God wants us to leave our life of sin (that we may be pure).

4. What is important in our faith ? What does it mean to be a Christian – what kind of life should we have? 1. Worship 2. Discipleship 3. Fellowship 4. Service & Ministry 5. Witnessing & Evangelism 6. Word Life 7. Prayer Life 8. Spirit-filled life

5. What is important in our faith ? What does it mean to be a Christian – what kind of life should we have? 9. Purity of Life God’s will : we would live a Life of Purity.

6. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Philippians 2:15-16a “so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of life.”

7. Purity in the Outer Life (Purity in Conduct) – Pure Behavior (1 Peter 3:2) & Pure Actions (Titus 2:5). 1 Peter 3:2 “when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” Titus 2:5 “and to be sensible, morally pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, so that God’s word won’t be ridiculed.”

8. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 “9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sisterbut is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”

9. We are to avoid sin from coming into our life/heart, but we are not to avoid (non-Christian) people with sin.

10. “why is it that you, a white woman, would want to save the life of a man by placing your lips, the most sacred part of the body, against his foot, the most despised part of the body?” “Because my God, who loves and values all people, asked me to do it.”

11. Purity in the Outer Life (Conduct) • – Pure Behavior & Pure Actions • Purity in the Private Life (Purity in Character) • – Pure Standing before God and people (Philippians 2:15), Pure Motives (2 Cor 1:12)

12. Purity in the Private Life (Purity in Character) – Pure Standing before God and people (Philippians 2:15), Pure Motives (2 Cor 1:12) Philippians 2:15 “so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these peopleyou shine like stars in the world.”

13. Purity in the Private Life (Purity in Character) – Pure Standing before God and people (Philippians 2:15), Pure Motives (2 Cor 1:12) 2 Cor 1:12 “We have conducted ourselves with godly sincerity and pure motives in the world, and especially toward you. This is why we are confident, and our conscience confirms this. We didn’t act with human wisdom but we relied on the grace of God.”

14. The deepest level of Purity is also the Starting point of Christian purity.

15. Purity in the Outer Life (Conduct) • – Pure Behavior & Pure Actions • Purity in the Private Life (Character) • – Pure Standing before God and people, • Pure Motives • Purity in the Inner Life (Purity in Condition) – Pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8), Pure heart (Psalms 51:10, James 4:8). The deepest level of Purity is also the Starting point of Christian purity.

16. Purity in the Inner Life (Purity in Condition) – Pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8), Pure heart (Psalms 51:10, James 4:8). The deepest level of Purity is also the Starting point of Christian purity. Philippians 4:8 “8 From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. James 4:8 “8Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

17. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

18. “Now I will aim to be a better person.” How to be pure ? We can try to do it by law or we can become pure by grace.

19. How can a drug addict become pure in his body, overcoming the deep cravings of narcotic addictions ? • How can a gangster become pure in his soul, resisting the strong pull to commit violence and other crimes ?

20. How can a drug addict become pure in his body, overcoming the deep cravings of narcotic addictions ? • How can a gangster become pure in his soul, resisting the strong pull to commit violence and other crimes ? • By becoming pure in his spirit– which only Jesus Christ our Lord can give to those who draw close to Him.

21. Purity in the Outer Life (Conduct) • – Pure Behavior & Pure Actions • Purity in the Private Life (Character) • – Pure Standing before God and people, • Pure Motives • Purity in the Inner Life (Purity in Condition) – Pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8), Pure heart (Psalms 51:10, James 4:8). The deepest level of Purity is also the Starting point of Christian purity.

22. 9 Means of Grace : 1. Worship 2. Discipleship 3. Fellowship 4. Service & Ministry 5. Witnessing & Evangelism 6. Word Life 7. Prayer Life 8. Spirit-filled life 9. Life of Purity

23. Lord Jesus, help me : • I want to Worship you with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. • I desire to follow You, to be Your faithful disciple. • I will spend time in fellowship with my Christian family. • I humble myself to serve You wherever You would lead. • Give me opportunities – I will use them to witness and evangelize to Your great Name and your Love.

24. I pledge myself to the Feeding of Your Word. • I seek to be a Pray-er : hearing You and sharing my heart to You Lord. • I open my heart to Your Holy Spirit to fill me completely. • “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” so that I would live a Life of Purity in my Conduct and Character.